I cant find the old thread, but was supposed to keep you posted :)

[*pixachu*]

You may remember that I am always tired, achey etc and the walking up hills on holiday thing got me down a bit (ie I was knackered after 10 minutes!!), and also I am fuzzy with poor memory and literally no get up and go - so I was sent orf to be checked....

Had a load of blood tests to check thyroid etc and the only things that showed up were deficiencies in vitamin D and folate.

So I am now taking a huge dose of vit D (plus a good multivitamin) and hopefully in a few months I will be feeling like a new woman!

I have googled a bit, and it seems that vit D deficiency can cause all manner of stuff, and I kind of heard about it  before as my cousin's son has it. However I was a bit worried as, after he had taken supplements for a year, he has now just been diagnosed with ME.

So while part of me thinks "yay!" this will all be sorted, part of me thinks the tablets won't work.

But I can't bear to think that this feeling will never go away.... I need to get my life back. I hate being tired all the time - everyone thinks I am lazy 😞

It is so annoying as I want to go on the treadmill at home (just walking) but can't do more that 15 minutes.

And then I am knackered! I want to lose weight, so I need to exercise. But I just can't get moving/motivated. 

Sorry for such a moany post!

xx

[notgrumpyreally]

You need to speak to Elphaba. She's the Queen of vitamins etc. She doesn't come in much now but i can give her a call on Facebook.

[*pixachu*]

Elphaba is fab, if you can ask her to pop in here at some point that would be great 🙂

I really need revitalising! If I need supplements to do that, I will do it, as long as they are the right ones....

[bitsnknots]

Hope that you soon feel better pixachu.  

[*pixachu*]

Thanks xx

[notgrumpyreally]

Elph will be over later. I think she's a bit tied up with a manicure, or a toy boy, or something.

[*elphaba*]

Hi Pix,

Blimey, I fell out the exit door good and proper this time - couldn't remember my password!    Ta to Grumps for coming to find me!

I do remember your previous thread and am very glad you did go and get checked over.  

 I think your low folate is possibly the culprit, perhaps putting you on the verge of folate-deficiency anaemia.   Can you remember did they test your ferritin levels, or just haemoglobin?  I'd be willing to bet the latter, but if your ferritin levels (amount of iron in storage) is low your haemoglobin status could be within expected levels but you'd feel the effects.   

Are you on a prescribed multi vit?   If not, make very sure it has B12 and Folic acid in it at reasonable levels, as well as iron.   Other minerals are important too, and I'd suspect you would be low in magnesium as well, and that is needed by just about every bodily process - including energy production.  

If this is your problem supplements will make a difference quite quickly, certainly within a month,  but remember that standard supplements have a dosage intended to maintain a healthy level, not raise a deficiency, so bear that in mind.   If you aren't using prescribed vits I'd suggest you go to a good independent health food store and  see what they recommend.   NOT H&B.  
A big thing to remember  is not to drink tea or coffee within 2 hours of a meal because it inhibits iron absorption.  You can increase your take up of iron from your food by having some vitamin c with it.   

You are what you eat, plain and simple,  and while supplements can be a lifesaver  if you use them in preference to eating the right stuff you will miss out on countless other benefits.    I can tell you the sort of things you should include in your diet if you'd like.   
Make sure to go back to the docs and have your Vit D levels rechecked in about 3 months, don't put it off if you are feeling better.   Vit D is a fat soluble vitamin and one of those that the body stores so taking high doses over a long time is not advisable without monitoring.  
So, take your pills, eat better and try not to worry.  My sister has ME and from what you have said I don't think its likely to be that for you.  
Feel better soon!

[**towery**]

more likely to be desperately finding her password   lol

[notgrumpyreally]

Wow, that was like magic! (He was quick).

[*elphaba*]

Oh and just a note for others reading this:  too much iron can be as bad as too little, so while menstruating age women need around 18mg a day, men, and women who no longer have periods need less than half that.    Too much may have a role in dementia, for example, so if you don't bleed on a regular basis don't supplement with iron unless on a doctors advice! 

[*elphaba*]

I had to reset my password - the shame! 

Once I'd finished manicuring my toy boy, obviously  

[*pixachu*]

Thanks elphaba 🙂

I don't know which of those tests it was tbh. The gp gave me a prescription for the folic acid, but I figured it would be in a good vitamin supplement anyway. I did order some online but my parcel went missing thanks to the dodgy courier company, so I ordered just vit D from amazon which arrived yesterday. 

I have got Vit D 5000iu (one a day) and will book in for the re-test in 3 months 🙂

I will research vitamins again later  (off to taxi kids around now!) but if there's anything you can recommend, please let me know. 

Thanks for popping in! xx

[*pixachu*]

Oops, now that I have checked the prescription for Folic acid, I have realised I need to get it as it's for 5mg and the largest size you can buy over the counter is 400mcg which would mean taking over 10 a day for the same effect.

So I will get that tomorrow, and will also try to locate a local healthfood store 🙂

[captainbovine]

elphaba is fab isn't she? she know's everything, a real help, as you always get a proper answer and only half a one off the doctors.

[*elphaba*]

Capt - I wish that was true but I struggle to remember half of what I spent so long learning 😞    I'll alwys try to help though, and my books never forget fortunately.

Pix,  sometimes you can save the prescription charge by buying over the counter but not often with supplements these days.   Best get the prescription and feel better all the quicker.  

Folate foods are all the greens, the darker the better.    Marmite has it and also B12 which I suspect you would also be short of.   Beans and lentils are good too.   You could make a broccoli and lentil soup flavoured with marmite 😉  😄     Vitmin D is in spreads, eggs, and oily fish like sardines and pilchards.   We can only generate vit D from the sun for 2/3 months a year in the UK  (and tend to be covered in sun cream during those months) so we need to eat plenty of fortified or naturally rich food sources, or supplement.     Dark greens will also provide calcium and magnesium so really, really worth eating.  If you hate green veg try it with vinegar on!   

Sugar and white flour products make you tired so ditch as much as you can.   People think sugar = energy but as a rule the amount of sugar most people eat is an energy sapper because of the bodys insulin response.   You feel tired and eat a mars bar, your blood sugar soars so the pancreas releases a large amount of insulin to bring it down, but if you have nothing that in your stomach to provide a longer energy release your blood sugar will plunge and make you feel tired and craving carbs.....so it starts again.   High sugar intake also messes with brain chemicals, particularly dopamine and serotonin, which are involved in your 'get up and go' as well as your level of happiness.  

Make sure you get enough good sleep - lack of deep sleep guarantees fatigue.   If you have trouble with sleep, try a baked tater or some pasta for dinner as that will help you use tryptophan from earlier protein and encourage healthy serotonin levels (which convert to melatonin which regulates sleep) 

You might have to overhaul a few bits of your lifestyle to feel better and stay that way,  rather than just taking some pills, but it will be worth it.  xx

[*elphaba*]

And you will find that once your deficiencies are corrected and you start dropping a little bit of weight then your motivation will come back  (hello dopamine!)  and exercise will become easier.....and that in turn will help fend off fatigue. 

[rose2008-2008]

SHES Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Are you a doctor elphaba?. You have loads of medical knowledge. Shes our Medical fairy!!!. Your picture makes me think of you like a White Witch who knows all the potions and things to make you better!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Can i have a younger body pleaseeee?.

[*pixachu*]

Thanks 🙂 

I will try to eat better, but tbh although we don't eat our greens as in broccoli/cabbage we eat salad a fair bit.  I try to avoid bread a lot of the time. 

I am lucky that I tend to sleep well, at least 8 hours, but never ever feel refreshed. Hopefully that will change 🙂

As my memory is so bad I have just had to make myself a note about the tablets I have started to take! Have decided to split into two as some need eating with the main meal or evening.

AM: 

Folic Acid 5mg

Vit c (just the little ones, as a morning boost)

Dinnertime:

Magnesium 500mg (includes vit B6 5mg)

Vitamin D 5000iu

Multivitamin - Solgar V2000

Hoping this will give me a much needed boost 🙂

[*elphaba*]

No, I'm nothing qualified, Rose, I just  have an interest.   I think the NHS has enough challenges without me on the staff!! 😄

Are you feeling any improvement Pix?     I was hoping it would kick in fairly promptly for you.   Thats a decent multivit so you are covering all the bases.   The multivit will have folic acid as well remember so double reason not to delay a 3 month check on your levels.

If you can try to choose darker green salad leaves rather than the dreaded iceberg that will help.  Darker leaves have more of the good stuff.

Do let us know how you do please.  I'll watch this thread.

[ooh*la*la*la]

If I can just stick my oar in? .... I like to use baby spinach instead of salad leaves, very tasty and it keeps better than lettuce, if it starts to 'go over' a bit I just wilt it and have it hot with some fish, so there's no waste!

I am starting to feel a bit limp these days, so I'm off to the supplement shop in the morning, thanks elphaba!