Permanently exhausted

[Iusedtobedontcall]

I am tired all the time and can quite easily sleep in till noon or get into bed in the middle of the day and nap for a few hours. I’m signed off work at the moment after a TFMR but this doesn’t feel like grief or depression- it feels physical.

I have b12 injections every 8 weeks on the NHS and have in the past been anaemic- though I don’t think I am at the moment (not sure what my ferritin levels are like). I’ve just started taking methyl folate instead of folic acid to see if that helps.

This has been going on for a while, years maybe, but I’ve just ignored it. I can power through it if I’m at work etc but it’s a real effort to do anything.

Has anyone got any ideas of what this could be?

Sorry it’s every 12 weeks I get the b12 injection.

There are multiple things which can cause this.

Have you had blood tests, thyroid checks, iron levels? High iron can also cause fatigue and haemacromatosis is one of the most common genetic illnesses.

There is also ME and long covid which cause severe fatigue.

Do you do pacing? This can help it's frustrating but working out energy aspects and screens is surprisingly high on the energy level consumption

I had a full blood count done when I was pregnant and as far as I know everything was ok. I haven’t heard of pacing - what is it?

I would go back to the GP and request further blood tests especially thyroid check.

Pacing is what long term fatigue suffers use. Everything is broken down into energy activities from getting out of bed and having a shower to cooking, driving etc. It's basically doing an activity between 20mins and 1 hour and having a rest for 10-20mins before next activity. It ensures your not hitting bust with energy and then being exhausted the next day.
It also splits things out into high energy activity and low energy activity. So high can be intense exercise, housework, reading, screens, medium is showering, cooking, gentle walk and low is things like chair yoga, listening to radio etc.

It's a lot of trial and error but basically avoids you hitting a fatigue wall. Once you have sorted your energy pacing you can then extend things slowly by 5 mins a week or 2.
It's very frustrating as you realise simple tasks actually tire you but building it up slowly means you improve.
I have long covid so been doing it quite a while now but it has enabled me to get some normality back in my life!

every 12 weeks is not enough. Ask for more regular b12 injections and if refused look at self administration of injections. There’s a b12 Facebook group with details.

folic and potassium help absorption of b12. Folic you may need tablets for and potassium should be fine with potassium rich foods.

the NHS are terrible with B12. You can have rock bottom levels which render you immobile with exhaustion but still the NHS will consider your low levels perfectly acceptable. Other countries have a better understanding and higher acceptable range compared to the U.K.