Is this exhaustion?

[SoaringSwallow]

I think I'm exhausted. I mean I feel exhausted, but I don't really know if it's what people mean by "suffering from exhaustion".

I'm in bed mid morning (never normally am!!). I don't feel sick, or like I've got the flu, but similar. I have been incredibly busy and incredibly stressed for a few months. I can't even read much now, my brain just shuts down. I need to read a lot and understand long articles/reports/texts normally. I get little things mixed up, can't remember things. My brain just seems to shut down if it's required to be used!

Physically I've not don't any more than usual, but I'm so tired that even walking upstairs is, well, exhausting.

I have started avoiding people at school because just the thought of saying hi and cracking a smile is draining.

I'm not that hungry, forcing myself to eat (or I won't feel any better).

Yesterday my daughter was sliding against me and kind of climbing around me and I was finding each time she touched me was taking too much mental energy from me(which may sound weird, but that was it!). I needed to not be touched. Or she could sit on my knee, but not long because I found even that too much. Hugs were/are fine.

My home life leaves me emotionally drained. I can't get a divorce for a few years without putting myself in a vulnerable situation re visa status (confirmed by two different lawyers).

I feel like my brain wants to turn off and my body wants to sleep for about a month. Uninterrupted. Nobody asking me for anything.

So does this sound like exhaustion?! Or is it normal?

Think I would go doctors and ask to have a blood test to check your vitamin levels and rule out anything of the sort.

When my vit D is low I feel exactly as you do.

Sounds like how I felt approaching menopause!

How old are you op?

I’d get your iron levels checked too.

I'm 39.

I tried to get an appointment with Dr yesterday but can't before the new year. So I made one after school goes back.

I feel like crying a lot too, just because I'm so tired.

Funnily enough, I've had this strange idea of celebrities who get admitted to hospital and then get a few days sleep and pumped full of vitamins before going back on tour! Never normally think of celebrities, and I absolutely hate hospitals. It just seems such a comforting idea right now.

You need a holiday!

I feel like that when I'm heading into a depression. Different things work at different times - sometimes it's medication, sometimes it's just being able to get away from everyone. I've been saying no to a LOT recently and feeling a lot better for it. Also taking vitamin D (1000IU but might up this in January), making sure I get some quiet time (TV to myself, a book that's super easy to read, sewing, but not sleeping - I need to know I'm doing something for myself!), a walk every day in sunlight, eating well. I have to force myself to start doing these things but they have helped and I'm coping better and feeling more alive and awake. And I can cope with the kids much better too!

Get your vitamin levels checked - iron status, ferritin, vitamin d, b12 and folate plus FBC checked with GP. Also ask for a thyroid function test (TSH and T4).

Be aware that you ideally want most vitamin levels to be mid range not just in range. Ferritin levels under 50 can give symptoms similar to Anaemia. Vitamin D level should be around 100. If you would like references for the above let me know!

Thanks everyone. I am going to dr but have to wait a few weeks. I will ask about vitamin tests. It's not thyroid (one thing I know! :) ) as I have that problem and know it's under control at the moment - and it feels different to this (I get sleepy rather than tired but can't sleep).

To whoever mentioned a holiday..I would love one! Sadly children off school for 2.5 weeks and Christmas mean not much chance of that!

So does it sound like exhaustion? I want to tell my husband I'm exhausted but wanted to check that that's what it sounds like. I'm not just needing to pull myself together and push harder (I really don't think I can..).

Sounds like something is going on whether it’s exhaustion or a vitamin/iron deficiency or something else is irrelevant really.

Maybe look up burnout. That's what it sounds like to me.

This is also how I feel during a depressive episode

If you’ve got a thyroid issue (I have Hashimoto’s, so I get it) your adrenal function could be compromised, especially during a busy period. Conventional medicine only recognizes end-stage Addison’s Disease, but it’s entjrely possible to have adrenal fatigue in conjunction with thyroid issues. I know all too well the debilitating brain fog and being exhausted from climbing a set of stairs! For me, I feel a lot better when taking a B-complex, D3, and something gentle to support the adrenals, such as rhodiola.

When I get like this it is either

a) my B12 levels are low or low iron and I need an injection or pills
b) I'm just knackered and I need a bath and an early night and to switch off for the night or to take a day off work and do nothing much.
c) Happens more with peri menopause - there's days I just feel like I've got flu - and I need to go to bed - but it's hormones.

So try an early night. Then do some of the stuff that helps with mild depression if that doesn't fix it - like a walk outdoors or a dance - whatever does it for you.

Make sure you get your bloods done with the doctor's appt.

Don't rule out perimenopause.

At 39 with no previous history and no life changing events going on (marriage break up moving etc) you shouldn't feel like this - there are so many things it could be, but start taking a multivitamin whilst you wait to see GP and keep a diary of symptoms. I agree getting out for a while every day over the holidays might help but even so, some conditions around exhaustion/stress mean you can't even get out of bed. Is your family around to help? Have you talked to them?

I'm on my phone so can't reply individually - apologies.

I do have very real and ongoing problems at home that I can't get away from for one to two years. I'll be getting divorced then - H knows this and is keeping status quo for the visa reasons for me. However, I'm the one wanting to divorce so I'm still living with the reasons for needing to get out of the relationship. It's emotionally draining (not abusive though) - which was part of the reason for wanting the divorce in the first place.

I couldn't try to dance - I'm really really too tired to move. I had to go out a while ago for something and needed to sit down after walking really slowly for about 10 mins. My legs started shaking once I was sitting.

I spent two hours in the bath yesterday, in part because once I was in I was too tired to get up and out and partly because I fell asleep!

Now I write if it seems I'm even more tired than I realised.

I've got some vitamin B here so I'll start taking some of that and and extra few multivitamins (not too many nor for too long!).

I'm hoping this isn't (peri)menopause and if it is, dear god I hope it passes as quickly as possible. If it isn't, i can see I shan't be enjoying it when it comes!!

I do have very real and ongoing problems at home that I can't get away from for one to two years. Me too; I have similar symptoms and panic attacks on top, few times I thought I was having or had had a stroke. I think it might be stress, but still go with the vitamins and the diary - hope you are ok OP your DCs need you.

That’s not right. Can you get an emergency appt, or one with the nurse to get bloods done?