to ask if there's a 'tonic' I can take to help me feel less tired

[MariaWaria]

50s, fit and healthy, had blood tests etc via GP - all okay, but feel more tired than I think I should. Not exhausted /unable to function, just weary and wanting to be more energetic.

No of course there is not a tonic. Your tiredness could have many possible causes

Vit D and magnesium everyday is sorting me right out.

Also do some weight based exercise

How was your iron when the GP tested? Apparently most of us are a bit less on that front than we ought to be. Do you take a vitamin?

Have to say though, for me it’s long walks, fresh air, lots of sleep and minimal booze. Easier said than done living in London doing long hours and having a weakness for Pinot Grigio!

How is your diet? Exercise? Sleeping enough?

www.boots.com/metatone-original-flavour-tonic-500ml-10000770

Metatone or Feraglobin have both worked for me.

Iron sachets work ok for me. They're called spatone and you can get them from Boots.

Vitamin d - 1000 unit spray

I take a multi vitamin "Well Woman". I'm healthy, eat well, exercise etc but I'm busy and tend to overdo things on occasion. I find that I feel much better taking this. My hair and nails are also stronger.

After a cold or illness I sometimes take Metatone tonic which I find beneficial.

Check your sleep hygiene, your diet and exercise.

Lay off alcohol and caffeine. Stop smoking.

Drink plenty of water.

No tonic.

Unless you show as deficient on a blood test, there’s no point in taking vitamin tablets or iron or whatever. You’re just wasting your money on snake oil.

Assuming that you’re healthy: Healthy lifestyle, plenty of exercise, and decent sleep are the only solutions.

I second spatone, it makes a huge difference to low level tiredness

Get your blood results printed out for you as you may be 'ok' but there are minimum and maximum levels and you may just be just over the minimum and need a bit more. I've been having b12 jabs and it's made a big difference. Also drink filtered water, sort your gut health out (probiotics) / kefir / sauerkraut and make yourself some fire cider. Google the recipe. It's fab stuff. Good sleep habits and a good healthy diet avoiding processed foods as much as possible.

Agree Spatone and vitamin d with k2

Could it be the menopause?

My iron levels were okay; don't drink alcohol; could drink more water; don't smoke; sleep well but only for about 6 hours; take supplements; decent diet. Really want to exercise more but just feel too tired to make the effort every day. Will take a look at the products mentioned.

In Scotland we drink a tonic wine called "buckfast". It'll perk you right up!

Jokes aside, my doc is testing my bloods for iron and b12 deficiencies plus any thyroid issue as I'm run down, exhausted with recurrent cold sores, dropping weight blah blah.

I've been anaemic before and the tablets you get from the GP are heavy duty. I did consider just ordering from boots but if it is anaemia and my blood is shagged I'll need more than a little vitamin pill.

Why do you only sleep for 6 hours? have you tried sleeping more?
am reading a book about Why we Sleep which is frankly terrifying about the subject. Recommends 8 hours.

Why only 6 hours a night? That's far too little, you should have a solid 8 hours.

No of course there is not a tonic. Your tiredness could have many possible causes

It's a harmless enough question there's no need to be rude!!

Things that help me:
Eating more protein and less carbs, I always feel shattered for an hour or so after a carb heavy meal.

Exercise and fresh air... even a fifteen minute walk can do the trick.

Not getting too much sleep, sound a bit odd but occasionally I have a long nap in the afternoon and it always makes me feel awful.

Getting a healthy diet.

I can recommend these. I work long shifts often back to back as a chef, and at the end of a busy couple of months I often feel absolutely knackered. There’s work for me within a couple of days.

LOVE buckfast!

Galfur Syrup for low Iron
B12 injections
I used to sleep every afternoon for the past two years always freezing cold in bed , cramps and pins and needles
I was severally anemic and low in B12
My doctor gave me Galfur Syrup
And I self inject B12 injections. Sounds worse than it is but I got the ampules on line after joining a few forums for advice on this

But the change in me is amazing I’m 75 percent more energy than I had before no longer sleeping in the afternoons and just feel loads better

Agree with the suggestion to have your results printed out. What is classed as a ‘normal’ result for iron etc does vary between local health authorities - so for example having your iron tested in London could produce a ‘low borderline’ result whereas in Yorkshire it could produce a ‘normal’ result. So it’s good to know exactly what your level is - then you can do a bit of online investigation into your levels and if your normal result really is normal.

I have very low iron and take ferroglobin capsules twice a day (recommend is one but on advice of doctor I take two) and have definitely noticed leap in energy levels since starting to take them six months ago.

Eating less carbs always perks me up no end. Cutting out all refined carbs even better. A bit of fasting works wonders for energy levels. Lots of fruit and veges and lean meat and lots of sleep. Good quality vitamins including B vits and something like floradix as it has C vit to help you absorb the iron. Lurching from a carb high to a low and then a high again is bad for your body and can be exhausting long term.

What’s your vitamin D like? My levels were very low and my GP prescribed high strength supplements. Feel a bit less tired now.