Is this level of fatigue normal?

[HowYouDoinnn]

Hello all.

My DS is going to be 1 soon. His sleep isn't great and so I put a lot of my tiredness down to lack of sleep. But now I feel like it might be something more- I've had 2 blood tests to check vit D, iron and thyroid since he was born and I was told everything was normal. When I called the GP about a separate issue, I was asked if I'm taking the vit D as I was deficient...I had no idea as nobody had informed me and I was told results were normal! So I started vit D supplements, but nothing has helped. I am tired and soooo sleepy ALL THE TIME. I am now starting to doze off during the day while I try and watch DS play. I am barely managing keeping on top of housework and DH is dealing with most of that. I get aches in my joints and muscles on and off, hair is falling and eyebrows are thinning. But lately I feel like even my mind has slowed down and I'm forgetting or struggling to recall very basic things (like my address!). I did ring the GP again but got to speak to a nurse practitioner instead who basically told me it's because I'm still breastfeeding and baby is taking all my nutrients so just keep taking multivitamins. Is this level of fatigue normal? I have never felt like this in my life except my 1st trimester of pregnancy and I know i am 100% not pregnant.

No that's not normal and shouldn't be anything to do with BFing.

I'd go back again, loss of hair and thinning eyebrows is absolutely nothing to do with BFing, if they say it again, ask them for the research so that you can read it. They won't be able to abs it's codswallop.

Thanks. I really just want to get to the bottom of it. everyday is such a physic struggle. Will update here if I make any progress

Sorry I didn't read it all (I'm v tired too). The eyebrows thing made me wonder if you have a thyroid problem. You should ask for a blood test specifically to check for this. I have noticed a few times that people who have thyroid issues have very thin or no eyebrow hair on the outer part of their eyebrow (from above middle of eye, going outwards towards ear).

I am anaemic which is why I am so tired. Have you been tested for that?

I had similar symptoms. Tiredness, foggy brain, hair loss, constantly feeling cold, wright gain etc. I was eventually diagnosed with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). I now take medication and feel fine.

It took a while to get diagnosed though as my levels were within range; apart from the one time when I went to a&e around midnight and they said my levels were off and I needed to get it sorted. I think it fluctuates more than with most people during the day for me. My GP believed me but said he couldn't prescribe anything until I had been seen by a specialist. I ended up going private (insured) and the consultant diagnosed me with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Thanks all for your responses. I have been checked for thyroid specifically as I have a very strong family history of thyroid issues but they couldn't pick up on anything. Everything else including iron was normal(or so I was told). As one of the PPs did, I am now getting a private referral as I simply cannot go on like this. My eyes feel heavy all the time- I'm pretty sure if nobody interrupted me, I could sleep for 15 hours straight!!! My joints are getting increasingly painful so it's really getting quite difficult to run after DC all day long.

Once again thanks for your responses :)

Havebyou seen you results? Sounds exactly like hypothyroidism I was the same after my first child, crushing fatigue & diagnosed when she was about 10 months old, (also have a family history.) As they didn't tell you about your vit d deficiency I'd be second guessing the thyroid results. asking for a copy of both tests. You may be technically 'In range' but not optimal.

I'd get new bloods, all the iron bloodwork including ferritin, vit d, b12 and thyroid bloods, ideally they'd check your t3 but I've only ever got that privately.

It's very hard when everything is such an effort but It's not normal & you can feel better. Insist on more investigation and visibility of all your results. Good luck.

Have you had your jabs? I've had both doses and have felt extremely fatigued and achey ever since (months now).

I have indeed had my jabs but this all started a while before getting vaccinated.

I have pushed GP but not getting very far with them. I suffered from quite severe PND so I think they think I'm THAT patient lol. Hoping a private endocrinologist can figure this out. I was convinced it was my thyroid and was very shocked when they told me it was all normal too as I'd gained weight quite rapidly etc.

There's a national shortage of blood vials right now so they won't retest you. Could you afford a thriva test? Finger prick, do it and then send off in the post. I'd test all thyroid markers again plus iron, folate and B12, hbA1c etc. I was like this post natally and I had folate deficient anaemia.

Sorry to here that you had PNI. What help and support have you been getting for that @HowYouDoinnn?

I've never heard of a thriva test, I will look into this!

@DominicRaabsTravelAgent I did initially sign up to CBT but it's just been so difficult to do anything but the bare minimum/stay on survival mode, so I ended up abandoning that. For the first time in my life, my brain actually wants to do things (like CBT, going out for walks, seeing friends etc) but my body just cannot keep up. If I'm not running after DC, I am lying on the sofa just catching a few minutes sleep lol. I am doing a lot better mentally than I was previously though, so thanks for asking. My DH has been amazing and I have a few close friends who check up on me- I am very fortunate :)