Tired All the Time

You'll probably get many replies from moms who share your complaint of being tired all the time. There can be a variety of reasons, being a new mom and all that involves being the main one, regardless of your baby sleeping through the night.

Have you had a comprehensive blood panel done to rule out thyroid problems, hormone problems, vitamin deficiencies, etc. Something as simple as B-12 could be helpful. Or your thyroid might have become sluggish.

What really caught my eye, however, is your complaint that you cannot seem to get enough sleep. There is a difference between being tired all the time and sleepy all the time.

If indeed you feel sleepy no matter how much sleep you are getting, you could very well be suffering from a sleep disorder. Sleep apnea is probably the most common, and you don't have to be an overweight man to fall victim to that. You would be totally unaware if you have sleep apnea, even though your body could be awakening a hundred times a night because you wouldn't be awakening enough to recall it. Ask your husband if you are snoring a lot and even if he is aware if you stop breathing momentarily when you are asleep.

Restless leg syndrome is also something that can keep you from getting quality sleep, so even though you put in a full 8 hours of sleep, it's not quality sleep.

Much more rare would be narcolepsy. Think back over the years since adolescence or so and see if you recall having trouble staying awake during the day. Most common times might be during a classroom situation, in church, at the movie theater, while driving, or just sitting reading a book.

I mention adolescence because this is generally the most common time that narcolepsy starts, though it wouldn't be unheard of for it to start in your twenties. Something most always triggers the onset, and childbirth could definitely trigger narcolepsy. So can the flu, strep throat, even an emotional upheaval in your life.

So, if you're simply tired all the time, there are a good many possibilities, and your PCP should be able to get to the bottom of it if indeed it is more than just the huge adjustment to caring for a new baby.

However, if it is sleep you crave, and you find yourself falling asleep at inopportune times, no matter how much sleep you get, you need to get checked out by a sleep specialist. Narcolepsy deprives the patient with the deep restorative sleep that is essential for the body to operate correctly. No amount of sleep will help because the brain zips right through the restorative sleep cycle, thus you feel forever sleepy. There are other symptoms of narcolepsy, but Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is the most common. That said, like I indicated, there are other sleep problems that can bring on Excessive Daytime Sleepiness.

If your PCP rules out all the obvious things, ask to be referred to a certified sleep specialist. Good luck

If you suspect narcolepsy, feel free to email me at ____@____.com.

Hi J.
There could be a number of issues going on...

1. It could be hormonal (things getting back to normal)
2. It could be your thyroid acting up... get a blood work done through your naturopath (if so, they will give you natural remedies to fix it)
3. If your upper neck bones are out of alignment, it can cause that ( I can evaluate you for that... just email me if interested for a free consult & I'll tell you if needed)

other than that, that might be all I think...

Let me know how it goes.

Farid R., DC

I had the same thing happen to me and had my thyroid checked. I ended up having a pregnancy induced thyroid problem, called hypothyroidism. It makes you extremely tired, dry hair/skin, etc. Go to your general doctor for a check up and get labs. It could be a number of things, but best rule out the easy things first. Other than that, lots of rest, sleep, water, high nutrition foods. Are you getting enough emotional support? spiritual support? Good luck! Nurse M.

Definitely go see a doctor. I struggled for years after my second son was born with excessive tiredness. Even after napping I still felt tired and had no energy. It also seemed to make my monthly PMS worse and it didn't take much for me to get upset or cry. The doctor recommended a sleep study and they discovered I had sleep apnea. After approx. 1 month using a CPAP machine, I was amazed at how much better I felt. I've been using the CPAP for about 18 months and it's rare that I feel the need for a nap during the day.

Hey J.,

Give yourself a rest. Your body is doing new things, new ways without your gallbladder. Surgery is major and your body needs time to recoup, especially after having a baby too. Give yourself as much rest as possible, esp. since you work full time. If you exercise, give yourself gentle exercises to refresh, renew and regenerate. Most of all, let yourself sleep and rest. It takes time to recover from all that you have had going on. Your body is definitely regulating hormones now. Watch out for the supermom syndrome! Your health is more important.

If you want tips on womens issues, fatigue, sleep, stress, etc., email me and I'll send you a monthly newsletter. I teach women to refresh and revitalize physically, emotionally and mentally.

Great question you posed here,
M.

I know it took me a full year to get my body back where I felt close to normal (before pregnancy). Vitamin C in large doses and vitamin B complex really helped me out. I like the Emergen-C...it has all of that and a few more vitamins and minerals. (You can get it at Wal-Mart, but I find that Trader Joes sells it at the same price and has a greater variety of flavors.) If that isn't working, go to your doctor and let them know how tired you feel. Let them check to see if your hormones are balanced. Estrogen dominance can cause fatigue. There are supplements you can get on-line for estrogen dominance, but a it would be good to get some lab work done to see if that may be the cause.

Hi!
It could be so many things. You might want to get some blood work done because it's sounds like you could possibly be anemic. Adding some iron to your diet, either through an iron suppliment or just more red meet and green leafy veggis might help. Or, it seriously could just be the heat. Everyone I talk to just feels zapped these past few weeks. It feels like a work out just walking to the car. Are you getting enough water and staying out of the sun as much as possible. If nothing else, your life sounds pretty busy and you might just deserve a little extra rest.

You said that your son was born 6 months ago... have you gotten your period yet? After my babies were born, I didn't get my period again until they were almost 6 months old, and for a whole week before, I felt the same way. I just couldn't get enough sleep. Then after I got my period, I felt much better. If you haven't gotten yours yet, that might be the reason why.

Also, when I was breastfeeding, I felt tired a lot too. When I stopped breastfeeding at 12 months, I also felt better.

could be a hypo thyroid, again you'll need to see your doctor