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Why do I get body aches every afternoon?!

(23 Posts)
Flaxseed Fri 10-Jan-25 16:36:08

Weird I know. But around 4pm my whole body starts to ache as if I am coming down with a virus. I just want to lay down and sleep at this point.
I sleep really well at night and wake up refreshed.
I am 60. I still work part time. I exercise, eat a pretty varied diet and am generally healthy. I take gut health seriously and have been taking a vitamin health drink daily since it started to no avail.
I have been putting off going to the Drs as it seems a bit trivial but I have had enough now and have booked an appt for Monday a.m where I will ask for blood tests.
This has been happening daily since beginning of December.
Any ideas or can anyone else relate?

teabagwoman Fri 10-Jan-25 17:02:33

Do you take a break at lunchtime? Do you have a decent lunch, could your blood sugar be a bit low? I think you’re very sensible to check with your GP but do remember that you are getting older and stamina does decrease.

Sparklefizz Fri 10-Jan-25 17:24:02

Is there a medication you take in the morning such as statins?

I noticed that I always had painfully freezing feet at about 11am every day. I have now tracked this down to the heart meds I take at 8am every day which list cold hands and feet as side effects.

Flaxseed Fri 10-Jan-25 17:28:39

I get a lunch break and eat sensible lunches. I eat a banana when I have my afternoon tea break.
I drink around 2litres of water per day and even changed my carbon monoxide alarms!
I don’t think there’s much more I can do from a ‘looking after myself’ point of view. confused
I have taken paracetamol this afternoon as I ache so much but that’s only helped slightly.
I am hoping it’s just a winter viral thing but seems odd that I feel fine until the afternoon hmm

Skydancer Fri 10-Jan-25 17:29:26

It doesn’t sound serious but it’s a good idea to get a blood test to be sure. It could just be your body telling you that you need to rest. At this time of year a lot of people feel like you do. I bet you’ll feel better once Spring comes. I suggest some long walks and some treats for yourself.

Flaxseed Fri 10-Jan-25 17:34:19

sparklefizz
The only medication I take is Lanzoprozole for reflux and amytriptyline before bed and have taken these for years
teabagwoman
I might start testing my blood sugar when it happens

Flaxseed Fri 10-Jan-25 17:41:39

skydancer I do hope it’s a seasonal thing, but the thing that confuses me is the timing!
I go about my normal business and forget about it until the aches come on and I don’t even have to look at the clock to know it’s around 4pm grin
I have plenty of fresh air and treats but I do like that suggestion

Allira Fri 10-Jan-25 18:01:25

Could it be a food allergy?
Do you vary your lunch menu?
Perhaps you could try eliminating some foods you eat regularly at lunch-time and see what happens.

fancythat Fri 10-Jan-25 18:02:42

Do you feel cold in the afternoons?

Allira Fri 10-Jan-25 18:05:13

I drink around 2litres of water per day
That's quite a lot although I know it is recommended thst we drink plenty of water.

Hyponatremia can cause aches and other symptoms as you might be washing essential salts out of your body.

HeavenLeigh Fri 10-Jan-25 18:12:14

Thyroid maybe

Flaxseed Fri 10-Jan-25 18:17:32

fancythat I am always cold. Always have been. Even as a child.
I am going to ask for thyroid bloods too.

allira my lunches are varied but food allergies are worth thinking about. I move a lot at work and feel my body needs around that amount of fluid.

I have been low on vitD in the past so must remember to get some to see if that helps.

Forgot to say I am on HRT too

Thanks everyone for your suggestions

Flaxseed Fri 10-Jan-25 18:21:15

Heavenleigh I do think this is a real possibility.
I struggle to lose weight despite a good diet and exercise. I do feel the cold, am prone to constipation and could sleep for 12 hours easily if I don’t need to be up early.
I will mention wanting these bloods done

Flaxseed Fri 10-Jan-25 18:22:11

fancythat I feel cold anytime of the day!

Grandmabatty Fri 10-Jan-25 18:24:36

I was going to say thyroid problems too.

Reubenblue Fri 10-Jan-25 19:28:46

This may sound like nonsense, but my husband saw the doctor with very similar symptoms several years ago, he was diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome pronounced in a French way. It is a condition and sometimes a problem, could be something like that.

Allira Fri 10-Jan-25 22:17:30

I have been low on vitD in the past so must remember to get some to see if that helps.
Flaxseed my Vitamin D level was 52% and the GP said that was fine. DD, who has trained in nutrition, said it was too low and I do take Vitamin D tablets sometimes.

Allira Fri 10-Jan-25 22:19:34

I will mention wanting these bloods done

Yes, do ask your GP to do a full blood test.

lemsip Fri 10-Jan-25 22:33:36

You say you drink 2 litres of water a day, I wonder what your weight is.. 2 litres can be far too much depending on weight. also you could be depleting your minerals. you need a 'lick' of salt for each glass of water, imo.

yes get bloods done

Flaxseed Sat 11-Jan-25 08:57:10

reubenblue I hadn’t heard of this so looked it up but don’t have the majority of those symptoms. I will however, bear it in mind if anything shows up regarding my liver on blood tests.
Regarding the fluid intake, I am heavy enough to cope with that amount wink and being active at work (health care) requires me to have a good fluid intake.
I completed a professional development course last year which required learning a lot about nutrition, fluid intake and anatomy and physiology. This resulted in me improving my lifestyle due to the knowledge I had gained and I was feeling the best I had felt in years (apart from a frozen shoulder hmm )
As the symptoms started early December when lots of people started getting the usual winter viruses, so I was convinced I was ‘coming down’ with something.
But I never did!
The timing of the onset of the aching every afternoon is what stumps me the most.
But I am definitely leaning towards thyroid issues, lack of Vitamin D or blood sugar drop.
Thanks for all your suggestions.

keepingquiet Sat 11-Jan-25 09:05:49

It does sound like some allergy flare-up to me. I get similar symptoms but not that frequently anymore.

My allergy is to dust and moulds in the air and it used to cause quite severe flu-like symptoms as the ones you describe.

Sometimes asthma in the elderly can present like this.

I would check your routine and have a look at things you may have inhale during the course of the day, particularly atificial chemicals in cleaning sprays and air-fresheners for example.

Also, do you have pets? Also, is your home warm enough? Sometimes the cold creeps up on us unawares.

Seeing your doctor is wise and a blood test could show allergy markers.

I hope it gets sorted for you. Don't ignore it.

Flaxseed Sat 11-Jan-25 09:29:31

Thanks for your input keepingquiet

The symptoms come on whether I am at work or home which rules out environmental allergens although not food ones of course.

House is warm as neither myself nor DP like being cold! He does the majority of housework due to me working so rarely breath in any nasties directly wink
One elderly cat.

I will get my bp and blood glucose checked in the morning and again at onset of symptoms at work next week.
Hopefully, I can get the blood tests done after my appt on Monday and get the results back quickly.

loopyloo Sat 11-Jan-25 09:38:42

Around 4pm is when cortisol levels drop.
Yes, blood tests a very good idea.