Have lost my oomph

[PerverseConverse]

Moan alert but fed up of myself. Any suggestions as to how I can help myself would be great.

I'm a single mum of 3 children aged 12,10 and 4. I have chronic pain and take strong analgesia daily. Without it I couldn't do the school run (well walk, I don't drive). School run is a 5 mile walk each day in total.

I am permanently tired and not wanting to do much. I ache. I have a constant low grade virus affecting my sinuses so have daily headaches and face/tooth pain. Teeth are fine, I've had them checked, it's my sinuses). I have a steroid nose spray and salt nose spray to help but the headaches persist.

I started on Prozac in the new year and it helped initially but now I feel irritable again and lacking any enthusiasm for much.

I'm on the pill to control my horrendous periods but this makes me hungry so I'm gaining weight which makes me miserable. I take 3 months at a time then have a break. Currently in the break and considering not going back on it.

My vitamin d level has previously been very low but my NHS Trust no longer do blood tests for this. I've asked, they've checked with the lab, and no was the answer. I take a multivitamin.

I'm really stressed by brexit, and my eldest is being particularly challenging at the moment. I swear she's on the spectrum with ADD but she was seen by CAHMS and the gatekeeper said she was not in need of their services as didn't meet any criteria to even have a proper test.

The older ones see their dad but LO never sees his so I never get a break except when LO is at nursery but that's only 2.5 days a week. I try to get out on my bike one day a week and love that me time but generally those 2 days are spent on housework and shopping. The half day only gives me an hour at home so no time to do much.

No friends or family to help out at all.

I am so fed up with feeling like this. I feel pathetic and moany and it's not like me at all. What can I do to kick myself up the arse?!

Just to add, I feel hot and cold frequently. Sweaty at night.
Bloods were done last summer and all normal. Thyroid smack bang in the middle of the normal range.
Oh and breastfeeding the lo too although only at bedtime.

Talk to your GP about the painkillers you are on. It sounds like they're the issue..... I had a head injury years ago and was on a cocktail of medication that made me feel so incredibly unlike myself. DH was so worried that in the end he dragged me back to my surgery where we saw a different GP and they were horrified at what I'd been prescribed. I came off them all slowly and went onto better alternatives that didn't involve opiates and came off everything within 18 months. When I realised what the side effects were from most of them, I'd have never put one in my mouth. Now I have to be at deaths door to even take a paracetamol, it's all so toxic to our systems.

Thanks for your reply. I've been on these for decades now and have been through every analgesic along the way to see what works. I can't take NSAIDs because of asthma and gastritis. Opiates are the only thing that shift the pain and allow me to function. Feeling like this is fairly recent.

You can get a vitamin D check through Medichecks for £39. I have used them in the past.

I would book another GP appointment and see if they can get to the bottom of how you are feeling.

The reason they won't test here is that nearly everyone would show as deficient. I need to buy more prescription strength vitD.

Have you tried turmeric capsules OP? I recommend them for general pain and inflammation- for me they were a game changer. Did you say you’re still feeding a 4 year old? I only ask and query as your poor body sounds spent. Isn’t it about time you put some good nutrition back into your system and kept it there for yourself to get back into decent health?

Are you on PPI meds for your gastritis? If you are it could be that you are not getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals which can affect your health and energy levels (
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/25083257/)

Nearly everyone in the N hemisphere has a vit D deficiency. You can buy them over the counter. Sinus infections can take ages tho go, I'm prone to them and sympathise.
Tbh, it just sounds like you've got a lot on and life is quite tough right now. Sleep as much as you can and give yourself nice treats, baths or whatever it is that you like.
It's great that you are able to exercise. That should help.
Cut yourself some slack with the housework too.

I'll get some turmeric, I've heard good things about it.
I'm on high dose PPI treatment. 60mg lansoprazole a day as the usual dose of 30mg doesn't control the symptoms.

@IdblowJonSnow thank you. Sometimes I do abandon all but the necessary and treat myself to an episode of something I enjoy. I generally go to bed by 9pm as so tired and feel better for being in bed with a book mumsnet

Have you tried a no sugar diet OP? Low carb? It makes a huge difference to period pain in my experience. There are also foods which are less inflammatory than others, so have an immediate effect on joint pain, stiffness etc. I would question if the cocktail of drugs you are on is actually causing your symptoms. Is it just opioids and PPI medication, plus the pill? Or is there more. You'd need expert advice, but could you go completely holistic for day 3 months, low carb, no sugar and ditch the drugs.
As another PP said, maybe ditch breastfeeding for your 4 year as your body seems to need all the nutrition and energy it can get.
Do you do anything else that might be contributing to fatigue? Smoking, alcohol, too many sugar highs, followed by crashes, caffeine that might inhibit sleep? Don't feel you need to answer here, but perhaps keep a diary and see if you can spot anything. A colleague has dreadful sinus issues but she vapes constantly, so who knows if that's the cause, or contributing factor.
I know when I eat carbs I feel less energetic and have dreadful period pain - none at all when I low carb.
How old are you OP? Could you be peri-menopausal? That could account for some of this.

So you are a single parent to 3 kids, with poor health and breastfeeding? Of course you're tired! Be gentle with yourself. You say you have no friends or family to support you? I would start there. Yes take vit D, yes try and eat healthy drink lots of water get some day time sun and sleep as much as possible, but also try to get the joy back in your life.
I have a similar life to you and worse health profile. I have only ever found my loved ones to lift me up. Antidepressants might help a little, but it's my friends and family who keep me going.

That said, are you taking probiotics? Are you getting enough fresh air/day light (especially during brightest hours)? Is there anything you could do less? Hoover less frequently, cook something easier, wash the towels less frequently, or whatever?

I don't smoke, vape, or drink alcohol. Well a rare drink. Don't think I've had anything since Christmas though. Not even once a month. No tea after 2pm and don't drink coffee or fizzy drinks. I drink mainly water. I'm veggie and do need to increase my fruit and veg consumption. I cook from scratch a lot but need to do better.
LO has been slowly self weaning and only feeds at bedtime now. I have told him that this will stop soon. I never thought he'd keep going for so long!
I'm 42 and could be peri menopausal I guess. Might explain the sweaty cleavage in a morning!
I will go and get some more prescription strength vitD tomorrow. The pharmacist happily orders it in for me now that the GP no longer does a private script. I'll get some turmeric too and make an extra effort with my diet.
I perhaps expect too much of myself and don't make allowances for how hard it is at times with 3 kids when I have chronic pain.
I feel better for a good moan about it so thanks for taking the time to read and for the advice

Turmeric sounds like a wonder substance after reading some reviews. Will definitely give it a try. Thank you.

Turmeric and CBD oil OP? Much kinder on your body!

If you are vegetarian are you taking B12 supplements?

I take a multivitamin and my B12 levels were great when the GP tested which was after 8/10 months of feeling rubbish. I was surprised as my diet wasn't great back then.

Hi OP, I have a lot of your symptoms and also have just recently stated taking Prozac. Sorry if this has already been said but have you asked for your B1/ levels to be checked? I felt tired and just not myself for about 12 months before I was tested for this and found to be deficient. I was given injections every other day for 2 weeks and will be checked again in a few months. Definitely helped my energy and motivation levels B12 is also very closely linked to anxiety and low mood.

Doh - sorry just seen this has been discussed.

It's no wonder you don't feel good. There is so much going on. With your main condition of the chronic pain I think 5 miles walking a day is too much. Plus must take up quite a lot of time. Is there any alternative, like a bus? If you're not working maybe get help with fares. You are not getting enough time to yourself. Do you sleep well? Also sounds like you need to detox a little. You could well be at the start of the menopause. I would start with trying to cut down on the daily 5 mile walk if you can.

I enjoy the walk and helps me mentally. We live in a beautiful area and the walk is lovely but hilly. There is no longer a bus to school so no choice but to walk. I like to get outside as much as possible. I might go out on my bike today as is a lovely sunny day. If I make the effort I usually feel better mentally.

Maybe try without the pill, it'll be one less thing you're putting into your body. Yes I should have put don't cut out all exercise. As you seems to really enjoy it that's great. Presume it's about 2.5 miles each way? Don't suppose there is any chance of you driving at some point? Even if you're not a keen driver, by car it's not far. I don't mind driving on quiet roads I know well. I'm not forgetting you like the walk btw, it's another option on days perhaps you don't or weather is lousy. Also have the best diet you can. Lastly, I think you're doing amazingly well under the circumstances. Hope things improve and you get your mojo back soon!

Thank you. It's such a beautiful day today and the sunshine has really raised my spirits. I'm like a different person today. I've even managed a 10 mile bike ride and slept 5 hours straight last night.
I am learning to drive but the traffic and parking are awful compared to the lovely walk so not sure I'd drive often anyway.
I was due to restart the pill this week but will give it a miss for a couple of months. I don't need contraception anyway, so will see how my periods go. If they become unbearable again then I'll have to go back on it.
I'm ordering some turmeric and vitD and hope to be a new woman soon

My goodness, that's a long way. Surely not up the hills you mentioned? You probably need the exercise to help you sleep, which in turn will help. Let us know how you get on. I say us but there's not many posted yet have they!