To think it’s not normal to be THIS tired all the time?

[babypanther]

I feel like there is something wrong with me as I’m absolutely exhausted 24/7. No matter how much sleep I get, I never feel rested. I could literally curl up and sleep anywhere, any time of day, if I had the chance. I always have huge dark shadows under my eyes and people tell me I look tired all the time.

This has been going on for over a year and I have been to the doctor about it a couple of times, but have always been told that my iron, B12 levels etc are normal. While I was pregnant I had my bloods done quite regularly and nothing was ever flagged up as being low or anything like that.

I have a newborn so I’m now on another level of exhaustion. I know that’s normal when you’re a parent to a newborn baby, but I was like this before I got pregnant too. I feel awful because any chance I get, I just want to sleep. Yesterday my parents took my DD out for the afternoon so I could get some rest and I slept for hours, and then the same evening I fell asleep on the sofa (my DP was watching DD, she wasn’t unsupervised!). I still felt tired when I woke up this morning.

Does anyone have any ideas if there could be some sort of deficiency/anything else that my GP hasn’t tested for? I just don’t think it’s normal for me to always feel this tired even with a baby. I want to be able to give 100% of my energy to my lovely DD but always feel so drained.

but have always been told that my iron, B12 levels etc are normal

Normal is not the same as optimal. Many women feel exhausted when in the lower end of normal for things like ferritin and B12 levels are set ridiculously low in this country.
Maybe ask reception for a printout of your results to see where you are compared to the labs reference ranges then supplement to boost if needed.

Have they tested thyroid? Vitamin D is also worth testing, as that can cause fatigue if low, but isn’t done routinely.

try vitamins for new mums or just a general multi-vitamin. I found things 'lifted' a bit for me when I started taking them (peri-menopausal, however, so at a different time of life).

Are you overweight? Type 2 diabetes is always a consideration, particularly if overweight or it runs in your family. I know my sugar levels are off when I can't keep my eyes open past 7!

How is your diet? Food sensitivities aren't always obvious and can cause significant fatigue. A diet high in refined foods can cause problems for a lot of people.

Lots of women have thyroid problems after birth. Maybe get a blood test to check for vit B,D, iron and thyroid.

Thyroid, tsh, free t4 and antibodies (tsh should be under 0.75)
VitD (should be in the 50s)
iron and ferritin
B12
Magnesium
Lyme panel
Inflammatory markers, a full blood count and liver and kidney panel to be safe

If the GP wont do it, try a private clinic like MediChecks

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Thyroid
ME-CFS
Long Covid
Multiple other possibilities, from heart failure to vitamin deficiency.
Obvious questions: are you eating & drinking enough? Do you get breathless when going upstairs or running after DC?

You may have to steadfastly bore your GP. I'm sorry you feel so fatigued, it's exhausting in itself and very frustrating!

I was going to also ask if your thyroid has been checked? When you had blood tests, did they just check vitamin levels or did they also do white blood cells and such? It could be a number of things but either way, no it isn’t normal to feel exhausted 24/7 except when you have a newborn as you do but this has obviously gone one much longer than that.

i am the same, with me it is Vitamin D (9.6), also B12 and folic acid deficient. Just waiting for my appointment for new bloods to see if improvement but i dont really feel it. They also checking hormone and thyroid levels....Good luck OP hope you get the answers.

Get a print out of the results. B12 should optimally be over 500, body can't utilise B12 without folate - if folate result is lower end of normal, supplement with 400mcg folic acid daily

If the MCV result is on higher end (90s) that is a good indication your body doesn't have enough, or can't utilise, the b12 in your system

Ferritin should be at least 50 or above

Get a copy of all the blood test results you had at your GP.

Often GPs do blood tests but miss some off that cause tiredness for example vitamin D or ferritin. Some of it is cost and the other is that you haven't told them any other symptoms and signs e.g. hair loss, condition of your nails, apart from tiredness.

Then if your GP has not done some then do as suggested @SeaToSki and get them done privately. You could go back to your GP to ask for them but you need to be prepared to firmly state your case and may have to go back a couple more times.

And definitely get the actual results numbers, not just ‘all your results were fine’ message. The number of times my Mum had out of range results that they didnt notice and didnt tell her about. You might be able to access them on the NHS app

Sleep apnoea? Do you also have headaches when you wake? Do you snore or make funny noises when you sleep?

Chronic fatigue and CFS are different. The latter is more than feeling tired, it involves the immune system.

Please get them to give your a copy of your results. Fine is not always fine

Meanwhile, vit D, FULL thyroid panel (there's about 5 markers, not just TSH) and parathyroid, so immortality, so little checked, and if those are fine, so you have any other symptoms at all?

It's probably just tiredness from having had a baby and getting no rest! But here are some ideas:-
Post natal depression is a real possibility. Depression by itself can cause exhaustion.
You can get your blood sugar tested for free at lots of pharmacies, get tested after eating lunch to rule out diabetes.
If you have joint pain and rashes - get tested for lupus.
It's worth getting your thyroid checked in a couple of months and comparing the results to your recent results. Maybe you don't have hypothyroidism atm but you are on your way there.
If you can get a blood pressure monitor it's worth checking if your blood pressure is normal. If you have low blood pressure, and you lose pubic/underarm hair it's likely Addison's disease.
It's probably just your body adjusting so if your only symptom is tiredness I would leave it a month or so before deciding something is 'wrong'.
HTH