Exhaustion from light exercise - what could cause this?

[Junglefowl]

I saw a doctor to discuss chronic fatigue and he didn't think I have it. I am just so keen to know what is limiting me though, as any physical effort takes HUge amounts out of me.
If I can ever get to sit or lie down I can feel normal, it's just when I need to walk (not even very far) that my whole body starts to struggle.

If anyone has any thoughts I'd be really interested as giving up on ever knowing. The doctor has done some blood tests so maybe this could give a clue when results come.

Thanks if any ideas as I'd really appreciate it

The blood test should show up any of the common causes - low iron, underactive thyroid, etc.

Then there's also the role of hormones - there'll be times of the month when we all feel wiped, but if our hormones are a bit out of whack (menopause/pre-menopause, irregular cycles, contraception issues, etc.) this can become constant. Do you feel (as far as you know) hormonally balanced relative to your stage of life?

Thank you so much.

Yes I feel balanced and not near menopause and had this problem a while .
the tiredness is just odd as very extreme. I do wonder if a deficiency is to blame or anemia as just been looking on the internet too but I don't remember previous blood tests showing any concerns and my unusual tiredness has been there for some time.

Any throat infections? I felt this after having kids and looking back I'm sure I had glandular fever as I'd had some nasty throat infections which I put down to tonsillitis but now I'm not so sure. Ok now but took months

None, but it's still great to have an idea of other things it could be so thank you. I'm glad you are better

Heart working OK? Any erratic beat after effort or exercise? Hopefully not cardiac related but worth checking maybe.
Good luck.

Thanks, yes my heart is strong and fine . It's baffling and my blood tests so far are normal but the doctor wondered if I need to see a muscle-specialising doctor (whatrver they are called). My muscles seem to work fine though, just there's this weird overtired reaction when I've used them even say just walking for a mile. I'm slim and in my 30s

Try counting your heart rate when at rest, and again shortly after standing up. There's a condition called POTS which causes fatigue and difficulty moving around when stood up.

Gosh Mumsnet is amazing. I'll try this and so grateful for another idea

(Funnily enough I said to the doctor that I always feel happier lying down now which is not what I used to do or need ever )

are you over weight? Do you have high cholesterol?

no, I'm a size 10 or so. I do find the POTS discovery a revelation though and incredibly thankful for that as is does sound an important one to look into

I have EXACTLY the same thing! My legs just wear out so fast, if I have to go up some stairs or something they end up feeling like jelly, like I've run a marathon. It's like my battery has only 5% charge and once it's worn out, it takes a lot longer than normal to recharge.
I have a couple of autoimmune conditions which can cause extreme fatigue but this muscle weakness seems separate/additional. I have had many blood tests and the only abnormal results I get are for thyroid - but the doctor thinks they are not abnormal enough to need treatment.
I am back at the GP this week after the latest round of blood tests to see what the next plan is.
Oh, I am perimenopausal and have started on hrt - so far it makes no difference at all. I'd be very interested to find out if you get anywhere with this!

Have you had your vitamin levels checked? most GP's don't routinely check them but they can cause all manner of physical symptoms.

My Vit D level was found to be extremely low and I had severe fatigue and joint pain that I couldn't walk more than 100m without a sit down to rest. I put it down to the auto immune condition I have but high strength D3 capsules gave me a new lease of life.

Oh Okite I am emotional at not being alone! I feel like you, simply drained and yet I look so healthy and Normal it is invisible which is so hard as friends just don't understand what it is like or how I have to pace absolutely everything I do.
I am interested you mention autoimmune stuff as I developed this too and can no longer eat various grains including rice and corn .
Do PM me anytime and I feel quite elated in a way if POTS is the answer for me as I've wondered for so long what is up and just had chronic fatigue ruled out (at some expense as don't have private healthcare but I just wanted answers!).

Thanks Mrspnut, yes I take vitamin D3 and been in the sun a lot. You are so right as this can have a big affect

My thyroid is overactive I feel the same as you

Same here. I am hypothyroid and also coeliac. Also had low Vit D, so try to get out in the sun as much as possible and also take Vit D pills. I have previously had B12 injections!

It feels like I use energy faster than I can replace it so end up exhausted and take a long time to recover. Get muscle aches if I do more than an hour of walking... fingers crossed someone here works out what it is!

If I stop taking vitamin d, b and iron this happens to me. Ask for your ferritin to be checked (not just haemoglobin).

B12 deficiency is a very likely culprit and it's a separate test not part of the full blood test.

Have a look at Pernicious Anaemia UK website which has a list of symptoms and see if they fit your experience.

Thank you all so much, I'm finding this so helpful as had long given up on working out how to get better.
The doctor did do a test for B12 at my request so he will let me know if it's that which will be helpful I think.

I've been trying hard to work out if it's PoTS but I don't think it is; my heart beat goes up about 20 beats from lying to just standing still rather than the 30+ that wold suggest it is.

pootle thanks, I will as had my eye on anemia sounding similar. I have a really good diet but it does seem autoimmune things can lead to malabsorption. ( I think my wheat issues are non-coeliac gluten sensitivity but not had that verified)

I have non-coeliac gluten sensitivity too plus being tested for autoimmune diseases. My b12 hit rock bottom a few years ago but after 8 weekly jabs I'm feeling better and starting to absorb nutrients again.

Coeliac disease can cause B12 deficiency, it's one of the things I was tested for. I have pernicious anaemia but it is treated and the muscle weakness has only started over the last 6 months or so whereas I've been diagnosed for pa for a couple of years, so I think/assume mine has a different cause.

Junglefowl - you say chronic fatigue, do you mean chronic fatigue syndrome? If so, do you know why that was ruled out?

This correlates to another curious detail often found in the history taking of someone with CFS - they read lying down. Most healthy persons prefer to read sitting up.

www.cfidsselfhelp.org/library/post-exertional-malaise

@CFSKate, that post-exertional-malaise article sums it up perfectly!!