To be sick of being so bloody tired?

[ButWhyy]

I’m 42 and I’m becoming increasingly lethargic to the point where I’m barely functioning. I had a blood test and was found to be anaemic (ferritin of 12, haemoglobin of 109, low red blood cells, low potassium etc). I was put on iron tablets and a month later had a retest. Iron is now 33 - haemoglobin 124. Red blood cells slightly higher but still below limit. I’m continuing with the iron/vitamin c tablets but my tiredness is getting worse rather than better. I wake up at 6am every morning feeling like I have a hangover, headaches, body aches, nausea, stiffness, dizziness … I start to feel more awake around 7:30am then spend all morning feeling tired but functioning. Come afternoon I totally crash and just sit on the couch yawning and falling asleep. I only work two mornings a week as I physically can’t manage anymore than that. It’s got to the point where I don’t even have the energy to walk the dog. I’m spending my entire life just sat on the sofa.

All Dr says is “try the mirena coil” - No!! My periods are not that heavy, AIbU to think something else must be wrong?? According to my latest blood test I’m not actually anaemic anymore! I’m starting to think CFS?!

Thyroid?

Get some vitamin B complex and vitamin D with K2. And consider peri menopause.

And the Mirena coil isn’t a bad call. I wasn’t aware of how heavy my periods were getting.

Another call for a thyroid check

i was thinking hormones too. Mirena isn’t that bad.

TSH - 1.5

Agree, that doesn’t sound right. I would want further investigations.

TSH is within normal range - I would ask your GP for a test showing the T3 & T4 - there can be a issue with the levels in the blood reporting as normal but the conversion rate to the cells being much lower.

Morning. sorry that you feel like this. Feelng exhausted all the time is not normal at any age.
Are you prepared to try a dietary intervention? Eating more meat, especially liver, can help with any vitamin deficiencies. And cutting the carbs can also help with tiredness.
Good luck with it!

Just want to say me too. I have had a chronic medical condition since 2017, so although I know the cause, I'm still so fed up with it. I just want to be able to get on with things that I need to do during the day.

Interesting that your ferritin has come up quickly in a month, mine has been that low and took several months to get to around 30ish. The ferritin range is quite large, perhaps you are someone who should be sitting in the higher end. It doesn't explain why you'd feel worse though, I'd ask for Vitamin B12 tests (don't supplement with it before testing as I think it can skew it). Ask the GP what could be causing the continued low red blood cells and ask for hormone tests to check your FSH (menopause). Otherwise, think if there are any other symptoms you need to tell the GP (sometimes we have things going on we've got used to and ignore or think are totally unrelated).

Have coeliac disease and C. diff been excluded?

By the way I think they changed the NICE guidelines regarding affects of ferritin. They used to say it was all about anaemia and thought low ferritin on its own didn't really cause problems if haemoglobin was within range. I think now they're supposed to pay attention to the ferritin levels even if haemoglobin is normal. Both my sister and I have felt awful with lower ferritin but normal haemoglobin. I've noticed I feel better when my ferritin is higher snd my haemoglobin goes up towards the upper part of the range (more where men's levels are...maybe because I'm 6foot tall?!). Sometimes it's not sufficient to be 'in range' as it might not be normal or optimal for you. Hope you get to the bottom of things.

Folate and Vitamin B12 levels?
Also worth asking for bloods to rule in/out whether you are perimenopausal.

Sorry you're feeling like this. Another one saying look at your diet. Cut out ultra processed food, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, limit sugar as much as you can and reduce the carbs. See if it makes a difference to you.

How is your sleep? Do you wake up lots in the nights? Has anyone mentioned snoring to you? I ask, because I have obstructive sleep apnea, and I felt like an absolute zombie until it was diagnosed and I started using a CPAP machine at night. If all your bloods are coming back normal, then I would be asking your GP to refer you for sleep studies.

Where do you walk the dog? Any chance of a tick bite?