Really struggling to cope.

[PenguinTuxedo]

I'm 17+1 weeks pregnant, and I'm really struggling to cope with the tiredness, or rather, exhaustion.

Everyone said I would be really tired during the first trimester, but I honestly wasn't too bad. I was a little more tired than normal, but as I'd cut out caffine, I put it down to that. I didn't need naps or anything.

I've had constant 24/7 nausea (occasionally being sick), so at 13 weeks I was put on an anti sickness tablet (can't remember the name, goes on your gum), but that stopped working after 4 days. At 14 weeks I was put on metroclopromide, and that seems to have done the job.

However, since then I have been exhausted. I've had days on end off work as I can't manage (I only work until 3.15!!), I can't wash my own hair, or even sit on the sofa as sitting is too much energy. I need a nap or two a day just to get through the day, and when I am awake I am so, so tired that I'm even slurring my words.

I was wondeing two days ago if this was down to the metroclopromide (as the leaflet says it can make you drowsy). I haven't had any for 48+ hours now to see if it helps. It hasn't helped the tiredness at all, all that's happened is I feel sick, and I've been sick. I don't know whether to persevere and carry on for another few days without them and see if it helps.

On the other hand, maybe the tablets aren't causing it at all. Maybe it's just the pregnancy, but that's weird as I wasn't tired in the beginning, and everyone says at 17 weeks I should be feeling better :( The drs can't decide if I'm anaemic or not (from my blood test at 13 weeks - maybe I need another one now), so maybe it's anaemic causing it?

I have no idea why I'm like this, all I do know is I can't take anymore. Today I feel so sick and I'm so exhausted but can't sleep cos of how sick I feel. I'm in tears because I'm so tired all the time. Has anyone else felt this way at 17(ish) weeks? If so, was it because of another medical condition (ie anaemia) or just pregnancy?

Have you had your iron levels checked? That can make you exhausted. Not sure how long the anti emetics take to go out of your system but it could be those but it's catch 22. I'd visit your gp

Thanks for the reply. Iron levels checked at 13 weeks but they couldn't decide if it was low or not then. I am a vegetarian, so I guess the chances of me being anaemic would be quite high anyway (as I'm not the best at substituting the missing meat!)

You're right though, it is catch 22 atm, so I'm not sure what to do. I feel so sick so I might just carry on taking the tablets over the weekend, as it might not even be them - it's just a guess. I'll call the Drs on Monday.

I just feel so stressed out as I'm back to work Monday after having half term off, and I just don't know how I'm going to cope being on my feet for 6 hours (how pathetic does that sound?!). They are pissed off with all my time off too, and next week is the last week I can take off sick. After that, my weekly wage would go down from even one day off, so I wouldn't be entitled to maternity pay sigh

I guess the only thing I can do is call the Drs on Monday really.

Why not start taking spatone or another iron supplement and see if it makes a difference? Should only take a couple of days to start noticing an improvement if that's the reason.

Can you buy things like that over the counter?

hi
i'm not pregnant (yet!)
but my friend had exactly the same thing as you with her 2nd baby
couldn't get off the sofa
constantly sent her older child to the garage to buy mars bars
she finally went to the doc who said she was v anaemic
she also has v low blood pressure too
i have started taking spatone a couple of months ago
and it has mad an Enormous difference to my periods
i can function now
and can't believe i put up with feeling so crap for so long!
hope this helps
(friend's baby was all fine btw at a whopping 10lb4!!)

ok, and i buy it on offer at tesco
if you can avoid the apple spatone, do
it's got a really odd taste!

Liquid Spatone put into orange juice is helpful and hides any taste I found.
I guess you take a pregnancy multivit as well, if not worth doing.

Sounds awful tiredness and sickness.
I am exhausted but find once I drag myself to work I have got through it even if working slower some days.

Thanks for the suggestions both - I'll pop out and look for some soon.

Dreading work tomorrow. I'm a TA so constantly on my feet, rushing around, dealing with challenging kids. Think I def need to book a Drs appointment too, as this doesn't seem normal for 17+weeks!

Hi OP, I'm a veggie too and make sure I have green veggies with every evening meal. Although, not in the first trimester as the nausea meant I only wanted beige food. I'm guessing if you're felling sick you're struggling with the veg? If you can manage it, iron needs vitamin C to absorb, so eat your veggies with a big glass of orange juice.

I also take Spatone in the morning on an empty stomach and take my Pregnacare vitamin with my evening meal which has some iron it. I'm 21+3 and my energy levels are pretty good.

Yeah, I am struggling with eating properly due to the nausea. I can't stomach orange juice atm either as it makes me throw up.

I am torn between trying Spatone or waiting to get a Drs appointment and have bloods done to see if I am anaemic - as it could be the anti sickness tablets causing it.

My head feels so foggy it's hard to think straight. Spent most of my day in bed today.

Dried fruit is another good source of iron, but guessing that might not be gong down very well at the moment either.

What about a fortified cereal like Weetabix? That will have iron in it.

You'll need protein for energy too. Nuts are a good source, but again guessing they won't be going down very well at the mo. Have you tried any of the meat substitutes such as Quorn etc. In the first trimester I'd snack on a bowl of Quorn chicken style pieces, which I'd cooked in the wok with a little bit of olive oil (plain - no sauce etc). My DP thought it was a bit odd!

I take feroglobin which is made by the pregnacare people. It's tabkets so easy to take.