I'm So Tired...

Could be allergies, low blood sugar, iron or depression. My allergies are really getting me this week. Claritin helps but does not completely relieve fatigue on heavy pollen days;still it is better than before.

My friend and her Mom have Fybromialga. My friend told me that her pain (as well as her Mom's) is triggered by certain foods they eat. If her Mom eats broccoli, green beans, Salad, and mostly green veggies, her pain is intolerable and she get's fatigued. My friend told me her's is triggered when she has breads and carbs. My friend told me she keeps a daily food diary of what she eats, so when she is feeling bad-she looks to see what she ate and when. Her mom told her to do this. Different things seem to trigger Fybromialga for different people.
Good Luck!

Hi! I used to suffer from chronic fatigue, migranes headaches, etc....I now am symptom free and have my energy back! thanks to a whole food liquid supplement packed full of nutrients that a friend shared with me. It has impacted my life so much to the point I feel like I was given my life back. I would love to share this with you as well! Let me know.

C.

about me...a SAHM with wonderful and energic kids ages 3 and 6. I work at home as a wellness coach.

Hi D.,

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate and I don't want to make you feel I am handing you even more to do. So please just consider the following ideas as just that ideas on ways to feel better not obligations.

First, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome do go hand in hand. Not everyone who has one will develop the other but it is not uncommon for people to develop both. Both conditions are stress induced and can be helped by doing stress reduction activities and learning to set limits on how much you do. Obviously, you can't just stop taking care of your child or working so try to really figure what has to happen and see if you can find time each day to do something for yourself, even if it is only 5 minutes worth. Once you can consisently do something for yourself each day give it two to four weeks and then see if you feel any body. It will take time to feel better as I am sure you know already so keep at it for two to four weeks and then let yourself have a critical but honest look at whether it is helping or not.

Okay, so here are the ideas. Some are really simple and others are more involved. Just take what works for you and leave the rest.

1. Talk to a friend who can just listen really well. When we, as woman, get to talk about things and feel listened to our bodies respond by producing more oxytocin, a hormone that acts as a stress reducer among other things. (Most of the things I have listed are oxytocin boosters.)

2. Do deep abdominal breathing. It may seem like this wouldn't really do any good since you breathe all the time but seriously try it. Even 5 minutes a day can make a big difference. You can do it in bed before you get up or go to sleep, sitting or standing. Just pace your hands on your belly and feel how your belly expands with each inhale and sinks again with each exhale. Try to focus on your breath, but don't berate yourself if your mind wanders just bring your attention back to your breath when you notice it is not there anymore.

3. Do gentle yoga, tai chi, qigong, or the like. You can get a DVD or take a class.

4. Find a massage practitioner who has experience working with Fibromyalgia clients and go see them as often as you can. They are out there, I just don't happen to be one. There are lots of continuing education courses out there on Fibromyalgia so you could even ask if they have any special training if that would make you more comfortable. If you need help finding someone you can check out the AMTA (www.amtamassage.org) and the NCBTMB (www.ncbtmb.com) for listings of practitioners near you.

5. Get and give plenty of hugs!

6. Do something you really enjoy each day if possible. If you like to sing, you can sing in the shower or any other time. You if like to dance you can add little dance moves to folding the laundry or putting away the dishes or whatever. If you have a favorite hobby try to do it each week, like date for yourself.

7. Smile often, even when don't really feel like it.

8. Laugh often. You can watch old comedies or read the comics or even listen to the radio. The radio station the Mountain 103.7, I think, has the 20 funnies at 7:20 am(?) and 5:20 pm each weekday.

9. Take up meditation or prayer, whichever works for you.

10. This one I think is another one of those like the deep breathing but again try it. It is really powerful stuff! Start and end each day by listing the things you are grateful for either out loud or silently to yourself. It doesn't have to be a long list but it is truly helpful to remember the blessings that we already have.

So, lots of people have lots of opinions on vitamins and diets. So of course, I will give you mine here.

My favorite vitamins that you don't need an MD or ND to get are the New Chapter vitamins, but I also like the Rainbow Light brand. I like these because they are well researched and are food based so you can take them anytime, with or without food. If you have a nutritional oriented doctor then you may be able to get either the Metagenics or Thorne Research brands. I know some dietians and certified nutritionists really like Usana and Shaklee as well. I don't know much about Shaklee other than that you can only get them through independent distributors. Usana is also sold through independent distributors and they seem to have really well researched products as well but the vitamins are isolated, not food based so you need to take them with food. Often people recommend only taking capsules not tablets as the capsules digest better, but I have really only seen evidence of this as people age, like over 60 years old.

As far as diet, you have to figure out what works for you but I recommend eating lots of fruits and veggies, and buying organically grown whenever possible. We try to stick to meat only once a day and eat a variety of veggies and fruits each week, we are not perfect by any means but we try. One way to get a good variety without spending more time shopping is to join a CSA. There are lots around here. Most of the farms that do CSA programs are organic and you get a good variety of foods so you can try new things. They also often have recipes to help you out with new foods. We also try to avoid refined foods especially, white flour and sugar. This one is tough to do but we make an effort anyway. Veggies, fruits and whole grains are great foods for getting the nutrition and fiber we need each day. Getting enough fiber each day has been shown to reduce digestive issues like constipation and irritable bowel syndrome and deter colon cancer.

My best wishes to you!
S.

I too am a single mom, actually, I call myself an only parent, because single moms get child support and some weekends the kids go to Dad's, I don't. Anyway, I was in some accidents over the past 6 years. Here are some things that help me.
lightrelief.com saved my life. I could barely walk after I fell and messed up my hips. It also helps my back, neck, knees, wrist, etc...

I take calcium at bedtime to help me sleep. I take vit. c with it to help absorb because I read that somewhere. My son takes Silent Night by Nature's Way. It is an herbal formula for a good night's sleep.

Cayanne tablets help me with energy.
Spirulina also gives me energy.
Walking helps, I just need a buddy to walk with so I want to walk more.

Yoga Booty Ballet is a nice workout. Start slow, don't do the whole thing at first, work up to it.

Avoid sugar! I use liquid stevia to sweeten stuff.

Eat fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains. Try going a whole week with no meat. Then, if you want it, add it back gradually, carefully, notice if it sets you back. Try to buy natural meats, grain fed without hormones and steroids.

I hope this helps. It looks like you have a lot to sift through here. I hope you feel better real soon.

D.

I just want to say that you have a lot going on and you should be proud of yourself, which you probably are. I don't have any suggestions but simply wanted to say you are doing a good job at home with your son and running a daycare as well as property manager. I am proud of you for finding any way possible to stay home with your child. This is important.

C.

Hi, I'm so tired,
I know how you feel, and can sympathize, although I'm a LOT older and post menopausal. However, I've always been tired, even in my 20's, and didn't realize I had fibromyalgia. Now I'm faced with arthritis, also, which some believe goes hand in hand with the fibromyalgia. Rather than take the heavy duty drugs and further damage my internal organs, I looked up natural remdies on line. What I found that works for me is avoiding gluten products. It may be hard to do, but giving up processed starches and sugar really makes a difference. I still eat sweets and pastries are my weakness, but boy, I ache all over within a half hour when I do eat them. Fortunately, there are so many gluten-free products out there now, it's easier to find substitutes. Whole grains, fruit and vegetables are better for you and your family, anyway.

And, since you're a Mom, and sounds like you've got your hands full there, you probably need a good dose of Iron everyday to give you some energy. Lots of green leafy veggies, beans, liver, etc. will do, but find a multi-vitamin with Iron, and that will really help.

Vicodin is going to give you a drug-hang over the next day, and you'll feel tired all day. It makes me really grumpy, too. If you can avoid it, do. Try Aleve, or get prescription strength Naxproxen (Aleve) as a substitute. Yoga is a great way to tone, build muscle, balance and a sense of well-being, and it will refresh you in the morning and relax you at night. You can get your kids to join you and everyone will benefit while having fun. Just put on some of that soothing music, breath slowly and deeply, and find your center of energy (your solarplex). If you have cable TV, there are a lot of yoga instruction channels you can follow to get a start.

Good luck. Sending my positive energy your way and hope this gives you some options.

Kat

Whew! You do have a lot to deal with. Be gentle with yourself. Have you read/listened to anything by Dr. Judith Orloff? Several of her books are available from the library on audio- easier to get to than sitting down with a book!

Dear D.:

I had the same problem for 12 years until I started working with naturopaths. The exhaustion is horrible and it has NOTHING to do with how hard you work. I wanted to die I felt so bad. when I moved to Washington, it got even worse. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue with some Fibromyalgia symptoms, and borderline Rheumatoid Arthritis. MDs wanted to do was put me on Prozac type anti-depressants which I can't tolerate - I get migraines from all of them.

A friend of mine told me about the Candida diet. I went on the diet and a lot of my symptoms (terrible mood swings, anxiety attacks and itching all over) reversed in a week. The Candida diet is more extreme than Atkins. No sugar, no dairy, no wheat. Nothing but veggies, beans and meat. Then, I decided to go to a recommended Naturopath who had cured a friend of thyroid cancer.

The naturopaths started me on a LONG road of recovery to the point, (I won't bore you with all the details and other symptoms I had). As a result I don't get tired that much any more. In fact, I can do aerobic exercise now, which I couldn't do for almost 20 years! I feel better at 50 than I did at 30! Dr. Jodi Berg in Everett, and Dr. Bejing Men in Northgate basically healed me. Dr. Jodi is a specialist in autoimmune disorders including chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia. Dr. Men is an oriental medical doctor who uses Chinese herbs and acupuncture. My friend has beginning MS which she managed to reverse. My friend is also in remission from Lupus! It's AMAZING what a naturopath can do.

In MY case, it turned out I had mono which never left my system - a homeopathic remedy took care of that - I wasn't digesting my food properly, - digestive enzymes helped that - plus I had food allergies - NONE of the above was EVER diagnosed by MDs. The MDs all only treated me for depression with Prozac, Wellbutrin, - I went through them all, but they all caused migraines - and said the tests revealed nothing except borderline Rheumatoid Arthritis? This went on for 12 years with them telling me I'm depressed. Of course, I'm going to be depressed if I'm always extremely exhausted, itchy have terrible mood swings and anxiety attacks. The MDs also didn't notice my extremely high cortisol levels (adrenals) and messed up thyroid levels (T4). What is borderline RA, anyway? A naturopath would have said you are or aren't. There isn't borderline.

Some insurances don't cover alternative medicine, but you know what? You health is worth it your putting out for it. Some doctors have a sliding scale based on income. Drugs usualy only make chronic illness worse. There's a payback that isn't always apparent right away.

There is also a lot of naturopathic help for autism. I have a friend with an extremely non-functioning autistic son who found that diet helped a LOT. Also, the handle institute (handle.com) helps with autistic children.

God bless you. I hope you find a solution. Let me know if you want more information on the doctors I worked with. Dr. Jodi Berg is in the phone book, and Dr. Men is hard to find.

Also, check out this web site: http://www.NaturalNews.com/023452.html

have you had your iron checked? or depression?
i had this problem and my iron was extremely low

You may want to have a blood test to see if you have hypothyroidism. This can affect how tired you feel - among other things.

Hello there D.,

First of all, you are amazing! And second of all, of course you are tired all the time. Just reading your entry made me tired! I hope in addition to all you provide for others you are providing for yourself. Like, walks in nature, hot baths with yummy smelling oils, a massage or spa treatment once in a while?

My suggestion is to contact Candia Sanders. I have persoanlly seen her assist many people in feeling better and finding solutions that actaully fit into their personal life.
Her phone # is ###-###-####, website is www.candiasanders.com and email is ____@____.com may seem a stretch, but I just have a feeling that she and you can work together for your and your son's benefit. She gives free consulations and is very kind, sweet and has a great sense of humour. Please tell her that Rebecca from Contact Talk Radio sent you.

I will keep you in my thoughts and I am grateful that you reached out to all of us Mom's.

Have a beautiful day and know that you are being thought of,

Rebecca

If possible, try going to bed without taking a vicodin. I can't take vicodin before bed because it disrupts my sleep. I'll lay there all night feeling very dreamy and comfy, but I don't get any real sleep. Maybe the vicodin is upsetting your sleep cycles without you even knowing it. Worth a try...

Hi D.,

I'm a mother of four, ranging in age from 5-20 and also a fibromyalgia sufferer. Being tired all the time is one of the primary symptoms, aside from all the pressure/pain points. My doctors put me on percocet for a while for the pain, and I too have elected to go medication free - except for help with sleep. Because Fibromyalgia is synonymous with an overactive brain stem, you can't ever get into REM sleep. Without REM sleep we never feel completely restored. My doctor has placed me on generic Ambien at bedtime to help me into REM sleep. I do feel very stiff in the morning but that's the way Fibro is; however, as my day progresses I have a lot more energy. Over the counter sleep meds, like Tylenol PM or Advil PM, tend to not work. Tylenol PM & Advil PM both have benadryl as a main ingredient, which can have adverse affects, such as waking you up after several hours and not allowing you to fall asleep again. So I wouldn't recommend these, but the Ambien is great.

Good luck. Also...there is a great Fibromyalgia specialist who works outside of NW Hospital near Northgate. His name is Dr. Steven Overman ( http://www.dr-overman.com ) He can be very helpful but make sure you research very thoroughly any and all meds prescribed. Many have side-effects that aren't worth the relief they give, so make sure you do your own research along with working with your doc.

D. P.

It's been mentioned some, but if you do an internet search for just "thyroid celiac fibromyalgia" you'll bring up all kinds of stuff that suggests that they are all related as autoimmune disorders (meaning the body is attacking itself). I've started seeing a naturopath, and have been sharing all the info with my mom. She's seeing a dramatic difference in her energy, pain, and has been losing weight. They are major lifestyle changes, (going gluten free, etc.) but considering that my mom hasn't been helped by mainstream medicine (other than being on thyroid meds, blood pressure meds - which have probably done more harm than good!) it has been worth it to her. I've been feeling better as well (I've never had much energy, and I'm still in my 20s) and having more energy. The naturopath recently started me on therapeutic iodine, which seems to be making a difference.

There's a book called Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled by Dr Shames that talks about a lot of things to try, and how our hormones are all connected to eachother, and when one gets out of balance it knocks the others out of whack as well... I got it as a bargain book a while back on amazon.

Anyway, it is not normal to feel so exhausted, mentally or physically, even with your full plate of life. Good luck to you and keep looking until you find the answers and get some help.

I was having problems with being overtired and turned out I had a low thyroid. Google hypothyroid and see if any of the other symptoms match yours, or just ask your doctor!

Wow you do a lot! No small wonder you are tired ...

One thing that I read recently and that has helped me is to cut back on caffeine (I know, seems counterintuitive but it drains your body's adrenals) and DRINK MORE WATER!!! I have noticed a big impact after cutting my caffeine consumption in half and drinking at least 4-6 glasses of water a day. Good luck!

Hi,

Have you looked into homeopathy? We've been using some homeopathic remedies for various illnesses and conditions in our household and it has done wonders. I don't know of any specific for tiredness or fybromialgia but probably worth looking into.

Good luck!

D.

Hi D.,
I have had Fibromyalgia and other autoimmune problems for the last 14 years. My quality of life was zilch, have been on lots of medications and pain medications that did nothing except help me tolerate the pain. In December I discovered "Life Changing wellness products" called "Omnitrition". So I decided to try them, first by putting my family on them, I started in January. I cannot tell you what a difference this has made. I have a life again!! I have great energy now! I could not sleep without the aid of Trazodone, I am off that now and take Omnitrition instead. Over the years we have tried many natural products and this is the first time it has made a difference. I would love to talk to you and tell you more because I know this could make a difference in your life. I want to make a difference in people's life by sharing, I truly know what it is like to be "tired" and in "pain", so if you would like please check out my web page, my email and phone number is on there, @ www.omnitrition.com/tomgrace, hope you are having a good day!
G. C.

You have a lot going on . It may be stress even if you do not feel stress. this has happened to me. you may have to cut somethings out. good luck!!

Hi,
I felt the same way you did.
I was tired all the time and everything ached.

I just kept telling myself, I'm probably comming down with something and I'll probably feel better next week.

I felt that way for 3 years.

I think I was just completely drained and wiped myself out trying to be supermom.

I also work at home and I really think that contributed to my tiredness.

I finally went to the doctor and all the blood work came out fine.

He thought I was depressed. Which came as a shock to me. Because I thought I was very happy. I told him the only thing that I was depressed about was feeling tired all the time.

I decided to take care of it myself. I take my vitamins everyday. I always have water with me. Drink, drink, drink water.
I'm not really big on excercising. I really want to but it's sooo hard. But walking is easy, anybody can walk. Do 30 minutes a day. It does wonders.

Fresh air and sunshine does wonders for me too.
I work outside half the time.
I'm finally feeling so much better now.

I have somthing that I think will help you It is all natural and I know people that have been helped with energy (including myself) and fybromialga. I would love to give you some of the product to try to see if it helps you. Send me an email if you are interested ____@____.com Luck

D.,
I have many friends/family members that used to suffer too--3 from sleeping issue and 2 from fibromyalgia/rheumatoid arthritis. I work w/ Melaleuca--23 year old company of natural products....the vitamins have done amazing things to rid the pain and give them back their sleep thanks to their fructose compounding--which is a HUGE necessity for both your issues. Call me at ###-###-#### and I can share some of their "thank you" notes to me and tell you more about it. It's worth a shot and there is no risk. Until the 30th you can try it all out for $1..crazy I know. Anyway, I can't imagine handling what you have been doing and running a daycare--that's crazy. I'd say one other thing that is so important to me and others in regards to sleeping, is making sure to get 30 mins. of constant cardio workout---challenging walk, etc. Hope this helps! Good luck and hope to hear from you soon.
M.

From the sounds of it you have every right to be tired. I take RELACORE, I know it's labeled as a diet product (found in the weight loss isle) however it almost all vitamin B's and Ginseng. A couple of thoughts though, do you do caffiene? if so, stop, yes you will go through withdrawl for about three weeks maybe less but, you will feel better afterwards. Have you asked your doctor about light therapy? Do you get alone-time, you know that little space just for you? If not talk to some of the other moms in your neighborhood or from your son's school about trading babysitting time so there's no out of pocket costs. Maybe even talking to counselor of some sort might help. There are biofeedback tapes that might help not only with the pain issue but with experiencing a deeper level of relaxation and peace, hence you feel more rested. Good luck. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

You have alot on your plate, no wonder you are tired But.....you might have your thyroid checked. My husband has been on medication for 6months for it and he is like a new man. He has energy, spunk and is fun to be around again. Hang in there.

Hi D.,

WOW you have gotten a lot of advice!! I wouldn't even bother writing except I have something to offer that I know would help. I like many others have found that the answer for much of our health issues lies in what we put into our bodies and optimal nutrition can make a world of difference! We have found a wonderful company that makes products that are changing lives. They provide optimal balanced nutrition in the most bioavailable form, shakes. (way esier to take then the capsules and pills too) They are pharmaceutical grade and totally safe and come with a money back guarantee. They take the guesswork out of nutrition as they are already in a food balanced form and even have patents which are difficult to get having to prove they are safe, unique and accomplish a benefit! The company has been around 20 years. My family has been drinking these shakes for 4 years now and we have all seen great health results. The person who shared this with us had similar issues as you with autoimmune problems for which she had been searching for 10 years for answers through nutrition with minimal results until she found these products. Now she has her life back and is doing great. The best thing for you to learn more would be to talk to her. I can also let you hear from others who have had similiar life changing results that way you can ask them questions if you want. Email me and we can excange numbers so you can get more information. ____@____.com

Dear D.,

I am a work at home mom also. I am partnered with a wellness company that maufactures non toxic products. They are a licensed pharmaceutical that works with doctors, scientists and universities to create products that are better quality than store brands. I see product success stories every day for the same health issues that you have. If you would like more information, please call me at ###-###-#### or email me at ____@____.com

I would love to help you have a healthier life.

Sincerely,
T. L.

I know this is going to sound so weird, but last summer I was going through the same thing. I became vegan, and started drinking a drink called "Kombucha" once/day. I swear to you, I have felt so much better since I did. There is also a book called 'Eating for your blood type' or something along those lines that my sister in law swears by. She said the reason the vegan diet is working so well with me is that I'm blood type A and do better with less animal products. Try the kombucha (available at fresh.amazon.com for delivery, and it's also at whole foods) if you're not into doing the drastic diet change. You're doing so much. So so much. Also, there are plenty of other MDs that may have more experience with fybromialgia; you may want to set up a consultation with an expert that may be able to offer you more than vicodin. I know the cold spring we've been having isn't helping you either - I hope things improve now that we seem to have warmer weather.

Hi D.,
I was in your place about 5 years ago, only I had gotten so bad I was in a hospital bed in my living room...I had gone to 23 doctors and they all said "Go home and adapt, there isn't anything we can do for you." I was on all kinds of prescription drugs and I had tried all kinds of vitamins and supplements too. Nothing helped...until a friend told me about Sunrider Foods! Boy, I have my life back! I have started a blog to share information about Sunrider, so I can help people from having to go through the pain and expense that I did. I started out just to help myself, but I soon found it was too good to keep to myself! Please go to my blog and feel free to contact me...I have been there and done that...my testimony is on my blog so you can read more about me... my blog http://lifestyle4health.wordpress.com/
I hope to hear from you soon, I would love to share with you and help you! Because I am thankful everyday that someone cared enough to help me!
S.

D.,

I work with nutrition and know people with fibromylagia who now have fewer symptoms and more energy. The nutrition I work with is a pharmacuetical grade, is highly bioavaliable, and years of research have gone into it to get the right synergism between nutrients. I would be glad to help you get the right nutrition you need to make a difference and get your energy back up. Give me a call at ###-###-####. Good luck!

D. Jantzen

I also have fibro and tiredness is it. As well as the aches and pains. You are doing so much. I am amazed at how much you are doing.

I also can not take most meds because I have migraines and most meds cause rebound headaches. One pain med I do take is gabapentin. It helps with the pain but it causes my mind to be foggy a bit. I take medication for depression.

I have cut out the red meats and included more fresh veggies. Have you gone to a pain doc? Or a arthritis doc? Or living with chronic condition support group? They have helped me.

Swimming helps me move with less pain--everything else hurts. The thing with fibro is that it is a hidden disability--you look normal and people don't see how much you hurt. People don't know why you don't do things.

I read the previous emails. You got alot of different info. It will be hard to digest it. I really think the best think for you to do is to go to a specialist--preferably a arthritis doctor and find a support group.

If you need you talk more please email me ____@____.com. I'd be glad to listen. W.

My mom has fibromyalgia and what really helped her was an anti-depressant. Not to address depression, but it helped her get into REM sleep.
It turns out she wasn't getting into that stage of sleep at night, and it is important to reach REM. She was exhausted all of the time and the lack of true rest made her fibromyalgia worse. She improved dramatically after a few nights of GOOD sleep.
I do not know if this could be the issue you are having, but it sounds possible. My guess would be your primary care physician would refer you to a sleep clinic to monitor a nights sleep, to see if you are going through all of the sleep stages.
Best of luck.

Have you had your thyroid checked? Before I knew I had a thyroid issue, I felt super tired all the time. I would go to bed very early, sleep through the night and still feel like I was up the whole time. I used to say I felt like an 80 something woman in a 30 something body. My hair was falling out and my skin was very dry. Once I got tested it was figured out that my numbers were WAY off. After going on the meds, I felt more my age.... Go to your Dr. and get your levels tested.

Everything you have mentioned can be helped by diet and natural supplements. If you are interested I would like to let you know how I am being helped. I am a 78 year old widow, mother, grandmother and great grandmother with life long running health problems that finally put me in a wheelchair. I am confined mostly to my bedroom which is fortunately large enough for me to have Satellite TV and a PC with a slow directg dial connection to the internet. One of my granddaughters signed me up to Mamasource and I sure wish there had been something like it along with the internet during the 10 years of my first marriage when I had 7 full term babies and 3 miscarriages. I was so tired by the time my youngest son was born the doctor recommended that I have a tubal ligation even though I was only 26. I was glad and agreed as did my first husband and father of all my children. I was a Believer in God but was backslidden. I finally got my life back on track after my second marriage that lasted 37-1/2 years and ended at his death in 1999. I now live with one of my sons in the house my mother left me in Trust. We have a good life in spite of the physical health problems. Please contact if you are interested in trying to make a change in your life for the betten. I promise I won't try to preach to you but just share what has helped me lateley. Love, C.

Honey - I have felt your pain. I get spurts of fybromialga symptoms when I'm stressed and(ironically enough) not sleeping. Even though it's extremely painful, start exercising. If you can't get out of the house and find the time, invest in a treadmill or ellipitcal machine. Exercise will help the symptoms and your sleep patterns. The more sleep you get the more the symptoms will go away as well.

Hi there D., I have to agree with Monica L, you are doing WAY to much! I can just imagine that you aren't getting a break from everything as a single mom running her own business. I'm new to this forum so I'm not sure if this is an Anchorage board, but someplace like Child Care Connections or the school that your son is enrolled in might be able to provide an afternoon a week (or something) of respite care so you can go for a walk or have coffee with girlfriends- something for you.

I think getting screened for fibro, the potential (especially up here) for vit D deficiency, iron deficiency, getting more exercise, and everything is really good advice and definitely should be looked into. But our bodies also have chronic stress responses from doing to much for too long that causes a "disregulation" that will make you chronically tired. Our stress hormones just crank out for too long and wreak havoc on our adrenal glands, which feeds back to our brain and effects the neurotransmitters, which starts the cycle all over again. A B-complex vitamin could help somewhat if you can take them (they make me flat out wiggy). But, overall, my suggestion would be on the depression/stress side of it and seeing what little time you can manage to eek out for yourself.

Best of luck, truly!
N.

Hello D., Oh Honey, I understand. I have fibromyalgia,rheumatoid arthritis and sjogrens syndrome...they all kinda run together and I know what you mean when you say that you are achy and tired.
One thing that has really helped me is to go on the candida free diet. That consists of no dairy and carbohydrates such as breads.
I eat oatmeal for breakfast and a salad of some sort with meat in it...such as a chicken salad and then for dinner I eat chicken or red meat with vegetables. It is not a hard diet to follow and you do not have to be real rigid for it to improve how you feel. Mostly you concentrate on protein and vegetables...I add fruit also...the real strict diet has little fruit but I think it is important so I leave it in. There are books called Candida free or the recipes but it is just easier to do what I have described....I think this may help you.
I also take Plaquenil and that helps alot...you might see if your doctor will give you some. You have to have regular eye exams when taking it to see that it is not effecting your eyes but other than that it helps alot. If you ever want to email me it is ____@____.com. I understand so much what you go through....some days it is so hard to get out of bed....I also have an herb tea that I make that helps alot.....I will send you the recipe if you are interested just email me. It is a detoxifying tea that gets rid of alot of the inflammation. You only have to take 2 ozs of the tea to two ozs of warm water...three times a day. It does alot of good....old Indian remedy and I got it from a friend that is in Alaska and no doctors on her island..it really helps with the fatigue.
Hope some of this helps...also..I do not know if you are suffering from depression because of the pain but I was and when they started treating me with an anti-depressant alot of the pain subsided because it transfers the pain route in your brain...the fatigue was helped immensely when they put me on an anti-depressant. I would give it a try. Cymbalta is the anti-depressant that I take and it is very good for chronic pain help. Hugs L.

I work for a Chiropractor. Have you tried Massage Therapy? That could help with the aches and re-energize you.

have you talked to you doctor? when my thyroid is off i can barely keep my eyes open. have them check you out and see what is going on.

Please research, adrenal exhaustion, chronic fatigue, thyroid disorders and fibromyalgia (they are all related) and how to approach exercise properly so that you can recover. Too much exercise can exacerbate symptoms. A naturopath's suggestions and a balanced disciplined diet with supplements tailored to your needs is a must. You are "burned out" and need professional, health oriented intervention immediately. If you can get away for awhile or have happy small, frequent adventures of your own, the change of mental focus will help very much. Chris RN

Dear D.,
You have a heavy load! No wonder you are so tired. The first thing you should do is go see another doctor, preferably a rheumatologist. Treatment for fibromyalgia is not pain medication and definitely not a drug like vicodin. Usually, you will be given an antidepressant to take at night to help you sleep. Doing regular exercise also helps a lot with fibromyalgia as does going to a hands-on physical therapist.
Go take care of yourself first so you can take care of your son. There is nothing more exhausting than pain!
L. (a grandmother)

Have your Dr check you for an iron deficiancy, or do you snore? If so you could have sleep apnea. Could it be part of the fibromialgia?

Might I suggest that you check with your doctor for possible depression? This sounds remarkably similar (minus the fibromialgia) to my own situation when I became a single mom with a toddler.

The other issue that I had was uncontrolled menstrual cycles... this caused anemia which also contributed to my fatigue.

I am not at all trying to diagnose you... just offering up some possibilities.

Best wishes to finding your health!
C.

Hi D.-
I'm so sorry that you suffer from fibromialgia. I've heard it is a very difficult condition to live with. I do not have the condition, but can relate to a point with constant exhaustion. My exhaustion, in the past, has been a result of severe anemia. I have, and do, take iron supplements per dr. orders, and they have helped some, but this past February I was introduced to a line of vitamins and supplements by a company called Advocare. They have seriously changed my life and have taken my energy level to a whole new level. I have a very sensitive stomach and am sensitive to vitamins, medicines, etc. in general so I was very skeptical about starting them, but like I said, they have changed my life. I have 2 very active sons and since I've been on Advocare products, I actually feel like a person past 3pm in the afternoon and I can function as the mom that they need and deserve. My head feels clearer and I feel like a different person. I have also cut alot of 'bad' stuff out of my diet- white flour and sugars, processed stuff. This originally was because I was having a lot of stomach issues. I take alot of my eating wisdom from the book, The Makers Diet by Jordin Rubin. I try to eat foods that are as close to the way that they were created as possible. I'm realistic too because I do have children, but I try to teach them how to eat healthy too.
Anyway, I hope maybe this helps a little bit. If you are interested in checking out Advocare, I can put you in contact with a friend of mine that could answer questions that you have. Please just ask.
I wish you the best of luck and the best of health.
Sincerely, H.

I don't have any real advice here and honestly, I don't think you really need it! =) You've gotten so much feedback already. I really love this site!!!

The only thing I wanted to say is in regards to the post about Ambien. I have suffered from long term insomnia for 10 + years. There is not a night that passes where I don't take Tylenol PM or something similar to help me fall asleep. About 6 years ago, my doctor prescribed Ambien for me. I LOVED that it put me to sleep. I did wake up feeling more rested that I had in years. However, the side effects have caused me to not take it anymore. I would take the meds as directed....just before bed. I made sure to have at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The problem is that I would fall asleep......or so I thought.....but would later get up and do all sorts of things, then have NO memory of it whatsoever! I did everything from internet shopping to (sorry if this is too much info!!) having sex with my husband and never remember it! I hope you're able to get the relief you need. Just be careful with meds, as you never know how they'll effect you. =)

Hi D., there could be several different factors contributing to your tiredness, it may take some time and patience to figure it out. I agree with the other moms that you should get some things checked by your doctor in order to rule them out as the cause or contributing factor to your fatigue. With that said, I would like to recommend a product line of nutritional supplements called Isotonix,namely OPC-3. These supplements are showing great results for many people with several different ailments including asthma, allergies, joint pain/inflammation, digestive issues, diabetes, just to name a few. These products are a powder form-mixed with water, taken on an empty stomach, which makes their absorption rate so much higher than regular vitamins in pill form.
Now about the OPC-3, this is a very potent, powerful antioxidant, actually there are several of them combined in this supplement. Pycnogenol, Red Wine Extract, Bilberry Extract, Grape Seed Extract. Some of the healing properties include cardoivascular and joint health as well as being an anti-inflammatory, helps boost immune system, reduce histamine production (allergies) helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood glucose levels. This is a very quick overview for you, I would encourage you to check into these products through my web portal www.marketamerica.com/mmonce You will find lots of info including a video on each of the products, you may also go to www.marketamericascience.com for additional research and information. Please call me if you have any questions, I would be more than happy to help! Thanks M. ###-###-####

I am a health advisor for Take Shape for Life and we have testimonies of people with fibromialga that it helped. It was used for over 20 years just by doctors to help people loose weight and for medical situations. It is now available through TSFL Health Advisors who have had training. I got my training at a seminar and we also have access to trained nurses or Dr Anderson if needed. I would be happy to share information. Call me at ###-###-####. I am using the product for weight maintenance and to be sure I am eating nutritionally... especially since widowed and fixing just for one and because it is so easy... meal replacements that contain all the nutrients your body needs... vitamins, minerals and amino acids, etc. We can tell the specialists to talk with people and they will give you the special program just for you. It used to be just shakes, but now we have specialty shakes... joint, coronary, plus for women, apetite suppresants, oatmeal, soups, puddings, soy crisp crackers, etc. So, quite a variety and they taste good. Just share your medical history and I'll call and find out what is best and what to eat along with. I use the product and love it. Once you are on it, you don't get cravings and it gives you lots of eneregy. I'll wait for your call. I work with children also, so we'd have a lot in common. It would help your son too.

M. Mathews, ____@____.com

D.,
First of all, I think you need support. Do you have family nearby that can help you with your son when you need it? Do you go to church or a small group? Any kind of support group for moms with kids with special needs would probably boost your emotional strength. You are not alone.
Second, God cares. Seek out the Lord. He promises that if you seek Him, you will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13)
I'll be praying for you, too. You are in a tough situation. I hope you find the help you need. God bless. S.

Hi D.,

I know how you feel - I have 4 kids, 1 with Autism/other disabilities, another is bipolar, and two have ADHD - I was always tired and feeling like a bad mom as I just wanted to sleep. My first thought upon awakening was when I could next sleep. This went on for years and I always wondered how others could get through the day and wondered if this was how everyone felt.

I finally went to a sleep specialist - I do have Restless leg syndrome (which I have known about for many years) they tested me for ferritin - it was so low that I almost ended up with IV iron. I thought wow- I finally found out what my problem was and thought as soon as my iron was up, I'd feel better but I didn't.

I went back to the sleep doctor, did a night time sleep study then a daytime nap study - finally the answer was found - I have a form of narcolepsy. I take Ritalin now and I feel like a real person. It has changed my life!. I still get up and my thoughts are still when I can sleep next but I try to take the Ritalin first thing and then in about 20-30 minutes I feel normal. It doesn't cure the problem but does manage it and I can think about other things other than sleep.

I would feel like I was the laziest person and all my kids would see me do was sleep. I also was told that it was stress in my life, I was doing too much (I was also homeschooling but it got to where not much schooling was going on as I couldn't make it through the day). Even after I sent my kids to school, I could sleep the whole time they were gone. I would exercise as that has always been a priority too - I guess that is my stress relief.

Good luck, it is so hard to find time to do things when you have a child that needs constant care. I hope that you do have some respite so that you can get some time to yourself!

C.

Have you had your thyroid checked? After I had my second child, I was really tired and would almost fall asleep driving down the road. I had blood work done and it came back that my thyroid was all screwed up. You might try that.

Have you thought of going to a naturalpath doctor? Sometimes they can look at the picture more wholistically and know more about vitamins and nutrition. Also, would accupuncture help with pain management? I don't know much about fybromialga, except that it is hard to manage. Are there any fybromialga support groups in your area. Also, in our area our local DD services offers free respite care for parents of children with disabilities. Perhaps that would help give you a break from time to time. Exercise might be another helpful thing for better sleep. I feel for you as I am not sleeping well due to hormone adjustments. It makes life difficult.

C.

Hi D.

I have fibernagen. Which means that my blood runs like sludge instead of a free slowing river. It makes me really tired. I take a supplement called nattokinase which helps big time. I also take B12, B6. I also drink pure grape juice not diluted. I bottle my own juice so I know what is in it. Between these I do a lot better.

My doctor is a Homeopathic, MD. He is really good. Before I started going to him I was getting pneumonia back to back. Since I have been seeing Dr. Ames I have not had pneumonia since. And I am not as tired. Dr. Ames runs lot of labs, so he has a pretty good idea what you are up against.

Good Luck.

N.

D.,
You are tired because you've put in a full day and then some, both physically and mentally. Your son is a full time responsibility and you must be interacting with and the kids you are caring for in your daycare. As a property manager you have to be ready to meet your tenants' needs 24x7, couple that with the fybromilgia.... well you need a respite from your chores. Talk with your doctor about the new medication, lyrica. It's been known to help folks with your ailment and other nerve pain conditions. See if it can work for you. Then see if there is a family member or close friend who can either come and stay with your son for an evening or weekend so you can get away and sleep for 8 hrs straight, of good restful sleep and then so you can take the time to breathe. Your body will have a hard time healing if you don't give it a chance to rest and restore. Talk to your son's pediatrician to see if there is a respite care provider that can help you out. Find yourself a good friend who can listen to you 'dump' all your problems and concerns, they have to promise to not fix them, but to just listen. Being able to do this will help you let go of them for a bit and relax. When you want the help in fixing things, then let them know. Until then, just let you 'dump and go'. Show your appreciation by baking cookies, a bouquet of flowers, etc. It's a true gift they are providing you. Now, breathe and call your doctor, your pediatrician and your friend.

This may sound strange, but your symptoms sound a bit like seasonal effective disorder. Like I said, strange, but have you tried going to the tanning salon? You can use sunscreen while in it to prevent the negative effects of the sun but you still get the positives. My sister and I had the same problems you are describing. I swear it worked.

Me too! :)

Could it be depression?

Years ago I was in the same boat. I had chronic fatigue. Post divorce & a crappy marriage. I went to see a naturopath, named Dr Milner at the center of natural medicine. He ran blood, saliva, hair, & interstitial fluid tests to determine i was malnourished, (stress can do that to you) He tailored the vitamins I needed, to what I needed & I felt better. You can also ask to be tested for food alergies. the most common are milk (dairy) wheat, corn & chocolate. When i was that bad, i was allergic to dairy, chocolate, beef, eggs, and wheat. No I am healed of all of it.

With that said, You have a good reason to be tired. Being a single mom is one of the hardest jobs there is. We have no one to pass the baton to, we are on call 24/7. You especially since you work at home, and you have a spcial needs child. You have clearly taken the high road. God Bless you!!!

Do you get some relief time, time away for a massage, pedicure, or just to go shopping by your self?

Hi D.,
Have your vitamin D checked! Low vitamin D causes tiredness, and muscle pain among other things. People in Oregon are in the top 3 peoples that have low vitamin D. The other thing of corse is get more exercise. I know your tired but increasing your exercise will increase your energy level. Good luck.
Mandy

Hey D.! I know that one of the symptoms of thyroid problems is feeling tired/exhaustion, and I have hypothyroidism....I always know when my medication needs to be adjusted, because I am tired all the time! Would be a good thing for you to check out! Good Luck!

It is so hard getting time for yourself as a busy mom, but have you tried getting some exercise? Even just a 30 minute walk a day will do WONDERS for your energy. Even with Fibro, excercise is a benifit.

I work with clients building individual programs to help manage energy level and have worked with many moms with Fibro. It sound s crazy that expending energy would give you mor evergy but give it two weeks and IT WORKS!!! I promise!!

D.
Fit-Focus.com

D.,
I felt the same way and not only was it my thyroid (wasn't getting enough) but I was also anemic, even though I was taking vitamins and eating all the right foods. The doctor had me take two iron pills .325 mill. a day for two weeks, and then switch to one and in a month I will be rechecked. I am getting up now with really no problems at all, and I am making it through the day without wanting to nap, I am almost 50 and I am sure napping will become something I do more often :).
You must also realize that you are taking on a lot, your children and the daycare, I know I have done it most my life.
So to find time for just you has to be really hard, good for you for at least making the effort to do so.
So just go get the blood test and have the doctor run the ones for thyroid, and iron it won't hurt and it might be a real easy solution. Good luck with all you do.

You are a great mom! Good job takeing the steps you needed to, so you can be home with your son!! I to have suffered from fybromialga, it was a nightmare trying to find something for the pain, I have been on a product now for 5 months that is all natural, very low cost, and developed by a nobel Laureate in Medicine, And I feel absolutley great! Pain Free!!! You have to get rid of the pain, and then your body will relax, and you will sleep just fine. Your body spends to much of its time in a state of alertness, and pain, so at night it's hard for your body to relax naturally. please email me if you'd like to chat more. Talking sometimes helps too. And I can send you some of the information on what I take so you can try it.

Chronic Fatigue goes with Frybo but even knowing that, you should have a really good check up with a lot of blood work. It can be many things including something as serious as heart problems. No matter what it is, a good diet is very important. Learn about what gives you flare ups too. Red meat can certainly do it but lots of processed foods are not good too. Eating the good food God gave us before we started processing it and making it something different is what is best for us! You will be amazed at how much better you will feel with just eliminating refined sugar and flour and red meat with Frybro. Processed meats is really hard on it too.

Hi D., I find that exercising in the a.m. really helps me maintain my energy level during the day. Good luck. A.

D.

Children with Autism take an endless amount of energy and patience to raise. Downs Syndrome complicates his situation.
Go easy on yourself.

Get exercise. If you live in Eugene you can go to the pool at
Tamarac Wellness Center with him. If you want to go alone go to another pool where you are comfortable and swim, soak in the hot tub and get your body moving. It will help you more than you can ever image. Being in a pool removes pain.

My idea for pain is to find an excellent homeopath or go to a well qualified acupunturist. If it isn't against the rules I can tell you that Tom Williams in Eugene is a wonderful acupunturist.

L.-Maggie

I'm was tired all the time too. I had no energy and felt down.
I finally went to the doctor and had a blood test, it showed that I have Thyroid desease. I'm now taking meds and I'm feeling better.

Hi there.

I felt the same way and it was low iron. I know you said you've been taking vitamins, but have your doc check your iron. It's a simple blood test.

Good luck!

I'd like to give a second vote for trying Sunrider. My mother has been with the company since it started in 1982. The products (whole herbal foods, not medicines) promote the body's ability to heal itself. You won't find anything else out there like it. Good luck!

Hi Deana,

Along with all the good advise already: check thyroid, anemia, try to get some walking in, and all that I read below, I would add to get your vit. D levels checked. This had been a newer "thing" on the radar of (especially) naturopaths. The levels previously thought to be sufficient are WAY WAY low and the amounts needed to bring it up are much higher than previously believed. It's a simple inexpensive blood test and although there may be some MD's out there familiar with it, a good naturopath would probably be a better way to go. The symptoms being associated with low vit. D are many-fatigue and fybromialgia among them. Also increased risk of cancers, heart disease and MS!

Good luck to you! I wish you well on your path to feeling better. Don't give up hope-sometimes it takes a long time to find the right combination of things that work for your body. I know from my own journey that trying different things can be frustrating but that I have found a combination of things that really help me feel much better than I used to. M.

With having a special needs child and running a daycare, I can imagine you have alot of emotional drain. With all those demands on your emotional energy... I would be so tired too. Being a single mom in of itself is a tiring job! I don't know you or your situation but I'm going to be bold and say I think a new line of work would be very beneficial! Find a safe place for your child and a job for you with adults. Is it possible being in the adult would be less draining? ANd maybe a new situation for your child would offer new life experiences for him? You have alot on your plate! Hats off to you. Warm ishes to you for better health and energy levels. Start making changes and see what works!

HI D.,

Sounds like you have some imbalances in your system. I would go to a Naturopath and get a blood test for allergies. That way you can eliminate the foods your body can't digest, which might be what is causing the fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. B Vitamins are great for energy also. I also take an amazing supplement for energy that helps your body release it's own adult stem cells so you can rebuild the tissues that need it. You can find it at

www.luminouslife.stemtechbiz.com

It is called StemEnhance. My energy is way up since I started taking it, and I am a 48 year old mom of a 5 year old. I hope this helps. I always believe there is a cure for everything, you just have to believe it so it can show up. Best of luck

A. Rose

Well, no wonder you are tired, you have a very busy life. I have FM too and have finally found that Yoga really helps. If you spend about a week with a tape or in a class you will know enough to take little mini breaks during the day to stretch what hurts. Try to do it each morning for 10 or 15 minutes to get going. A hot shower or bath works wonders too.
When I hurt not terribly and don't want to take the hydrocodone, Aleve helps. It might be something different for you but find some thing and take it in the morning and throughout the day. One of the reasons you are so tired is that you are fighting pain all day long and it wears you out. Add all the other stuff and of course you are beat. Also, try eating mostly fresh (if you can) fruits and veggies, cut down on sugar and white flour. Go to whole wheat and multi-grain breads. Don't stop sweets completely or you will binge, just limit to a nibble hear and there. Eat more fish and fowl, cut way back on beef. I finally got the hubby to stop eating big steaks when he is on the road and it has really helped him. Most important is to keep the pain under control. You will see a big difference right away if you have a day or two without pain. You also may not be sleeping enough because of the pain so you might need a sleep aid. I went 15 years with sleeping only every other night and being up all night the other nights. I take 1/2 Ambien but ask your Dr. to give you something. If you aren't getting deep sleep you aren't going to feel rested. Don't take things like Unisom because they will make you sleepy most of the day too. Get on the internet and search FM and you will find loads of help there too.
If you can, take a night with your girlfriends, there is nothing quite like laughing with friends to soothe your soul. Hope this helps.
K.

Hi D.,

I was so tired for years after my daughter was born and my doctor found my thyroid was low. Medicine for that made a huge difference. It has been 2 years since then and I've still gained more weight and had pretty low energy. I just made a $250 purchase that I had been putting off because of the price. Now I realize that what I got is priceless! I got a light box. Did I notice that you also live in the Northwest? Even if you don't, most Americans don't get enough sun exposure. Gosh, using that lightbox, taking 800mg extra vit D and omega fatty acids has made a HUGE improvement in my energy level. Two other things that have really helped me are going to bed by 9:00 or 10:00 at the latest and meditation to clear my mind so I can sleep peacefully and stay calm and relaxed during my stressful days.

Hi D.,

Have you ever had a sleep test? 7 years ago I was exhausted all the time and sleeping more was not helping. I had a sleep test done and I have sleep apnea. After just 2 nights with my cpap I was a whole new person. Also, maybe ask for some blood work. Recently I had some blood tests done and discovered that I was slightly anemic, about 3-4 points lower in my iron, certainly not sever. My Dr. suggested iron pills and I take about 3 times a week and I can feel the difference within a week.

As for a diet that might help, you might try food combining. Marilu Henner has a book out and there is a lot of research about not combining starches and proteins together. One takes acid to digest one takes alkaloids and if you have both in your system they counter act each other and it takes your body a lot of energy to digest. I did that a few years ago and I could tell the difference.

Hope something helps and good luck

J.

Hi D.,

Just reading your "A Little About Me" entry makes me tired! You are super woman! Do you ever give yourself some downtime? I also have a million things on my plate and I find I hit spells where I am completely exhausted. A few things that really help me. Watch my iron intake. It's amazing how running yourself ragged and stress can cause you to be anemic! So make sure you are getting all of your vitamins, mineral and overall nutritional needs met. The other thing I do is to make sure I give myself a litte downtime each day. Even if it means hiding in the bathroom for 10 minutes. You need a little time to take a breath and sit back and relax. And for nutrition, I eat long lasting foods: protein, brown rice, whole grain bread, a mix of fruit and cheese. Anything that keeps my bloodsugar stable. White flour, refined sugar, etc all give you a quick energy burst, but then I feel like I am dragging once it drops!

Also, now that the sun is out, try to get outside for about 15 minutes a day! THis will really boost your Vitamin D.

Good Luck!
A.

talk to your Dr about a new antidepressant that works well for chronic pain Cymbalta,
nerontin, well studied in chronic pain and fibromyalgia
celebrex a better tolerated, new generation anti-inflammatory, taken once or twice a day, so you get better constant levels of relief than ibuprofen.
Don't worry to much about "addiction" to vicoedn at the levels you are taking it. Narcotics work differently when you are in pain, binding to pain receptors, as opposed to when you aren't in pain they bind to opiod receptors making you high. What can happen is with long term use is you can become habituated, that the same dose may not work as well, so the dose needs to be increased. I think you may want to look for another doctor, you are being under-treated. there are lots of options for fibromyalgia sufferers. If you can switch to one that specializes in chronic apin or fibromyalgia. good luck

You might want to see if you have sleep apnea. I discovered I had it last year when I saw my doctor and he recomended a sleep study. I just felt I was tired all the time. I hope this helps.

Have you tried any of the natural supplements. Ginko helps with somethings.

Sounds like you battle lots of pain throughout the day. It takes a toll on you even when you don't realize it.

As far as the pain goes it's something you learn to live with but when it reaches a point of you take the pain pill because it hurts so bad it takes more pills to receive a little relief.

I live with constant back pain. The days it hurts the most are the days I'm the most tired.

D., Have you tried Vemma or Verve? It is a fantastic product that I have been using since April and it is doing wonderful things for many people. I am an Independent Distributor for the product, and couldn't be happier or healthier! There is a great article this month about Vemma and Verve in Women's Fitness Magazine.
You can go to my website to find out if it may be something you would be interested in. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more!
Sincerely,
M.
mistvemma.com
mistverve.com

First of all I applaud and congratulate you for your efforts and accomplishments! You are an amazing woman! I would definitely check with your doctor about many of the things in the previous responses including sleep apnea. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about a year ago. I could sleep all the time and was still always bone tired. One of the best things is that the treatment is not pills but a breathing mask that you wear when you sleep. It has made a tremendous difference in my life. Best wishes and sweet dreams!
B.

D.,

My friend had something that sounded about the same. She went to the doctor and got a vitamin B shot. She said it really helped.

G.

I hope this doesn't sound rude, but is it possible you're doing too much? Taking care of a DD child is work enough, let alone also a daycare and then some! I can't imagine being in your shoes and not being tired!

You might also check with your doctor about anemia. If that's the case, your cells aren't getting the oxygen they need to be productive and you're likely to feel pretty worn out all the time. A slow release iron supplement can turn it around in a couple weeks.

Nobody else can give you an exact answer, but check with your doctor and consider a mental health professional for yourself to help you find the problem and a workable solution.

Have you tried Juice Plus+? its dehydrated fruits & veggies in capsules. it gives you all the nutrients you should be getting in a day. it gives me alot of energy to chase after my 2 yr old.

with all the attention on heart disease this last week with the death of Tim Russert, Nancy Snyderman, the doc for NBC did a segment on the today show did a segment about hear disease and women. She said the most overlooked symptom of heart disease in women is extreme fatigue.

Hi! Have you heard of Candida? I was feeling tired all the time and found out I had candida, which is rapid yeast growth
that saps your strength. I was told to avoid sugar, vinegar,
and citrus, and drink four to six cups of Melaleuca tea each
day. That was two months ago. I did this and now I feel
wonderful. I also take a supplement called "Luminex".
If you would like more information on this, please call me
at ###-###-####
:>) J.