to wonder why I'm so bloody tired?!

[PumpkinPie2013]

Just that - I'm bloody exhausted beyond exhausted and have no idea why

I was shattered before half term (I'm a teacher) but put it down to it being the end of a busy half term and needing a break.

However, I can honestly say, after this week off I'm still exhausted and not relishing the thought of getting up at 6 am tomorrow

I'm yawning in meetings and in front of classes and practically falling asleep at my desk. I feel like I can't concentrate on anything properly (even driving! ).

Thing is, I had a full blood count test done back in November and was tested for glandular fever - bloods were all clear so nothing obvious from that.

I'm otherwise healthy, no long term medical issues, only 28.

I work full time and we have one ds ( 15 months) but he sleeps well generally and my DH does his fair share. So, I'm no busier than anyone else. Work is manic but that's the way teaching is and I've been at it 4 years.

All that in mind, AIBU to wonder why I'm so tired and ask for any suggestions?

November's a long time away OP, you could have been low but not deficient or borderline but high enough to pass on some things you might now now.

I'd suggest taking a multivitamin, or iron, you may be anaemic and taking a pregnancy test if you've been having sex, just to rule it out.

You may be burnt out and need a holiday, or it may be something low or lacking in your diet.

I'd definitely get some more blood tests done though and speak about this to your GP.

And no YANBU to ask but your GP is the only one who will be able to give accurate suggestions for you.

Thyroid problems, sleeping properly, Vitamin deficient in winter?
You have my sympathy its not what you want in a stressful job. Could you go to less demanding work or part time?
I taught and stuck the stress out for years - a change of job was a great relief.

What's your diet like? How much water do you drink?

Iron, Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 are all things that you might be deficient in - but you need to check that with your GP. Although nothing to stop you trying with a supplement in the meantime. Don't go for a multivit though - the levels of vitamins will be too low. Go for a high dose of Vit D.

Something like Berocca might help on the Vit B front.

Try some tonic vitamins. I get extremely tired in winter and use Feroglobin which does the trick. Your probably best having another blood test done though OP just to check your blood count etc is all ok.

You have my sympathy. I also teach, and am absolutely knackered. Been napping away my half term. Got a huge pile of marking to do before tomorrow as well

same here, finished at half term exhausted, done v little over the week and still not firing on all cylinders

Do you get enough sleep? have a healthy(ish) diet?

Thanks for all the suggestions

I'll give some supplements a go while I wait for a GP appointment as it can take a while to get one!

Definitely not pregnant. I eat well - mixture of meat and fish and vegetables.

I drink tea (no coffee) and get through quite a lot of water at work. I have given up alcohol about a month ago (never drank loads but usually a glass of wine on a Fri/Sat night )

I seem to sleep fine. Holiday booked for August but can't get away before then - I do feel a bit burnt out tbh - I love teaching but it is draining at times.

I'm sorry to hear other people are in the same boat - good luck with the marking keepswimming

Thanks again for your responses .

Do you drink a lot of tea OP? Because it can interfere with the absorption of iron.

agree with above, deficiencies and thyroid come to mind.

so vit d, b12, iron.

I would try supplements first and if not better after a coupl of weeks see gp and ask about thyroid.

I'm a teacher, I was bloody exhausted before half term. I'm still tired now. A week off isn't enough. I just about started to wind down when I had to start to wind up again, thinking about next week. And I'm part time.

You have a 15 month old, which means that your half term hasn't been relaxing as you need to be constantly alert.

Another vote for vitamin D. Many (most?) people in the UK are deficient, and the RDA is probably massively too low.

If you feel you are not refreshed after sleeping, get inordinately tired out by mild exertion, and have a "foggy brain" AND if the doctors are unable to find anything wrong in your blood work, you might have ME/CFS. I don't want to alarm you, but doctors tend not to mention this for a while as they hate diagnosing it, but in my experience it is much better to be aware of it earlier as pushing through it can make the syndrome worse.

I really hope you don't have this, and it sounds like, if you do, it is a very mild case. I wanted to mention it as a (very remote) possibility but not to worry you.

any possibility you could be pregnant?

I would see your GP - could be many things

I have thyroid issues and it makes me foggy and confuddled and tired - but so does my anemia

Coeliac disease is a possibility (for those who have low iron, b12 etc this can be an underlying cause fyi). 500k people in the UK are estimated to be undiagnosed coeliacs - Coeliac UK will be launching an awareness campaign to get more people being tested this year.

I wouldn't start taking vitamins before seeing the GP for tests! Taking them will skew the results, you could look like you're high in something when you're actually low. It can take ages to book an appointment in advance, but most surgeries have daily appointments available, you have to call around 8:30 I think? They'll tell you when you call. By all means, but your supplements but don't take any until after you've had your blood tested.

Coeliac is often linked with thyroid issues btw, anyone with thyroid issues (over our underactive) should be screened for coeliac, NICE guidelines see bottom of this page www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Coeliac-disease/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx

This sounds familiar to how I used to feel ask the time . When I started ivf for my second, I had my thyroid tested and found out it was low - not by nhs standards, but too low for conception and too low by American norms.
Despite having struggled with low iron and taking to GPs for years about always being tired, this was never tested.
Definitely ask for thyroid tests and check your results - don't take 'normal', get the result too.
My life has changed drastically since being on my thyroid meds. For the first time in years I have energy, more at 30 weeks pregnant with a busy toddler, than I had before, even before I had any kids !

Are you depressed at all.

Sleep apnea? Do you get a use reflux at all?