Any tips for combatting the chronic tiredness?

[TigerFeet]

I'm 15+4, I have hyperemesis that is well controlled with medication, but I can't seem to shake off the lethargy and complete lack of motivation that is overwhelming me atm.

I have a pile of wet washing in the kitchen, pots that are unwashed, a small child also unwashed, house is a state and filthy, and I just can't be arsed to do anything about it.

I have been busy at work, doing a few more hours than usual but it shouldn't be too taxing, it's a desk job. DD is at school so on my days off during the week I get a break.

DH usually helps out but is away with work a lot atm, three days last week, all week this week then three days again next week. Last weekend was busy, we had no time to sort the house as we were rushing around the whole time so housework has got out of hand.

I really want to take some time off work but it's too busy at the moment. I'm going to have to restrict myself to my set hours I think.

Any tips for combatting the tiredness? I'm not ill as such so can't go off work sick. Too busy for holiday. I am in sole charge of a 4.8yo whilst dh is away. I go to bed when she goes to bed most nights and sleep reasonably well but still wake up tired.

Part of the problem is my diet I suppose... because of the HG I can't eat normally and eat what I can when I can, but not much of it has any nutritional value. I'm taking supplements, iron levels tested recently and came back fine.

If anyone could wave a magic wand and give me an easy fix, I'd be in your eternal debt! I just want to be able to get up of my arse and sort the house out, at least to the point where there is no wet washing hanging around or plates to be washed.

No advice, but I know how you feel. My dog is staring at me, bug-eyed and touching fur because he needs to go out. Partner is working tonight and I really can't be arsed. Poor mutt. I'll take him to the garden for now (sadly, three flights of stairs down)

poor doggie

shit isn't it?

it wouldn't be so bad if I could just pour myself a nice vodka & coke to make myself feel better

Aye! Alcohol-free beer really doesn't cut the mustard.

Be kind to yourself.

And you

Poor you!

Could you:

• Ring in sick for one day, have a lie in and get all your jobs done?

• Rope in a friend or family member to give you a hand with the laundry at least? (people luuurve being asked to step in & help a pg woman IME)

• Pick ONE chore out of them all that is bugging you the most and just do that one. The theory is you will feel inspired to do more than one chore and if you don't, at least you're one chore down.

Are you eating well? You will have far more energy in general if you are.

Could you be anaemic? Worth asking to be tested?

Hope you feel better soon!

i've no advice but great empathy. it's awful isn't.

-ring in sick - nope, I don't feel that I am ill and work are struggling atm so don't need someone pulling sickies that aren't needed

-I don't know anyone well enough round here to ask them to enter the pit, good friends and family are all at least two hours' drive away.

• I have done the dishes and am about to bath dd, that's two jobs done, I will then ignore the rest

• not eating well, no, I usually mainline vegetables but am struggling to eat anything more than crisps or savoury biscuits atm, I have to really fancy something or it makes me ill to even look at it

• not anaemic, have been tested and am taking iron supplements anyway

THanks for all sympathy and empathy, it helps more than I can say

Well that's me done with ideas for you, seems you got it all covered...!

Go and see a homeopath who specialises in treating pregnant woman.....amazing.

Don't forget to stay hydrated - as a fellow HG sufferer, I always felt better if I remembered to sip small amounts of water every few minutes.
A big glug would come straight back up, along with whatever else I'd managed to ingest in the previous hour!
Also, the meds could be zonking you out - is there a time of day you can get away with reducing the dose?
It will end.....it will end.
I'm almost 37 weeks now, and am chucking once a week or so, usually when I've had a bad night's sleep.
Hope you feel better soon.

THanks everyone

In the end I took today off anyway... I have been sick a lot overnight and this morning, I think the tiredness has exacerbated my symptoms. I think I just need to slow down a bit and ignore the state of the house. DH is home tomorrow [phew] so that will make things easier.

I have considered homeopathy/acupuncture but I live in the sticks and getting to a practitioner who is knowledgable about such things is tricky. If things don't ease off in the next couple of weeks I'll think about it again.

You could be crashing on all the refined sugar from the biscuits and other snacks. They have a high, or is it low, glycemic index that will be playing havoc with yur sugar levels - real peaks and troughs - that will make you feel like you're on a rollercoaster. If you can't ditch these types of foods altogether - and they may well be a much needed lifeline if you have the pukes - can you buy more wholesome ones from health food shops, ie with carob, less refined sugars, more whole grains, dried fruits etc. They could really help that sluggish feeling.
Also, and please don't smack me, but getting out and getting some fresh air and exercise is about the best thing there is for lethargy. I know it sounds counterintuitive...
Hope you're feeling better soon

Thanks poppet

I am getting the sugar rushes, I know I am, I usually eat a healthy diet, lots of whole grains, fruit & veg etc but all I can eat some days is dry toast or crackers... this is so alien to me, I can't really explain how overwhelming it is, this aversion to food. I do understand that it's part of the problem, I just don't know how to fix it atm [self pitying wail]. On good days I eat a reasonably varied diet with salads, veg, whole grains etc but on bad days I just have to eat what I can even if it's bad, or I just can't eat at all.

I do get out and about, school run and shopping etc still needs to be done regardless of how crap I feel, I just carry a plastic bag in my handbag at all times

Not fun. I found the tiredness hard enough to deal with and that was with no sickness. Hope it lifts soon.
Although I'm 20 weeks on Sunday and still hoping for that second trimester boost I keep hearing about... maybe I didn't feel crappy enough in the first to notice a difference.

And while I may extol the virtues of wholesome foods, I'm currently scoffing a gorgeous Apple Strudel pastry... hmmm well I spose there's some apple in there.

ikwym about waiting to bloom. Every morning I wake up and think "today must be the day"

God I am getting so self absorbed... I need to log off and attempt some ironing or something