Long-term fatigue, anyone else?
Discussion
Currently late 30s, I've been fatigued for probably about 18-19 years at this point, maybe more, can't really remember.
Went to the GP in my mid-20s and had blood tests done etc. which I was told were all 'normal'. In fact, he said I was weirdly normal as all results were basically bang on the middle of the normal range.
Went back to GP again some years later (around 31 y/o), he did a blood pressure check and asked a few questions but basically was fobbed off without any further tests being done.
I'm at the point of getting seriously frustrated and not knowing what to do next, I'm considering starting with some private bloods (via Numan etc.) to see if anything reveals itself.
The frustrating thing is that I do mostly all the right things. I eat fairly well, not perfect but probably better than most, I exercise a few times a week (run 5kms, do free-weights etc.), sleep is excellent, 8 hours a night like clockwork. Barely drink alcohol, don't smoke. BMI around 21 last time I checked.
And yet, I'm always tired, I haven't woken up feeling refreshed since my teens, I'm just always feeling worn out and fatigued. Some days worse than others but it's never not there.
Anyone else got any experience with this? Has anyone managed to overcome this? Thanks
Went to the GP in my mid-20s and had blood tests done etc. which I was told were all 'normal'. In fact, he said I was weirdly normal as all results were basically bang on the middle of the normal range.
Went back to GP again some years later (around 31 y/o), he did a blood pressure check and asked a few questions but basically was fobbed off without any further tests being done.
I'm at the point of getting seriously frustrated and not knowing what to do next, I'm considering starting with some private bloods (via Numan etc.) to see if anything reveals itself.
The frustrating thing is that I do mostly all the right things. I eat fairly well, not perfect but probably better than most, I exercise a few times a week (run 5kms, do free-weights etc.), sleep is excellent, 8 hours a night like clockwork. Barely drink alcohol, don't smoke. BMI around 21 last time I checked.
And yet, I'm always tired, I haven't woken up feeling refreshed since my teens, I'm just always feeling worn out and fatigued. Some days worse than others but it's never not there.
Anyone else got any experience with this? Has anyone managed to overcome this? Thanks
You are probably dehydrated.
I had all this going on and I stopped drinking tea and coffee and made sure I was drinking lots of water. I now felt much better and don't have the fatigue anymore.
Im 51 and it took too long for me to realise what was the matter.
I drink a pint of water pretty much as soon as I get up, another pint through the morning up to lunch, then a half pint with lunch.
Then a half pint with my evening dinner at around 6.
Then another half pint prior to bed.
I no longer need a piss in the night since I
Stopped the tea and coffee. Which is nice.
Made the world of difference to my life.
I had all this going on and I stopped drinking tea and coffee and made sure I was drinking lots of water. I now felt much better and don't have the fatigue anymore.
Im 51 and it took too long for me to realise what was the matter.
I drink a pint of water pretty much as soon as I get up, another pint through the morning up to lunch, then a half pint with lunch.
Then a half pint with my evening dinner at around 6.
Then another half pint prior to bed.
I no longer need a piss in the night since I
Stopped the tea and coffee. Which is nice.
Made the world of difference to my life.
PovertyPrince said:
I struggle with this thanks to Thyroid issues (although my iron level is fine)
That does seem to be the default diagnosis. I have been on Thyroid meds for a good few years now (bonus point is that it is one of the life time conditions that gives you exemption from any prescription charges) and it seems to work ok. My iron levels took a nose dive a while back after I caught a dose of Covid and I needed a course of B12 injections to get it back up and have needed daily iron tablets to keep them there. Both conditions re worth getting checked for. Interesting. Thanks for all replies so far.
I do take vitamin D tablets in the winter months so hopefully not that but a blood test would help.
The water one is interesting, I do drink a fair bit but also drink tea and coffee in the mornings so may be worth looking at/adjusting. I still drink tea on an evening but switch to decaf so my last caffinated drink would be around lunchtime.
Don't think sleep apnea, Mrs hasn't ever noticed any symptoms.
I think a private blood test is in order, I'll try and find one that includes Vit D, B12 and iron/ferritin.
Edit to add: Also I'll start keeping more of an eye on my diet, try and figure out any triggers
I do take vitamin D tablets in the winter months so hopefully not that but a blood test would help.
The water one is interesting, I do drink a fair bit but also drink tea and coffee in the mornings so may be worth looking at/adjusting. I still drink tea on an evening but switch to decaf so my last caffinated drink would be around lunchtime.
Don't think sleep apnea, Mrs hasn't ever noticed any symptoms.
I think a private blood test is in order, I'll try and find one that includes Vit D, B12 and iron/ferritin.
Edit to add: Also I'll start keeping more of an eye on my diet, try and figure out any triggers
JoeSteveMark said:
Interesting. Thanks for all replies so far.
I do take vitamin D tablets in the winter months so hopefully not that but a blood test would help.
The water one is interesting, I do drink a fair bit but also drink tea and coffee in the mornings so may be worth looking at/adjusting. I still drink tea on an evening but switch to decaf so my last caffinated drink would be around lunchtime.
Don't think sleep apnea, Mrs hasn't ever noticed any symptoms.
I think a private blood test is in order, I'll try and find one that includes Vit D, B12 and iron/ferritin.
Edit to add: Also I'll start keeping more of an eye on my diet, try and figure out any triggers
Don’t waste your money on a private blood test - your GP one will have included all of those, or should have if you told them you were tired all the time. Check with GPs first for full results or a repeat test. Or you may qualify for a nhs health check. I do take vitamin D tablets in the winter months so hopefully not that but a blood test would help.
The water one is interesting, I do drink a fair bit but also drink tea and coffee in the mornings so may be worth looking at/adjusting. I still drink tea on an evening but switch to decaf so my last caffinated drink would be around lunchtime.
Don't think sleep apnea, Mrs hasn't ever noticed any symptoms.
I think a private blood test is in order, I'll try and find one that includes Vit D, B12 and iron/ferritin.
Edit to add: Also I'll start keeping more of an eye on my diet, try and figure out any triggers
Problem with blood tests is it will not pick up things like Fibromyalgia and that is only diagnosed when everything else has been ruled out.
Do you have any other symptoms that you think are unrelated? Google Fibro and see if anything else fits that you hadn't really thought were connected.
Do you have any other symptoms that you think are unrelated? Google Fibro and see if anything else fits that you hadn't really thought were connected.
We got a new coffee machine couple months ago. I was never much of a coffee drinker, but started having 1 or 2 a day from the new machine.
Absolutely messed me up. Exhausted all day, severe brain fog, went on for 6 weeks or so. Took me a while to realise it was the coffee. Even took a couple weeks to get out of my system.
Searching on line really opened my eyes to how caffine can really affect people differently, even decaf can have a profound effect on some.
Good luck, hope you get to the bottom of it
Absolutely messed me up. Exhausted all day, severe brain fog, went on for 6 weeks or so. Took me a while to realise it was the coffee. Even took a couple weeks to get out of my system.
Searching on line really opened my eyes to how caffine can really affect people differently, even decaf can have a profound effect on some.
Good luck, hope you get to the bottom of it
Same for me. Approx 6 years now
I still believe a big part is too much caffiene which I have quit on and off for years.
Some days I wake up ok even after drinking or bad sleep
Other days sleep all the way through and so tired all day I have to nap at lunch
Blood tests are always green
Mine could be the work from home lack of activity and boredom as that's when it all started but nothing can pinpoint it
Watching here.
I still believe a big part is too much caffiene which I have quit on and off for years.
Some days I wake up ok even after drinking or bad sleep
Other days sleep all the way through and so tired all day I have to nap at lunch
Blood tests are always green
Mine could be the work from home lack of activity and boredom as that's when it all started but nothing can pinpoint it
Watching here.
I have done an e-consult with my GP basically asking for repeat bloods, so hopefully they'll get back to me sometime next week.
Fibromyalgia doesn't seem to fit, don't have any aches/pains etc
I've started cutting caffeine down, last two days I've had about half a cup of instant coffee per day. Aim is to have no more going forward.
Regarding screen time, I work in a lab so use screens a fair bit but probably less than an office worker/workfromhomer would. I do however sit on my laptop for a while on an evening so could be another area to look at.
Mental health is an interesting one for me, I think I've always been a bit down. I've never had any major ups and downs, just always a bit down. I think I'm anhedonic rather than depressed but I appreciate anhedonia can be a symptom of depression.
Thanks all for your input.
Fibromyalgia doesn't seem to fit, don't have any aches/pains etc
I've started cutting caffeine down, last two days I've had about half a cup of instant coffee per day. Aim is to have no more going forward.
Regarding screen time, I work in a lab so use screens a fair bit but probably less than an office worker/workfromhomer would. I do however sit on my laptop for a while on an evening so could be another area to look at.
Mental health is an interesting one for me, I think I've always been a bit down. I've never had any major ups and downs, just always a bit down. I think I'm anhedonic rather than depressed but I appreciate anhedonia can be a symptom of depression.
Thanks all for your input.
Certainly, I'd do stuff to improve your mood and see how it affects things. When was the last time you had a good laugh or did something that put a proper smile on your face? How regularly do you do these kinds of things? What creative pursuits do you have? (You don't have to be any good at them - it's the doing that's important.)
Mirinjawbro said:
Genuine question
How would doing things you like maybe 3 or 4 hours a week change anything?
If you're asking me, then it makes you feel better, because you're not always focusing on work or chores or family duties. Only doing stuff that you have to do and isn't what you'd do for fun or to relax with will only add to either your bad mood or lack of motivation. As the saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. How would doing things you like maybe 3 or 4 hours a week change anything?
It will also give you more energy to do your work and chores.
Of course, if you're pretty chipper anyway then you don't need to do the downtime stuff. For instance, I love what I do for work and could happily do it or talk about it all day and all night. My motivation goes up when I think about doing it (like now). But doing chores around the house or the gardening, my motivation and energy crashes, and I'd be in a grump. Even thinking about mowing the lawn makes me slump my shoulders. That's why I have a gardener!
You still have to do the boring stuff, but throwing in the fun stuff will bring your mood up. Sadly, we can't just do the fun stuff but life doesn't have to just be about commitments, chores and work.
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