So tired, body feels anxious but I'm not anxious.

[PreferMyAnimals]

I don't know why I feel so tired all of a sudden. I've been on break since Christmas and seem to have just crashed. I get to mid-afternoon and all I want to do is have a nap. Then I wake up with a start like I've had a bad dream (don't think I have). Sometimes in the mornings my body feels like it's vibrating with anxiety, but I don't feel anxious. Has anyone found something to help (other than HRT)? I literally cannot take HRT.

Are you drinking alcohol? It used to give me unbelievable tiredness in the afternoons, and it gave me restless sleep, so I had to give up.
You can get vitamin B complex for energy. And I’d add some magnesium glycinate at night to help you have restful sleep.
Have you had your iron/thyroid/B12 tested recently?

No alcohol, I never drink. I have started taking some B vitamins in the morning. I sometimes take magnesium at night, which does help, but I should be more consistent with that, so will definitely do that.

I had blood tests in March last year and they were all fine (though didn't include thyroid). My ferritin was 32, which is a little borderline. I plan to recheck all that in about a month.

I would check your Iron/ferritin and vitamin b- bear in mind that the bottom level is very low and you get symptoms well before that, both my counts were normal but literally right on the bottom of the range. I had exactly as you described, I even explained it to my gp as it's as if my body is anxious but I am not. They did put me on HRT but also ferrous sulphate and a b complex and the combination of all that has definitely helped. The internal vibration/electrified feeling is a known symptom of perimenopause, I used to get it when I lay in bed, it was like my whole body was trembling uncontrollably but I wasn't moving.

My ferritin has to be under 30 to get an infusion, so I do want to check that in case it's fallen further. My B12 tends to be on the high side.

Maybe I'll bring those tests forward and do them in about four weeks. It's the most logical place to start.

Maybe I'll feel better when I'm back to normal routine too.

Those internal vibrations/anxiety are so strange. I feel on edge physically, even though mentally I don't.

I got a new fitness watch to monitor heart rate and so on and that all seems fine.

You can try OTC ferrous sulphate from a pharmacy, that's what they would prescribe for you. I think in my trust the bottom of the range is 11, mine was 24 and a nurse practitioner advised me to get those from the pharmacy. Apparently 70-100 or less is when you start getting the negative side effects like hair loss and other things. It's ridiculous that they let you get so low before anything is offered to help, I've heard of people having hallucinations from low ferritin and still being told it's normal.

For low ferritin you’re better on ferrous Fumarate

I've been using iron bisglycinate as it's the only one that doesn't affect my gut or constipate me. Is that not as good?

Get your folic acid checked too, just in case. Do you take vitamin D?

I do but not every day. I tend towards lower vitamin D. I need to put it by my bed so I remember.

@PreferMyAnimals I don't know what the difference is between the different types but I do know their are some that you can only get from a pharmacy, these ones do seem to work better for me than just the supermarket ones.

DS was exhausted recently and his D was low, so maybe get that checked too. He wasn't taking any, for some reason he thought I said he didn't need it.

Yes, I think I'll just do a wide ranging check of nutrition and so on. If I don't supplement my vitamin D can be around the 30s, so I do need to.

In addition to all the physical checks, yoga nidra and a whole host of breathing practices ca help with calming the central nervous system and easing somatic anxiety.

I really recommend James Reeves for yoga Nidra (can be found on YouTube). There are loads of resources for breathing out there. I use the Calm app, among other things. Humming is another good hack, if that's something you might enjoy doing.

My ferritin was 32, which is a little borderline.

Ferritin needs to be around 70 for healthy hair growth so anything less than that will definitely cause other problems. Start taking regular iron supplements with added Vitamin C whilst avoiding all caffeine/cola/chocolate for 2 hours either side.

I'll check it out. That sort of thing is something I am looking for. Thanks.

I don't think my ferritin has ever been that. I do have amazingly thick and healthy hair though, so that's a bonus, even if I'm low. :-)

I think I'll get the nutritional and thyroid checks done this week. If my ferritin is still borderline, I might see if I can beg an iron infusion anyway.

As vitamin D is fat soluable, it's important to take with food to ensure it's absorbed efficiently. A main meal is best.

Hi sorry to hear your struggling with anxiety and feeling of vibration in your body. It’s awful. Why can’t you go on HRT again? What happened? Here is some information I shared on another post. Re poor sleep. But it has all the supplements I take and works wonders.

Sleepless nights can feel like torture—tossing, turning, waking up drenched in sweat it’s vile, mind racing with a million thoughts. Menopause steals so much, but it doesn’t have to take your rest too. You deserve deep, healing sleep.

Start with small changes as appose to stopping things tell your brain and yourself I’m going to add this in and overtime the stuff like scrolling through your phone or what ever it is you do at night when you can sleep will eventually diminish or at least reduce. It’s much easier for your brain to process when habit stacking or replacing something with something else that serves you better as appose to saying I’m never going to do this or I’m going to stop doing that.

Here’s a stack I use. But you can just try adding in one or two to start. Highly recommend Magnesium. Natural support can make a huge difference I know. Magnesium 😊, ashwagandha, and L-theanine help calm the nervous system, while glycine support your body’s sleep cycle. Macca root balances hormones and energy, reducing night sweats and stress, while muccuna pruriens (I swear by- rich in L-dopa) helps boost dopamine, easing anxiety and promoting restful sleep. Which in trun will help reduce anxiety symptoms the next day and so fourth.

A simple habit like a 5–10 minute evening walk can also work wonders. Why? Becuase walking lowers cortisol (stress hormone) wnd cortisol steals estrogen which we really don’t need to happening but it also regulates blood sugar, and gently but also nturally increases melatonin production, signaling to your body that it’s time to rest. Fresh air, movement, and even just a moment of quiet can help your mind and body unwind. Also a 5-10 min walk first thing in the morning is going to help you remove those feelings you have in your body the quickest way to change how your feeling is to move. Motion creates emotion it’s so simple but so powerful.

I know when you feel like crap you want it to just go away and get that quick fix but truth is there is no quick fix it takes time for your body and mind to adjust to new changes.❤️

Most importantly, be kind to yourself. You’re not alone in this, and your body will find its rhythm again.💕

Good luck and keep going.x

Have you had your thyroid tested? What you’re describing sounds like you could be either hyper or hypo thyroid. I’ve experienced both and it feels very similar!
hope you feel better soon

I had the tests done and they were all very normal. It's improved a bit but still on and off.

@PreferMyAnimals have they given you your actual numbers, or were you just told that everything was normal? The ranges for ferritin are so broad, and you could be 1point within the range and be told "normal".

I have my numbers. My ferritin was 45, which has gone up from the previous measurement. I'm trying to get it higher. Last time it was 31, which is very borderline but just one point too high for an infusion. Time before that was 62. Trying to get it higher than that.