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

I'm 24 and feel largely the same as you minus heavy legs. I had bloods done a few months ago and nothing flagged up its very frustrating. I wake with tummy ache too almost like wind/upset tum and no idea why. So I'm following in the hope you find some answers Maybe try eliminating some foods known to cause upset? And lower the carbs?

I feel the same, have done for years but worse since childbirth three years ago. Dr’s tests found nothing but a slightly slow vitamin d level so I take high strength. I also take floradix tonic everyday. I did have sepsis almost 20 years ago and it just seems my system never fully recovered. Could it be something like that?

Try gluten & dairy free, lots of fruit & veg & protein & increase gentle exercise and keep a diary? See if anything helps

If all the tests came back normal, including vit D, B12, iron and thyroid, it could be that the quality of your sleep is poor. This is common in the 40s after a few years of disturbed sleep with young children. You learn to always be on the alert and unconsciously, you sleep mainly in light sleep with little deep sleep. Deep sleep is when your body recovers physically and mentally. If you don't get enough, you are not 'refreshed' and your body ache and feels fatigue.

Why don’t you start by cutting back in the carbs then? You talk like you have no choice. FWIW I feel a bit like you a lot and it can be as simple as picking up continuous annoying viruses from having a nursery or school aged child. This heat isn’t helpful either.

As others said, get the tests but also try to do regular exercise, it makes a huge difference to circulation and digestion and mood, even if it’s just a brisk walk around the park or the block a few times a week. It seems like a huge mountain to climb but if you start small you’ll probably find that it feels more manageable very soon.

I would go to GP and get some blood tests done.

I did start to feel like this mid 40s (not stomach ache, more flu like) - low iron found once on tests and they told me to take an otc iron supplement - took liquid Feroglobin and the aches went - also found fibroids on gynae exam and had operation to remove those. Still feel pretty awful though. If you are able to exercise that can help a bit but definitely get checked out and hopefully something they can help with - stomach ache is definitely not normal. Is it definitely stomach ache or could it be period pain? Could be a gynae issue if its that. Mention that you want another child too.

You're overweight and unfit with a bad diet. I don't think what you describe is unexpected given the circumstances. Ditch your car for journeys under 2 miles, cut out sugar and junk carbs and you'll start to feel better.

Def not normal.

Could be anaemia - because of the heavy periods - or another deficiency as mentioned by pp's.

Please make sure your GP doesn't ignore the stomach pain - make it the first thing you mention in your appointment - ask for an ultrasound to investigate.

In the meantime, improve your diet. A high processed carb diet does make you feel sluggish. Get some lean meat & loads of veg on the menu.

Definitely see your GP and request some blood tests.

In the meantime, I would urge you to get out every day and just walk, even for a few minutes. Set yourself a target, even if it is just 10 minutes, and then once you are out you may find you can do more. I often find the less I do the less I feel like doing, and I am more exhausted. I also find that a carb heavy diet drastically affects my energy levels, and any wheat, particularly bread, gives me awful stomach pains. Cut out carbs, aside those in fruit and veg, and you may notice a difference.

How old is your DC? Having a very young child, working, running a house etc is exhausting anyway, particularly if your DC is not sleeping through.

I felt like this when the menopause started. I was 47 and my periods were so heavy, it might have been low iron. Sorry to scare you but that feeling you describe is familar. 49 now and periods not monthly only about one every 10 weeks and lighter so not low in iron any more and the energy is definitely back (even though I have hot flushes).

Hope you can rule this out at your age.

it's not normal.
go see your gp.

you need to see if you have deficiencies (iron, vit b12, vit d3) or thyroid issues.

I would book a Doctors appointment if I were you.
You may have an iron deficiency.
At least that is easily put right,
Good luck

listening and noting all of these thank you - Child has just started school (5).

Hi there.
I'm a 54yearold woman in the middle of the menopause. I've recently changed from oral hrt to Everol Conti 50/170MCG/24hr patch. I've started to get leg pains. Has anyone else experienced this. Starting to get freaked out.

@alldownhillat40 I was the same, thought the tiredness was par for the course (2under 2) but periods were horrendous. Blood tests turned up that I was very anaemic with no iron stores. And underactive thyroid. That was almost 2 yrs ago, currently taking iron and thyroxine , periods somewhat better. Still knackered though. Still struggling to lose weight.

o4o I would go to GP to get that checked out given the recent change of meds. Maybe worth calling them to see if they would advise stopping meds. Also see what the medicine leaflet says re side effects.

I'm mid 40s and not yet in menopause - possibly in peri. My leg pains went with a magnesium supplement so doctors can't find a cause a menopause multi-vit might help if not on one already.

I had this and it was premature menopause. HRT has helped but I'm still knackered the whole time and my hip hurts constantly.

How much alcohol do you drink?

I was the exact same and blood tests said I was fine. Then I saw a private doctor who did bloods and he said I was slightly anaemic because of my heavy periods. I got the Mirena, periods dwindled to basically nothing, and I have my energy back.

Changed my life.

GP for you lass.

I’m very similar and I’ve just looked up Estrogen dominance which I had many symptoms of. I’m now trying a natural progesterone cream to help see if anything changes

You sound like dh when his thyroid was low.

Alcohol wise I tend to only drink Weekends - fri sat sun night (sometimes creeps in to Thursday night I'll be honest) but never more than half bottle of wine.

Still over the recommended limit + no fitness + overweight + a myriad of other factors... Maybe it's as simple as going for a walk in nature everyday? I mean I know I'm stating the obvious but I've gone with it.

OP I felt EXACTLY like this, I am 48, went into proper menopause at 45. Just coming out of it all now.

If I don't eat really healthily with minimal carbs and drink alcohol(more than you!) every week, do an hours exercise every day, I feel terrible. Really sluggish and aches and pains. Almost unable to do the simplest thing.

Peri menopause can't be spotted reliably with blood tests. Hormones fluctuate daily.

Am not overweight, but tum is expanding by the day (due to menopause)

Feel normal again after sharp talking to myself and looking after myself.