Why have I always been constantly knackered especially in the afternoon?

[sweetkitty]

For as long as I can remember (school, uni, work and now SAHMdom) I have never had much energy. It has always been a struggle to get out of bed in the morning no matter when I go to sleep, I'm OK for a few hours in the morning then I completely crach in the afternoon. About 2-3 times a week I have headaches too. Today I feel completely zombie like and my head is pounding.

My diet isn't the best but not the worst either, I eat my 5 a day and am veggie so probably more than that. I have a maximum of 2 cups of tea a day although most days it's like one. I do have a sweet tooth but thats more of an evening once the DDs are in bed.

I constantly feel run down especially in the afternoons feel very lethargic just cannot be bothered, I've felt like this forever so it's not just kids, I feel tired then I get a headache and I try not to take loads of pills but sometimes it's the only way I can have headaches for 3 days at a time. I'm not anemaemic (sp) as I take a multi vit a day as well.

Does anyone else feel like this or is it just me?

Hi sweetkitty, I was like you until......I started eating meat and that, to put it simply, sorted me out.

I was also always tired no matter what I did, and I had been a veggie all my life. Then I met a girl who had recently turned veggie who also said she was always tired but it was only since she had turned veggie. From that day onwards I decided enough was enough, I was tired of being tired all the time and I started eating meat and it took about 6 months to really kick in but I can honestly say that it has made a real difference to my energy and stamina levels (and I have 2 DC under 5 so I definately need all the energy I can get).

I still do get tired but that's if I have had a really busy day(s); I don't just feel tired as a matter of course.

I realise eating meat may not be an option for you so my post may not help you at all but just wanted to give you my experience.

oneplusone - I haven't always been a veggie have fell off the wagon a fair few times, also had to taste meat as part of my job (you can't really be a veggie in the food industry) it made no difference to my energy levels. I always make sure I have protein at every meal and take Iron tablets.

Going to try banana and water method first.

Lordvenger I think you may have oversold your Zinc and Magnesium combo. I have shelled out for the spenny Solgar versions, and I have no desire to follow DS to any park, much less lead him there with exhortations. Were you prescribed special vits??

If you go to bed with a headache and it's still there in the morning, chances are it's down to dehydration.
I learned this valuable lesson from a midwife while pg with DS2.
Drink loads more water - you'll be surprise how much better you feel (hopefully).

there is another possible explanation, sleep apnea (where your breathing pauses for longer than normal). Meaning your restful, deep sleep pattern is disturbed because your brain has to "wake" you up to breathe. So you don't get enough good sleep, so you feel knackered next day.

Just worth getting this checked as another idea?

on the dehydration thing - I heard on the radio yesterday that there is an old people's care home that has had a campaign to increase the amount of water they drink. Apparently they all have much more energy, less headaches, and crucially for them fall over less often - hence fewer doctors callouts and trips to hospital.

So I guess the easiest thing to try is more water.

(Having said that I often feel knackered mid afternoon if I am at home - but rarely at work - not sure why).

I certainly agree with drinking more water, but also I have noticed a big difference in how I feel just by giving up refined sugar.

My headaches have stopped and I was getting so many which made me feel tired and washed out. My energy levels do seem to have increased.

Even if you're taking a supplement it is still worth checking that you're not anaemic, so I think you should see your GP. The body doesn't always absorb iron efficiently, so there are different iron supplements - some work better than others.