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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Absolutely zero energy- pregnant- please help

20 replies

pregnantmummy22 · 05/02/2022 14:54

Sorry for posting here, but I'm really struggling and wondering if anyone else has experienced this and managed to get help somehow.

I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant with second baby and I'm just so exhausted constantly. I find everything a massive effort and like I'm walking through quick sand constantly.

I can't live a normal life at all, even lifting my arms to get my coat off the coat rack hurts as if I'm exercising. I have a two year old DS at nursery and I'm working ( albeit as little as I can ) from home.

I just about manage to get him off to nursery and pick him up. But in the process of dressing him and getting myself ready, I need to just keep sitting down because I feel sick, breathless and light headed too sometimes. I feel extremely weak. I have been suffering with HG throughout this pregnancy and have had several hospital visits for drips, in the beginning. I've found a medication that kind of helps a bit, so I don't vomit a lot anymore. But I do still feel nausea for a large part of the day.

My body also just really hurts, all the time. Some days just leaving the house is too much. I feel bad for my son, but atleast he's at nursery in the week and gets to do fun stuff there.

I've had a blood test and the GP half heartedly called me back, saying I have low folate and should take folic acid. I asked him if that's why I feel so terrible and he just shrugged it off like ' it's not that low really '. I also suffer from MS, which is pretty controlled usually, so it could be that perhaps. Although they do say you're less likely to suffer from any MS symptoms in pregnancy. The GP also didn't seem to think it was the MS. I also had high inflammatory markers, so I asked him if it's that or if my MS is flaring or whatever and again he just kind of shrugged it off and didn't really answer me..

Could there be anything else ? Am I just really unlucky to feel this terrible in pregnancy ? I feel like I got little compassion, understanding or advice really through the GP. Does anyone have any advice ? I've not spoken to the midwife in ages either. I feel despondent even to call my consultant / midwife or neurologist as I feel like they'll pretty much just tell me to suck it up. I've still got quite a few weeks left, during which I need to keep living my life for my son and being there for him, so any advice would be appreciated.

OP posts:

Original poster

pregnantmummy22 · 05/02/2022 18:28

Anyone ?

OP posts:

GeneLovesJezebel · 05/02/2022 18:30

Get back on to everyone you are under and tell them this, that you are struggling.

sharonelizabeth · 05/02/2022 18:33

I’d contact your midwife and obstetrician, your GP doesn’t sound like he’s helping much, hope you feel better soon.

RubyKitty · 05/02/2022 18:35

Have you had your iron levels checked? If not ask for it to be done as that causes tiredness

Isonthecase · 05/02/2022 18:35

I'd follow it up. It might just be that you're over doing it but, having had a scare where I collapsed in pregnancy due to exhaustion and terrified the whole family, I would definitely say it's worth trying a few things to fix it. Could you get help for a few days so you can relax and see if it improves then a Dr is more likely to take it seriously?

Original poster

pregnantmummy22 · 05/02/2022 18:37

@RubyKitty

Have you had your iron levels checked? If not ask for it to be done as that causes tiredness

Yes they checked quite a few things when they did the bloods I think. Iron was fine.

The only thing that came back was low folate ( which according to the GP shouldn't really impact me ) and the ESR was a bit high, but nothing of concern with that, he said.

OP posts:

MiracleBaby2022 · 05/02/2022 18:44

I've got ME and my symptoms sky rocketed as soon as I hit the third trimester. I know ME and MS are extremely similar so my guess is it's a long term flare. Hopefully we both start to feel better soon, it's so tough isn't it! xx

Original poster

pregnantmummy22 · 05/02/2022 18:49

@MiracleBaby2022

Yeah it could be. I could call my MS nurse, but I doubt there's any medication I could even take right now. I hope you also feel better soon.

OP posts:

EarringsandLipstick · 05/02/2022 18:52

I really think you need to speak to your MS team. You poor thing. It sounds unbearable. Surely they are monitoring you more frequently due to your MS?

Original poster

pregnantmummy22 · 05/02/2022 18:54

@EarringsandLipstick

I really think you need to speak to your MS team. You poor thing. It sounds unbearable. Surely they are monitoring you more frequently due to your MS?

Yes definitely. There's a special nurse that has been calling me every few months to ask how I am. She specialises in pregnant ladies with MS. I could talk to her really so it's at least been logged. I didn't have this in my last pregnancy.

OP posts:

Theballoonsinthesky · 05/02/2022 18:56

I was extremely tired and it turned out I had low folate and low vitamin D. Low folate definitely causes tiredness and I was advised to take high strength folic acid. Also your iron levels could be in the normal range but at the lower end so worth asking

Original poster

pregnantmummy22 · 05/02/2022 18:59

@Theballoonsinthesky

How long did it take to feel better after you started taking the folate ? I took it for the first 12 weeks and then haven't been very good about it. Now I'm restarting on 800 mg rather than 400 mg, hoping that maybe I'll feel better. I don't know what the iron levels were, he just said it's all normal..

OP posts:

RandomMess · 05/02/2022 19:17

Spatone. You have no idea what your personal normal iron level was pre-pregnancy.

Theballoonsinthesky · 05/02/2022 19:29

A couple of weeks I'd say. Be consistent with taking them and continue even after you feel better.

Theballoonsinthesky · 05/02/2022 19:31

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b12-or-folate-deficiency-anaemia/

MoiraNotRuby · 05/02/2022 19:35

Who do you have around you that is supposed to be supporting you? I think you need to say, very clearly, to all of the HCPs and also to your family and your work: I cannot do this. I am beyond exhausted and I need to stop and rest.

Honestly, let everyone else pick up whatever needs to happen. You need to Stop.

LemonSwan · 05/02/2022 19:41

Sainsbursys have an own brand energy gummy which I am taking - Its a red gummy in a clear bottle with a green lid.

I felt tired and really needed a multi vitamin but couldnt find anything without Vit A so ended up with this one and their immunity one and I kind of flip between the two.

The red energy ones have Vit D3, Niacin, Vit B6, Vit B12, and Biotin.

Might be worth a try.

Nottsure · 05/02/2022 19:41

Do you have dh or family who can help? Or friends

If not can you afford to buy in help ? Cleaner /nanny/ meal service etc

Original poster

pregnantmummy22 · 05/02/2022 21:22

@Nottsure

Do you have dh or family who can help? Or friends

If not can you afford to buy in help ? Cleaner /nanny/ meal service etc

My DH is away a lot for work at the moment. So he's not really around. Family, no. Cleaner, yes ! All other conveniences I can get my hands on- absolutely, every single time.

OP posts:

EarringsandLipstick · 05/02/2022 21:52

@RandomMess

Spatone. You have no idea what your personal normal iron level was pre-pregnancy.

Spatone has tiny amounts of iron. It won't help anyone who is significantly anaemic. In any case, it's clear it's a bigger issue with OP, who has MS.

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