Why am I so tired?

[8isenough]

Lately I am feeling so exhausted. I eat well, supplement, and exercise. I have had my blood work checked for possible physical causes. The tests all came back fine. I go to bed relatively early, ocasionally get a nap in, and take "me" breaks at least once a week. I am not depressed. I have dabbled in some natural supplemental remedies and nothing has worked. Any suggestions as to why I am so tired? This is very frustrating. I have always had a high energy level so this is baffling to me.

Sterling

[Marisa6826]

Um, 'cause you have EIGHT kids?!

Sterling, Girlie, I have NO idea how you get out of bed every day!

Don't have any suggestions, but I can certainly sympathise.

hugs

-m

[ribbit1019]

I was going to say the same thing, eight kids would wear me out!

Seriously though, I don't have any suggestions for you since you have done everything I would have tried already! Hope your energy returns to you soon. Hugs!

Christy
Maddy born 6/09/04
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040609/3/4/0/-5/.png

Little Man due 3/02/06
http://bd.lilypie.com/cKLom4/.png
Co-Owner Ribbit Baby

Frogs are lucky, they eat what bugs them.

[Moneypenny]

Well, if the 8 kids isn't enough, I'll offer a possible physical explanation. You said you had bloodwork, but I found when I was exhausted and had some other symptoms, even though my thyroid levels came back normal, my doc and I found that what's normal for ME needs to be higher than the textbook normal range.
Susan
mama to my cutie pie, Avery
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif[/img][/url]

[kboyle]

Phew, I'm exhausted just reading yoyr kiddos names!! Thyroid issues is what I first thought of too. I'm tired with some days, I applaud you for 8!!!

[mommyoftwo]

This might be a long shot, but did you have the flu before you started to feel run down? Do you have any other symptoms such as headaches, sore throat, swollen glands etc? I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome so I totally understand what you are going through. I had months of testing to rule everything out before they finally settled on a diagnosis. It often starts with flu-like symptoms which is why I asked. I was always high energy and healthy until I got sick and it is very frustrating. I hope you start feeling better soon.

[mapg]

Could it be allergies? Our pollen season never shut down this year.

[bunnisa]

This is a long shot, but in addition to the thyroid issues, what about sleep apnea?

Bethany
mom to one and one on the way!
http://lilypie.com/days/060226/0/8/1/-6/.png
"And children are always a good thing, devoutly to be wished for and fiercely to be fought for."
-J. Torres

[Tondi G]

Could you be anemic? Maybe an iron suppliment would help? B vitamins are also very important for women and something you need to take EVERY day cause your body doesn't store it!

I agree with others that I would probably be exhausted with all those kids... gosh I am with just 2! Hope you can figure something out.... it is frustrating to not have the energy you need and once had!

~Tondi

[8isenough]

LOL. You are hilarious. I know I know, my girlfriends all say the same thing. Thanks for the hugs. :)

Sterling

[8isenough]

Thanks for the input Jessica. I thought about CFS...but no symptoms. I very rarely get even a sniffle so no flu. I just feel extremely tired and rundown. The more I sleep the less awake I feel. It is very frustrating.

Sterling

[8isenough]

Nope. No allergies I don't think. I was tested last year. I wonder if I should test again. :(

Sterling

[8isenough]

My thyroid level is ok. BUT, the sleep apnea disorder does have me thinking. How do you find a sleep center and do you get tested while sleeping?

Sterling

[8isenough]

This may sound weird, but I have always found I get my energy partly from the kids. They are so lively and energetic and so happy. I can't help but feel good when my kids are around. Well...when they're all sick at the same time, that's not fun, but other than those times I am content. :)

Sterling

[8isenough]

I specifically had my doctor test for that....I am still breastfeeding, so that was one of my first thoughts. But being the queen of supplements that I am :), that was a no. Iron level is fine. The sleep apnea suggestion has me wondering though.

Sterling

[kristy]

I noticed that I started feeling a lot more tired after I turned 35, but that might just be a coincidence. My blood work is also normal, I take a multi vitamin but I have not been doing a great job with regular exercise. Do you strength train? For whatever reason, this really seems to help my energy level. (Maybe body composition is changing and muscle needs to be added?). Also, I think I tend to have a lot more energy during the summer, when days are longer. (Maybe lack of sunlight is to blame?).

Sorry, more questions than answers here.

[shishamo]

I'm assuming you are not pregnant by any chance?


You also may not be sleeping well as well as you think: is it possible you have sleep apnea?

No idea, but I hope you feel better soon!

[bunnisa]

>My thyroid level is ok. BUT, the sleep apnea disorder does
>have me thinking. How do you find a sleep center and do you
>get tested while sleeping?
>
>Sterling

I think if you just google "sleep center" and your area, you'll pull some up. Basically, the rooms are just like regular, nice hotel rooms, except you're monitored.

I know apnea isn't as common in women, but you never know. Or it might be another sleep issue, especially since you said that more sleep doesn't help you feel less tired.


Bethany
mom to one and one on the way!
http://lilypie.com/days/060226/0/8/1/-6/.png
"And children are always a good thing, devoutly to be wished for and fiercely to be fought for."
-J. Torres

[rlu]

Ask your doctor for a recommendation/referral for sleep testing. That's how DH got tested. I think it was his ear/nose/throat doctor.

Rebecca

DS 3/29/04

[o_mom]

Do you know if they tested your thyroid beyond TSH levels?

TSH on it's own can be very deceptive. The normal range set by the lab is probably too high (0.5-5) and not the range suggested by the Endocrine Society (0.3-3). You can have a 'normal' TSH and yet have low thyroid function that can only be detected by an extended thyroid panel. Then getting a family doc to treat 'high normal' can be another battle, so if this turns out to be the case, get to an endocrinologist.

[mommyoftwo]

My pulmonologist ordered my sleep test, but I'm sure a family doctor can as well. It's kind of a pain because they hook you up to all sorts of monitors and then expect you to be able to sleep. I did mine while pregnant and had to keep asking for help so I could pee, but I imagine it wouldn't be nearly so bad if I wasn't pregnant. I would ask for a referral to a sleep specialist. A sleep study isn't a bad idea. There are over 300 different sleep disorders believe it or not.

[COElizabeth]

I don't want to alarm you, because I'm sure it's an unlikely possibility, but ongoing unusual fatigue is one of the symptoms of ovarian cancer (I know only because my mom had it, so I have read lists of symptoms). You might want to request both a pelvic exam and a transvaginal ultrasound to rule it out since your bloodwork has all been normal. Again, I think this is really unlikely, but I just wanted to mention it. I hope you feel better soon!

Elizabeth, Mom to James, 9-20-02
and Charlotte, 11-04-04