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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ask gp to investigate

21 replies

Overwhelmed123 · 02/01/2025 21:57

AIBU to think my energy levels are unusually low?

If I exercise even a little I'm sore for days and need to nap/massage. I used to be really fit and this was all in the last year it changed

Went to gp, found my vit D levels are low and been on supplements. But am still getting symptoms especially in the cold weather

Eg today I got up, went for a walk, got ds ready to go to childcare, collapsed in bed for a couple of hours, did 4 couple hours work, needed another nap (DS was with his dad)

This was a particularly bad day but isn't unusual 1-2 times a week for me to be this tired

I eat healthily. Am juggling a lot so could be overwhelm.

I'm not very good at pushing gps to investigate so I just take the "bloods show it's all fine" and slink back to my life, I usually just assume AIBU and need to cut back on what I'm doing ...but at this point unless I give up my job there is nothing else I can really adjust

OP posts:
OdeToBarney · 02/01/2025 22:30

What were your vit d levels and how much vit d are you taking?

RegulatorsMountUp · 02/01/2025 22:34

What about iron levels? How old are you?

Dotto · 02/01/2025 22:37

I think it can take several months of high dose vit D to see improvements, but not 100% sure. Did you have serum ferritin result? If you're worried, get back in touch with GP.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 02/01/2025 22:37

How old is DS? Children are exhausting!!!!
Agree check iron levels. Full blood tests not just vitamin D.
Could also be viral- sometimes you can be run down and the only symptom is fatigue.
Try not to fight it too much and allow yourself to get plenty of rest, but also do try and get out in the fresh air every day if you can.

Octember · 02/01/2025 22:52

I'm the same OP. Everything hurts Sad

Bloods are fine, physio thinks fibro.

Are you peri-menopausal? HRT has helped a bit.

Endofyear · 02/01/2025 23:05

How are your iron levels? That's the first thing I'd think if I was constantly fatigued. You say you eat healthily - are you getting enough protein and healthy fat in your diet? Are you sleeping well at night?

Could you be peri-menopausal? I would ask GP for a more comprehensive blood screening to include hormones/thyroid function. Do you have a GP at your practice with a specialism in women's health? We have a well woman clinic run by one of our GPs and she is the go to for anything menopause/female health related.

incognitomummy · 03/01/2025 00:38

Have you had your thyroid checked? And then checked the results yourself against what is optimal? Normal range in the U.K. is ridiculously wide and not optimal. When I'm within normal I feel terrible. My results need to be within a much smaller window in order to feel well. Stop the thyroid madness and dr isabellla wentz both have advice on this.

Also worth having a well woman MOT with a meno specialist. I've recently discovered I've been peri meno for almost 10 years (ie since I had my 1st child in my mid 30s, no wonder i struggled to have a 2nd). It explains so much!! HRT is helping. Incl with sore joints and fatigue.

And. When it comes to vitamin d you cannot just take a vitamin d supplement and hope it works. It's likely you are not absorbing it well and so you need to take its co factors to assist with that. I found a FB group and followed their protocol. It helped my vitamin d levels far more than any dr advice I was given!! I take high dose vitamin d CAPSULES, boron, fish oils, and I take magnesium - different types for different times of the day. Mostly dissolved into my water bottle but also tablet form.

I also take b vitamins. And try to eat lots of protein.

Best of luck with your sleuthing. Don't accept being written off.

Keepingongoing · 03/01/2025 09:15

I would go back to the GP and give an example of exactly the kind of day you’ve described, both the activities and the naps. Did this day follow on from a full night’s sleep? Emphasise that this is not normal for you, that it’s debilitating, and that you were previously very fit.

With what you’ve described of your day, I would be wondering about Chronic Fatigue syndrome or ME. Hopefully it’s not that, but it would be good to get it ruled out.

Not medically qualified but I am a sufferer.

Original poster
Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:17

OdeToBarney · 02/01/2025 22:30

What were your vit d levels and how much vit d are you taking?

they were 40 nmol/L ...but this was last feb and I have been taking supplements (2000 iu) and/or spending LOTS of time outside since

OP posts:
Original poster
Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:18

RegulatorsMountUp · 02/01/2025 22:34

What about iron levels? How old are you?

He checked this as that's what I was initially worried about as its worse after my period and they were fine. I am 37

OP posts:
Original poster
Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:19

Dotto · 02/01/2025 22:37

I think it can take several months of high dose vit D to see improvements, but not 100% sure. Did you have serum ferritin result? If you're worried, get back in touch with GP.

yeh, it's been a year since that blood test, and I did feel a lot more energetic in the summer, so I thought I had built up reserves

OP posts:
Original poster
Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:20

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 02/01/2025 22:37

How old is DS? Children are exhausting!!!!
Agree check iron levels. Full blood tests not just vitamin D.
Could also be viral- sometimes you can be run down and the only symptom is fatigue.
Try not to fight it too much and allow yourself to get plenty of rest, but also do try and get out in the fresh air every day if you can.

Hes 5, and its still the holidays so that could be it 😂
I'll ask for a full blood test again as it has been a year so things could have changed and this could be fatigue for a completely different reason

OP posts:
RegulatorsMountUp · 03/01/2025 10:20

Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:18

He checked this as that's what I was initially worried about as its worse after my period and they were fine. I am 37

Show quote history

The 'you're fine' levels via the gp are often not really high enough. You can buy iron supplements from boots or anywhere really. I'd start taking them anyway and see how you feel.

Original poster
Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:21

Octember · 02/01/2025 22:52

I'm the same OP. Everything hurts Sad

Bloods are fine, physio thinks fibro.

Are you peri-menopausal? HRT has helped a bit.

I'm not sure re peri-menopause...am late thirties so it seems a bit early but not impossible, especially as my period seems to knock me sideways every month

OP posts:
Original poster
Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:22

incognitomummy · 03/01/2025 00:38

Have you had your thyroid checked? And then checked the results yourself against what is optimal? Normal range in the U.K. is ridiculously wide and not optimal. When I'm within normal I feel terrible. My results need to be within a much smaller window in order to feel well. Stop the thyroid madness and dr isabellla wentz both have advice on this.

Also worth having a well woman MOT with a meno specialist. I've recently discovered I've been peri meno for almost 10 years (ie since I had my 1st child in my mid 30s, no wonder i struggled to have a 2nd). It explains so much!! HRT is helping. Incl with sore joints and fatigue.

And. When it comes to vitamin d you cannot just take a vitamin d supplement and hope it works. It's likely you are not absorbing it well and so you need to take its co factors to assist with that. I found a FB group and followed their protocol. It helped my vitamin d levels far more than any dr advice I was given!! I take high dose vitamin d CAPSULES, boron, fish oils, and I take magnesium - different types for different times of the day. Mostly dissolved into my water bottle but also tablet form.

I also take b vitamins. And try to eat lots of protein.

Best of luck with your sleuthing. Don't accept being written off.

thank you that's really helpful ...it could be that I am not actually absorbing the vitamins at all !
I haven't had my thyroid checked. How do you get a well-woman MOT?

OP posts:
Original poster
Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:24

Keepingongoing · 03/01/2025 09:15

I would go back to the GP and give an example of exactly the kind of day you’ve described, both the activities and the naps. Did this day follow on from a full night’s sleep? Emphasise that this is not normal for you, that it’s debilitating, and that you were previously very fit.

With what you’ve described of your day, I would be wondering about Chronic Fatigue syndrome or ME. Hopefully it’s not that, but it would be good to get it ruled out.

Not medically qualified but I am a sufferer.

I have wondered about chronic fatigue syndrome...but my family are very much of the ilk that 'all illnesses are in your head' so I've been reluctant to press the gp if my bloods don't show anything abnormal for fear of being told I am making it up

OP posts:
Original poster
Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:25

RegulatorsMountUp · 03/01/2025 10:20

The 'you're fine' levels via the gp are often not really high enough. You can buy iron supplements from boots or anywhere really. I'd start taking them anyway and see how you feel.

Show quote history

oh interesting ! I will find some, thanks for mentioning

OP posts:
MaddestGranny · 03/01/2025 10:27

Have you considered Long Covid?

Original poster
Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:30

MaddestGranny · 03/01/2025 10:27

Have you considered Long Covid?

I had covid Nov 2020, how would they test for it?

OP posts:
Keepingongoing · 03/01/2025 19:48

Overwhelmed123 · 03/01/2025 10:24

I have wondered about chronic fatigue syndrome...but my family are very much of the ilk that 'all illnesses are in your head' so I've been reluctant to press the gp if my bloods don't show anything abnormal for fear of being told I am making it up

Show quote history

ALL illnesses? What does your family think the NHS is for then?!

Chronic fatigue syndrome, ME or Long Covid are certainly very real illnesses, but there’s no blood test for them as yet. They’re diagnosed after other things have been excluded and if your symptoms fit.

GPs expect you to go back if you’re still unwell after the bloods show everything’s normal. They may be listening for you saying what you’re really worried about. Really, it sounds like you need to go back to the GP. I don’t think you’ll be told that you’re making it up.

You can deal with your family’s attitudes when you know what’s going on with your health. Good luck and I really hope you find an answer.

RegulatorsMountUp · 04/01/2025 16:32

Keepingongoing · 03/01/2025 19:48

ALL illnesses? What does your family think the NHS is for then?!

Chronic fatigue syndrome, ME or Long Covid are certainly very real illnesses, but there’s no blood test for them as yet. They’re diagnosed after other things have been excluded and if your symptoms fit.

GPs expect you to go back if you’re still unwell after the bloods show everything’s normal. They may be listening for you saying what you’re really worried about. Really, it sounds like you need to go back to the GP. I don’t think you’ll be told that you’re making it up.

You can deal with your family’s attitudes when you know what’s going on with your health. Good luck and I really hope you find an answer.

Show quote history

A lot of NHS staff think fibromalgia, chronic fatigue, long covid etc are actually mental illnesses from what i gather so OPs family is not alone in this thinking. I recently met an operating theatre nurse who told me this when discussing life insurance as these conditions came up in the questions. I was really surprised and asked why that was a school of thought and he explained there is just never any physical evidence other than what people explain and how they "feel" and that generally its thought these conditions and the pain that goes along with them are manifested by the brain. Interesting take on it I thought!

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