To feel like something else is going on with me.

[Alwaysawomantome]

Good morning, I'm prepared to be told that I should just listen to my doctor and get on with it but I just wanted to see what people's thoughts are. I am 30 and for months I've been absolutely exhausted. I stay home all day with my 4 year old daughter and 18 month old son and just work a couple of hours in the evening during the week. Only 10 hours a week. But everyday I wake up at a decent time but by midday I'm exhausted and can barely keep my eyes open. It's tirdness I have never felt before. By the time I'm home from work at 8pm, I need to climb into bed, regardless of whether I had a nap or not. Without fail I am asleep by 9pm. I've always been a bit of an insomniac. Most nights a wake up in a pool of sweat. I'm so hot, it's like there is a fire raging inside me. I've always been a cold person, so this is unusual for me. My husband has even noticed. By the time the morning comes, I can hardly move. I cry every morning trying to get out of bed because of how much my bones are hurting. It feels like every single bone is on a vice. From my arms to my legs, my spine to my ribs, my shoulders and hips. I have bone pain all day but it's more manageable once I'm up. I went to the doctor and they decided to do loads of blood tests. The results were that my thyroxine for the thyroid needed slightly adjusting, I had anaemia, slight b12 deficiency and vitamin D deficiency. He told me just to get some multi vitamins. Isn't there usually a reason you are deficient in these things? I think I'm just struggling to see past how crap I'm feeling and needed to write it all down. Thanks for sticking with me.

*e.g. 40,000 per week for a couple of months!

cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-adults-treatment-and-prevention#!scenario

"For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended treatment is based on fixed loading doses of vitamin D (up to a total of about 300,000 international units [IU]) given either as weekly or daily split doses, followed by lifelong maintenance treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000 IU a day, occasionally up to 4000 IU a day, may be used for certain groups of people, for example those with malabsorption disorders.
Several treatment regimens are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total)."

Taking Vitamin D will be a good boost to the system. I felt a change when I started taking one a day. I also take iron as mine was in the pits, hair falling out extreme exhaustion etc (all tested) and that definitely took a while also.

Whatever you do please know it takes time for your body to get back on track.

I had a thyroid issue and some of things you've spoken about I have experienced. Felt cold but was roasting. Have you also spoken to your doctor about the possibility of hyperhidrosis?

By the way, if taking Vit D and Iron don't take them at the same time. Take iron with orange juice and vit d whenever. Stay away from coffee or tea hours from taking iron.

Lots to think about. I don't remember my thyroid making me feel like this when I was first diagnosed. I will have a chat next week with a doctor to see if I need some prescription strength supplements.

My teeth are fine and my hair is thin, but that will be because of the undractive thyroid. Not sure about being pre-menopausal but I would he quite happy to get all that out of the way. The sweating is literally just at night. During the day I am fine.

It could be Polymyalgia Rheumatica. I have been diagnosed with it. My blood test (ESR) was normal but I asked for a trial of Prednisolone. That worked and I am now painfree.

@wheresthepurpleline my doctor did mention that at my first appointment, but it hasn't been mentioned again.

The doctor said there was an infection marker in my bloods but he wasn't concerned.

Over the counter multi vitamins will not correct a deficiency found by a blood test. Ring you surgery and ask for what the actual results are and their reference ranges.

Always do you mean inflammatory marker?

@QuirkyQuark he definitely said infection

Read up on B12 deficiency. It's under treated everywhere. Look at the pernicious anaemia organisation website for more info. Unless you are vegan deficiency is unlikely to be dietary - don't take supplements/sprays, you could have absorption issues. Higher levels in the blood don't mean much if you can't absorb it. Ask your Dr for injections.

Ask for a print out of your results and post them either here or on Thyroid Uks forum on health unlocked. I would caution against any sort of fibromyalgia or CFS diagnosis until all your deficiencies are corrected.

@Itsmeeloise I'm not a vegan, and generally my diet is pretty good. I'm going to go back next week and ask about getting something prescribed.

@MIA12 good idea, I'll ask them for the exact levels. The doctor mentioned fibro at my first appointment but I'm really hoping that once I get all this sorted, things will start looking up.

Hi OP did you breastfeed? I think it can take a big toll on your body and depleting of nutrients.

If the iron tablets don't agree with you iwould recommended spatone, I've gone from severely anaemic to normal by taking 2 sachets a day, it's apparently more easily absorbed than the iron in tablets which I struggled to take as they made me v constipated.

It might take a couple of weeks for the vitamins to make a difference e

@AmIRightOrAMeringue undortunatly I didn't. I had a very bad experience with breastfeeding with my daughter and it caused me to spiral into bad PND and I didn't want to to risk that again. So it can't be that.
Someone said about it just being a side effect of having kids. Maybe it is just that and I need to pull myself together a bit more. Hopefully vitamins will help

How do you feel mentally? Any low mood or history of depression? Sometimes extreme tiredness and aching bones/neuropathic pain can be a symptom of depression.

When I had PND I was exhausted and ached constantly, my joints ached, my muscles hurt, I just wanted to lie in bed all day. After a few weeks on an SSRI my symptoms eased and my energy cane back. I have a chronic inflammatory condition as well, but this was a different pain and all over my body, painkillers didn't help much.

Do you have a healthy diet? Vitamin supplements can only help towards nutrition. Do you get enough sunlight and dairy? Have they offered you vitamin B 12 injections and iron tablets?

Looking after young kids all day is draining and physically demanding too. Is nursery/childminder an option so you can have a proper rest?

Do you know if you have been tested for coeliac disease? Only lots of auto immune diseases are linked and it can lead to problems absorbing nutrients such as iron, B12 etc, tiredness, exhaustion….

@OneStepSideways I had PND with my first born and have had periods of depression before and since but despite what I'm going through, my mood and mental health is the best it's been in years. I actually have a really good diet and was annoyed when my doctor suggested I didn't. I get plenty of help with the kids if I need it through family. They haven't offered any of those, they have told me to buy OTC.

@bizzieb33 I haven't been tested, no.

You definitely need to explore the low B12 and anaemia. I would urge you NOT to take any B12 supplements until this has been explored properly. You mentioned you are not vegan, so usually the other cause of low B12 is that your stomach is unable to absorb it.

Along with the anaemia, this could indicate possible pernicious anaemia. There is a Pernicious Anaemia Society website which has loads of really useful information. Can imagine it’s hard to find time with two young children, but try to take a good look and then maybe take a checklist of symptoms to GP. It’s really important that it’s treated properly - I felt horrific before it was diagnosed. I was already being treated for thyroid and since then was also diagnosed low vitamin D.

I really wish you all the best and, if you can, let us know how you get on.

Should have clarified re not taking B12 supplements until explored properly. They can skew results with regards to other things that can be affected which then mask the deficiency. This probably doesn’t make much sense, but reading info on their website should help explain. Sorry, I constantly have brain fog so can find it hard to explain myself properly!

Sounds very much like to OP. It took me over 20 years to get a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The problem with things like fibro is that they check for everything else first as it's a diagnosis of exclusion - they rule out everything else first. Could be CFS (previously called ME) or could be something else. Definitely don't leave it, keep hounding your GP

Feel better soon OP

Look on Facebook for support groups for both vit b12 deficiency/pernacious anaemia and also bit d deficiency. Get a print out of your results and they will advise you.
I buy vit d online in olive oil. The ones prescribed and otc are full of fillers.
B12 as pp said is widely under treated, you may well need injections but may have to argue to get them.
For both you will also need to take Co factors. Fb groups will advise also on that.

I thought my doctor had checked everything with blood tests but apparently FBC test doesn't test for antibodies relating to autoimmune conditions so I'm having that done now.

Thank you so much for all the comments. It's definitely given me something to think about.

Alwayswomanatome --so sorry I only just got your message from 8 March. Was trying to say I asked my gp for a trial of Prednisolone because despite the blood results I had a gut feeling that I had Polymyalgia Rheumatica. The Prednisolone has resolved things for me and I am now pain free. Sorry again for the delay. I am happy to PM you but don't know how to arrange that. Lulu