On scale of 1 - 10, how tired are you?!

[beakysmum]

I have ds (3yr8) and dd (14m) and where 0 is raring to go and 10 is nearly sleep walking, I must be about a 9 on the tiredness scale most days.

Is this normal?! I work 2 full day per week, love my kids, they are not unduly difficult and I sleep about 7- 8 hours most nights. But I could just lie down in the aisle in Tesco sometimes and go to sleep I feel so exhausted! And most days at home I do fall asleep on the bed for an hour after lunch. I am considering being tested for ME or glandular fever or something.

sorry, the missing figure was 8.

I'm a SAHM with a one-year-old and I feel constantly exhausted. Probably 7 most days, and at the moment 9 (teething so broken nights). My baby's usually a good sleeper, so I often get 7-8 hours' sleep at a stretch, which let's face it is very very good.

I suspect my exhaustion is from mild depression, erratic hormone levels and the fact that Mon-Fri I do nearly all the childcare (DH gets home AFTER baby's bedtime, and I do find the 5-7pm slot particularly exhausting) and all the housework. It's bloody hard work and relentless, no wonder we are all so exhausted.

In an attempt to feel less tired, I've begun realising that I need to have time "off" from being the carer, ie at weekends, one half-day, and I'm also going to try and organise two slots a week for exercising - which I really miss. I've also given up alcohol and caffeine, and have dug out my healthy eating cookbooks to see if I can improve my diet (definitely possible to make improvements!) I tend to have a problem with erratic blood sugar levels - which definitely contributes to PMS/hormone issues - so I'm going to try and eat more healthily for that reason too.

I suspect it's a good idea to check for anaemia etc. Good luck.

I only have one baby, she is 9 months. I would say that I am generally a scale of 7.

7 despite 8 hours (usually) solid sleep.

7 despite the fact that my DH only works 4 days a week, so I get support on a Weds (but he is out on saturdays)

Am happy with 7. If I were 9 all the time I would probably want my iron levels checked, or book a day "off", somehow. Any family that can give you a break?

I also went to see my GP as I was ridiculously tired. Blood tests, like yours, fine. he said "Motherhood is relentless. Even when I'm busy I get a break between patients, you don't get that."

I think the lack of time off is central, and I've only just begun to think about that. I get no help from MIL and my Mum lives too far away. Like Naturelover, I particularly hate doing the 7-9pm slot when I could just cry.

My job is also completely full on and I often don't get a lunch break.

I think stress and hormones and snoring husbands are all part of it. It's just knowing when that level of tiredness which is part of parenting crosses that line to exhaustion.

Am considering having a child minder one morning a week just to give me some time. Anyone else do this? Have also asked DH to take children out every Saturday morning to give me some space in the house.

Today I'm about an 8/9. Both of my dds had a really unsettled night. I considered keeping dd1 home again today as we were so tired but changed my mind as she has already had a lot of time off due to illness.

I'm usually about a 6/7 I'd say but better get used to be tired because I'm starting work tommorrow night 5pm till midnight/1am. I'll still have to be getting up at 6:30am.

I had this recently - always around 6 or 7, as DS1 always a bad sleeper, although he was improving a lot and then had DS2, and it went up to 10 and stayed there, even when he was waking only once a night. I found it soooo hard to get out of bed, and was snappy with everyone

Had blood tests and came back "borderline" for iron and thyroid. Just been re-tested to see if the thyroid has changed, and taking iron tablets. Maybe worth getting tested again? My tests have been only a month apart, so presumably things can change quite quickly?

Have been advised if the thyroid is borderline again - i.e. so docs won't give thyroxine, but I'll still be jiggered - to take kelp and consider acupuncture to stimulate thyroid function.

Dh taking kids on a Saturday morning is very important.

My MIL (I am lucky) takes my DD one Monday afternoon about every 6 weeks (today being that afternoon). I know thats lucky though but it might be worth paying for that support if it isnt too hand (3 hours over 6 weeks isnt a lot but it makes a world of diference)

So many tired Mummys. So little support...

How about a babysitter 7-9? Even if you're there too, just so you can feel more relaxed (ie, you in sitting room with feet up/glass of wine. Teenage neighbour dealing with bath/pyjamas/story)

I agree with everyone who's said 'iron?'. Pre DS I was a 2-3 at worst (unless hitting a very temporary 10 following serious nights out). I had SO much energy. More than 2 years of broken-nights-every-night have brought me to a 7-8 at best, and since being pg this time I'm more like a 9-10. Then I started taking pg supplements and I'm back to a 7-8. So I think something was missing in my diet... Very worth getting checked, IMHO.

I have to agree with the iron thing. I had to be tested for some other reason and my iron levels are pants.

GP asked why I hadnt come to see him about my tiredness and other symptons.

I had put it all down to two children in 15 months, but feeling like you are wading through treacle on a daily basis is not normal by any means.

I suffered from PND and had really sleepless nights, which didnt help.

I hope you get some solutions and answers from your GP.

Easily a 10. Single parent, work full time, commute 2 hrs a day, baby has awful night cough and waking about every ten mins.

Am severely anaemic as lost lots of blood after her birth and wasn't given a transfusion like I should have been and can't seem to get bloods back near double figures. Boderline for thyroid and we're re testing next month [sigh]

Fell asleep on the loo at work today

OP go to docs to rule anything out and then try to work on your lifestyle, do you exercise?

I have stopped exercising as just too tired to go in the evenings.

Just last week decided I had to do something about all this and so got membership at local leisure centre as they have creche and I could go in the day. Do you know how hard it is to get two children booked into the creche for the same hour? And if you want that hour to co-incide with a class?! Ah well, I'll get there.

Am going to doc tomorrow and will get iron, thanks to all your prompting. Will see what happens. I do appreciate I'm not the tiredest though. Ewe, how do you do it?! I had 3 pint+ blood loss after DS and well remember feeling that I was going to faint each time I walked to the top of the stairs.

Walking through treacle is exactly how I feel. I am worried PND is part of it, though I don't feel down as such, just massively tired!

Beakys

My dcs are similar ages, I work four days (from home so no commute but also no socialising with other adults, which I think really helps) and I'm usually an 8 or a 9

The doc has tested me for everything. Nada. I had terrible flu (proper influenza not the man version) this summer followed by bronchitis. I think - as another poster said, it's just you never get a break. My dd1 also is an early riser and 16 months of getting up around 5.40 or 6am have been a killer. Some people are just tougher than others. I am a wimp.

Can you get your dh to give you a lie in at weekends? Mine usually does and that massively helps, he was away recently and after two weeks of doing it all I was on my knees. Ewe and all single parents out there, I salute you, I really do. Have started swimming a couple of times a week too, I know it's really hard to find time and energy but it has definitely lifted my mood though I went out until 1am on Fri and as a result have a vile cold and feel knackered three days later.

Off to bed now, it's 8.20 and am about to collapse! Good luck

I just have to do it to be honest! And even though I am dead on my feet exhausted I certainly don't feel like I am walking through treacle, more like wading through cotton wool - everything looks like a cosy bed to me

I think there is a difference between being very very tired and depressed, I think depression makes everything feel like it's tiring you out even if it's not IYKWIM? When you're depressed everything is more effort.

Although I am knackered I don't find that things feel like a lot of effort I just find them physically exhausting and by the end of the day every muscle and bone in my body aches and I literally can't keep my eyes open. Plus I often feel light headed and my eyes go a bit funny which is when I know that no matter what, I HAVE to get some sleep!

If you are concerned about PND do mention it to your GP. Being a SAHM can be relentless - especially with two such young children so don't be afraid to ask for help. Good luck and let us know how it goes

christ i'm now at 9.5

kittywise i was smiling before i even opened this thread as i saw you were the last poster!

I am about a 7

NAO. If I ever have another I'll be off the scale

this last one has really taken it out of me Kitty - I said to dp today

'I know I AM older than i have ever been - but i bloody feel it!'

How many have you got again? I have sieve brain.

the same as you!

of course!
have another!