Tired all my life

I think it is common fenmatthews, to find our 'normal' is not the same as other countries. Is the B12 spray prescribed?

I slept a lot - I still get tired but I am sure you will know what I mean vivvq when I say 'normal' tired. The first thing they found was low thyroid (I assume you have been tested for that) and the second was the IBS I have suffered from for, I would guess, 20 years if not more. It has always been a case of treating the symptoms but now they are treating the actual problem I am so much better - I feel about 10 to 15 years younger, am more confident and want the same for everyone! Please do go back to your doctors and ask for more help.

I do think that if you have something like a sleep/tiredness problem it is depressing too. Hopefully not leading to clinical depression but any depression is tiring in itself.

My niece had a similar problem and got herself a fitbit which can, apparently, measure sleeping patterns. After a couple of weeks she took a print out to her GP who saw that , although she was sleeping for many hours she wasn't getting good quality sleep. She is making changes to hopefully change the situation.

I had B12 tests which came back normal. I got a copy of my results and they were very low but within 'normal' My mother had low B12 levels and my brother (in new Zealand where the normal range is lower) has to have injections every 3 months. I choose to use a B12 spray and feel much better

I'm the opposite and need little sleep, although it does sometimes catch up with me and I have a sleepy day. We all need different amounts of sleep, but not getting enough can leave you feeling drained and sluggish. No wonder you just want to stay in bed!

Please get more checks done to find what's right for you. When you're getting the right kind of rest you will be ready for any challenges lively grandchildren may present you with!

My other half could sleep for England and even though he was diagnosed with sleep apnoea some years ago and wears the C-Pap mask he still falls asleep if he's sitting long enough. His quality of sleep is not great - the mask is a great irritant and he's constantly fighting with it and the pipe attached to the machine during the night although he is definitely getting more proper sleep with it than he did without. Some people do need more sleep than others but if it's becoming an issue and you're falling asleep all the time I'd try the sleep monitor bands as suggested and if your rhythm pattern is constantly disturbed have a consultation with a sleep clinic.

My DH had similar. Children used to say he resembled sloth and he once fell asleep at work during presentation. He asked to be referred to sleep specialist and they gave him mask and wires to wear overnight for a couple of days so they could monitor his sleep patterns. It turned out he had sleep apnoea and stopped breathing over 40 times each night but only for a few seconds at a time and mild narcolepsy. He now sleeps with mask which gently forces air into his nose so even if he stops breathing for a few seconds his body still gets air forced in. He is so much better and more like man I married again. Ask for referral you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

A friend of mine's just had help from a homeopath for this sort of thing. Good luck.

Maybe you have mild narcolepsy? There are medications especially for that. I don't think it shows up on blood tests as it is a neurological condition. (NOT psychological btw) You wouldn't have to take the meds every day, you could just have them for days you particularly want to stay alert and lively.

I'd start by investing in a wristband (Fitbit/Jawbone etc.) which will not only continuously monitor your sleep pattern, but will even categorise the type of sleep you are experiencing, i.e. light/deep/REM. I'm assuming you have access to a Smartphone, on which you can access the appropriate APP. You can then accurately define both the quality and quantity of sleep you're actually getting. If the results show that your patterns are outside the accepted norms - and there is a wide variety - at least you can then refer them to your G.P. as specifics, rather than just presenting with a vague "I'm always tired" complaint.

I think vampirequeen could be right. Maybe the quality of your sleep isn't great hence the need for quantity??
A sleep clinic could be the way to go if blood tests have ruled out thyroid and diabetes etc.
It could just be you need more sleep!
There is a sleep condition called narcolepsy, has this ever been discussed with you?
I hope you get some answers ?

Yes I was going to mention Sleep Apnoea, has your husband said you seem to stop breathing which is a sympton of that. Being referred to a sleep specialist shoulds a very good recommendation. Sleep also becomes a habit but you will feel better if you see a sleep specialist and have their expert opinion.

With all the tossing and turning it sounds as if you might be very tense and I remember seeing TV programmes where people where extremely restless for no reason. How about Yoga or other relaxation exercise.

I sleep a lot more than anyone else in my family and have odd sleep patterns too. My DD seems to have the same 'problem' if that's what it is. We can't survive without an afternoon nap - which was horrendous when I had a family and was teaching too since I couldn't have a minute off. Now I am retired I can have an upright nod-off for ten minutes though my poor working DD cannot.

I think everyone is different.

I have the same issues. If sleeping were an Olympic sport then I'd win the gold with no problem.

I think I sleep continuously but DH says that I toss and turn, sit up, shout out etc. Although I don't remember doing it I'm sure that I must be disturbed in some way and that would explain why I'm still tired.

Do you sleep like me? Have you been checked for sleep apnoea?

The OP said she'd had all the 'usual blood tests'.

Why not see a sleep specialist as it's obviously bothering u now
I'm assuming yiuve had your thyroid tested although just because your results are normal nay still be a problem as what reads as normal may not be
Also get your liver function tests done - may be underlying liver (not serious) problem
As this cab cause severe fatigue

Have you tried an iron supplement? It has helped me at times. It might be worth a chat with the GP.