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Why have I forever been tired?

14 replies

Tara88 · 23/02/2018 16:03

Since I was a child I’ve slept more than average, I have memories of being told off for sleeping when I should have been tidying my room or for napping on the sofa before dinner. As an adult nothing changed, I would sleep at every opportunity, I sleep now when ever I can. This is and has really affected my life, I have a daughter and I feel like I’m missing so much, my husband is brilliant he just lets me sleep when I need to and isn’t judgmental. So here’s a normal routine for me, I go to bed around 10pm on a working day I wake at 6am to go to work for 7 finishing in time for school pick up, I make dinner and then I’m in bed by 4.30pm for a nap until 6.30ish awake until 10pm. On a day where my shift is slightly different I’m way worse, I get up at 6am start work at 7am finish at 10am sleep from when I get home until 2.30pm school pick up then back to work and home for 10pm then I sleep again.... I can keep myself awake when needed, for important things but I constantly yawn, if I have a day off after getting myself ready for the day I need a nap, just from showering! I’m short tempered and I’m also really sensitive to noise, I can’t focus well when there is background noise which makes me really angry. I have an appointment next week to be honest it’s long overdue and I’ve been to embarrassed to ask for help. But I want to actually be awake and enjoy my life rather than forcing myself to be present. I have tried a sleeping routine eg bed at 10pm up at 6am and I literally eye roll head dropping etc to get through it and nothing helps. my diet isn’t terrible could be better but I eat normal dinners the odd treat, I’m not overweight, certainly not underweight either. Any ideas? I need help

OP posts:
yawning801 · 23/02/2018 16:05

Are you anaemic? May be worth asking the doctor to give you a blood test, I had this and my iron levels were practically on the floor. I feel a lot better after taking iron!

Tara88 · 23/02/2018 16:06

Well I had a hunch that maybe it so I started taking iron a few years ago and it hasn’t helped

OP posts:
Rainatnight · 23/02/2018 16:06

Do you have any issues with anxiety or depression?

troodiedoo · 23/02/2018 16:09

If you are anaemia over the counter iron won't touch you. Blood test is the only way to find out if you're deficient

Momo18 · 23/02/2018 16:10

Over the counter iron has nothing in really, prescription stuff I had was 30-60 times stronger (I took two).

Tara88 · 23/02/2018 16:14

I will ask the doctor about anemia, Would that have any effect on my moods and sensitivity to noise etc? I would say I have anxiety I fret and overthink literally everything but this tiredness has come way way before me being worried about the world.

OP posts:
Tara88 · 23/02/2018 16:16

Just talking to my husband he is going to come with me next week, I just don’t want the doctor to think this is a new thing, it’s been around 18 years now, I will cancel plans or make excuses not to do something so I can sleep. It’s soul destroying

OP posts:
HopeClearwater · 23/02/2018 16:18

Have you got sleep apnoea?

Tara88 · 23/02/2018 16:31

I’ve never really had reason to believe it’s sleep apnoea. I don’t snore according to my husband, I do sometimes wake in the night I have nightmares and sometimes sleep paralysis, usually I’m in a deep sleep and if I’m woken I’m confused and angry for a couple of minutes

OP posts:
dantdmistedious · 23/02/2018 16:35

Have you ever been to the doctor about it?

Thyroid
B12 deficiency
Anemia
Diabetes

kingsleysbootlicker · 23/02/2018 16:40

I was exactly like you describe and it turned out to be Pernicious Anaemia (B12 deficiency). I wasn't diagnosed until age 40 because I didn't have actual blood anaemia so my low B12 level was wrongly ignored. It is definitely worth asking your GP to test it (as long as you haven't taken any B12 supplements in the last couple of months) and also Vitamin D

Tara88 · 23/02/2018 16:40

I’m sure I’ve had a full blood work done before, for other reasons but I haven’t been to the doctor about this before guess I’ve just been worried they would say I’m just lazy. My parents always said I’d grow out of it but I haven’t I’m 30 and still struggling. I will mention all of the above

OP posts:
Tara88 · 23/02/2018 16:44

Kingsleybootlicker did they prescribe you something? Has it made a difference. I feel like I’m going to be like this forever

OP posts:
kingsleysbootlicker · 23/02/2018 17:03

Yes, I need a B12 injection every other day. I am definitely much better, I had neurological damage by the time I was diagnosed and it has all resolved but I still have some fatigue issues due to going so long misdiagnosed. You may well have had it tested already... the problem is that most doctors know too little about it. They don't realise how serious it is; they incorrectly think you need to be anaemic; the lab ranges for the blood test are too low so doctors think levels are fine when are not; they tell patients to take oral supplements when injections are needed which raises the blood level but doesn't help symptoms. The best thing to do is get the blood test but then ask for a print out of your result including the lab range... you can then make sure your level is not borderline low

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