So Tired

It could also be a sluggish thyroid. Or that you have a tiring 5 year old (didn't you also post that she is a handful?) and a relatively new baby.

Go get a Prevention magazine and read it; it tells what kind of vitamins to take for what kind of problem. Or just go to the drugstore and get a bottle of vitamin D and take a pill or two for a month or so, and see if you feel better. I can believe it could make a difference.

I posted this on your other request, but thought it might be useful for someone here:

Good luck to you, and I hope you get help with whatever is dragging you down and making you tired. I've been there myself, and started seeing a Naturopathic Physician, who finally diagnosed me with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. No MD ever figured that out, even though I've had all the symptoms since I was a teenager; they would just do the T3, T4 and TSH tests, which were always normal, but never bothered to check for thyroid antibodies, which mine were very high, meaning that my body is waging an autoimmune attack on my thyroid. This is fairly common in women, and grossly underdiagnosed. The ND put me on an anti-inflammatory diet and has me taking iodine and other things, and I'm like a new person, without drugs, and I have finally gotten pregnant as well, because of her, and the bald spots on my head have started filling in after five years of a receding hair line. And all this without drugs. It was a little spendy, as my insurance didn't cover her, but I've gotten more help in 8 months with her than in 15 years of seeing MDs, and with all the deductibles and copays, I probably didn't spend any more with her than I would have (getting no help) with my insurance at an MD.

Lack of vitamin D is a real problem. I am from Michigan originally and many of my friends and family have suffered from this. However, you could have something else going wrong. From what I remember a freind of mine who is a doctor said the best and only naturally source of vitamin d is from the sun. That is why alot of folks up north suffer from seasoal depression. You are only 23. You are too young to be tired. Something is going on.

E.,
Sometimes healthcare organizations / local hospitals will have clinics where they will offer to have blood tested for much less than it would cost normally. Or check with the local health dept. Also, mothers tend to have less time to exercise and exercise can help you sleep better and have more energy. Also, what we eat can also impact how we feel - i.e., a lot of sugar can actually make you more tired.
I hope you find a solution.

Last year, I was having severe bone pain more than my usual arthritis. Plus, I was extremely tired thought it was my diabetes. I begged my dr. to do bloodwork to find out what was wrong. They done all the normal bloodwork and decided to do a vitamin panel. My vitamin b was extremely low which caused me to be tired. My vitamin d was even lower which was causing my bone pain. I now get b-12 shots for the exhaustion and take vitamin d for the bone pain. Take it from a person who understands about not having insurance. If you can not afford to have your bloodwork done start a multivitamin. I have found places to get coupons for buy one get one free. P.S. I am anemic but it is not the normal iron anemia but from being low on b vitamins.

Hi E.,

Many people in the US have a vitamin D and Magnesium deficiency, Arab women who are veiled also have very low Vitamin D levels. Lack of Vitamin D because people don't spend so much time outdoors anymore, and lack of Magnesium because our food (the farm soil in which it's grown) is deficient in the mineral.

Solving the Vit D issue is simple, start by exposing skin to sunlight 10-15 minutes a day and slowly build up to 30 minutes - real sun, not a tanning booth which increases skin cancer risks.

This is done without wearing sunscreen. When sunlight is allowed to be absorbed by the skin it is converted in the body to Vit D. This is a lot cheaper than shots and the body is getting a form of Vit D that it recognizes and utilizes (we evolved with sunlight and thus our bodies are efficient in utilizing what it offers - Vit D supplements and shots are NOT the same kind of Vit D we get from the sun).

Here are some articles that may be helpful...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/0...

The risk of cancer lessens with more sun exposure
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/0...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/1...

Sunscreens cause cancer
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/0...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/0...

Magnesium (insomnia is one of many symptoms and nearly 80% of Americans are deficient)
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/0...

Tanning beds increase canser risk, are they safe
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/0...

Doctors make money when they have patients and prescribe big pharma solutions. Doctors are also 'trained' and sponsored by big pharma. It's only in their best interest to do what they do.

However, we can do what our bodies were designed to do... be outdoors in the real sunlight and allow Mother Nature to do her thing. It's a lot cheaper, safer, and far healthier.

I hope this helps,
E. V.

Get you a good multi vit. All the daily allowances are already regulated for you. In my family, B12 runs low. I get a shot of b12 every now and then and that helps my energy level. Also thyroid can cause tiredness, so can heart problems, so can lack of sleep such as sleep apnea... there are so many things. If I were you, I would take a multi vit. and try to get some exercise and then make sure I was eating more healthy. That could help when medical visits and work ups are not options right now.

You could try a multivitamin with iron. Most will have some vit D in them some that may help if it is the problem. I tend to be anemic and the iron helps with that. Anemia does not require intensive blood work to discover. My OB was the first to discover mine with I was 19 and went in for my annual. Tiredness could be caused by many other things though. Try a clinic for a blood screening that might be affordable. There is another option but some people might be offended by it. You can go in to donate blood. They screen for just about everything and normally notify the donor if the blood is rejected and why. This might be a way to rule out some possible causes at no cost to yourself. And if they take your donation then you've done a good thing. I almost never get to donate because of my anemia.

E.,

Go to a good vitamin shop and talk to the people who work there. Most times they know thier business. Also, check out WEBMD.com. It is a good resource for all kinds of questions. You can also check out the FDA to see if they have guidlines on line that you can check.

I take a powder suppliment everyday that gives me all my vitamins and minerals. I would have to check out the label to see what it has.

E.

E.,
I am no doctor, but I would recommend taking a daily women's multivitamin with iron. If it is a vitamin deficiency, then that should help. The iron is also important because you could also be anemic, which can cause fatigue. I know I struggled with anemia when I was your age.

This might sound crazy, but it's true. If you think your body is lacking vitamin D all you need to do is spend a minimum of 20 minutes in the sun daily. Sunlight provides vitamin D naturally, just make sure more than your face and hands get exposure so you can absorb it entirely. Take your daughter outside for a walk, go to the park for a while and you'll easily get your daily dose! God Bless!

Some vitamins are water-soluble and if taken in large doses won't harm your body. The leftover will be excreted through the urine.

Some vitamins are toxic if taken in high doses because they are not water-soluble.

Vitamin D is NOT water-soluble. Therefore, do not take more than 400 I.U. a day. That is what is in a typical multi-vitamin.

When my daughter was going through a season of low Vitamin D levels she was tired and had unexplained chronic pain. Within 2 weeks of taking Vitamin D there was considerable improvement.

Vitamin D Deficiency is not a common problem. Research studies show that it has become a bigger issue due to overuse of sunscreen and people not drinking cow's milk. If you fall into these categories then find other ways besides vitamins to get your D.

Some Soy milks have extra vitamins in them. Also, using less of an SPF sunscreen and getting outside more will help. God Bless~

I had the same problem. Vitamin D did in fact help. I take a supplement that has Calcium, Vitamin A and D purchased at the local Walgreens. It has 100% of the daily recommended values according to the label. I could tall a difference after just a few weeks. Good luck.

Are you saying that you are tired too? It might be your iron. I was very tired there for a while and when I went for my annual exam they pricked my finger and found out I was slightly anemic. I take a daily iron pill and that helps...when I remember to take the pill:)
Jen

E., I know you said you didn't have any insurance right now but PLEASE get your thyroid checked! I didn't have any problems until after my DD was born and I didn't find out until she was 6 months old how SICK I really was as my thyroid wasn't working and I was told I could have gone into a coma... please see if there is a clinic or something to at least have that ONE blood test ruled out.

It just might save your life.

Regarding the vitamins, you can always ask a local pharmacist and the vitamins have the recommended dosage on the back just like most meds do.
Keep in mind that Walgreens, if you have one near you often very so many weeks offer a BOGO on their vitamins.. also I have found Walmart is sometimes a bit cheaper if you just want to buy one bottle of something.

I don't know about getting a vit D shot if you aren't sure that you need it. This might sound silly, but a dr told me to go to a tanning bed. I go a couple times a week for 3 minutes each. I am not doing it to tan, but to get the rays. It has helped a great deal. I paid $30 for 100 minutes...which will last me a long time. I don't like tanning beds, but I don't like taking meds either. So I gave this a try and it has helped...I only do this in the winter and spring b/c the sun does not come out much. Hope this helps. And I hope you feel better soon.

If you don't have insurance a shot might be a little costly, but I'm not sure. Take a Vitamin D supplement, bu be careful not to take too much as this can cause calcium deposits in your body. One of my whole foods books recommends exposing 20% of your skin (face, arms, upper chest, and possibly legs) to sunlight for 30 minutes a day. Since it's probably pretty cold outside for you, find a window in your house where the sun comes in pretty stong and take a "sunbath!" This could be fun for you girls, too. Tell them the sun is good for their skin in small doses and have a little beach party in your living room!

Too much Vitamin D can be toxic. A good (natural) source of vitamin D is Cod Liver Oil and sunshine. Be careful with the over the counter supplements (and vit D shot!). You CAN overdose on vitamins.
I hope you feel better soon

If it is in fact Vit D, I don't see why a shot is necessary. Just drink some good ol Whole Milk, dear :)

I have Thyroid issues. The doctor told me to take Vit. D. I take 2 a day which is 2000 iu. You can go much higher than this if doctor recommended. I just get mine over the counter at drug stores, nutrition stores or K-mart, etc.
Iron pills are also good for low energy. I also take Iron.
Take a good multi-Vit. also.
Low energy can be caused from thyroid, anemic, non-nutritional food(junk), lack of exercise or sleep, other health issues.
Hope that helps.

I was also told that I'm deficient in Vitamin D. My doctor gave me a supplement.

During the spring and summer, the best way to get Vitamin D is from the sun. Just 10-20 minutes of light exposure (no pun intended) will usually fulfill your body's needs. This becomes impossible, though, when fall and winter hits us with gray skies and little sun.

I haven't taken the supplement yet. I'd rather make up the deficiency through food. If you search under "vitamin D foods" you'll find whole lists of them.

We're also planning to spend a week in Florida during winter break. We did that last year and I felt so much better. I can't wait!

Many of us are low in vitamin D and so taking up to 1000iu daily for a month may be quite benign, but I worry about not knowing the cause of your fatigue. What if you have low thyroid? Or low Vitamin B12? Or are getting an autoimmune problem and perhaps need to increase omega-3s and antioxidants? Or low iron? Or...... You get my point.

Then again, many of us boost our nutritional supplements in general when needed and if that takes care of our problems, I guess we are lucky and need not look further.

By the way, over the course of the last couple years, doctors tested my vitamin D level and that of both my young-adult daughters. Both of them were low, and mine was low-normal (borderline). In each case, we were advised to take 2000iu daily. One of my daughters was already on 1000iu daily and still tested low... but she has intestinal (and other) issues.

-J.