So tired that I feel really, really unwell.

[Patchworkquilt24]

I get about 6/7 hours sleep a night. It's very difficult to get any more sleep as I have to get up at 5:30 for work and I have responsibilities in the evening. I try and go to sleep by 10pm after I've done all the things I need to do. After an 8 hour day of work (I do an active, stressful job) and an hours commute there and back, I feel absolutely exhausted. A couple of people at work have commented on how pale and tired I look, someone today thought I'd been crying. On the drive home I feel like I could fall asleep. When I get home I just want to go to bed. I look in the mirror and I don't look well. What's going on?!

Well I think yiu Need to find time to visit your GP and hopefully they will send you for blood tests to see if anything is amiss.

Try vitamin D supplements. Proper ones, not the ones you get in multivitamins. It sounds like you're probably deficient.

Go to your Gp and get blood tests done. It could be any number of things but bloods are your first point of call.

I would try prioritising your sleep to get 8 hours a night. You need to be in bed by 9pm and asleep by 9.30.

No caffeine after 12 midday - drink decaff tea even.

Don't knock it until you've tried it.

b12 and iron, very common to be low. and if u do get blood tests make sure you get the print out if the results yourself as nhs usually says you're "fine" when your results still show you're low.

So this isn't just the normal way nnnnnnnn people feel after 6/7 hours sleep, a long commute and a days work? Asking genuinely because I'm not soft or a wimp but I feel so so unwell.

You feel unwell because you're doing too much and not getting enough sleep. You have my sympathies.

OP get to the doctor. This seems quite extreme.

I think that those demands would make anyone feel tired. But not so tired they felt ill.

Do not underestimate how unwell being deficient vitamin d can make you feel. Or B12. You need to see your doctor. Listen to your body my love. Hope you feel better soon.

Agree with user. You look exhausted because you are.

Thanks everyone. I'm gunna ring tomorrow to book in for a blood test. I feel stupid because I feel like I should just be able to cope, we all have to work and travel and we all have personal responsibilities. But I just feel so poorly its awful. Thanks everyone for not making me feel like a wimp who should just get on with it!

Thank you all for your kindness x

I just noticed someone said try vitamin D... I just had a blood test that said mine were very low but aren’t all of our vitamin D levels low due to no sun exposure..?. or is that simply not true?

Also I get up at 5.30 too... it’s tough is there no way you can change your hours? Or your schedule? X

I feel exhausted after 14/15 hours out of the house too, a long day on a ward on my feet most of the time. I get less sleep than you. On my days off I recuperate where I can and exercise which sorts me out. I try and eat nutritionally well and drink lots of fluid too but I've started using a vit d spray which I swear has helped in winter! I do not feel as tired on days off so I feel ok.
Life is hard especially feels more tiring in the dark winter months too. Worth a trip to the doctors if you feel that unwell a few basic blood tests wouldn't hurt to double check your levels if you feel so bad.

Winter is here, I believe there’s an argument we should probably all take a vit D supplement between October & March as most people will be deficient then.

OP am similarly busy, altho less long commute. I’m tired, but I’m not unwell. That’s where it crosses the line into ‘not normal’.

What happens if you go for a long walk--do you feel better or worse?

Do you have sore muscles and joints?

Could be anemic

Absolutely get yourself to the doctors for a blood as you may be deficient. An adult should be able to manage on 6-7 hrs solid sleep per night. I find I can manage ok on 6 but any less and I struggle. I often get less but have wakeful children!

Drink plenty of water and try to get some fresh air at lunch time if your job allows.

What's your diet like OP?

I felt like that before I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes. I was permanently tired and run down. I can still feel that way if I overdo the carbohydrates. Make sure you're getting enough protein - I snack on brazil nuts and cubes of cheese to keep my energy up on a long day at work.

Blood test is a really good idea. Hope you feel more like yourself soon

Thanks everyone.

My diet isn't great to be honest, a hell of a lot of carbs and sugar. I'm an emotional eater but it's something I'm working on.
Even today after I slept for 10 hours last night with just one brief wake up at 2am I don't feel great to be honest at all. I feel really achey.

I'll call the GP today and ask for some blood tests.

As everyone said GP for bloods first. Then it could really be just normal tiredness after a busy schedule. In my days they had tonics not sure they still do!

Tonics?

Yes 'Patchwork' I think they were like the liquid iron and B Vits you can buy now.

What @thegreenbox said. When you get your bloods back, if they're on the low side of normal get them to do something. It's not normal to be feeling how you're feeling.