So here’s the thing. Lately, I’ve been feeling like crap. My head is cob-webby and I’m feeling so dragged out and tired that it’s making me cranky. I’ve been trying to get a little more physical activity in, but I’m also freezing cold all the time lately, which combines with the tiredness to make me reluctant to go outside. And there’s only so much exercise to be had walking from the sofa to the kitchen and back. And did I mention the cranky? The lack of focus is killing me, too. Oh look, something shiny over there….
*crickets*
In an epiphianic moment (can I just turn a noun into an adjective like that?) I decided that my iron is probably in the basement, so I should start taking my supplements again. That will help.
That got me thinking about vitamins again, something I keep meaning to look into and never quite get around to doing. I think someone mentioned to me that B vitamins help smooth out the, um, rough edges in your mood. Um, I kind of need to know more about that. Now! I read a couple of labels in the vitamin aisle of the grocery store, but nothing was particularly helpful. I saw a couple of bottles labelled “stress busting” and thought that seemed like a pretty good idea, too. (Who me, stressed? What, just because of the way I’m clenching my jaws until my ears ache and you can see a little too much of the whites of my eyes you think I’m STRESSED?!? *breathe breathe*)
I have never really taken vitamins. I took folic acid when we were thinking about conceiving, and pre-natal vitamins on and off throughout my pregnancies — but mostly off. I was taking vitamin D for a while, because the whole universe seemed to be telling me it was the Right Thing To Do, and I know I need to top up my iron. What else should a 40-ish woman of relative (*touch wood*) health and stamina be taking for preventative and bolstering measures?
So what say ye, Dr Bloggy Peeps? Do you take vitamins? If so, what and why? Medicate me!
I bought myself a daily pill thingy recently to remind myself to start taking vitamins. So far I’m just taking A, D, and calcium so I’d love some advice/feedback too. I’m suffering from low everything lately from motivation to energy to love of life. Woohoo winter 😉
I all for taking a good, taylor-made vitamin. I had my naturopath recommend what I should be taking in terms of vitamins/supplements, because there are a lot of things in a regular otc multi that might not jibe with your bod.
For instance, even though I have been quit for almost 7 years, vitamin A is not good for ex-smokers. Vitamin B makes for a happy mom, and fish oil makes the world go round.
Oh yeah, and vitamin D, the miracle vitamin. In drop form, because they are more bio-available. For the kids, too.
I don’t take any kind of vitamins — and never have. It’s not that I have strong feelings about it. I just figure eating healthy is the better option.
I would recommend booking an appointment with a naturopath. They can access your needs and suggest some brands. Apparently, a lot of the drug store vitamins don’t dissolve properly in your system.
I started taking a vitamin a couple of months ago because it seemed like I was getting sick a LOT. I’ve also got both of my boys taking one too, but theirs are gummy. 🙂 I think this link: http://www.naturesway.com/Products/Vitamins/15092-Alive-Multi-Vitamin-No-Iron-Added.aspx is the one I take, but it might be one with iron, not sure. Anyway, it is an Alive vitamin. I have noticed a difference in my energy levels since I started taking it, and made it thru the almost-6-yr olds last illness without catching it. So I think it has done me some good.
I do wonder about your thyroid. Have you had that checked? Are you losing hair or have brittle nails? You do have some symptoms of underactive thyroid that you might want to get checked out, just to be safe. I was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder a few years ago and the difference between now and before meds is incredible! Plus? Not *as* cold all the time! YAY!!
Anyway… hope you find a solution soon!!
I’m taking centrum materna, but I doubt it makes a difference if you’re not preggo… 🙂
However, this sounds a lot like a TSH problem. My thyroid gland was low-functioning (or is it high-functioning? I could never get that straight), and I was cold and tired and had headaches a lot. Then my doctor checked my TSH level, and it turned out to be low (or high? See previous parentheses). So I’m taking a replacement hormone and it helped a lot. It’s a simple blood test and then a bit of trial and error as your doctor gets the right dosage for you. I hear a lot of women experience this problem, so if you google it I’m sure there’s at least some controversy around taking the hormone.
Hope you feel better, whatever you choose to do.
I take garlic supplements (because they are good for all kinds of stuff), and vitamin D.
My doctor did a test for the “D” state (when it was still possible), and I was low. So I pop 1000 UI a day. I also get cranky in the winter. A touch of the S.A.D thing. Since taking the D I don’t have those symptoms anymore, or at least are a heck of a lot lighter and end quicker. The difference to me is quite noticable. When I complained about taking *more* pills (I’m on something for blood pressure), and asked if I could just drink more milk, she said because of the climate we are in, even if I walked around in the sun all day naked, it wouldn’t be enough (and be freaking cold).
Certainly, a quick trip to your doctor might be wise to do a blood test for iron and such, and s/he can recommend a dose of D if needed.
I second the thyroid thing. What you described is exactly how I feel before I pick up the phone to get my blood tested to get my meds adjusted. My doc is a big supporter of getting your vitamins from your food. Hope you feel better soon!
Dani,
Three words: thyroid function test.
All the symptoms you display are indicative of hypothyroidism. Now, having said that, you likely do not have hypothyroidism, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to rule it out. It not being diagnosed in me for several years was devastating. So, please tell your doctor about the tired and the cold and the trouble concentrating and ask for some blood work. You can email me if you want more details.
OK, that said, I take a Jameson mult-vitamin every other day which I find strong so I don’t take it daily. I also take an iron tablet and a vitamin D tablet on the non-multivitamin days. I have cod liver oil here too which I take when I remember. Oh, and I’ve gotten lazy about taking vitamins this past month or so, so thanks for reminding me.
Sue
At the risk of sounding “out there”, I felt awful for a looong time. Exhausted, foggy, and crappy. My doctor ran tests and told me I was in great health. Out of desperation, I went to a naturopath. She is fantastic. Changed my diet, added vitamins and protein shakes. It has only been a few months but I have never felt this good. Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for the topic, there are some things here that I’m going to check out.
I’m taking a multivitamin because I’m breastfeeding (just finishing my prenatatl vitamins, going to switch to the regular multivitamins since they’re cheaper and the big difference is the folic acid). I also take an additional 1000ui of Vitamin D every second day to boost the amount of vit D since my multivitamins don’t have that much of it.
Next time you see yoru doctor it’s worth asking about bloodwork to check your vitamin D levels. When my husband had his annual physical last winter his doctor checked it and it was quite low so she recommended he start taking a vitaminD supplement of 1000 ui per day — which he already was! So she suggested he increase that further during winter months. Interestingly, since increasing the vitamin D he has much less joint/muscle pain than he used to.
So… is there an elephant in this room?
Dani, d’ya think maybe you’re just tired? When was the last time you spent an hour doing nothing I mean just one thing – reading, or surfing, or watching TV, but not multiple things at once)? When was the last time you took a nap? When was the last time you got 7 straight hours of sleep?
There’s a type of anemia that’s called “pernicious”. It’s a lack of B12 absorption. They have gummy B12 vitamins at shoppers, and D vitamins, too. Gummies are the only way I’ll actually take a vitamin, and for the first time in my life I take them every day now.
I’d try the nap though. I have a spare room, in case you need a quiet place.
I was just discussing this with my internist before we left for Scotland. Turns out that the recent promotion of Vitamin D is being back-tracked. Women don’t need nearly as much calcium as we thought. The B vitamins are not the Big Deal they thought. We get enough iron from food unless we’re vegan. The upshot was, a multivitamin can’t hurt but not needing folic acid, it probably won’t make a big difference assuming you’re eating any fruits and vegetables at all.
Unless you’re eating fish two times a week, though, fish oil or flax seed oil would probably be good ideas. And the research on their mood effects is reasonably solid, within the realm of nutrient research (which tends to prove something, and then be un-repeatable or contradicted by later research).
Now, my uncle the chiropractor totally 100% disagrees. He’d tell you to go talk to a naturopath.
Wow, what a great response — thank you all! Hmmm, hypothyroidism, eh? Worth getting a couple of blood tests to check that and vit D and iron levels. I just had a physical a couple months back and declined a whack of tests because I was feeling a little more dynamic at the time, so maybe I can still get them.
Kerry, yah, a part of it is good old fashioned tired, but I’ve spent so much of the last nine years tired that I know what’s ordinary tired and beyond tired. When I was still feeling like crap after the (relatively restful) Christmas holidays, I knew it wasn’t just tired. And while I could happily sleep 10 hrs a day, I do manage a pretty steady 8, so that’s good.
So, at the risk of sounding completely ignorant on the subject (which, actually, I am) what does a naturopath do?
My body can’t handle a multivitamin – for some reason they cause me to gain a lot of weight. I haven’t heard of anyone else having this problem, so maybe it’s just me. In any case, I find it much better to take individual pills as needed than a multi.
I’ve been taking calcium every day for years, and now I take iron with a vitamin C pill too. Vitamin C helps your body absorb the iron. Iron and calcium prevent the absorption of one another, so if you are going to take both, take one in the morning and one at night (and don’t take your iron with milk).
I have had much the same symptoms as you for the past year or so – very cold all the time, unusually tired. I just had my physical last week, and because thyroid problems run in my family, I was tested for that. But it turns out it’s just anemia, and after a week back on the iron, I’m already feeling much much warmer.
I think it’s maybe worth it to have your thyroid checked for peace of mind, but I’m guessing you’ll see immediate results just with an iron supplement.
I have the same opinion as many of the above, but will state it anyway on the chance that it will get you going in to see your dr. for those tests sooner. 🙂
a) I immediately thought of thyroid. I have hypothyroidism and your symptoms match.
b) test your iron and D levels, and once you’re on supplements, don’t take the iron at the same time as calcium/milk.
c) B complex vits (stresstabs). For years I happily took the default mix (15?), but recently moved up to the 100 level (getting older). Even dh comments if I forget to take them. 😮
My Captcha reads Important!
I also feel like you, but just figure it goes with the season, tired and unmotivated.
Btw, that b plus stress (that Valerie mentioned) is available at GMC and they are great!
Jill
Oops that should have been GNC! 🙂
Jill
No multi’s here. Just a daily Vitamin D. Veggies are best. What kind of stuff are you eating? Sometimes when I’m tired I eat cookies and toast and drink more coffee, which makes me feel great for a bit and then totally crash. Since I’ve cut the former two items out for the past couple of weeks I’ve felt pretty good.
I’m so very behind on my blog reading! Just want to throw this out there… but before I went off gluten, I was chronically tired and had foggy head constantly. I felt crappy after every meal and felt like I never had any energy… It’s an amazing how much energy I have since I’m not eating it. It might be worth a shot, if anything, just cutting back on white flours/sugar for a few days and see how you feel.
I would recommend going to a naturopath. They will be able to talk to you about how you’re feeling and your health history and give you good suggestions. They also will probably give you vitamins that are better quality or in more appropriate doses than what you might pick up in the store.