Age 40...is this normal?

[alldownhillat40]

I am 40 with one child and feel constantly exhausted. I'm tired when I get up. My legs ache all the time. I often wake up with some kind of stomach ache. My periods are heavy. I have zero energy or motivation to do anything. I'd always take the car over walk. Im just under a stone overweight. I'm considering another child but scared to when i feel like this. No known health issues. Is this normal? X

It isnt. Please go to your GP.

I've felt very similar recently and was wondering if I'm menopausal (I'm 46) but my blood tests came back last week as having folate anaemia and severe vitamin D deficiency. I'm on huge doses of folic acid and vitamin d, so we'll see what happens.

See your GP. Could be vitamin deficiencies, thyroid issues, or any number of things.

I would see your GP, wouldn’t do any harm to get some blood tests done, esp thyroid.

It's not normal at 40 or any age. You need some bloodwork done. It's most likely nothing sinister, but something that could be easily managed once you understand why you're feeling this way. See your GP and get your bloods done. Complete blood panel, inflammation markers, thyroid, the works. Get it all looked into.

Yes this happened to at 40 but I found out I was iron deficient. GP managed to sort that out but I’m still struggling with various health issues (no known cause or solution). Go to GP. Would not consider another child if you are feeling like this.

I felt the same... Bloods came back as severely vitamin D deficient. Have been on massive vitamin d dose for the last 3 weeks and symptoms seem to be getting better.

Not just age. A lot of age related things can be helped! GP time

I went to the doctor about 6 months - 1 year ago because I'd convinced myself I was peri menopausal. They ran some tests, I don't know which ones tbh and it came back clear. I had a smear yesterday. I just don't feel normal. I'm really aware of my stomach aching I don't know why and my legs feel so heavy and tired. I'm dreadfully unfit with a carb heavy diet which I know doesn't help.

Ask your surgery to check thyroid, iron & vit d levels.
Are you getting enough sleep? Have a break from alcohol and drink some water.. Eat 5 a day even if it’s fruit only. Get some fresh air every day even if it’s an amble at lunchtime. Back to basics and see if that helps.

I had this.

Got bloods done. Vit D deficient, started taking vit D. Still feel like crap.

Be interested to see if you find an answer.

I went to GP with similar symptoms, was told it was my age!! (late 40's). Have had irregular periods for many years, intermittent stomach pains, aching joints, feeling really tired all the time. Have a healthy diet, exercise most days, sleep reasonably well but still feel like crap most of the time. Good luck with finding an answer, OP

It's not normal to feel that way, never accept the 'it's your age' excuse! You definitely need to get your thyroid tested, also an iron panel and vitamin D, and B12.

‘Dreadfully unfit with a carb heavy diet’ - probably your answer. You might be deficient in vitamins, but people so often discount how lethargic and exhausted lack of exercise and the wrong food can make you!

I had similar issues and was also around a stone too heavy. Cut down on the carbs, drank enough water and got some exercise in and I’m a new woman.

Are you depressed or anxious? I agree with PPs about the blood work but feeling tired, demotivated and achey can all come with depression and/or anxiety too.

I had this... I was very Vit D deficient and was immediately given 35,000 IU... within a week I was feeling like a different person. Definitely go to the GP.

I think it's definitely physical rather than mental. I'll make an appointment with the gp and see what they say and request tests.

If you’re having heavy periods, you may be anaemic which will make you tired. Go and talk to your GP and explain all your symptoms. Hopefully they will get to the bottom of it.

I had this at 40 and it was the start of the menopause.

Another similar aged woman with similar symptoms that were vitamin d and folate. Take some for a while see if it improves.

I agree you should definitely see a doctor. It might also be worth taking some supplements - I have found that taking a daily multi vitamin and an additional B12 tablet have made a world of difference to my energy levels. It might do nothing for you but it can’t hurt to try.

Go get some bloods done at the GP's surgery.
You may have a thyroid issue. Do you generally eat well / take multi vitamins?
I've started taking well woman multi vit and it's definitely helping

Its not normal but menorrhagia is also not uncommon at this age. I went to one GP and was told by a locum "its your age". Followed up with another visit to my regular GP who rolled her eyes and gave me tranexamic acid and sent me for blood tests.

The blood loss had caused me to be not only permanently exhausted but deficient in iron and B12 despite eating a good diet from that PoV.

So get back to the doctor, possilby a different one but in your case make sure they know you would also like to consider another child.

I felt exactly the same and as @ShinyMe said I had very low folate levels and my B12 levels were low too, so pills and an injection later I feel so much better and I', now taking a daily multi vitamin feel so much better.

I felt like I spent my day wading through treacle and no amount of sleep meant I felt refreshed in the morning and I suffered from horrendous leg cramps. Go get a blood test.

Not normal.

Get vitamin D, iron (haemoglobin and ferritin), B vitamins and thyroid done.

Most GPs won't do ferritin and B vitamins first time round because of the cost.

They often won't do repeat vitamin D because of the cost so you will have to pay to do regular checks privately if found to be deficient.

Request a print out of the test results and check yourself they are not at the bottom of the range.