Extreme fatigue what will help

[Sevillelights]

Any help or tips would be so appreciated. I’m just so extremely fatigued. I work three days and have my 5 and 3 yo on the other two days. I’m just so exhausted- as if someone has tied weights on all my limbs. I’m desperate to get on but keep feeling like I need to lie down. I’ve had ongoing stomach problems pretty much once a month I’ll get an upset stomach and be absolutely wiped out by it and need a day in bed. Then after a few days my stomach will settle and be fine for the rest of the month but the exhaustion prevails.

My husband has taken kids away this weekend so I can rest and I want to enjoy it as it’s my first weekend to myself but im so bone tired. As part of my stomach problems a few months ago Id had some blood tests and the GP said my iron is fine. They put the stomach issues down to IBS which I don’t quite understand as when I’m in my good periods I can eat almost anything. Has anyone any tips to get a bit of energy back? I’m getting a decent amount of sleep.

Did you get a copy of your blood results?

I don’t wish to offend GPs at all but there have been numerous stories on here from women who’s GPs have told them that their bloods are fine and they are severely iron deficient.

Can you get your numbers and post them on here?

Also folate, Vit D, thyroid HB etc etc..

What’s your vitamin D like?

what is your diet and exercise like?

@Brandnewskytohangyourstarsupon no I didn’t get a copy just got told iron was fine. I’m not sure what else they tested for. I wonder if I can ask for a copy at the surgery. I’ve made another appointment as struggling to carry on with the regular stomach issues but the earliest appointment was in a month. @Tomselleckhaskindeyes not sure they tested for that as I think they were focusing on my regular stomach upset but maybe I can ask when I get to speak to Gp again in a month

@Sevillelights if you have Patient Access (you can set this up with your surgery) you'll be able to log in and see all your blood results, including reference ranges. I'd advise doing that as it makes it easier for you to keep track yourself rather than relying on GPs just saying it's fine.

@itistooeasy my diet is generally good I think. All home cooked and try and get good variety of fruit and veg. Not much red meat at all though. The problem is when my stomach flares i get scared to eat normally because of the diarrhoea and nausea so recent to very bland basic food and build back up to my normal diet over a week or so. Exercise at the moment is mostly walking and maybe a bit lacking. I badly herniated a disc in my back late last year which led to foot drop so I’ve struggled to find ways to get cardio which I maybe should but feel trapped in this exhaustion cycle.

Read up on stress hormone cortisol, it has a direct effect on the gut. Please listen to your body this weekend and rest, rest , rest.

Low folate, vitamin b12, vitamin d, iron or thyroid can cause debilitating fatigue and the fact you have ibs will make it worse as you won't be able to absorb what you need from food.

Get your results and the lab ranges and post those particular results. In the meantime take some good quality multi vitamins with iron.

Vit d and low carb high protein diet.

Pace yourself, do restorative excercise in small doses and prioritise sleep. Take time to do something that you enjoy - you would be surprised at how much this can life you! Ask for as much help from others as you are comfortable with and set reasonable expectations for yourself in term of work and housework.

Obviously, finding the root cause of your fatigue, whether it is a medical condition, lifestyle or stress will help.

Also, get a coeliac test. You can get a basic ttg iga test on Amazon for about £9 if you can’t be arsed with the dr.

@PollyPeep oh thank you. I do have patient access I used it pre covid to make appointments but then that was all taken away. I’ve logged on but can’t see results - I’m in Scotland so not sure if it’s different here. Will keep investigating

@cheapskatemum thank you. The GP thinks the stomach thing has been brought on by stress after the back injury and my 5yo ended up in hospital needing an emergency operation earlier in the year too. I don’t feel overly stressed just exhausted and I think a bit depressed because having my stomach flip every so often just wipes me out and ruins any plans etc

@AutumnFroglets @Icannoteven thanks I’ll try and get hold of my blood test results and see if these were tested for. Agree about the things I enjoy I’m just in such a rut even when I have been given the whole weekend which is what I’ve dreamed of for years I’m too tired to go out and enjoy it. I’m sure I have a coeliac test as part of this and it came back ok but again something I should check

Hi @Sevillelights
I have colitis and although this may be not be the cause of your problems it might be worth trying some of the foods I try when it flares up. A flare up can stop your body absorbing the nutrition you need from your food - this leads to extreme fatigue in me if I don't watch it.
Like you - I can eat/drink whatever I like in between but I still automatically cut down on foods that stoke inflammation.

I find that avoiding the following can ease a flare up:
avoiding - high fibre (no wholefoods), raw veg, nuts, seeds, artificial sweeteners, monosodium glutemate, remove skin from fruit and veg (the fibre is hard to digest during a flare up), processed foods.

eat plenty of - banana, avocado, live yoghurt, eggs, chicken, fish, rice, bone broths, butternut squash soups etc. Easy to digest - nutrient dense foods basically.

I also supplement with floradix , spatone and and vit D tablets which seems to keep my energy levels tip top.

I notice if I don't do these things!

I hope that helps - I know how debilitating regular digestive issues are.
PS. not eating during a flare up is something I do too - just remember the bone broth and fluids for nutrition

At the minimum I would request bloods for:

Thyroid
B12
Vitamin D
Iron & Ferritin
Folate

I have chronic fatigue and these are all things my specialist recommends checking when I have a turn for the worse. Definitely get copies and post them here or on health unlocked. So many results will be signed off as ‘normal’ when they are far from optimal.

I had chronic fatigue for years and my Vitamin D was 19. I have since been on large doses of Vit D and now feel so much better.

Ah perhaps it is different. Mine are in the test results section, although I'm sure you've tried that!

Don't feel guilty. Maybe what you need this weekend is hot showers, a box set and a take away. Rest

@ThePotholeHelpdesk oh thank you this is great advice and thank you for the list of food. O have just ordered some bone broth (as can’t think of a butchers to get the bones) As all my stomach stuff started mainly with nausea but progressed to bowel problems. That’s so interesting you can eat whatever you want in between as I found that a bit strange but maybe it isn’t. After reading your post I’ve found some floradix I’d had but stopped taking as was paranoid it was making tummy worse so have just had some.

@PollyPeep from a quick Google it seems to be just because they don’t do it in Scotland - no idea why not as it seems very useful! @Kaydlang @GodspeedJune thanks I’m definitely going to try and get my test results so can see if they tested for any of this. I suspect not as the focus was on my stomach so maybe a good next step

I use the bones from whenever we have a roast chicken.

I was paranoid about everything too at one point. I seem to have found a sweet spot now though and the main culprit def seems to be processed food tbh.

Once you can get your energy up a bit you'll have a bit more motivation to look into the foods a bit more. Fatigue is so disruptive!