Exhausted - what can I do? Please MNers, advise me on how to put ME first...

[KnackeredDotCom]

I have name changed but am long time regular (here for cube of poo, booble plate, swmnbn etc)

Have a busy life and on the whole I love it but atm have just had two days in bed cos of some kind of gastric bug and it's made me realise I need to take care of myself more.

Have 2 DSes 1 and nearly 4

Am SAHM during the day and do all the childcare as DH commutes and leaves before we get home and gets home after DSes are in bed.

I also have a PT evening job which I love but does mean I'm often up late (midnightish by the time head hits pillow) on the nights I work.

I gave up b/feeding at the end of Oct and when I was doing so felt it was okay to replace sleep with food to a certain extent but can't as actually need to shift a few pounds. Am also quite reliant on coffee, though this tummy bug has stopped that so will maybe use a chance to cut down.

Someone recently told me that these years when you have little ones in nappies and where you have to have eyes in the back of your head are like wading through waist high jelly and you just need to be chanting "this too will pass" and "the days are long but the years are short" to yourself to get through it.

I want to enjoy it though.

What can I do to help with the exhaustion?

TIA (and thanks for reading this far, didn't mean it to be so long)

Have you had a blood test to check you are not suffering from iron deficency anaemia, or folate or vitamin b12 deficency anaemia? Its important to check these things. It might just be you are run down and your body needs time to recuperate. Hope you feel better soon. x

Thanks Ellen- hadn't thought about aneamia or anything liek that.
Thanks

Surely your lifestyle needs to change - your sleep pattern is all over the place. As a SAHM and working from home helping with the business, two boys 2.5 and 6. That in itself is exhausting. You seem to pushing yourself beyond natural boundaries.

I think your looking for the pill when possibly you need to re-evaluate your life. I had chronic fatigue years ago and about 85% better but I have had to change my life - and avoid stress or anxiety as these two things eat you up and have so many side effects its unbelievable. Low alcohol intake, strict bedtime routines, exercise and being organised helps too.

Good diet? Excessive sugar and carbs combined slow you down.

We work really hard here and certain times work very long hours and lots of stress however, it comes at a price, we get exhausted and feel like poo for a few days after. I have all the childcare, housework, and paperwork to do myself too. My OH is also working all hours.

Perhaps you need to break the cycle and get out without the children, get some exercise and get your heart rate pumping? Some leisure centres have creche and go for a swim so something. On the days inside with the boys I feel churned up and ready to explode.

Hope some of these points help???

Thanks bacon - yes think I Have just burnt the candle
Have been sleeping when baby sleeps today
And trying to be kind to myself
And before Xmas I was going to the gym - they have a creche - need to organise all of that again. key is to be organised i guess.
Thanks again