Treatment options for exhaustion?

[Twinkletwinkle1977]

After:

1. 2 miscarriages
2. A hypermesis pregnancy
3. A sick baby who nearly died after birth
4. 6 hospital admissions totally 8 weeks of hospital stays with said baby plus 100s of drs appointments and all the stress and uncertainty that comes with this
5. Another child (aged 2) to look after
6. A family death, redundancy and
7. An unsupportive husband who has worked full time through this

All in 18 months, I am exhausted. Like really clinically exhausted to the extent in my dc's last hospital admission i was bedridden for a morning with a racing heart, dizziness and so so tired.

So what I can do please? Recommendations as to how to get back to health, feel better and also stop catching every illness going ATM?

I am already getting as much sleep as I can but the toddler and baby both wake and I average about 3 hours a night in hospital - I'm exclusively breastfeeding and also leaving the baby alone in hospital is not something I'd ever do (I don't judge those that do though).
My diet is pretty rubbish and I exercise on rare chance I can. I also walk when I can. I've just started taking probiotics.

Can I check myself into hospital (and bring the baby with me) for a few days either privately or through the nhs if/when I next 'collapse'? Can you hire private nurses at home to help out for a bit? We have no option for more extended family support btw - we have help from my parents once a week but they can't do more and my inlaws just don't help. Toddler goes to nursery 4 days a week already which does help.

Sympathy for you OP. When I was pregnant with a 1 year old I fantasised lots about living in a hotel for 2 weeks, alone. As I had a history of bad depression, dh and my medics started panicking. It was just exhaustion, I wanted a rest! It seems like you are listening to your body. If you can get a night or two to yourself, do. Get oh to look after the kids (if unsupportive extends to being crap with the kids, he may well get better after a but of sole care - but don't try to manage that time, if he takes them to a relative, its fine,the point is that you get a break)
Being in a tip top nutritional state is good, bit there is no short cut to rest. I know, I've explored this a lot! If it costs money, it is money well spent on your health and wellbeing. Good luck.

Been in v similar position. Agree with vit D if you can remember. Cut your workload down by as much as poss, especially cooking/cleaning. Prepacked bag for you and DC. Wish I'd gone and spent the night at my mums once or twice, just to catch up sleep - might force your DH to pull his weight now and then (my DH work's away, but is great when around, prob needs a rest more than me). After 2 horrendous winters, this one has been much better. Also citalopram (anti-depressant) worth considering. Took a v low dose for a short time last winter, been taking since New Year this winter. It does help with feeling better rested on what sleep I do get and less low/defeated.

Sorry, forgot about the bfing. Looks like you are able to take citalopram with it, but I'd check first with the www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/detailed-information/drugs-in-breastmilk/.

You can often hire 'Mother's help' (I hate the term). Might be worth googling.

I've found one near me that I will use when I have my first as I have bipolar disorder and severe lack of sleep would trigger a severe depression.

As an example...she only does 9am-5pm but could take care of the children while you sleep upstairs

www.doulaclaireroberts.co.uk

can you afford night nanny for a month or so?

Thanks - we can't afford too many nights of night nanny but can do the odd night or yes a mothers help sounds exactly what I need. We used a night nanny when we came out of hospital when she was 3 weeks ( after nearly dying after birth) and she was really good so might try her for a few nights and/or leave oh with them and go to hotel! Oh is pretty tired too tho but nowhere near the level I am.
10 x frozen meals for 2 ordered from Cook for £60 this morning in their bundle deal so feeling like the positive changes are starting! Now to get to boots for various vitamins and prepack hospital bag (my oh has forgotten nappies before!). Going to also book a gp app to discuss blood tests and poss that medicine u mention voldemort.
Thank you so much all. It's lovely to have some support. I was starting to think id have to literally collapse and call an ambulance for things to start to be turned around. I'm with you pp about being too tired to dry yourself - most nights I just collapse into bed in my clothes and don't even manage to clean my teeth!

You poor love, I feel for you. My early years with my babies were similar, and I remember the exhaustion well.

Missed meals, hospital food and dehydration mean that you are literally running on empty.

Your body is crying out for good food to use to rebuild itself. It cannot do it on junk food.

Please - please - watch this :

www.bing.com/videos/search?q=superjuice+me&view=detail&mid=F40A9BA7E4DFC194D488F40A9BA7E4DFC194D488&FORM=VIRE&PC=APPL

It's the quickest way to get the most goodness into your body.

A decent juicer will cost you about £40 on Amazon.

There are any number of books to show which veg/fruit works best for you.

PLEASE trust me on this - after 30 years of chronic pain and exhaustion, juicing has revolutionised my life, and that of my friends and family.

Xxx

Juicer bought off amazon! At this point I'm willing to give anything a go - something has to change. Juicer might help with baby food purees too (juice then mix with greek yogurt or whipped cream as she needs to put on weight)

Go Twinkle !!!

Notes -

Always peel beetroot before you juice it - or it tastes kinda earthy - but it's brilliant for extra energy.

Cut the peel off oranges, or they taste bitter.

Lemons/limes - cut coloured bit off, but leave as much white pith as poss, cos that's where the extra goodness is

Always put something juicy in first, like apples. then something hard - like carrots - then finish off with a bit more apple.

Always do pineapple last - or the fibres clog up the juicer.

Jason Vale's 28 day juice diet (book or app) is great. Obviously it is designed for dieting (where you JUST have the juices).

But, if you follow the plan and have the recommended 4 juices a day then your body will be flooded with more goodness than you have had for YEARS.

By all means eat regular food as well - but I guarantee you won't want more than one meal a day ... you just won't be hungry.

I was plagued with constant migraines and terrible joint/muscle pain for the best part of 30 years. The pain wouldn't let me sleep. I was exhausted.

I saw so many doctors/hospital consultants - but no medication would take away the pain.

Once I started juicing, my body basically mended itself.

No more migraines.
Pain reduced to a minimum.
And now I sleep like a log, and wake refreshed every day.

I know I sound pretty bat-shit crazy, but I now have my life back ... and I love it.

My friends and family have seen such a difference in me - from crippled and barely able to walk, to a normal life full of energy - that they have all bought juicers too!

Xxx

Thanks pusscat and really glad it's made a difference to you. Must be amazing to feel good again.

I think the husband may have to go sooner than planned - id wanted to get back on my feet physically, emotionally and get my career back before I thought about leaving him but it's become clear today I'm not going to get there without leaving him first. I did a whole day of positive changes and really tried to make it the start of life improving. But he just dragged me down all day - moaned about the cook prepared food, said we had a blender already, refused to sort the new bed for my toddler so she might sleep better, undermined my strategy for dealing with her wake ups, and then refused to babysit so I could make a 30 min massage appointment. To be fair he was working from home but he only had the baby to look after and she doesn't cry and happily plays on a mat for an hour - it wasn't like he had to do anything with her. I was so relaxed and happy after my changes and massage and then the day just descended into arguments and upset again. He seemed to resent me trying to make things better or look after myself. He's spent the last 6 months asking me why can't I cope Because he can (er this is because he hasn't done a single hospital admission and I've done all her apps and care whilst he's just gone to work and ignored it was all happening) and telling me I'm 'mentally unstable'. I fear he's got to go before I can feel better

Any tips for improving life with a toxic person around?

He's going to be in your life now whether you leave him or not. So make the most of him. If he's willing to do his share with the kids when he's not at work, let him. Get a rest. If after a couple of weeks at least you still want him gone, start making a plan. In the meantime detach a bit, ask him clearly if you want him to do something, but with the knowledge that he might say no, and that you will stay calm if he does.

Thanks love - that's what I had been doing a bit - just utilising him as much as he would do and putting off the issue of our relationship until things calmed down a bit but I think he had a net overall negatuve effect.... He can be quite hard emotionally to live with. Eg when I had my miscarriages he said they were happening and were all in my head and didn't come to the hospital with me. I think a little more housework and a lot less emotional strife might reduce my exhaustion over all too!

Therefore not too