I need help, suffering from fatigue

reb562

Ladies,  It's killing me that I'm not myself...My fatigue is so bad that it's hard for me to function at work.  When I get home I sleep, after I wash dishes I sleep, after making dinner I go sleep. I even fall asleep behind the wheel yikes!

Sleeping is taking over my life and I need to get out of it.  Help ...what do you do to help with your fatigue?  Thanks in advance.

corrae

I don't have any advice, but I just wanted to say that it should get better. My husband and I were just talking about this tonight. Have you checked with your doctor?

kirac

I would check with your doctor.  Make sure your iron levels are ok too.  But, yep, it's a part of it.  I'm about at the same stage as you and I've been very sleepy too.  I keep asking my doctor if my iron is ok (last pregnancy it was a little low), but apparently this time it's fine.  

Estee Mor

Hey Reb!
I'm 14w3d, and couldn't be more tired. I always had tons of energy with very little sleep, now after 9 hours of sleep I can barely scrape myself out of bed in the morning! Unfortunately I work long hours, but I've found a few things really help:
First, I only cook and clean when I'm up for it. Most of the time my husband cooks or buys something on the way home and does the laundry and cleaning. We brought in a cleaning service once for an extra boost. Second, I try to take a day off once in two weeks, then I sleep late and rest a lot. Third, the obvious - I go to sleep early, like 8 pm if I'm tired. Fourth, weekends are super calm, no trips, maybe a museum if I feel I need to get out. Fifth, healthy sweets - peaches, apple sauce - I find these give me some energy when I feel lethargic. Sixth, no entertaining whatsoever. If I can stay up late enough to meet friends, we do it at a cafe. Seventh, I've taken the bus to work several times, because I was afraid of falling asleep while driving. Safety first!
It feels weird not being myself and not being to do even some basic things like walk up stairs or cook a meal without feeling completely exhausted, but I keep telling myself my body is now a factory, and it's like I'm constantly running a marathon, expending energy all the time. So I must accept that my body can't do other things while it's working so hard. Can't wait to see the finished product of this factory!
I also keep reminding myself that they say you have more energy in the second trimester, so who knows... the end to our fatigue may be just around the corner!

StaceySMC13

I'm almost 21 weeks and still feel exhausted.  Are you getting uninterrupted sleep at night?  I know I am not between the bathroom trips and the constant repositioning myself to get comfy.  No matter how much I nap or rest, I'm still exhausted.  I think a lot of it has to do with the extra weight I'm carrying around at this point.  I can't say "hang in there, it will get better" because for me, it hasn't.  But maybe you will get that 2nd trimester boost of energy soon.  I would talk to your doctor though.  Falling asleep at the wheel is obviously a bad sign so maybe there is something else you are deficient in, like Vitamin D or iron (as someone else pointed out).  It could also be your thyroid levels... 

kat1221

I am right there with you.  It's so frustrating b/c I am usually pretty high energy.  A couple of times I have had to sleep on my office floor:( 

kirac

Ah yes, someone else mentioned the thyroid.  Check that too!  I am on medication for that as well.  GL!

angelgee

same here. i can't keep my eyes open and i feel so bad when i'm around my 3 yr. he wants to play with me when i get home and all i want to do is lay in my bed and sleep. i have gotten so lazy and it's not me.

solarflare

I also feel very exhausted, and often have to find places to hide and take naps to rejuvenate myself during the day if I am out working. Power naps really help during the day - yesterday I even took a 20 min. one in my car in a Walgreen's parking lot. Strange, I know, but it worked.

I also try fruit juices for a little sugar boost, and keep the blood sugar up - don't let yourself get hungry.

I am really sorry though. It's very hard and I don't feel like myself either, just a portion of the productive person I used to be.  

3rdat40

I am 14 weeks and 3 days, and have been tired also. What has helped for me is that I take a Unisom (doxylamine succinate, 25 mg) at about 7 PM every night. Then I go to bed at 9 PM, and sleep solidly for 9-10 hours. Even though the Unisom makes me sleepy, I think in my overall day it has helped me to be less sleepy because I am getting so much sound sleep at night.

I actually started taking the Unisom at about 5 weeks for morning sickness, along with a vitman B6 in the morning. That's what I had to do with my second pregnancy because I had all day m/s. It helped a lot with the m/s, but had a positive side effect of giving me some good sleep!

 

itsmevkb

I'm right there with you.  This pregnancy has hit me the hardest by far.  I long for the days when I could come home and take a nap.  My thyroid and iron levels are fine so my doctor chalks it up to being pregnant, working and having three kids.  Not much I can do about those things so I just keep pushing forward.

Adi

That firsttrimester fatigue can be really tough. Fortunately, you should be starting to get over that hurdle soon.

Unfortunately, it comes back in the third trimester.

Talk to your doc about it for sure. They can do the blood work to make sure it's not something else (like anemia or thyroid issues) and may be able to offer tips to help you slepp better at night.

Country Girl in the City

I have it too.  DH is doing most of the cooking and the dishes.  Yesterday I even permitted him to do laundry.  I take a nap as soon as I get home from work.  He wakes me up for dinner and then sometimes I sleep until it is time for my 11:00 PM medication.  I am told that this is normal and it will get better in the 2nd trimester.

leffe1

It should be easing up soon. You are in your 2nd tri and should start to get your energy back. Then you can look forward to this all over again once you are well into your 3rd.

mlangs

I thought the 2nd tri didn't get better till the last 2 days... now even as I sit here typing I want to sleep.

For me it seems cyclical... every few weeks it comes back and gets me good. I do notice that my belly is alot tighter on these days as well. I chalk it up to LO going through a growth spurt!

beforesunrise

Massive fatigue has been one of my only symptoms as well. After confirming nothing else was wrong, my doctor advised a little activity (like going on walks) would actually give me more energy. As odd as it seems, it has been working some. However, the best remedy still has been to listen to my body and cut back on the social stuff until this phase passes. Good luck!