Constantly tired.. really getting me down

[Jade165]

Hi,

This is my first post sorry if i ramble on haha.

Just hoping if someone can tell me if they’ve ever felt the same and give some home advice on how to help?

I am CONSTANTLY tired lately, I get 8 hours sleep, wake up and can easily go back down. I do the smallest of tasks like a few cleaning jobs, hoovering, mopping etc and I can feel awful after, like my arms and legs feel weak like ive done a massive workout or have the flu. I know im not ill, I’m just extremely exhausted. It’s impacting my mood, I don’t want to do anything, I’ve cancelled on friends because im just that tired to go anywhere, I don’t have the motivation.. I want to tidy and do my studying etc but the little things make me feel weak. I know exercise will help, but I walk the dog several times a day and after that I feel drained.

Anyone else felt this way? I’m taking vitamins etc to try and help and drinking water. I don’t drink alcohol and don’t eat fast food that much.

Thanks x

Have you spoken to a doctor about it?

That's not just tiredness. You need to see a doctor.

Yes I felt exactly like this for years. Went to the GP and they did a number of routine tests, nothing abnormal. So I managed / survived often relying on naps!!!!

Then I was tested for sleep apnea, very mild and I now have a CPAP machine. Absolute game changer as I now wake feel refreshed, can manage without a daily nap and I feel 100 times better !

@MossyBottom @Moochio I haven’t seen one yet, thought it may have just been a few lifestyle choices needed changing like being more active etc, but now im too tired doing the smallest of things. Will be booking an appointment asap.

@Landlubber2019 if tests come back all okay then I will look into this! Never thought of that possibility!

I think if you've given it a month or so of lifestyle changes and aren't seeing much change it might be worth going to GP. They can do blood tests to help pinpoint if there's a specific deficiency.

Could be chronic fatigue or ME....a number of things...doc would be the best port of call...I have been the same and now on HRT after blood tests ruled out anything sinister....good luck

How old are you?
How long have you felt like this?
Have you had covid?

Anaemia is possible. I was like you, and my blood tests were abnormally low in iron. I had an iron infusion and now supplement each day. It is a game changer and a miracle.

If you get it all checked it will be solved. Best of luck.

Definitely get tested for thyroid function, vit D, b12, ferritin and ask for a physical copy of the results with the reference ranges so you can see where you fall. You want to be in the top third of the range for b12 and D.

Have a look at pacing guidance. Much of what you say rings bells with me - I have me/CFS and I feel completely wiped out after doing basic every day tasks. You feel like you've been hit by a bus. And it doesn't go away with rest.

Have you had covid? Could this be some kind of post viral fatigue? How long have you felt like this? Can you identify when it started?

My advice would be to cut back on the dog walks - is there anyone else that can go these instead?
You want to avoid pushing through - rest before doing something and rest after it. This is a good reference for pacing.

cfsselfhelp.org/library/pacing-what-it-is-and-how-do-it

And also - if it is some kind of post viral fatigue then exercise won't help so bear this in mind.

Seconding sleep apnea - don’t let the dr write you off with cfs/me until you’ve had a sleep study!

Definitely get some blood tests done. This sounds like me when I had an undiagnosed underactive thyroid. God everything was a struggle. Even going to the loo, I'd rest my head on the wall and wish for a sleep. My background monologue was "OMG I am so fucking tired". Felt like my brain was covered in cotton wool as I really struggled to think through the tiredness.

2 weeks of thyroxine later and I felt normal again. And I was stunned at how far away from normal I had got.

Just as a further thought....how old are you? As the only time since then ^ that I have felt this tired is when I was peri-menopausal. Not quite as bad as the thyroid - but not far off it. HRT was again a brilliant cure - within 3 days.

Thanks for the responses, will definitely get on to the doctor asap!

I am 27 next month, felt like this on and off id say for the past 2-3 years, but the past 2 months it seems to just be worse. I had covid last year, but recovered pretty well and didn’t feel like this after it passed.

@MissisBoote My sister is low in iron and she gets those B12 shots! I’ll ask to get it looked at along with what you have all suggested. I also get restless legs quite often, and just a tingling feeling in my legs even when im just sitting down for a second and my arms feel heavy sometimes, that’s why I thought maybe i needed to exercise more but that just wipes me out, even the though of it haha.
I had covid around October, but I was quite okay, Short of breath etc but about a month later I was back to normal. This tired feeling as always been there, but It just feels worse the past month or 2 and i’ve tested for covid regularly and been negative and not felt like I had a cold.
My partner can do the dog walks, I’ll have a read of this, thank you!

@SkoolShoes what else do you experience with the underactive thyroid? Right now I want a bath, but the idea of the whole process I just want to avoid cos I know i’ll be so tired from it. I’m 27 next month, periods etc are regular and I’m definitely not pregnant because this has knocked my libido out the window!

Underactive thyroid is tiredness, being cold all the time, brain fog, dry skin, constipation, muscle aches, hairloss, weight gain. You can also have heavy periods or irregular periods and carpul tunnel/tingly feelings. It tends to (but not always) run in families.

To be honest they can be similar to low iron/B12/Vit D (and menopause) which is why GPS will generally check all of these if one is suspected.

Mine started after the birth of first - but undiagnosed for 3/4 years (during which I was investigated for heavy periods, had 2 x carpul tunnel operations and suffured crippling plantar fascilitis and hip pain). Once the thyroid level was correct every other symptom disappeared completely and was fighting fit.

It really is not normal to be this tired. If GP tries to fob you off with "being a parent is tiring" then ask for bloods to rule out any underlying conditions.

Sorry - just assumed you are a parent. It can happen to anyone at anytime (hence my 14yo son also has it) - but I think sometimes having children can trigger it for women pre-desposed to it with their family history.

If you are planning on getting pregnant you do need to know if it is an issue as it needs to be managed carefully (and the B12/Iron etc)