I'm so tired I left my toddler in her cot for 2 hours after her nap, just so I could sleep

[wanttosleepforever]

Just that really.

She woke at 10 after her usual hour nap. I heard her wake but was so tired I must've gone back to sleep. I don't think I slept deeply, I just couldn't physically move although I really tried. It's as though I was paralysed. The next time I looked at my clock it was 12.

During those 2 hours I'm sure she had short bouts of tears and then bouts of quiet (not sure whether she snoozed or played with the toy in her cot)

I feel absolutely awful. The neighbours must think I'm neglectful and a bad mum. But I've never done this before. Is it really bad? Has anyone else ever done this? My little girl is in great form now, smiles and running around as usual so I don't think it's effected her too much being left in the cot but who knows? She could have felt that I'd abandoned her or something? I need perspective. I'm so tired I can't think straight.

I feel so tired all the time which is really ridiculous as my toddler is a good sleeper. Even when I get a full 7 or 8 hours sleep I still wake up tired and am tired the whole day. Last night for example she woke at 1am and was awake for about an hour, so I had a disrupted sleep, but nothing too drastic. She usually sleeps through from 7PM to 6am.

I'm irritable and just don't understand how I could be so tired all the time when I know plenty of other mums who have much less sleep than me.

[TinyTear]

Hope you feel better, i was like that and my DH said it was because I had a 7 month old... no, it was because my thyroid just wasn't working... now on thyroxine and feeling way better

[wanttosleepforever]

Hi pooka I hope it's something as simple as that!

[somedayillbesaturdaynite]

do you know what dose you took pooka?

[wanttosleepforever]

Hello to anyone reading this

Couldn't sleep last night, so this morning I dropped little one off at nursery and called in sick to work. I'm just so tired. But now I can't sleep and feel anxious.

I hoped having the day to myself might make me feel more like my old self and make me feel better but it hasn't. Thought I'd watch a bit of daytime TV like I used to when I was a student and doze off, instead I'm posting on here.

[DameDeepRedBetty]

When do you get the results back from the blood test?

I'm another one who turned out to be heavily anaemic. My lovely lovely gp prescribed Ferrous Fumerate, which is much nicer to take than the other sort of iron supplement as it doesn't give you horrible poo problems. Within days I felt so much better. I think iron deficiency is far more common than many of us believe!

[wanttosleepforever]

Hi Betty, results back in a week. I'm actually really hoping they find something so I can get it sorted. Otherwise I've been thinking depression. Which scares the shit out of me

Can you get postnatal depression a year after birth?

[Pooka]

Was very high dose prescribed by GP. One tablet every three days with massive warnings against even considering taking more frequently.

I was a complete mess before - crying, knackered, constantly under the weather, feeling anxious and irritable.

[Blondieminx]

Fingers crossed the tests pinpoint something so you can start treatment to feel better, will you update once the results are back?

IF it were to be depression, then that can come on at any point up to 2 yrs after having a baby according to MIND and your GP may well ask you to answer something like this NHS depression questionnaire if the bloods are inconclusive.

Either way, you've started on the path to feeling better just by seeing the GP.

How was your day today?

[TimeToPassGo]

Really glad you have had your tests OP. Did you get repeat blood sugar done?

[wanttosleepforever]

Hi blondie

Thank you for asking how my day was, being asked really is nice. The support I've got on here really is astounding. Thank you all so much.

It's been a pretty rubbish day. I lay in bed, feeling anxious and guilty and missing my little one. I slept a couple of hours but it didn't help. If anything it made me feel worse. I've cried a lot today. I've been rude to my other half since he got in from work. I just feel like he doesn't get me anymore. We used to have such a laugh together, that's gone now since I lost my sense of humour.

I feel lonely, pathetic, self absorbed, useless, angry and hopeless.

The weird thing is that I have so much to be happy for. My life is good, I have everything I need and would want. I don't understand why I can't just be happy.

My little one has made me laugh and smile this evening though. Such a lovely little thing.

[wanttosleepforever]

Hi time, I didn't mention my blood sugar at the time. My doctor is very unapproachable and I forget things when I'm in there. Not sure what they are even testing for.

I've noticed lately I need to go for a wee much more than usual. This happened when I had gestational diabetes. So worried I have diabetes now.

will let you all know my results as soon as. Xx

[nessus]

Write a list of questions you want to ask gp and stick it on the fridge. That way it is visible and you can add to it as you think of more. Of course remember to take the piece of paper with you!

Not sure if you can get any malt drinks near you but this really helped with low energy and iron deficiency.

[Blondieminx]

The support on MN rocks

now listen you are NOT useless. Something is up at the moment and because of that you feel off and it's making you grumpy... An entirely normal response. You will come through this phase. If the GP is unhelpful can you see a different one at all?

A list is a good idea.

I hope you have a good Friday.

[wanttosleepforever]

Good idea about the list, Nessus. Will try and get a different doc next time too. There is a lady doctor there who I feel more comfortable with so will ask for her (once I remember her name!)

[wanttosleepforever]

And thank you for the lovely message, blondie. Hope you have a good day too. It's Friday!

[Pooka]

At the same time I was prescribed the vitamin D, the GP also gave me a prescription for antidepressant. We decided that I'd see how I went with the vitamin d (with a followup blood test after 4 weeks) but that the antidepressants might be helpful if I felt no change. For what it's worth - my youngest was 3 at the time.

I'd had a rubbish, stressful few months.

But within about 2 weeks of starting the vitamin d, which also coincided with lovely sunny weather and a holiday at the beach in Cornwall, I felt much much more stable and calm.

Like you though, I was really hoping that there'd be something definitive on the blood test results.

[Pooka]

So didn't take the antidepressants in the end.

[wanttosleepforever]

And how are you now, pooka? Still taking vitamin d? X

[Pooka]

Thanks for asking! :)

The follow up blood test showed that vit d normal (this was in September last year). I've been fine since, not on prescribed supplements. Felt a bit odd earlier this week so have started taking a standard supplement just in case, with a view to seeing what my mood is like in a week or so.

I can't really explain ow I felt before. It was odd. Like I gradually put up barriers around myself, and began to feel anxious at any deviation or additional task. Basically went into hibernation at home with youngest, barring the school run. I remember wanting to go to Ikea one day and literally shaking the whole way there. It was not part of my routine and I thnk that sort of thing threw me, even though I really wanted to go!

My GP said that moods can be related to vit d deficiency. I've also been prone to iron deficiency too, so take a supplement.

Oh - another thing that helped was that I joined a gym a couple of months later. I'm not sure it can all be put at the door of vitamin d though. My fil had recently died, we had money issues for a while as a result (inheritance tax complications) and I felt a bit directionless. Another thing that helped was that I was fortunate enough to pick up some freelance work from my ex employers that boosted my self esteem - realising I still 'had it'.

[wanttosleepforever]

Glad things got sorted for you. It's good that you are aware of when you think it's coming back, so you can nip it in the bud.

I've had a lot of stress over the last year too. Two deaths, a flooded flat and consequent year of trying to get it sorted. My mum's been unwell having had a stroke.

My mum has made a full recovery and the flat has just been sorted. We've been offered compensation for the year of blunders at our flat and can now look ahead, maybe plan a holiday.

I've been so stressed out all year, and now it's all come to an end. I should be jumping for joy.

I really hope I have a deficiency in something or other so I can become my old self again.

[RockabillyKitty]

Hey hun, I know tired, so I sympathise! Took me ages to find this thread again as I couldn;t remember if I read it last night or this morning - when I was up at 4AM!!! Just a couple of quick thoughts that have now come to me after breakfast/shower/feeling more human. While waiting for blood test, take Ginseng - always gives me a boost. If you do take iron supplements, look up SpaTone - natural iron, midwife suggested after I gave birth as my iron was low but already had horrendous piles after pregnancy. Also, how about becoming "your new self" - sounds like you "old self" had it pretty tough lately iyswim! xxx

[Giraffeski]

Just a thought- you couldn't be pregnant again could you?

[Ladyfarquhar]

I felt exactly the same after DD2, shattered all the time and anxious. I would drop DD1 at school then fall into bed still with my coat on and with DD1 napping still in her car seat on the bedroom floor beside me. It was awful. I was diagnosed with an underactive thryrod when DD2 was 5 months and was given medication, it took a while but I did feel better eventually.

Before diagnosis I used to get so frustrated with helpful friends and family throwing advice at me to time manage, get out and about, routine ect. It wasn't any of those things - it was my body not working properly.

I hope you get some answers next week.

[wanttosleepforever]

Thanks for all the replies today


RockabillyKitty I will try ginseng. Do you take them as tablets? Also yes, you're right, I should think about a new me. Sound advice

Giraffeski not a chance. Unless it's the second coming!!!

Ladyfarquhar my blood is being tested for under active thyroid. Glad you felt better after diagnosis. I know what you mean about the frustration, and if my blood comes back as fine, that's what will be the worst as what would that mean? Depression?

[RockabillyKitty]

You're welcome hun. Yep you can get ginseng tablets from the health shop/supermarket etc. the other thing I find with tiredness is that once you give in to it, it's like a poison. I try not to let myself think about how tired I actually am (DS hasn't slept more than 2 hrs at a time since birth - now 12 mo, plus bad pregnancy sleeping, oh god! Anyway...) If you've got into a pattern of letting it beat you, it's tough to get out of. But you say you're getting sleep, maybe it's not good quality sleep. Think about your bedtimes - too early, too late, making sure it's totally dark, that sort of thing. And look at your diet, maybe you need to eat more energising foods. You have had a lot to deal with lately and you're probably run down. Plus being a mom is THE HARDEST JOB IN THE WIRLD! Don't despair - everything is fixable. Best of luck.