As I lay dying resting during my recent illness, I thought about this blog much of the time… Well, that and how I desperately wanted to feel better of course. Luckily I am feeling almost all better. I am also lucky that my wonderful partner-in-crime helped and filled in for me on Monday so no posts were skipped despite my body telling me it was done with my abuse. I am sure thankful I married such a great guy (Thanks Chad!).
Anyways, I have come away from my little health hiccup with a renewed desire to make this blog the most interesting, most informative, and most personal blog possible. Who knew that delirious fevers are good for opening your mind to new ideas? I feel like I have some good posts in store for And Three To Go. Not only that, but Chad and I have also been talking about taking the blog in more directions than just written posts as well. It should be interesting and fun!
On a different note, I admit that my creativity has been drying up these last few months, I have been struggling with overwhelming exhaustion. Well, I have been tired since I had Zoë, which makes sense, most people who have small children are often tired and sleep deprived. But this lack of energy and focus I have been struggling with has continued to get worse and worse, especially since I weaned Z last year. I originally chalked it up to hormonal changes and a possibility of post weaning depression. Then I thought it was because I wasn’t sleeping enough, but now Z sleeps through the night and I get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. I am still dragging every day. It can’t possibly still be hormones as I am sure that they would have re-righted themselves by now… I mean, come on, it’s been a year right?! So I am thinking it must be something nutritional or physical, so I am going to go to the doctor here and get a full medical work-up. I am hoping it is something easy like an iron deficiency. If it’s not, then I hope it is some other sort of easy fix, because I want to have energy and be normal again!
Until I get my check-up, I am hoping you all can help me. Have you ever had a time when you just didn’t have the “get up and go” you once had? What did you do? Was there a supplement or diet change that helped? Leave me a comment and let me know. Hopefully I can get my head and energy back so I can move forward with all the wonderful things I have in mind for this blog! Thanks for reading and commenting.
photo credit: RayMorris1 via photopin cc
I will be waiting to hear what you turn up. The only thing I’ve found is coffee, and that only works if you ration it properly.
I drink a lot of tea… Usually about 4 cups a day, but that’s not even helping. Hopefully I can figure something out, I feel like I am constantly distracted and foggy.
I do know the feeling. To be honest, I’m tempted to blame it on mum brain. I went away by myself for two weeks last year (just before I started the blog) and was amazed how focussed I could be on how little sleep. By which I mean six to eight hours’ sleep, which should be enough, actually was enough.
And I didn’t have to constantly reserve a part of my mind for thinking about little people falling off the balcony/running across the road/etc. I could actually *think straight* and *finish tasks*. It took most of the first week to clear my head, though.
That is probably the most of it for me too. I probably just feel unfocused because my focus is always on a busy three year old. 🙂
I’m hoping they grow out of it. Then I’ll just need something to re-train my mind so I can finish whole sentences again (I’ve almost forgotten I should do that in face to face conversation. The temptation to just trail off mid-thought…)
Haha, I do the same thing! I always feel so bad for the person I am talking to!
For me it was all about nutrition. After I had Tanner, I felt depleted even though he was sleeping 10-12 hours a night by 4 months. I was getting 7 to 9 hours. Was not until I started Herbalife and actually ate whole food that I started to feel better.
I have heard a lot of good things about herbal life, I will have to check it out. Also I agree with the whole foods part, I need to get on that. Thanks Cathy!
Have not opened a box or can of something in a long time! It has been nice.
Just need to learn how to make yummy pasta sauce. Have not got that one down yet.
HL helps me have breakfast in the morning…the meal I skipped all the time or had coffee. Feel so much better when I eat breakfast!
I am a staunch breakfast supporter, i am one of those people that has to eat immediately upon waking or else I get sick or/and cranky. 😉
Exercise. I mean some serious 3 minute, bust your butt, can’t breath cardio.
3 minutes is about what I can do, haha… Actually before I got sick I was using my neighborhood exercise equipment every morning. It did make me feel better, Thanks Joy!
I had a zinc deficiency – exhaustion which peaked with the throat from hell and about 3 months of off/on poorly stuff. Zinc supplements did the trick – I always revert back to them when a bit “under.”
I have never thought of zinc! I will definitely check that out, that really fits with what I have been going through! Thanks Joy!
Honestly, the most fatigued I’ve ever been, and that includes after having four children, was after my return home from my wonderful visit to Thailand. Literally, from about day three and for weeks after I could barely drag myself about. Needless to say everyone thought I was just depressed at leaving until 2 different people who travel extensively and had done a great deal of research told me of the proven toll travel takes on the body. Check out some sites on the web and see if the symptoms sound familiar. The other two items I would investigate are the iron deficiency that is not commonly tested for (see Nicole for more info. I can’t remember what it’s called)
I am sure that jet lag is playing a part right now for sure. It’s definitely been going on for a long time though… Am definitely going to get full blood work. Thanks mom!
Hm, the last time I felt extreme fatigue (and it wasn’t due to lack of sleep), it was fixed a few months later by giving birth to my son… 😉 I hope you find a quicker relief!
Thanks! Oh I remember that pregnancy exhaustion well! I also remember being able to sleep whenever I wanted… Remember those days? Haha
We almost threw a party today: for the first time in 4 years nobody in our family got up before 8am!
That does deserve a party!
You know you opened a can of worms, right? 🙂 After my third child, I was exceptionally exhausted. I seriously felt like i had fibromyalgia. Completely abnormal for me. Daily headaches. And my third one was my easiest baby! I couldn’t fathom that I had to resign myself to “this is just what it’s like to have three young kids.” I, too, went to my doctor hoping for something, even though I knew I was “healthy.” A low thyroid or something or anything. Thankfully, I had nothing serious, in fact nothing at all. “Stress” I and my doctors said, and I just laughed at myself. I improved a bit, but still had some very bad times of headaches, exhaustion, vertigo, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I was fit and active and it just didn’t make sense. When I tried to fix my GI tract by going grain-free, dairy-free, and on to whole foods only rich in vegetables, well, my GI tract didn’t respond all that well, but my bedtime of 7 pm pushed back to 10 pm! And when I zipped after my kids, I didn’t have a headache or vertigo (“fuzzy head”). No more 3 pm crash! My diet absolutely made the difference for me. Now, I choose to eat for ME, not for me. I am softening a bit the rules like on vacation and stuff (like pregnancy? LOL), but I feel it, and I always go back to the feel-good of “my diet.” I guess I’m like Cathy up there, minus the Herbal-life.
But first things first, you make sure there’s nothing seriously going on in there that needs caught! We are all hoping that all is well and you get to the bottom of this. Terri
Thanks Terri! I am thinking of trying an elimination diet to see what may be causing this. I think gluten would be the hardest part for me (and sugar!). But first the medical tests.
I may be writing you for more help later on. 🙂
No problem! I just wish you the best and hope all is well! Email if you ever want!
Hope you feel better soon! My sister had similar issues. She changed her diet to gluten-free, then paleo. She said it helped. Another friend of mine thinks she has adrenal fatigue but she has yet to find a doctor, who is willing to listen to her.
I have heard of adrenal fatigue but honestly know nothing about it, I will have to research that.
I have heard good things about the paleo diet… I do so love bread though! Ack! 🙂
Thanks for the info!
Looks like you have a lot of great advice on here!
I do! That’s why I put it out there, I always get great advice from my friends and readers 🙂
Nothing much else to add but personally, I’ve found that I felt better with proper diet (sugar affects me quite a lot) and exercise. The times when I have been faithful to this regime has been the times when I was most refreshed.
I am thinking that sugar will have to be the first thing I eliminate to see if I feel more energetic. It’s gonna be hard though :-/
Yeah, I know which is why I fall off the wagon quite frequently but I am making more of an effort now as I get older. I find that using natural sugar a good alternative for my sweet tooth but it is hard to resist sometimes too…haha!
I thought about mentioning adrenal fatigue, but was hesitent since it’s not an “offical” diagnosis. I’m not a doctor, but treating for adrenal fatigue has helped me a ton.
I had been experiencing increasing fatigue, foggy/fuzzy headedness (especially in the mornings) over the past 2 years or so, and it got to the point where I had to quit my job last October. I could barely handle any level of stress anymore.
My chiropractor, who also knows a lot about holistic medicine, was the one that suggested we look into adrenal fatigue and treat for it. I changed my diet (limited grains, whole foods, lots of veggies, no refined sugar, limited caffine) and took some supplements for several months and it’s made a world of a difference. I still have a ways to go, but I’m definitly on the mend, have more energy, and can handle (a little) stress again. My doctor thinks I should be all better in about a year or a little less. Exersice helps too, but it is sooooo hard to do it regularly :p But I do feel better when I manage to make time.
There’s a good book on adrenal fatigue called something like Adrenal Fatigue: the 21st Century disease. It’s very informative, but my doctor said that you don’t necessarily need to go on all the supplements that author suggests. So, read it more for the information on what the condition is and life style changes you can make.
My cousin sells Arbonne products, and I’ve tried their energy fizz. That helps me in the mornings without giving me the same buzz coffee can sometimes (I do love coffee though… it just doesn’t love me back).
I hope this information helps and you figure out what’s going on soon!! Fatigue and foggy headedness are no fun :/
That Kimberly! I will definitely have to order that book. I am glad you are doing better, it gives me hope! 🙂 thanks for the info and for commenting! I really appreciate it!
You are wise to go to the doctor and get a check up! I think most people would ignore it for as long as possible. Be gentle and kind to yourself. It sounds like you are on the right track w/ taking a look at diet and exercise. – I like how the fever opened up your mind to new ideas 😀 Hugs.
Thank you for commenting and for your encouragement!
Could also be a variety of things like parasites, bacteria, virus (real nice). I have a person who does hair analysis and makes formulas to handle what is found. I, too, have chronic fatigue and have been helped a lot. There might be someone over there who does it. I can check with her.
Sugar and gluten and a whole host of other no nos adds to it too as you probably know.
A chiropractor who does nutrition and muscle testing is my first line of defense. A lot can be handled that way.
You’ll find what works best for you.
We have a NutriBlast high-speed blender thing that works wonderfully and is so easy to clean. It would be fairly easy to travel with, too. You can make all kinds of healthy drinks with veg, fruits, nuts, whatever. Google it if you haven’t heard of it. They probably have them over there.
Thanks auntie! Yes please let me know if she knows someone here. I would gladly give some hair!
It’s funny I just asked chad for a really good blender for my birthday coming up! I really want a vita mix but maybe the kind you have is better. 🙂