Advice please

[Vicky1110]

Hello,

So, I'm just looking for some advice or anyone who has had a similar thing - I went to the doctor's about 10months ago regarding this and was told I'm getting old (I'm 30) and I have young kids so it's expected.

Basically, I am always exhausted. Not just general tiredness, but run down with no energy. I get plenty of sleep and I sleep well most nights, go to bed 9/10ish and get up 7ish (my kids only wake in the night if they're poorly). I always wake up and feel like I haven't slept at all, I often feel like I'm getting a heavy cold but then it never develops. I can do the school runs fine in a day and a couple of household chores but anything over this (e.g. a trip to the supermarket or some extra household chores - it feels like I only have a limited energy supply and my battery seems to drain alot faster than other people) and they next day or two I will basically spend in bed sleeping (although it feels like the sleep makes no difference), and then after a day or two I'm back to normal - well my version of normal, still being exhausted but not so exhausted I can't get up. My memory is also shot to pieces, when it used to be really good (like people would actually comment on how good my memory was) but now I can't remember why I'm pouring a glass of water half the time. I'm also sore/achey muscles alot, like I'll wake up and ache even though I've done nothing strenuous.

I am slightly overweight, but I do eat well (all the green stuff), I take vitamins. I have always been fit, I don't tire easily through exercise (as in it doesn't make me huff and puff going upstairs or for a walk). About 6 months ago I was doing a 30min hiit session 5 days a week with no trouble, but now that would knock me out for a couple of days.

Any advice or experience with this would be welcome! I don't feel I can go back to the doctors because they just brushed it off as being old with kids. Tia x

A hopeful bump

Have you had covid or any other virus? It does sound an awful lot like my long covid symptoms. Having symptoms like these are horrible as they are so intangible and for people who haven’t experienced fatigue (tiredness doesn’t really do it justice) they can’t understand what it feels like to be stood in front of the fridge and feel so overwhelmed by the thought of cooking some sausages for dinner.
It could also be other things like thyroid and you do have to advocate for yourself with the GP and keep going back. Be prepared to be dismissed as you already have been but don’t take it personally. I was diagnosed with lying (really), anxiety and ‘not eating enough’ (I’m normal BMI) before I got my diagnosis.
For now, read about spoons of energy. Good luck x

@Thinkle I've not knowingly had covid, never had symptoms and never tested positive (and due to OH's work we have tested regularly).

That's the thing, everyone just says 'oh, just get some more sleep' or 'have a lay in and you'll be fine' as if a bit more sleep will fix everything but it doesn't make a difference. I wish it did!

They actually said you were lying about it?! That's ridiculous!

Thank you x

I'm not a medic, and hopefully some will come along soon, but one of the things that can cause such fatigue is vitamin D deficiency.

See here

Have you been tested for anaemia? Also, I'd question chronic fatigue syndrome too. I sympathise, I've felt like this for absolute years. Even before I had kids, but now, it just gets palmed off cos I have young kids. It's frustrating as anything. Keep on at your GP. Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

At your last appointment were you given any tests at all? If not insist on some blood tests. I would be looking at bloods for iron deficiency and thyroid function at the very least. It is not normal to feel that exhausted in your 30s. It's not even normal to feel that exhausted in your 50s or nothing would get done in the world.

I have chronic fatigue syndrome and it is pretty much as you described.

However, other underlying causes for your exhaustion must be ruled out. Go back to your GP and push for further investigation. Emphasise that your exhaustion is not just tiredness.

Do you snore ? Could be sleep apnoea.

@slapmyarseandcallmemary Yes, they did a full blood run last time and everything was normal. What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? I've never heard of it. Did you get to the bottom of your problem?

@Soul11Soul I had the full blood works last time and everything was within normal ranges.

A lot of that sounds like the fibromyalgia.

@Einszwei what is it? I've not heard of it before today.
I did last time, they kept saying oh it's just a stressful time because of covid and having kids and getting old, and I said so many times I'm not just tired, like sometimes when I go over my limit I'm exhausted the next day to the point where it's like I'm wading through treacle, and getting out of bed is like someone is sitting on me and I just really struggle to even sit up at all sometimes. But still according to them it's just getting old and part of life.

I felt like that with a vitamin d deficiency, and I'd been taking a multi vitamin with iron.

@Mabelface I've just had a look at my last lot of bloods and they didn't test for vitamin D, so I'll definitely contact them and ask to test for that as a couple of people have mentioned it, thanks!

Let us know how you get on.