To want to know why I feel so tired/ill all the time!!

[Bamboozle30001]

I'm 41, 5ft 7in 12 stone and I strength train for half an hour 4 days a week. I do under 20k steps due to being a cleaner 5 days a week. I eat very well and log my food on myfitnesspal.

Last week doctors thought my gallbladder was inflamed but, bloods, urine and a further physical exam all came back fine. Then why for the love of God am I am ALWAYS tired?Energy drinks or black coffee do nothing. I sleep for 8 hours.

I'd had a previous blood test a few weeks back as I suspected perimenopause but apart from high reading of b12...which I have no idea where that came from as I don't eat much in the way of the foods mentioned that are fortified, or take vitamin supplements either. I do have fibroids, but still I constantly feel tired and just generally unwell. Like the feeling that you're coming down with a cold, just run down all the bastard time.

Would it be worth getting a private doctor and see if there's any other tests or something because I am fed up of feeling like this.

Sorry to hear you are having a rough time. You say you have had blood tests. Have you you had all the regular tests such as ferritin, B12, vit D, diabetes and thyroid blood tests? If yes and they all ok, start looking further afield eg ME/CFS and coeliac disease

https://meassociation.org.uk/

I had a full blood work test beforehand which showed elevated levels of b12 which baffled me. I need to have a repeat full work test in 2 months time to check again.

The blood test I had last week showed no abnormalities. It's hard as I have no energy to do anything or play with our DS.

I can have high B12, I think its because almond milk is fortified. The main ones to check are vit D, folate, ferritin. Do you drink enough water? Eat enough calories/protein/carb/healthy fat? Get enough sleep? Are you exposed to a lot of toxic cleaning products?

Energy drinks or black coffee do nothing Defo cut them out.

Yep I drink 4litres a day of water. I make sure to.eat enough protein and healthy fats such as avocado,nut butter etc. I dont believe I am exposed to much. Just spraying tables and wiping down and mopping floors. I sleep minimum 7 hours.

What did your GP say about the high B12? Was it just out of range or higher?

Did they test I think it's T3 and T4 levels for your thyroid? Sometimes they don't test for both.

Do you have any joints issues/pain/recurrent injuries? Are you quite flexible?

I was diagnosed with hypermobility recently which explained a lot of issues, including fatigue. I was a dancer when young so I had never considered I was bendier than most. Hypermobility is a connective tissue disorder so it's not just that your joints are flexible and muscles have to work harder. It also affects how you absorb food, your cardiovascular system, your sleep, everything. Look it up. You have to change how you exercise as if you push yourself too much in the wrong ways it will cause even more fatigue.

4 litres of water plus other stuff? That’s a lot

2 litres including liquid from your food is “normal “

Sorry im going to sleep now. Im exhausted. Poor DH will have to do bedtime after letting me rest all day and him having a full day with our very energetic 5 year old.

Did they test your hormones?

I had this and I was in perimenopause. Around the same age x

Ask for your actual ferritin level as the NHS ranges are beyond a joke.

Agree that you need to know your exact ferritin levels, my doctors will say it's normal if it's over 13 but research says you can have symptoms at anything below 50 (ish, I could be wrong with the exact number)

The only thing I've found that consistently has a positive impact on my energy is hydration sachets/tablets. I know you say you drink 4L of water but I find the electrolytes make the difference

I agree my Ferritin was 17 but I was told it was within range. I was completely exhausted and pushed for more answers. They did prescribe iron supplements in the end. It’s only been a week so I’m not really much better yet.
DONT let them fob you off with this.

4L of water a day is way more than you need. Adding hydration sachets to a normal diet will likely give you too much salt - depending on what's in the sachets.
Mumsnet is obsessed with ferritin levels but there is very little evidence that low ferritin without anaemia (low haemoglobin) causes symptoms or that treating it makes any difference.
Resting/sleeping too much is a common mistake and often makes people feel worse.
Honestly - a busy physical job, a 5 year old & strength training would tire me out. If routine blood tests are normal it's very unlikely there is a disease causing this.

4 litres of water a day!!! Is that a joke. No wonder you are exhausted. Jesus, drink less water and you'll probably feel a lot better.

That is utter bollocks about low ferritin levels not causing any symptoms.

My ferritin was 5 back in January with normal haemoglobin. I had severe iron deficiency without anaemia. I was utterly exhausted, suffering from palpitations and an erratic heartbeat, my hair was falling out by the handful, I had constant cracks at the corners of my mouth, it felt like insects were crawling on my skin all the time, and I’d lay in bed and cry because restless legs were making my life a misery.

I had an iron infusion and felt better within just a few weeks. I have a life now rather than just an existence. The private haematologist I saw said the NHS is abysmal at treating low ferritin levels and it can have serious consequences if left untreated.

Have you actually seen your blood test results OP. What’s considered ‘normal’ can often be far away from optimal.

How much sugar do you eat? I cut sugar and upf out of my diet and I feel amazing. So much more energy. So much happier!

Totally agree

Ok I'll drop a litre today. I don't eat much sugar. Im still convinced theres something going on with my gallbladder as it hurts still.

Agree. I am exhausted
I can wake up and be back asleep within an hour
Going to the supermarket leaves me needing a nap afterwards
My ferritin has come back as 2. I also have an under active thyroid

Did they test your liver function?

Can you ask for a print out of the bloods from your GP and run them through chat GPT and ask it what might be causing the fatigue? It’s very helpful in this way. All your results should also be on the NHS app if you have it.
Hope you can get to the bottom of it.