What is wrong with me?

[mummydinosaurRawr]

Something isn't right, I don't feel like "me" anymore. I don't know what is wrong though, so I don't know which direction to turn for help.

I'm exhausted. Not just tired but really wrung out, running on empty for too long exhausted. I'm tired even if I get a good night's sleep, I'm tired even if I nap. If I try to keep going when I'm tired then I feel dizzy and faint.

My thoughts feel slow and sluggish, it's like my brain is foggy. It takes longer to concentrate, I've lost confidence in my own decision making, I doubt myself constantly.

This isn't new, it has come in waves for the last 3 years. There isn't a time when I feel as energetic as I think I should, but there are definitely some patches that are better than others. It's easy to dismiss tiredness at the moment (baby doesn't sleep well, I'm still getting up multiple times every night) but I don't think it's that simple, and the problems started before pregnancy.

I've been to the GP a few times over the last few years, they send me for blood tests and a few times they've prescribed iron tablets and/or folic acid. The iron tablets help a bit, they don't bring me back up to normal but it's a bit of an improvement. I'm not on anything at the moment but could feel another big droop in energy levels so I got back in touch with the GP. I was sent for blood tests, called for my results this morning and was told that I'm fine, all normal. No further action. Now I don't dispute that the blood results might be normal, but I'm not fine, I feel utterly broken.

This isn't just feeling tired, it's affecting everything. I haven't got the energy to do most of the things that I should do, I am managing the bare minimum each day and it's not fair to my children. This doesn't feel like me, I don't want to be like this. I was a hard working, busy, proactive person, I did things, I loved a challenge and an adventure, now I need to sit down in the shower.

I don't want to be a massive hypochondriac, and I hate admitting defeat, or asking for help. But this isn't normal is it? I can't be a good mum like this, it's not fair on the children. What do I do?

Could you be peri menopausal? You sound like I feel.

@MumofPsuedoAdult I don't know. What does that involve? I wouldn't have guessed that as I've got a 9 month old baby and this all started prior to my last pregnancy, but I guess anything is possible. (I'm early 30s if that makes a difference).

I have this. I feel like I've lost all my "oomph". I was recommended Vitamin D supplements, they do help a bit.

Very similar to you, early 30s, have been tested numerous times for iron levels etc (I did test as anemic during my second pregnancy). But also struggling to find any real solution to it

It's so frustrating isn't it @whatdooidoo

I've bought some over the counter B12 supplements so hopefully that will help.

Out of interest, did you have times when your iron was low, and times when you were anaemic? I've had ferrous fummarate prescribed quite a few times but they've never actually told me that I'm aneamic, is there a threshold for diagnosis? Thinking about it there has never really been any discussion following any of my blood tests, I'm either dismissed as fine or given an iron prescription, never an explanation or further conversion.

What exactly are they testing when they take your blood? First things to check would be thyroid, iron and b12. It sounds like you have had iron checked but have you had thyroid checked.

Did they check your vitamin D? I cannot tell you what a difference is if you're deficient in it

Also don't discount how exhausting it is having broken sleep because of your baby!

How is your mood in general? Exhaustion can also be a symptom of depression.

I would suggest thyroid too
If you are on the low side of ‘normal ‘ then medication may help

Yes find out what they tested and make sure vit d checked as a start.

As far as I could tell from googling the acronyms on the blood forms they tested:

• full blood count
• HBA1C (blood sugars?)
• FOL & FE (folic acid & iron?)
• thyroid function
• liver function
• kidney function

I'm not sure if B vitamin deficiency would be identified in any of those. Possibly in the FOL?

I've asked for copies of my results for the last few tests. I wonder if I'm maybe at the low end of normal?

@HappyThursdays my adorable little sleep demon certainly isn't helping, although this definitely started before pregnancy so I can't help feeling that there is something else. There also doesn't seem to be any correlation between when he has a good / bad night and when I feel better / worse. I'm napping as often as I can but I'll have to go back to work soon so no idea how I'll cope then.

@Daydrambeliever mood fluctuates. I have had some patches of feeling very low, but it's not constant and am still enjoying things. I think the low patches come from frustration at not being able to do what I want to because I've got no energy, it does upset me and I feel really guilty about the impact it has on the children. There is some worry / stress too, mainly around going back to work (busy stressful job). I asked to go part time but my employer has said no.

I'd clarify that they'd checked your B12 ....common to be low whether you are veggie, vegan or meat eater.

I agree with others about your vit D. I have low vit d and low thyroid. If I forget to take either this is exactly how I feel.

Thyroid. Your levels may be within range but not normal for you.

Go back to your gp. Tell them that you feel dizzy and faint etc. They can check if they have tested for everything they should have and do more tests if not.

My gp will not test for vitamin d as we are all deficient in it over the winter (Scotland). I just buy them in Asda for a fiver. At the moment I’m on the 2000mg ones which are slightly dearer at I think £8.

Check your thyroid results on the print out - most GPS won't medicate unless your tsh is around 7 or above but I would feel dead at that level. I need to be under 2 to function.

Also pregnancy can alter your thyroid function

B12 is a possibility and if the issue is with absorption, no matter how much you take might not get through.

Now that you've taking supplement targeted blood tests won't show a deficiency. These tests are not even very reliable. Try to take B12 that is sublingual (under the tongue) as these get absorbed better).

Don't underestimate the issue with sleep. You might sleep 8 hours, but if 7 is light sleep, and you get next to no deep sleep, you'll wake up feeling like you had none. Having a baby with the responsibity and anxiety that come with it can play havoc on your deep sleep.

Thanks everyone, think I'll try going back to the GP, although I am nervous that they won't want to look beyond the last set of tests.

Ask for a b12 test. What ever you do do NOT take b12 tablets as they will distort the results. You many need a series of b12 injections

Do not take sublingual b12 till AFTER your b12 blood test.

I am exactly the same, I have B12 injections every 12 weeks but never feel not tired.
Every day I feel exhausted and sick. I can't remember things which makes me anxious. I'm older than you (43) and do wonder if I'm peri menopausal but I've been like this for years. Maybe it's just anxiety!
Anyway it's not really much help to you but just wanted you to know your not alone 💐

Have you had your thyroid checked? Sorry I haven't read the full thread but it sounds a lot like my under active thyroid. Bone crushing tired sometimes, can't think straight, mix up my words, feel low etc.

Thanks @Saltyslug I've bought some b12 supplements but only had one, I'll leave them alone until I've been checked properly. Do you know if b12 is checked as part of the FOL blood test? I'm trying to work out what they actually tested me for but it's all just acronyms.

Thanks @Nowmum43 did you have any difficulty getting the dr to arrange the injections? I'm worried about being fobbed off.

@indecisivewoman81 I think they checked my thyroid (I'm presuming that's what TFT blood test was) but I don't know the actual results. I've asked for a copy of my results so hopefully that will shed a bit of light.

@mummydinosaurRawr
It was 11 years ago and I just remember that my levels were rock bottom and the doctors said my body would never absorb B12 properly and I'd always need injections. My iron goes really low and last time it was at 2 and the tested it after 3 months of iron and it was 12 so they said I didn't need it any more! It still seemed really low to me but they never did anything about it.
It's awful constantly feeling so poorly and not knowing what to do about it.

Have you had your ferritin checked? This is a measure of stored iron, and can come back within normal range, but still be too low for optimum health. A low ferritin would explain some of your symptoms.