What is wrong with me?

[Independant]

Hi
Have posted before, about my ridiculous exhaustion. I went to GP who sent me for blood tests to check my thyroid, anaemia levels and lots of other things which all came back within normal range.
But I just can’t shake the feeling something is wrong.
I work full time, as a manager in the NHS. I have a toddler (2.2y). This tiredness has been a steady companion of mine since he was born (but figured tiredness is part of the package of having a newborn so never questioned it!)
I was put on antidepressants when he was 6 weeks for PND , which I think was triggered / made worse by the pandemic. I’ve been taking them ever since but not sure if they actually do anything.

My symptoms:

• tiredness / exhaustion most days
• lack of enthusiasm for anything
• loss of libido
• aching muscles
• anxiety
• procrastinating at work
• wanting to sleep all of the time

I don’t know if I should go back to the GP. Not sure what they can do for me if blood tests have come back normal. Is this some sort of burnout? Any suggestions or people feeling similar I’d love to hear some of your experiences in how you cope ?

Thank you in advance x

Are you perimenopausal? That can cause all of these things!

Depression can present like that.

Do you eat a good diet and do you exercise?
After having my youngest I felt all those things along with some hair loss, weight gain and a very short temper.

I started to carve out 30 minutes a day to walk at lunch. I slowly upped the exercise by going to a class after work twice a week. I changed my diet to up fruit and veg and cut down on sugar and simple carbs. I also started taking a multivitamin and cut down on alcohol.

I feel a million times better. Haven’t taken any other medication. I know it’s not the answer for everyone but I just wanted to explain the diet and exercise question.

I'd say depression too.

Were your vitamin B12, Folate, and Vitamin D levels checked op?

@ToMockAKillingBird yep I had basically a full MOT via bloods and was told today everything “normal”

I am 28 years old and feel about 88! I am pretty sure I shouldn’t be feeling this drained constantly. I find exercise makes me even worse in terms of fatigue. I don’t feel good afterwards like I used to (I used to exercise at the gym for 3 hours a week, and walk the dog for an hour everyday, longer at weekends!)

I eat a good balanced diet and tend to cook wholesome meals such as curries, chilli con carne, roast dinners with plenty of veg, and we have 2 veggie days a week. I drink around 1.5L water a day, on top of decaf tea.

I am finding myself just totally numb in the evenings, where I often want to just go to bed once my toddler is in bed at 7:30.

I feel like if I go back to GP they will just send me away. I don’t feel “depressed”, I often have days where I feel a bit flat/low but I think it’s from the tiredness! I never feel like I’ve had a restored sleep, I could sleep 2 hours or 12 hours and wake up feeling the same, if that makes sense.

I don’t know how to explain it to the gp without them just shrugging it off as “that’s life” or it’s somehow normal to feel this way?

I used to be so full of beans I’d love to feel like my old self again.

Ironically, the antidepressants could be causing your symptoms. Which one are you on?

You could be lacking in essential vitamins and minerals? Also yes your meds can cause side effects.

You have the symptoms I had when I was vitamin d deficient.

Thanks all.

For those asking, I am taking 50mg sertraline and have been for 2 years. Had initial side effects but these settled.

Will look into taking some extra vitamins and see how I get on. May talk to GP about anti depressants and see if that is the link

Thank you!

Have a look at vagus nerve breathing exercises. It was recommended to my DS as he suffers from Long Covid and has chronic fatigue. It sounds like you're not getting enough deep sleep which is what your body needs to help you wake up feeling refreshed. My DS is showing some improvement with doing the exercises.

If you're feeling brave then cold water immersion also stimulates the vagus nerve!

Also normal as far as the doctors are concerned might not be normal for you. So you might just be in the range for iron/vit D but actually need a higher level to function. Might be worth getting a good multi vitamin to start with.

What's your ferritin? GPs seem to say that this is normal when NICE guidelines say it should be treated as an iron deficiency. Mine was "normal" at 13, but anything under 50-70 (some people say higher) could give you symptoms.

Thanks everyone.
I’ve booked into the gp again to go through the results more in depth as of course it was a secretary that rang me to let me know my results..!

I went to bed at 8pm last night and slept straight through until 5am when DS woke me up crying. He came into bed with me til 6 where I dozed but I just feel so sluggish and can’t get that “pep” in my step.
Luckily I am WFH today so have a bit more of a relaxed day!