Sheer exhaustion

[familyissues12345]

Hi all

Note - I will be calling the doc on Monday morning, but having been before for the same thing, I want to go primed with questions.

For the last year or so I have been struggling with bouts of utter exhaustion. I mean, proper can't stay awake during the day, sleep doesn't relieve it, headaches if I don't try and rest, feel achy etc.

I went to the doc last summer, they ran bloods and confirmed no anaemia, very borderline vit d (so I bought some) and nothing else to show.

I'm 43, have minimal stress ( no young children, work part time, have a nice life etc), I am overweight, vegetarian, none drinker/smoker, keep to a pretty regular sleep routine. Generally sleep well, occasional phases of poor ish sleep, but no link to my bouts of severe fatigue.

I have heavy periods, always have. Noticed recently that my hair isn't as strong as it used to be.

I sometimes feel breathless, not like I can't catch my breath, but like my chest is heavy.

I would have put my money on anaemia, or even low iron stores, but nothing.

I'm going to pester the doc. This level of tiredness can't possibly be normal, I can spend entire days feeling utterly drained.

Is there anything I need to push for? It's worrying me now.

Thanks for listening!

Could it be sleep apnoea? Have you had Vit D levels retested?

What is your diet like?

Hypothyroidism, possibly. I felt at death's door with exhaustion before diagnosis. If it is that then you may also be low in Vit D, Vit B12, folate, ferritin. You need to get all those things tested.

Have you had covid? (Probably a daft question seeing as I suspect most people have by now). I am like that and I have long covid. Currently not on any treatment other than pacing/mindfulness/breathing exercises/meditation type stuff. Also waiting investigation of related cardiac symptoms.

It's shit. I'm sorry you feel like that

Some need b12 shots at the doctor's for this. Push for a rest to check b12 levels

Sounds exactly like me and mine is long covid. LC can also cause vitamin deficiencies so good idea to get some bloods done. Usually LC is a diagnosis of exclusion so they may need to run some other tests first. LC fatigue feels like anaemia, the weak, drained, exhausted feeling you get.
I hope it's not LC though, hopefully something that can be solved with meds!

I know this feeling lol!

What exactly was your ferritin? I have been told anything under 60 can lead to symptoms. The range they use for most tests is crap. You need to look for optimal levels.

Could you have asthma? I developed asthma after having Covid - I haven’t had an asthma attack (yet) so all I knew was that I was wheezing a bit in the evening and quite breathless and tired. My husband made me go to the doctor, who sent me to the asthma nurse and it turns out I have about 75% lung function. Long story short, after getting pneumonia at Xmas and feeling more and more exhausted, I’ve recently started a new steroid inhaler and I’m feeling quite a lot less tired - I’ve been told I may have had low oxygen levels that are now improving.

Thanks so much for the replies - I can see someone has messaged me, I'll log onto my laptop in a bit to read it!

To answer questions -

Not sure about sleep apnoea. I am a snorer and can be a bit jumpy at night, however weirdly I always tend to be more tired after a less jumpy night. Worth an ask though

Diet wise - veggie, not always the best eater, when I do eat well I try and be healthy - veg galore.

Vit D - no retest as doc wasn't concerned. Said was borderline.

Covid - yes had twice, first time in 2021 which floored me for a couple of weeks. Could be a def link I suppose

I also have B12 deficiency so I get the injections every three months but I felt like they’d stopped working - until we realised it was possibly the asthma! I’m now talking iron supplements as well.

I feel utterly exhausted, like deep in my bones and bugger all helps

I would do an Epworth sleep scale on yourself and take to GP (find on google)....push for sleep apnoea investigations and screening bloods. If this all comes back clear have a look at the diagnostic criteria,for ME/CFS and ask for referral to specialist service.

When my ferritin was very low I felt tired literally to my bones

Definitely worth asking your GP for repeat blood test including vitamin levels, iron levels and thyroid function tests. Also worth asking them if they think it could be LC or ME/CFS triggered by a different virus.
However, GPs have varying levels of knowledge on LC or CFS so take what they say with a pinch of salt.

Classic LC/CFS fatigue is feeling drained and deeply exhausted, but you don't feel refreshed after a night's sleep. You can also get PEM which means you will feel worse 1-2 days after using more energy than usual. LC also often causes dysautonomia which can leave you getting intermittent breathlessness and heart palpitations. Often also gets POTS which makes you feel weak, dizzy and nauseous, mostly when standing up. LC also causes brain fog quite often and you can just randomly forget things.

I would advise looking up the wide variety of symptoms you can get with LC and tick off any you get. You may think they are unrelated but actually could all be caused by the same thing. Could be useful to take that info to you GP.