Constant ill and weight won’t budge, what am I missing?

[Limon22]

Looking for some collective wisdom please.

I’m 39 and a mum of one 3-year-old, and for the past year or so I feel like I’m constantly catching colds / flu-type bugs. As soon as one goes, another starts — and when I do get ill it completely wipes me out for a good three weeks at a time.

I’m also absolutely knackered despite getting plenty of sleep, and my weight has completely plateaued no matter what I do.

I’ve had bloods done and the GP says they’re normal. Thyroid is fine. I had a colonoscopy before Christmas which was all clear, and I’ve been tested for coeliac — not coeliac.

Lifestyle-wise, things are actually pretty good. My child is honestly a dream — sleeps brilliantly, happy, and I absolutely love being his mum, so it doesn’t feel like parenting stress. I’m not depressed. My work is balanced and flexible, I work from home a lot and set my own hours, so stress levels are low.

I eat fairly well, try to stay active, and don’t drink much — partly because alcohol really doesn’t agree with me anymore. Even one glass (or four!) causes horrible flare-ups afterwards, so I mostly avoid it.

I’ve also always felt very sensitive to lifestyle even from when I was younger. I’ve never been able to drink much without a huge physical impact, if I have a few bad days eating I get awful bloating, and I’m very sensitive to poor sleep — I have to work hard at getting enough sleep or I feel dreadful.

I constantly crave sugar, which doesn’t help, and I have mild PCOS — but my cycles are regular and I’ve been told my hormonal health looks “good”.

I just feel run down all the time and a bit fed up if I’m honest.

Has anyone been through similar and found a cause? Immune issues? Post-viral stuff? Allergies? Gut issues? Something obvious I should be pushing the GP to look into?

I had extensive fertility and immune testing in November so I’m pretty confident it’s not an auto immune or menopause. I do have a higher number of NK killer cells but believe that’s only an issue having a baby,

Any advice, things to ask for, or “this was me and it turned out to be X” stories very welcome. I’m just tired of feeling rubbish and not knowing why.

Thanks in advance ❤️

Do you know what your iron levels were? I felt very similar to you and had my bloods taken at the beginning of January. The GP flagged them as borderline but when I checked the NHS app, my ferritin was 5, my serum iron under range but normal haemoglobin.

Fortunately I’ve got private healthcare through work and had an iron infusion last Friday. The difference is already quite significant. My sugar cravings were out of control before, probably because my body was so desperate for an energy source it craved a quick fix. I haven’t even thought about chocolate or sweets for the last couple of days. I’m still symptomatic and will probably need to take iron tablets a couple of times a week for the foreseeable future to fully restore my levels but for now I feel like a new person.

Oh wow this is so intriguing. I’ve private healthcare, what did you do re a referral? I may definitely try this. Have a busy few months and just want to feel my best for my little fella and husband. Our weekends are busy and I just want to enjoy them without needing to hit the pillow at 8pm! 😭

@Limon22 I had a private GP appointment, was referred to a haematologist who then booked me in for an infusion. The whole process took less than two weeks through BUPA.

I thoroughly recommend it, low iron is dreadful for the immune system and I always felt like I was coming down with a cold which was unhelpful on top of all the other symptoms.

You look great in your photo and I'm sorry to hear you had some a traumatic experience. Iron levels have an impact on energy and general wellbeing, I know you've mentioned that but diet and supplements should help - are you taking any at the moment?

Have you looked into other vitamin deficiencies? An ex colleague had B12 deficiency and since she's had that addressed she's feeling much better and more energised. It also came at a time when she was having MH challenges relating to bereavement and depression so she'd just put it down to age and that. Hormone wise, peri-meno etc I think you're informed about where you are physically because of your fertility visits but that's what I'd also think of.

That said, B12 injections are the cure all my old hairdresser tried telling me they were "they'll give you a boost" only if I have a deficiency in the first place Colette.

I'd agree with whoever said to sack off any weight-loss thinking and concentrate on your wellness. I also wonder if that traumatic experience has had an impact on your mental health, have you had any therapy or support after that?

You've said you're sleeping well but if you'd not I'd also ask about rest and relaxation and that side of your physical and mental wellbeing.

I'm not a medical expert of any sort but what you've described isn't like anyone I know with chronic fatigue syndrome, ME or long covid. I'm glad that you have sought help from your GP though and you've been tested because feeling run down and not shaking off a cold can be a symptom of other things.

As your child is 3 have they been picking up more bugs and germs since starting a new childcare setting? Has your contact with other people changed?

Are you taking any vitamin and mineral supplements, collagen, whatever else? Short of any answers from GP I'd start trialling some on yourself to see if you notice a change.

Ok sorting that this week as im confident my iron will be low (getting bloods tomorrow) and I have BUPA. Thank you again. So kind and very helpful advice.

Good luck @Limon22 I really hope you feel better soon.

My wonderful GP looked at my B12 result and said 'it's within what the NHS regards as normal but I'd like to see it over 500'. It was a game changer when I started to take a good b12 supplement. I think the normal NHS range is 180 - 950, mine was around 300. Might be worth pushing for a B12 check when you have bloods done tomorrow, I don't think it's done automatically

Thank you yes they’re doing that so I’ll see how it all looks! Great advice!

I have see sawed in weight basically my entire adult life. My "natural" position seems to be to eat just slightly too much (sugar) and slowly put on weight. Then every couple of years I make a real effort (usually low/no carb) and lose a stone or two.
I chose wegovy because it's cheaper than MJ, and it's worked well! I haven't had many side effects really, just feeling a bit sick after eating too much, and some constipation on and off.

btw when I suspected I was anaemic I just booked a GP appt, said "I feel tired and cold all the time, I think I'm anaemic" and they booked me a blood test. Then they prescribed the heavy duty iron tablets.

I have PCOS and it’s exhausting - one of the major side effects is just that, unfortunately. It also makes it very difficult to lose weight.

This time last year I was exhausted all the time. Weighed 14.4 stone, swam 3 times a week plus walked at least 15k a day and struggled to lose weight. A year later I weigh 9.4 stone and have more energy - not perfect I think my HRT needs tweaking and I’m under a lot of stress. I used weight loss injections. Would you think about trying them?

I really would. I think it’s time to be honest. What brand did you use?

I used mounjaro becasue at the time it was cheaper. Then a study came out which said at population level it was more effective and had fewer side effects. But actually which one works best and has fewer side effects depends on the how individual react to the individual drugs. I have friend who moved to wvegovy because it’s cheaper and she is finding it better for her.

Be warned, they are drugs for life. 90% of people who stop taking them will put the weight back on. The price of the drugs will come down and currently tablets are avaliable in the USA and are going through safety process in the UK and these should be cheaper again as they don’t need a cold chain.

I feel the same and have had all the bloods / colon prope etc.

Are you taking vitamin d? Especially in winter.

Often gp says iron ok when it's not.

Specifically check your ferritin result.

Magnesium has helped improve quality of my sleep also.

Are you on any contraception?

I'm also considering the WLI as I need to shift 2 stone and it feels impossible

I also had glandualar fever (when I was 18). I then had a bad flu about 14 years ago which just seemed to ruin my immune system, and it's never been the same since. I used to get ill once a month - same symptoms always, extreme fatigue that felt more like illness than being tired (if that makes sense). Have had numerous blood tests over the years and the only thing that comes up is that I have a fairly low white blood cell count. One doctor did ask if I'd ever had glandular fever as it can 'reawaken' in your body (or something like that!). I don't know for sure if this is the case, but it does seem to fit.

Lifestyle has made a huge difference, i was quite a party girl 10 years ago but now i exercise regularly, eat well (not perfect and have binge eating tendencies which isn't great), and have also quit booze recently. I take a strong multivitamin and (try to!) prioritise sleep. Although it sounds like you are doing well on all those fronts.

But cleaning up my lifestyle has helped and now I'd say i get those symptoms a couple of times a year (mild versions perhaps a bit more often) which is much more manageable. But i feel for you as I found i couldnt plan things properly as I never knew if I'd be ill or well.

But if you’re eating as little as you say, and exercising as much as you say…fatty jabs won’t help so save your pennies (or hundreds of pounds every month).

Search for threads about low iron, lots of them recently, lots of people with similar issues to you

I had very similar symptoms and had my bloods done at the GP and they came back as normal. But if you ask for a printout or set up the NHS app, you can see the individual values. A quick Google showed that although my ferritin was at the bottom of the very wide normal range as laid out by NHS, it was far from optimal. Suboptimal ferritin is incredibly common among women, linked to heavy periods often. I bought mine up with iron tablets although it was a slow process. I currently take feroglobin fizz which is drinkable, much nicer on the stomach than many tablets and has vitamin c in which helps with absorption. Good luck, hope you get some answers as feeling exhausted and poorly all the time is rubbish.

I would get a blood test via medichecks or somewhere similar - make sure it includes thyroid and b12, think its about £89 - don't accept the bottom of the range on anything and start supplementing to improve levels - use chatgpt or something to figure out what to take and when

Get vit d as most people are low in that - have a look at inositol as that can help balance hormones. Heme iron is good for absorption and not as fussy as other types - you may need to get it imported. It's not an overnight improvement so may take a while

Start looking at feeding your gut microbiome as that will help - you will need to read up on it or use chatgpt to help what yo eat and when

Seems like the answer probably lies in your iron stores tbh. I’d really work to get that up in any way you can.

And focus on sleep - hard as you say it is something you prioritise. Perhaps daily walks and no running for a little while. Maybe a total focus on whole foods could help too - just making sure that everything mouthful you eat is packed with nutrients (hard I know)

Try dropping calories to 1400 a day.. see if this shifts some weight.

I think you look fine. You certainly dont look over weight.

If you're burning 23oo calories a day that's well within your limit. You should be maintaining or losing weight. This doesn't sound right. You need a thyroid check. Or at least a fbc.

Ah, I see you have mentioned no thyroid problems.

I see that you have seesawed your entire life with weight management so this will certainly be a problem. Your digestive system will have moved been constantly from diet to eating constantly and will have suffered.

You can get this back on keel with a bit of effort.