How to improve my energy levels?

[AlexaShutUp]

I really lack energy - I have been like this for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I think I'm just lazy, but people who know me well say that they don't think this is the problem. Sometimes I think I have adhd, because I really struggle with executive function, but I don't think that explains the general feeling of lethargy that I have. Sometimes I think I might be depressed, but actually, I am not unhappy.

I have seen my doctor. I am anaemic so am trying to address that at the moment, but what else can I do? I'm trying to eat well, sleep well, exercise regularly etc, but it's so hard to keep on the right track. I'm quite stressed at the moment too (work challenges) and that definitely saps my energy quite a lot. Ironically, though, that makes it even harder to find the energy to tackle the challenges that are making me stressed.

What strategies do you have in place to manage your energy levels? Has anyone else experienced this problem and managed to overcome it in any way?

Perhaps speak to your Gp and ask for your levels. If you are anemic you need prescription iron tablets. Standard is 200 mg three times a day I believe. I don't think over the counter get near it.

Also, if you have periods, are they any heavier recently?

I ask because anemia can cause terrible fatigue and if periods are heavy you cannot catch up each month. Don't underestimate anemia, I ended up in hospital as emergency for blood transfusions.

I think magnesium every day now for that reason - I think it has really helped me!

More iron.

Less sugar. A lot less.

Cut sugar, yoga, iron supplements?

@Blackopal

Perhaps speak to your Gp and ask for your levels. If you are anemic you need prescription iron tablets. Standard is 200 mg three times a day I believe. I don't think over the counter get near it.

Also, if you have periods, are they any heavier recently?

I ask because anemia can cause terrible fatigue and if periods are heavy you cannot catch up each month. Don't underestimate anemia, I ended up in hospital as emergency for blood transfusions.

The GP said that I could buy the same ones that she would prescribe over the counter, and recommended that I just buy them because it would be cheaper than getting them on prescription. I'm taking 200mg 3 times a day, the packet recommends this to treat anaemia.

My periods are quite heavy, they have become heavier recently. I assumed that this was due to perimenopause, but my GP referred me for a scan and apparently I have fibroids. I'm sure that this is contributing to the anaemia. I note your warning about not underestimating anaemia and I will ask my GP for another blood test.

I note the advice about the sugar. This is a real weakness of mine and I know I should cut down. I find this really hard though, and even harder when I'm stressed. Any tips on how to cut down? I don't take sugar in drinks, but I do gravitate towards sweet snacks etc. I try not to buy too much stuff at home, but there's always crap in the office. Self discipline doesn't seem to be my strong suit, so I need better strategies for resisting it.

I note the suggestions about magnesium and also yoga. I will look into getting some magnesium supplements and I will see if I can find a yoga class somewhere. I have a yoga dvd already, but I can never seem to stick to it. (Recurring theme )

Good you are getting the high iron supplements.

Very interesting that you have fibroids. Fibroids caused my periods to become heavier and heavier until my body could not hope to replace the blood which led to hospital. This was resolved for me via a hysterectomy last year.

Definitely keep a good eye on the fibroids and the bleeding. Wishing you well with it all.

Your GP is right, despite the fact that many people assume prescription meds are stronger, the iron tablets you buy over the counter are exactly the same as the prescription ones and far cheaper. Ask for Ferrous Sulphate 200mg or Ferrous Fumarate 210mg and take one twice a day.
My GP said you need to take them for about 3-4 months before retesting the blood as it takes that long for new blood cells to develop and anaemia to resolve so it is pointless before then

Just focus on the anaemia. I have so many plans to be more active, more efficient, and I keep kicking myself for having to sit down after making a meal. Anaemia is a complete bastard.

Do diet and tablets.

I'm tracking my activity and I am slowly getting better and it feels good to realise it, even on days when I get out of breath getting dressed.

@Blackopal

Good you are getting the high iron supplements.

Very interesting that you have fibroids. Fibroids caused my periods to become heavier and heavier until my body could not hope to replace the blood which led to hospital. This was resolved for me via a hysterectomy last year.

Definitely keep a good eye on the fibroids and the bleeding. Wishing you well with it all.

Thank your for your help and advice. I'm sorry that you had such a terrible time as a result of the fibroids but glad to know that the issue eventually got resolved. I only had the scan a couple of weeks ago and know what it's fibroids because they told me there and then, but haven't discussed a plan on what to do about them with my GP yet. It's scary to know that they landed you in hospital.

Maybe I haven't taken the anaemia seriously enough. I kind of assumed that the iron tablets would resolve the issue, but I shouldn't be complacent about that. I need to ring my GP about the fibroids next week so will ask her then.

@IvorHughJarrs

Your GP is right, despite the fact that many people assume prescription meds are stronger, the iron tablets you buy over the counter are exactly the same as the prescription ones and far cheaper. Ask for Ferrous Sulphate 200mg or Ferrous Fumarate 210mg and take one twice a day. My GP said you need to take them for about 3-4 months before retesting the blood as it takes that long for new blood cells to develop and anaemia to resolve so it is pointless before then

Thanks @IvorHughJarrs. I have Ferrous Sulphate 200mg. I'm actually taking 3 per day, as per my GP's instructions. I think I've been on them for a couple of months now, so maybe I need to wait a bit longer before retesting.

If you’re not borderline, ask if your GP will refer you for an iron infusion. I went around in circles for years with anemia, iron tablets, getting iron levels up ever so slightly, having heavy periods and then being back to square one. In the end I went privately and had two iron infusions. This was a few years ago and it cost about £600 for each one and my iron levels are still within range - I don’t have periods anymore so I’m sure that’s helped too. Might be worth asking your GP if the iron infusions are available on the NHS? If you persevere with the iron tablets, take Vit C/orange juice with the tablets as Vit C enhances iron absorption. Hope you feel better soon. X

@Hawkmoth

Just focus on the anaemia. I have so many plans to be more active, more efficient, and I keep kicking myself for having to sit down after making a meal. Anaemia is a complete bastard.

Do diet and tablets.

I'm tracking my activity and I am slowly getting better and it feels good to realise it, even on days when I get out of breath getting dressed.

Thank you, that's interesting. I think I need to focus more on this - as I said above, I don't think I've really taken it seriously enough. Also, I haven't felt any better since starting the iron tablets so I didn't really think that the anaemia could be the only cause of tiredness, but I think I probably just need to give them more time to take effect.

I note the advice about the sugar. This is a real weakness of mine and I know I should cut down. I find this really hard though, and even harder when I'm stressed. Any tips on how to cut down?

I'm the same OP. It's really hard.

I've found not having anything sweet until the evening helps. Once I've had sugar in the day I just crave more. I don't have sweets, cakes, biscuits in the house unless it's ones I don't really like.

What has been a gamechanger though is a low carb diet (see low carb bootcamp in the Eating section). When I follow this way of eating I have far more energy and mental clarity.

When I take Ferrous Sulphate I basically shit it all out immediately. Especially taking more than one a day. A bigger salt takes longer to digest and leaves more in your system.

Ferrous Fumarate is good and can be bought OTC.

I'm on Ferrous Gluconate and it's much gentler.

I have terrible fatigue and I'm having tests at the moment. Do your iron tablets have vitamin D in them? I saw a dermatologist once who told me a brand to buy that had vit d in it too. I can remember what they was called which is a pain as my iron is at the lower level

@AngelinaJoliestoplip

If you’re not borderline, ask if your GP will refer you for an iron infusion. I went around in circles for years with anemia, iron tablets, getting iron levels up ever so slightly, having heavy periods and then being back to square one. In the end I went privately and had two iron infusions. This was a few years ago and it cost about £600 for each one and my iron levels are still within range - I don’t have periods anymore so I’m sure that’s helped too. Might be worth asking your GP if the iron infusions are available on the NHS? If you persevere with the iron tablets, take Vit C/orange juice with the tablets as Vit C enhances iron absorption. Hope you feel better soon. X

Thank you. I'm already taking vitamin c with the iron tablets but will investigate iron infusions. Never heard of them tbh, but sounds like it might be worth it.

Re yoga, have you tried just searching YouTube for something like Yoga with Adriene? She does loads - just pick a completely different short one each time and it stops it getting boring. I feel more energised in the morning after ten mins of yoga the night before. Iron - I’m upping the steak and greens and washing down with orange juice for Vit C to aid iron absorption. Am also finding that taking Feroglobin, then switching to prescribed ferrous gluconate the week of my period, is really helping the energy levels too.

@colouringindoors

I note the advice about the sugar. This is a real weakness of mine and I know I should cut down. I find this really hard though, and even harder when I'm stressed. Any tips on how to cut down?

I'm the same OP. It's really hard.

I've found not having anything sweet until the evening helps. Once I've had sugar in the day I just crave more. I don't have sweets, cakes, biscuits in the house unless it's ones I don't really like.

What has been a gamechanger though is a low carb diet (see low carb bootcamp in the Eating section). When I follow this way of eating I have far more energy and mental clarity.

Thanks @colouringindoors. I'm the same with sugar - the more I eat, the more I crave. I think I probably need to boost my protein intake. I love carbs , but I know they probably don't help how I feel!

What do you take for anaemia? I strongly recommend Floradix liquid iron or tablets as they are far gentler on the body than the ones prescribed by NHS and don't have side effects of constipation which in itself can lead to lethargy.

Vitamin D Spray not tablets as it is absorbed properly if you use the spray.

I find keeping sugar, yeast and wheat to a minimum and drinking lots of water also helps. Also cut down on alcohol if you drink regularly.

Once you start to feel a bit more energetic, start exercising. This helps a lot but only when you have enough energy to get going.

@Hawkmoth

When I take Ferrous Sulphate I basically shit it all out immediately. Especially taking more than one a day. A bigger salt takes longer to digest and leaves more in your system.

Ferrous Fumarate is good and can be bought OTC.

I'm on Ferrous Gluconate and it's much gentler.

That's interesting. I'll ask the GP about that and maybe try switching.

@IncessantNameChanger

I have terrible fatigue and I'm having tests at the moment. Do your iron tablets have vitamin D in them? I saw a dermatologist once who told me a brand to buy that had vit d in it too. I can remember what they was called which is a pain as my iron is at the lower level

No, they don't, but I do take a vitamin d supplement separately.

By the way @IncessantNameChanger, I'm sorry that you are having this problem too.

@RowanAlong

Re yoga, have you tried just searching YouTube for something like Yoga with Adriene? She does loads - just pick a completely different short one each time and it stops it getting boring. I feel more energised in the morning after ten mins of yoga the night before. Iron - I’m upping the steak and greens and washing down with orange juice for Vit C to aid iron absorption. Am also finding that taking Feroglobin, then switching to prescribed ferrous gluconate the week of my period, is really helping the energy levels too.

Thank you. I will try to up my game on the yoga. 10 mins sounds pretty manageable.

I need to look into ferrous gluconate.

@Blackopal

Perhaps speak to your Gp and ask for your levels. If you are anemic you need prescription iron tablets. Standard is 200 mg three times a day I believe. I don't think over the counter get near it.

Also, if you have periods, are they any heavier recently?

I ask because anemia can cause terrible fatigue and if periods are heavy you cannot catch up each month. Don't underestimate anemia, I ended up in hospital as emergency for blood transfusions.

Came on to say this. Please don’t underestimate the anaemia - i also had very heavy periods so was dead in the water with over the counter supplements. You need to have your bloods run at frequent intervals.

Vit b c and d also help a lot.