Do you ever feel you don't have enough energy to keep up with life's demands? Chronic illness

[fuckchronicillness]

I just can't manage. I'm chronically ill with several conditions, type 1 diabetes since childhood, and now hypothyroidism and a POTS like illness from diabetes damage.

All are well managed and on paper I should be ok. But I'm not. All I've done today is lie thinking about all the stuff I should be getting done. Finally managed to brush my teeth at 5pm.

Apart from cooking dinner that's all I have accomplished. My life is wasting away. I don't know what to do anymore. I take a lot of vitamins because I am so low in all the B vitamins and things like magnesium, and they make no difference.

Does anyone else feel this way? Or did you, and managed to solve your energy problem?

Aw sympathies. I spent many years feeling like this before my hysterectomy, which probably isn't helpful as clearly not going to help solve your issues. But I am wondering if maybe you're slightly depressed? Have you discussed your energy levels with a GP? What about iron?

Yep.
I feel I’ve missed most of DCs growing, and now they’re older teens.
We can’t even on holiday because just getting to anywhere exhausts me so much I can’t do anything. It’s a complete waste of money to pay to go somewhere then never leave the accommodation. I can do that for free at home.

I work very, very part time but really struggle with it. I don’t leave the bed or sofa apart from the few hours I’m dragging myself into work. It’s been 7 years, and I’m getting worse not better.

You have my sympathy. I have Fibromyalgia and I'm always exhausted. I'm currently in hospital and I'm just sick of the pain and exhaustion.

Yep, I worked today and then went to bed, same yesterday and the day before, spent most of the weekend on the sofa. I can only manage to work full time (or really at all) if I WFH most of the time because work + noisy office + commute is just too much

I have various disabilities

I genuinely feel for you OP but I'm afraid I don't have a good answer

Yeah, my ferritin and folate are always low. But haemoglobin great and in fact bordering on the high side. My gp who is really good with taking all deficiencies seriously, has no idea why. I'm afraid to take iron supplements to boost the ferritin in case it drives up the haemoglobin.

But my hair falls out so easily and my nails all break and split and I wonder if it's the ferritin contributing to the exhaustion. My periods are pretty heavy but pelvic ultrasounds don't show anything.

Were your periods very heavy, is that why your hysterectomy helped?

40 years of fibro so I can certainly relate. I don't work, medically retired in my mid thirties, am now in my early 50's. I'm really fortunate that I've a supportive husband and understanding family, no young children, one adult dc but yes, there are days that my sole output is cooking the dinner, there are days that even that's doesn't happen but I have good days occasionally, the best thing I ever did was a pain management course where I was taught to listen to my body and to pace myself, I take constant breaks, do a little, rest a little, all day long. Also getting decent pain relief made a huge difference.

I have hashis, pcos, and chronic anemia due to an inherited trait. I personally find that when I can force myself out that I have more energy. A SAD lamp helps. As does reducing processed carbs.

I think I am depressed too. Not classically, but I just feel so blank and exhausted and frustrated.

I can't pin down my thoughts easily and sustain a train of thought to do any complex mental work. I have two degrees and for example the idea of writing an essay is just beyond me today. I wonder if I have brain damage in some way.

I am not surprised you feel so exhausted, that is quite a list of conditions and it will really take your energy away

Sorry to read about other people's struggle, it is so hard. I don't know how we are supposed to manage, I think most people can't relate at all to how difficult a lifetime of illness can drain the energy from you.

yes I feel this, MS has taken all my energy away today and all I've done is drive to my gp to sort a prescription out. I got home and found out I'd have to go back and almost sobbed. Luckily my DH took me on his lunch break.
I'm so low on energy it actually makes me anxious about how I'll get through the day.
I'm on hrt, high dose vitamin D and I don't drink or smoke but I feel 80 rather than 45.

It is a shitty way of life Op. I am disabled, in poor health and push myself beyond my limits which causes further pain, ill health and harm but I have no other choice. I have 7 different serious health issues and the DWP don't think I'm ill or disabled enough for PIP or ESA so I work. I'm I'm bed now trying to summon the energy to sort uniforms for tomorrow, waiting for a back spasm to pass. My GP doesn't believe in pain killers 🤷‍♀️

It's hard. I have a few long-term conditions. Some days I'm fine then others I can't get out of bed.
I find the fatigue and mental health to be the hardest to deal with.

I feel you!

I have hypothyroidism and MS (albeit the MS is very mild) but I have crazy flare ups every few months where I become horrendously tired and can barely get through the working day. I was so glad when I got a hybrid working job that's flexible with me WFH as full time office job drained me!

Fatigue and mental exhaustion has been especially bad the last year or so, and my immune system is terrible so I get every bug and cold going around. I suffered really bad burn out around Christmas time.

I am trying different things, like changing diet, different exercises and meditation. I used to go to the gym 3/4 times a week so the fact I can barely manage 1 now is really disappointing.

Pots here too. And peri menopause more recently.

Some weeks are better than others.

I take folic acid and a multivitamin five weeks now and I do feel it's helping. I've also changed my diet massively and lost some weight.

I try to exercise daily but it's tough, yesterday I couldn't manage much. And then beat myself up about it. I work 30 hours a week mostly night shifts too.

I was feeling exactly like you did 6/7 weeks ago so I started small with the improvements, 5 mins of exercise a day for a few days, then 10. Some days I really had to bloody push myself and the first time I did 20 mins I was sick as a dog and very dizzy afterwards for hours!

I think I've learnt to accept that some days the house will look like shite. Most days I will look like shite

It's just so blooming tiring being ill and trying to act normal. I have chronic vestibular migraine, peripheral vestibular dysfunction and ulcerative colitis, plus crippling anxiety because my vestibular issues make me feel so weird all the time. I haven't had a single day of feeling even just OK in over 30 years. I work from home and it's so lonely, which is tiring in itself.

Try vitamin d3 if it won’t be a contraindication to anything else you’re on.

Glad to see that 100% think you are not BU! I totally get you OP. I have several chronic health conditions,ones that drain my energy and leave me feeling exhausted a lot of the time. Added to which is the fact that I have awful problems sleeping (getting to sleep and staying asleep) so I spend a good deal of my time feeling wiped out. There are days when I can barely be bothered to do anything because I'm so bone-achingly weary. Even just having a shower or washing my hair knackers me for the rest of the day. But I've been told that I'm lazy because my flat isn't always pristine and because I haven't the energy or stamina to stand up for an hour or so preparing and cooking a roast dinner. It honestly makes me want to cry sometimes. You really do have my sympathy.

Oh gosh that sounds really complicated with your iron levels.

And yes , history of pretty horrific periods, frequently anaemic plus severe prolapse, saw off my uterus for good. I had one good week in 4 where I felt anything like human. I spent so much of my life feeling like it was just me and I was lazy. And the eye rolls from people and criticism I faced when I couldn't work because of it were incredible. My energy levels are the best they've ever been (well since youth any way!). I wonder if the Mirena coil or something similar to keep your cycle under control might help? I had one which was starting to work, before my prolapse became severe (I over did it physically due to feeling better 🤦‍♀️😁).

Massive sympathy to all who are struggling with these issues. It's not you, don't beat yourself up. Keep life as simple as you can - easier said than done I know.

Its awful - the fatigue etc can really impact severely on brain fog - I wouldn’t go down the route of thinking you have brain damage. I have a chronic blood cancer (anemic and generally rubbish blood) and I completely have to prioritise sleep and recovery, I have a limited bucket of energy and have to be super careful at how I use it. Supplements (B’s and D’s & magnesium). No alcohol, plenty of water and prioritise strength based exercise over cardio. Learning to say no to stuff to focus on priorities is critical - along with a supportive partner.

I hear you OP, but please brush your teeth first thing…i say this as someone who is in denial they need a root canal. THE PAIN!!!!

Seriously though I so many vitamins I rattle, HRT, no booze, no nicotine, great diet… yet I just want to sleep, but can’t. Been told ME, fibro blah blah just words to me. It sucks!

Yep, I hear you.

I run at about 30 per cent of what normal people can do on average, and some days all I manage is teeth, bath and deliveroo.

I don't work due to my medical issues.

Sending you a big hug OP, it’s absolutely shit I know. I have MS and so many times I have to cancel things I have planned, can’t do the things
I would like to do, and it does make you feel depressed, the fatigue, pain, sleeplessness, forgetfulness, impaired cognitive function, it’s bloody exhausting. I try not to think too far ahead or let it get me down, but some days it is really tough. I hope you have a better day tomorrow 🙏

Sounds rotten. Also sounds like you don't have enough thyroxine.