Feeling completely drained, exhausted, sleepy and lethargic...why?

[ABitTipsy]

I have always felt a bit tired, pretty much all the time, but have always put this down to looking after 2 young DC's with no help/support from family etc.

But recently, the last few weeks, I have been feeling beyond just tired, but absolutely exhausted and feeling like I could crawl into bed and fall asleep at any time of day (but I always have trouble falling asleep when I do finally get into bed at night ).

What's wrong with me? Is it this hot weather making me feel sleepy and exhausted and lethargic? Is it just the DC's and coming up to the school holidays when everyone is feeling a bit tired anyway?

I eat healthily (most of the time), don't get much exercise admittedly apart from a bit of walking here and there, sleep ok once I actually fall asleep. I think I am a bit depressed about various things, but have been depressed for some time and this overwhelming tiredness has only been affecting me for a few weeks.

I am wondering if I have a mild form of ME/CFS? Is that even possible?

What can I do to not feel so tired all the time?

bump

The symptom of feeling exhausted all the time is one of the most difficult symptoms in medicine to get to the bottom of. In the absence of definite physical problems, it is most commonly linked to stress/anxiety/worry. It's really much too soon to consider ME/CFS and you should seek advice from your GP. Sometimes virus infections can leave you like this. See your doctor and get some proper advice. Good luck!

Thankyou garlicchicken (love the name!).

Yes, stress/anxiety/worry/depression are my constant companions so it could be down to that. But I feel so much more tired than usual and my stress is no greater than usual, that is what is puzzling. I think I have had a mild virus a while ago, just a cold/runny nose sort of thing. I did take some antibiotics though, could this be the cause of my exhaustion?

You should go to the doctor and get your iron level and thryroid levels checked. - I was the same as you and found out I am anaemic and have underactive thyroid.

frankie, thanks, I think I will make an appointment. What did your doc say? Do you feel better now?

I have low iron and ferratin, and take ferrous fersamole iron tablets. I also have an underactive thyroid and and take levothyroxine every day. I didn't suddenly feel energetic, but the thyroid tablets have definitely made a difference as I used to find it really difficlut to get to the end of the day without resting and on a day out would have to come home early as I was so exhausted.

Yup, low iron can do that. Go see your doc.

I knew I was low iron because I craved ice all the time- got checked and was REALLY low- feel so much better now I'm taking the tablets! (apart from upset stomach occasionally- iron can do that. BUT better than feeling exhausted all the time IMO)

i saw my gp as feeling constantly exhausted and in my case only my white blood count was low and we didn't get to the bottom of anything. I've been so tired that by evening I wasn't able to concentrate on conversations. It may not help you but just in case, I keep reading how easy celiac disease is to miss as many gps apparently don't always consider it and my mum suggested i gave up gluten. I don't know if it's coincidence but I.ve had my best week in ages and done far more than could manage til now. I hope you get through this soon

thank you frankie, glitter and looseleaf. I had not thought of gluten as a cause, will look into it.

I hate blood tests which is partly why I have been putting off going to the docs. I think I will have to go though, can't carry on like this much longer.