TAT - aka tired all the time

Not sure which Arthritis type you have but if it’s Rheumatoid or , like mine Psoriatic, then fatigue is in my opinion worse that the joint pain
If you don’t have a rheumatologist already it might be worth asking for a referral
Good luck , hope things improve

Did you get Covid? I have been feeling a lot more tired, and I’m putting it down to the after effects of Covid. I’m trying hard to exercise a bit more, which I think is also a contributing factor, or lack of. Don’t beat yourself up about feeling this way. Distraction is also very useful.

Have your thyroid checked! T3 and T4

Have you had your B12 level checked? I was terribly tired all the time and I’m younger but it was awful. I started having the B12 injection every 3 months about a year ago and it has made a huge difference x

First: change your doctor and get a proper medical check done.

Second, or first if changing doctor isn't an option: Is anything worrying you? I have felt as you describe when there has been a problem I either could not solve, or refused to acknowledge.

Buy a jar of Vitamin B combi and take the dosis recommended on it. A Vitamin B deficiency will make you feel like this.

But do badger your doctor into taking the problem seriously - tell her you feel suicidal, as you wake up disappointed at still being alive.

So 😔 sorry - you do sound depressed so check that out first with your GP. A friend of my Mum's in her 80's got very low and found anti depressants really helped. But the surprising fact was she was eating TOO healthily, not enough fat and carbs and was in serious danger of becoming malnourished! Could this be you? Also food should be a pleasure, I'm on a diet and although I know it's for my own good I find that depressing!

ExDancer That is a terrible way to be feeling particularly being disappointed at still being alive in the morning. Your G.P. should certainly be investigating that for you. I know the G.P,s have changed the way things are handled in the surgery and it is almost impossible to get an appointment these days but you must keep trying. I am just coming up to 70 years now and know the feeling of tired all the time. I have just had a month of being unwell and every time I went to the G.P. I could only see a nurse and I was sent off to A.@E because if your Blood Pressure is over a certain limit you get sent to the hospital. That's not helpful as then you sit in A@E for hours and end up just going home. I finally got in to a Doctor at the surgery two weeks ago he took my blood pressure and immediately gave me a short letter and I was sent to another clinic at the hospital where all tests were done and then for 5 hours my blood pressure was monitored and I was given medication. I am now on the blood pressure tablets but they make me continuously tired and I can only do a few household tasks and then have to sit down. To me the healthcare has gone down hill I just feel lucky that I did at least get something sorted out. Get back onto your G.P. and do not get fobbed off you need help with your care.

1. Long Covid?
2. Or try Metatone - something to perk you up after a virus or just to give you a bit of oomph.
3. Vitamin B12 injection - my lovely father in law had those regularly. I could always tell when he was due for the next one.
4. Thyroid problem?
5. Coeliac disease. I was exhausted all the time before being diagnosed in my 40s. You can develop it at any age.

What else might or might not be happening for ExDancer I’ve been blown away by the care and love expressed in so many of the responses to her initial post. I think that’s probably the best medicine of all! 💕🌸🤗

I have borderline CFS so pace myself. Prep the dinner in the lounge in front of the TV. Take Floradix for iron and B vitamins. Would love to do more with energy but have an afternoon nap after living many years in Spain. This enables me to stay up late.
Wish you good health going forward

As senior community matron specialising in frailty (dreadful term, I know) it might be worth knowing a little more about those ‘normal’ blood tests. Are they just within the normal range? Are they showing a drop within that range? I find that as we age we become very much more sensitive to small changes and that can affect our body metabolisms. I’d want to know your Vit b12, HbA1c (diabetes), vit d, TSH (thyroid), Hb/FBC (full blood count) as basics. Are you on any medication? Have you lost weight recently? Any family history of metabolic disease or heart disease? Normal ECG?
Are you sleeping at night? Have you an active social life? Any close relationships or changes to that? Do you have pain?
Finally, depression is sometimes an overwhelming experience that can include TAT, over-/under-eating, not wanting to go out or see anyone.
I hope you get some answers.

Not sure that ‘could only see a nurse’ is you being short changed! Many senior nurses have an advanced nurse practitioner qualification or similar and are eminently experienced and qualified to triage, assess and treat patients. How do you feel towards paramedics or other health care practitioners who offer their expertise? Nurses are very highly qualified these (many to master’s level or higher).

I would be more than happy to see "only a nurse" I can`t get past the receptionist... at our surgery, seems we have to tell all our problems to even be told.. call back... "on such and such a day, and an appt , (perhaps) in a week!

I have been reporting my excessive tiredness to my GP, etc for well over a year now.
I am 83 years old, lots of groups and activities. Have had to cut down as I just cannot do more than one thing in any one day.
I am most definitely not depressed, thoroughly enjoying , but YES, I do find that i get very tearful particularly with so many things on the News. Only watch this once a day now.
As an Osteomist, I know all about keeping dehyrdrated, so that is not the problem
I sleep very well at night, sleeping some nine or ten hours (Yes, do have to get up once or twice, but go straight back to sleep) and needing an alarm to wake me each morning.

After a cereal and tea brekkie I need to doze for thirty minutes to really wake up. Then I have about three hours of the morning to go to and to do things. Light lunch, and then I fall asleep in my chair for about an hour and half, sometimes longer. From about 2.30 I have time to do things until tea time at 5 pm. Usually a salad, with some protein. Will then need half an hour sleep - If I fight this I find that I actually fall asleep in the middle of knitting, or doing a puzzle etc. By 9 pm I am yawning and ready for bed, although try to keep going for a little longer. In bed, listen to an audio book and do some puzzles for about half an hour before falling asleep.

As can be seen I have just about five or six hours in each 24 which I can use to do things. I have been known to fall asleep during a meeting, which is most embarrasing. Blood tests all come back okay, on lots of medication including Vit D. Changed Asthma medication has stopped me having disturbed sleep.

There is so much I want4 to do, but do not have the time.

I'm another tired all the time.
My days are getting shorter and shorter, and it's so frustrating!
I have things to do, which aren't getting done.

Yes, yes, yes to asking for different blood tests- especially for vitamin B, vitamin D and a thyroid function test. A lot of your symptoms (tat and depression especially) are related to a thyroid imbalance or vitamin deficiency or both. British weather has led to lots of us not making enough vitamin D. The thyroid can start acting up especially in women, especially after menopause.
A slightly low count “within normal limits“ on each of the above can have a cumulative effect which isn’t bad enough for prescription medication according to gp standards. Knowing what it is and taking over the counter vitamin tablets can make a huge difference though.

Sorry TeriS somehow missed your much more detailed and informative answer. It explains my understanding far better than I can and from a much better, professional perspective.

oh MissAdventure..all good thoughts and prayers to your friend
this NHS , shaking head! or is it?? I don`t know, but life surely has changed.. it is good to come here, for me, living alone, and well advanced in years, that appears to be a crime to the doctor I saw recently.

Ah, thank you.
That's very kind of you.

I'm glad I'm not alone. I too feel tired and have to make myself do things. I've now got what I call a 'blood bruise' on my arm and my ankle which I must make the effort to do something about but getting an appointment is dire. We used to have a regular doctor but nowadays you're given someone after several weeks you've never seen before and knows nothing about you even if they read your notes - which are sometimes incorrect! Telephone consultations are even worse - I can't understand what they're saying half the time. Oh dear, I'm not usually this fed up

oh Athrawes that is so true here also.. exhausted with battling to see a doctor.. but I have given up... someone, somewhere has a lot to answer for.. I am fortunate and count my blessings,, but every so often.. fall off the cliff! I pray,,

You really do need to be seen.

I found the nurses better than the gp, in my practice.

Even if you have a long wait, what else would you be doing without it? Probably getting less and less motivated, until
You're too tired to do anything.

TerriS I know I said I could only get to see a nurse at the surgery and I have no qualms that nurses are qualified and are good at their jobs. My opinion is that after seeing the nurse on two occasions it was the second occasion I was sent to A@E after being told nothing could be done at the doctors surgery. I did go to A@E where I sat for many hours before even getting blood tests taken. If my health deteriorated I suppose I was in the right place. My health was still not improving so I managed to get an appointment with the G.P, and when he took my blood pressure as i said in my previous post he told me to immediately go to the hospital. I was told my blood pressure was so high that I was in danger of a heart attack/stroke and go to the hospital. He gave me a letter to take. I feel that the surgeries are being run differently now. I was extremely frightened being told that on the day. You asked how I feel about healthcare staff. I think they are the ones working to take care of us, they also are working under lots of pressure and are working to the best of their abilities so please don't knock me and make out I am blaming the healthcare staff for the rundown state of the N.H.S. the fault of that lies with the government.

Hear! Hear! 3nanny6

Thank-you Polnan and if we feel unwell we have to pull out all the stops and try and get medical help. This time at least I got through and live for yet another day. Which was my message to original poster and I hope she gets the help she needs.