Body feels like it is slowing down - am I just getting old or something?

[MintyBadger]

For the past year and a half, I've felt like I'm getting physically less able. I'm 36, so hardly ancient. It started when I thought I'd got a virus (which didn't come to anything). I felt like I was wading through treacle, fuzzy head etc.

It didn't really ever go away. I'm putting on weight, slowly but surely it is creeping on and I am officially now quite fat and heavy. I've never really done much exercise except walking, so I know I have to do that and I accept it. What's worrying me is that for all my adult life I was able to maintain a certain weight and now I can't. Is this just old age?

I'm really tired in my head, as well. In short I feel like a shadow of a person. I'm starting to get worried about myself. I know exercise is the key but does anyone recognise what I'm talking about?

Have you had any tests - thyroid springs to mind.

No, I don't really want to bother the doctor with a load of minor woes - I'm clearly not ill as such, just feeling very depleted or something.
Plus, the first thing they will ask is about exercise, quite rightly.

I thought about thyroid though. The trouble is that the symptoms are so common - anyone could read the list and diagnose themselves.

Was just about to post thyroid, but i see FA has beaten me to it. - I had symptoms very smilar to those you describe earlier in the year, and was eventualy diagnosed with uderactive thyroid after blood tests. If it is that, you will start to feel better fairly soon after treatment starts. I would make a list of all your symptoms (however odd you may feel they are) and go to your GP with them. HTH.

just read your next post - you are not 'bothering' the doctor, you are seeking help for a set of symptoms which is disrupting your life and making you feel unwell. At least ask about thyroid and get it ruled out, because it is fairly easily treated. Please do go

Nothing to do with exercise.

Please have a little confidence in yourself, and go to the GP. They are usually very nice and just want to help you find out what's wrong.

They are unlikely to have a go at you about exercise.

I had exactly what you describe - went to my (fab) doctor with a really vague list of symptoms and she immediately said she thought it was insulin resistance. I have PCOS and this is often linked. She prescribed me Metformin which is a diabetes drug, and I went on a very low carb diet and literally within days started to feel better, within 10 weeks I had lost 2.5 stone and had my old 'head' back - I can't explain how drastic the change was. Within 11 weeks I was pregnant

I was also tested for thyroid and full diabetes with these symptoms so hopefully IR is something your doctor would consider anyway, if not do mention it. Do you ever feel 'funny' after meals - light headed, palpitations, sweaty? that was one thing I mentioned to my doc that flagged it up.

That's interesting. Thanks.
I feel like I'm moving through thick air, or something. And I can't carry through an idea - for example I know I should be playing with the children but I am sort of paralysed and don't know what to do. It's really odd and not the old me at all.

I would make an appointment with your doctor. Because you've gained weight, I would recommend you keep a very accurate food and exercise diary from now until you can get to the appointment. Literally weigh and measure what you eat. This will enable the doctor (and yourself if you tot up the calorie content) to see if you're overeating or if you're likely to be deficient in particular nutrition. And, if neither apply, then this short-cuts you on to other tests as to why you would be feeling lousy.

Good luck

Worth going to your GP. I had similar symptoms and turned otu to have low oestogen levels, which were related to pregnancy and breastfeeding. HRT (not for everyone I know)made me feel like myself again within a couple of days.

It most definitely is not part of the normal ageing process to start slowing down, losing energy and putting on weight when still only in yor mid-30s. There is definitely something physical going on there that you need to have diagnosed, so that you can get the energy back that you need to lead a normal 30-something year old's life.