Tiredness

Just a thought - yes, of course, it would help to have your health checked out - and yes, we all have less energy as we grow older - but do you get enough time to yourself with friends or doing other things you want to do?

I'm a carer for my partner and can get really tired (and snappy!) Fortunately, however, I can still get out of the house to see other people socially once or twice a week, and also go to at least one community education class per year to learn something new.'Me time' is important for everyone.

I always feel much more energetic after spending time with friends or being encouraged to improve a skill in the company of others doing the same.

Fernbergian and Mary doll
Totally understand the' brick wall' situation. I hit it at about mid-afternoon with my auto-immune condition.
I try to be a bit more tactical though and divide my day into morning , noon and night periods. I am usually somewhat energetic for one of these periods but can overrun into the second one. This is ok on Day 1 but by Day2, I am in the pay-back situation and need to resist the temptation to do too much. So long as I pay back, all is well on day 3

I didn't think you could buy iron tablets off prescription in the UK now, that's interesting; really, you shouldn't take iron unless you have had a blood test to find out if your haemoglobin levels are low.
Sometimes a liquid iron supplement is easier on the stomach.

Try some iron tablets but if you’re in the U.K. don’t buy the ones off the shelf in Boots ask at the pharmacy counter they are unbranded and so much cheaper. B12 is definitely worth a try it’s supposed to deal with dark marks under eyes too.

If for any reason you take a lot of antacids (I have Barrets ) or
you have Crohns disease, its possible you may be unable to absorb certain vitmins such as B12 abd B6. You may have be expereicing other syptomstoo, for me it was pain, hot sweats dry eyes and itchy skin. A quick blood test can spot this. Also get you vitmin D check .

I have a light box which keeps up my energy levels

Totally agree, Fernbergien! Same conditions and today is a "brick wall" day for me.
Overdid it going to the Edinburgh meet up yesterdaybut it was all worth it. ,

I too have auto immune problem. Rheumatoid arthritis. Also anaemia (mild) and vit D deficiency from time to time. Always tired. Have had it by 1pm. Sometimes hit brick wall then have to stop and do very little for a couple of days.

I agree with every word that GabriellaG54 says.

Hi bopeep14. Do you know exactly which blood tests your doctors have carried out and have you asked for a copy of the results. GPS will often say our tests are within range but this can vary enormously. My ferritin was 20 which GP said was fine but actually you should be mid range. I have an underactive thyroid and had Private blood tests done. They gave me much more of an insight as to why I'm always tired even after a long sleep. I had very low folic acid for some reason and low levels of vitamin d even after a holiday in the sun. I strongly feel that we know our own bodies and know when something is not right. Hope you get sorted

access a less

Pills are NOT the 'go to' answer.
The lady need access stressful lifestyle. Less babysitting and more 'me' time to do whatever she pleases. Sleep, read, do nothing.
AC nowadays expect GPs to carry on mothering well past retirement, which is selfish.

Stop babysitting. It's sapping your energy and it's a fact that you can never 'catch-up' on lost sleep.
Pills will mask the problem as, if you stop taking them, the problem resurfaces.
You need to explain everything honestly to the children's mother. No good sugar coating the pill.
She needs to know that your health is suffering badly. Will she care for you if you collapse? I doubt it.
I'm all for telling the truth. She can't argued with that and it's no good her asking you what she will do without a babysitter.
That is not your problem. Your health IS.

I had massive vitamin D deficiency a couple of years ago just about this time of year. Unless you have been tested though no point in trying to take a supplement as you need a massive dosage for several weeks. I was tired all the time but was at GP for something else when blood test showed this up. Do hope you feel better soon.

Me too with PBC

Bopeep, none of us want to let our family down but if you become ill you will be no use to them at all. Please discuss your tiredness with your family and see if you can't come up with a solution that gives you a day or two of time to yourself or shorter child minding hours daily. Good luck.

How old is your grandchild? Is it possible to play a quiet, sitting down game for an hour, when you need a rest, or tell a story?

Missing meals because you are too tired to eat, will, unfortunately, probably make you more tired. Do you take a snack when you start to flag? I discovered the hard way that I was hungry, when I started to flag, but I didn't feel hungry, so it wasn't until I started to shake that DH said, "You need food!".

Just to let you all know i am in my late 50s look after granchild 1 year old full time during the week and also hubby and i have two other grand children 3 and 8 on a saturday mum and dad work in retail, so have to work Saturdays. I have looked after grandchildren for 8 years but for the last few months am finding myself exausted, never felt like this before. I know its too much but i cant let my family down child care is so expensive. ?

Dear Bopeep, really think you should go back to GP. Did you have an Hbaic done? How old are you? Are you overweight at all? Do ask for a print out of your results. And what about your blood Pressure?
Not that we need to know all the answers but to help you sort it out.
The common things are common. Perhaps type2 diabetes is creeping up on you. This happened to me and I could sleep and sleep. Now controlled with better diet.
All best wishes.

Glad you've had blood tests keep checking it out. Last year a friend of mine was constantly tired, she put it down to the heat. September she eventually went to the DR who gave her sleeping tabs , which was the last thing she wanted, They mad little difference so back she goes, this time she anaemic so she was out on a course of iron tabs,

Not happy she asked for a second opinion. She found out just before Christmas that s he had bowel cancer. She had an operation a few weeks ago and is awaiting the results.

So take care and don't leave these things to chance.

Apologies to icanhandthemback and thanks to aggie.

Sorry Bopeep 14.Think tired ness is kicking in already.

Well since the tests all came back normal, your tiredness is therefore normal for your age and activity level. As my doctor once said to me "you learn to live within your limits".

Bleep,Hope you get it sorted soon.im sure I'll feel horrible later today as I didn't get to sleep till at least 6 30 this morning. Woke up at 9 50.not going to get much done today yet I could have knocked the house down through the night.

I’d consider everything everyone else has said and also look at ways of making life generally easier for yourself. I now do most of my shopping on line, use the dishwasher and the tumble dryer if things are getting hectic and have drastically reduced the number of plants in pots in the garden. My next project is to replace herbaceous plants in the borders with low maintenance shrubs. I have my main meal at lunchtime and try to get all cooking done in the morning. I don’t do as much childcare as you but still find it exhausting. I’m 72 and am finally accepting that, while the spirit is only too willing, the flesh is weak. One other thought - I’ve recently bought a new mattress and my sleep has considerably improved.