Would you see GP about feeling tired all the time in this situation?

[ToadsThePeanutButterSnob]

So I have felt like utter crap for a while now. Constant tiredness, no motivation and feeling sluggish. But I also haven't been taking care of myself either and have been living off junk food and heavily processed food with very little fruit and veg and drinking nowhere near as much water as I should be. I have still been taking my multivitamin religiously though.

I'm not sure if it's worth bothering my GP about this especially when I kind of know what the answer already is and what they will likely say. Then again if my junk food diet has made me defeceint in something then surely it is best to know?

I just don't want to waste their time...

@NotMeNoNo

I had similar symptoms earlier this year and went to doctor expecting it to be menopause related. Turned out my vitamin D was extremely low. I'm never the most energetic type but I'm definitely better after a booster course and a daily supplement.

I did used to get low in vitamin D quite a lot and the way I am feeling right now does remind me of the way I felt back then. But I wasn't taking vitamin D back then where as now I take it as part of my multivitamin daily. Is it still possible to be low even with supplements? Surely doctors wouldn't advise you supplement if that was the case?

@TheInedibleWoman

If you are vegan its worth getting your b12 levels checked. It causes similar symptoms to anaemia such as the tiredness and lack of motivation that you mentioned.

I will be honest and say B12 is something that worries me quite a lot even though I take more than the daily recommendation of B12.

@Aahotep

How are you feeling MH wise? Could you be depressed?

I have suffered depression and anxiety throughout my life and was suicidal late last year so it is a possibility that it's that.

Although even so the junk food definitely won't be helping .

I just thought with you saying that you haven't been looking after yourself.
Of course the junk food won't help if you have a deficiency or MH stuff or both.
Take care of yourself and I hope you feel better soon

Try to sort diet, drinking water and exercise plus maybe take some better supplements than just a multivitamin daily. It would be best to rule those things out before GP

I would have thought the tiredness and no motivation will be due to poor mental health - your body shutting down as its overwhelmed by emotions.

If you haven't spoken to GP about this I would definitely try and get counselling and consider an anti-depressant, works for some and not others. Sorry you are feeling so low.

If you've been sucidal that's an emergency and you should definitely be calling the doctor asap and not worrying about bothering them.

Test your full blood count and ferritin levels. Iron deficiency likely particularly as you are vegan. If you are, iron will help. Its rubbish feeling tired and sluggish all the time.

Op, please don’t listen to those saying “it’s your junk food”, obviously this depends on how bad your fatigue/tiredness is (I’ve been there, also was eating junk food but my problem was NOT junk food related).

It’s very easy for people to sit at their keyboard dishing out medical advice based on a short paragraph, you know yourself better than anyone, if your instinct is saying something else is at play, please do call your gp, allow the experts to assess you, there’s literally so many things that could be causing this and you haven’t seen anyone here’s qualifications, I suspect you feel guilty thinking this is somehow your doing (maybe related to your mh issues) but the fact you’ve even posted here makes me think you’re genuinely worried that something else is causing it and that’s why you’ve included the junk food part hoping everyone will say that’s what’s causing it and “don’t you know we’re in a global pandemic? so don’t waste the nhs time “ , it’s utter bollocks you need to speak with a gp most likely this isn’t junk food induced fatigue, they’d rather see you now instead of getting yourself into a critical condition, I really do understand how you’re feeling and wish you the best.

I agree with pp- tiredness can indicate an underlying issue so just book an appt with your gp and get some simple bloods tests including ferritin, thyroid, haemaglobin etc

I felt like this so asked doctor for a blood test...my b12 levels were very low

I have no idea about Vit D dose. The doctor gave me the tablets and I took them. But going back to the OP, yes, it is worth going to the doctor about. That's what they are for. It might be nothing to do with diet and you might as well know sooner rather than later.

What does of vitamin d is in your supplement?

I'd suggest you visit your GP. If you have pernicious anaemia then normal supplements (and even eating meat etc) will not give you B12 that your body can absorb.
If you are anaemic you can - lack appetite, and feel so exhausted that it is hard to bother to eat a well balanced diet. It really is worth asking now for a full blood test - eating junk food will not affect the results much. And if you are Vegan then your diet can't be that bad (you are not living on a diet of MaccyDs and chocolate).

And if you are Vegan then your diet can't be that bad

What absolute nonsense

Might be worth getting your thyroid function tested. It's a simple blood test.

I was like this and my docs were reluctant to do anything. I got an an home blood test from a company called thriva. Cost about £70. Tested all vitamins, diabetes, thyroid and liver function. Came back I was very deficient in vit d. So I then called the gp back and told them I had had a private blood test which showed severe deficiency. They then agreed to do the blood test on the nhs (they wouldn't accept the private test alone), that also showed deficiency and I got treatment. So if you don't want to bother them that might be an option and could reassure you

And if you are Vegan then your diet can't be that bad (you are not living on a diet of MaccyDs and chocolate).

Oh how I wish this was true . I swear I have eaten chocolate in some form every day since November. And that is not even mentioning all the takeaways (so many vegan options now), biscuits, fizzy drinks and crisps I have been putting away...

That being said I have been eating a bit better these past couple of days and I actually don't feel so bad today.

I was going to suggest some red meat and (mostly green) veg as a rescue plan. Then oily fish and (mostly green) veg.

Don't know the vegan version!

@crochetcrazy1978

I was like this and my docs were reluctant to do anything. I got an an home blood test from a company called thriva. Cost about £70. Tested all vitamins, diabetes, thyroid and liver function. Came back I was very deficient in vit d. So I then called the gp back and told them I had had a private blood test which showed severe deficiency. They then agreed to do the blood test on the nhs (they wouldn't accept the private test alone), that also showed deficiency and I got treatment. So if you don't want to bother them that might be an option and could reassure you

That's so ridiculous. You had to pay your own money on top of your taxes and then the GP insisted on using NHS money for a doubled test!

@emmetgirl

Might be worth getting your thyroid function tested. It's a simple blood test.

Apparently not because there is some dispute as to what counts as a low/high thyroid function.

I wouldn’t ask for a doctors appointment for this, no.

Sort out your lifestyle. If you’re still struggling after making all the right choices, as for help then.

If you are vegan you could be particularly deficient in some vitamins and iron, from what youve said.
Iron and folate deficient if you are not eating leafy vegetables or eating eggs or red meat.
Calcium deficient (milk, cheese etc...)
Vitamin A (eggs)
Vitamin C if not eating fruit esp citrus or kiwi (referring to junk food diet not veganism)
Vitamin D (oily fish, egg yolks) Best souce of this isnt dietary, its sunlight).
Vit B you can get from Marmite, fortified cereals and flour ( hope you are not wheat free).
Your diet could be really deficient, contrary to what a PP said.

I'd address the diet (you cannot be vegan on a whim, you need to pay EXTRA attention to your diet).
Are you menopausal, calcium and vit D important if you are as your bones are losing density.
Get a blood test for iron and thyroid function among others. Its called a TATT (tired all the time). But def sort out your diet and fresh air.

Oh and if peri-menpausal, are you having heavy periods? That could give you iron deficiency too.