Fatigue/ Tiredness

Obviously keeping fit helps in normal circumstances Cath9 but if you are experiencing extreme fatigue being told you should be doing more may not only be unhelpful but may also be counterproductive health-wise.

The reason so many have suggested a thyroid test is because women are more likely than men to have thyroid diseases, especially right after pregnancy and after the menopause.

If you are suffering from this you may well have got to the stage where you are assessing how much energy you have when you wake up and how best to use it - I promise you a quick trip to the gym will be pretty low on your list.

I too have had this virus second time this year and just want to sit and do nothing I am getting really fed up feeling like this has it got a name and is it worth going to GP. I am like most people on this thread getting older so not as energetic as I once was , I do find if I have got to get my a---e in gear I seem to get more done , and can take all do to do something if I have all day to do it Also agree to get thyroid checked I also have to take levothroxine and have also started taking vitamin D supplement

I'm not sure about that Cath9. I try to keep "fit" but just at the moment feel anything but. I've had 7 weeks of a virus and can hardly function. Woke at 11 today, then had an afternoon sleep. Of course this is down to the virus, but it feels awful. I have never known lethargy like it. I can just about cook the dinner and anything else is an effort but I do try to keep going, and keep,thinking tomorrow will be better. As a rule,though, I do keep active. I do fitness classes - mainly Aqua and Pilates - and I go out on walks with a field club. I love to be involved in activities and dread the time when I can't do these things. The current level of tiredness is truly horrible but I also think that with advancing years we do slow down and this isnt a bad thing. We have to learn to pace ourselves and just accept that we are no longer as we once were.

I believe it is how fit we keep ourselves, as my brother, who was once in the army and is now in his 70s, plays tennis nearly every day, if they are not off on holday. As well as being great with my ancient ma of 98 yrs of age.

I really think everyone should have a regular thyroid test. My hyperthyroidism was discovered when both the doctor and I thought I had a totally different problem and he sent the tests off "just in case" but said he didn't expect to find anything. A low thyroid can affect so many things. Someone described it too me as the oil in the engine - and you can imagine what will happen to the different parts of the engine if there was no oil. This can mean that other organs are affected. One of the first things I noticed - other than energy - was a bit of a loss in weight, a general improvement in digestion and the "puffiness" most noticeable in my face has generally disappeared.

At the time - pre Levothyroxine - I was a little depressed and quite anxious - so much so that the doctor was suggesting cbt. As my mother has Alzheimer's and I am her carer, he shared with me the fact that there is a higher level of depression among dementia carers - that seems to make perfect sense but in fact the underlying anxiety has gone. I don't mean I never get anxious but that is very different.

Do, do please get this checked out. We are still trying to get to the right dose for me and I don't expect to feel like a teenager again but the improvements are so worth while. One of the best is that my eyebrows have thicken back to normal - they were getting very thin. Strange but true ... and I am less exhausted most days.

I have just seen this and was writing inappropriately I suppose in a different thread because I feel my tiredness may be a factor in ongoing marriage problems. I'm 62, I used to be always fit and sporting. I would run and cycle and go to the gym. About 5 years ago I started getting infections, cold symptoms after each visit. I stopped going because I thought the gym was maybe an infectious place. I have knee problems so I can't run anymore and last year I took up swimming but after a month or so I developed allergic rhinitis, from the chlorine I suppose, and now a swim will result in days of a runny nose. I also now sneeze all the time regardless and I think I have become allergic to the cat and possibly house dust.
The GP has done all the tests she can think of, including for allergies, and when I last saw her said it was ageing and I just had to learn to slow down. It's depressing. I certainly have no trouble falling into bed at 10, sleeping till 8 and sometimes napping in the day too. I do go through patches of waking regularly at 3 a.m. which certainly doesn't help. I wish I could find an answer to my health problems and constant fatigue and I do sympathise with the OP.

I once dropped off while an A-level class was doing a piece of writing for me. It was late afternoon and I just felt my eyelids closing. I was in my early 40s. When doing my post-grad education course I was in a tutorial when the Prof had a little nap. We all sat in respectful silence until he woke up and said, 'Where were we?'

I think it's called 'power napping' nowadays.

I have "enjoyed" an afternoon nap for YEARS! It usually coincides with Escape to the Country and I "come to" not knowing which, if any , house they have chosen

I will be 70 this year but lead a very active life most of the time. I am chair of my U3A, run several interest groups and bowl regularly. On those days when I am occupied morning and afternoon I keep going all day but if I am in during the afternoon and sit down then I nearly always fall asleep. I am not a good sleeper at night, I go to bed at about 12.30 read for 30 minutes and wake at about 8.00 so don't fret about a nap if I'm in during the afternoon.

I feel tired most of the time. I had vile virus recently and a lot of rest. I felt less tired for one morning after this. Am 68.

I am 65 and waiting for knee replacements, I have had rheumatoid arthritis for about 20 years, but always managed to keep up with work and household chores, until I retired at 61. Last year my husband was very ill and died in October. Now, although I am aware that the stress and anxiety of the last year, added to the pain of my bloody knees, accounts for the weariness that envelopes me, I fear that if I don't push myself I will just become more tired, as it seems the less I do the wearier I become. I think after seeing all your posts I will ask about Vit D. and thyroid tests, I have blood tests monthly because of the medication Itake for arthritis, but I'm not sure they test for that.

Daisyboots, have you had your thyroid tested? My underactive thyroid was diagnosed after I'd had a very narrow escape, almost dozing off on the M6. I then had 40 winks in the service area car park and had to have two more naps on the way to Scotland. That was about 20 years ago and I'm currently on 100mcg of levothyroxine per day. I'm also reliably informed that excessive tiredness can be a symptom of type 2 Diabetes for which I was also tested.

I have been feeling excessivelyy tired and put it down to be very overweight. This latest time change has really put me out of sorts and I have never even noticed it before. So I have read this thread with interest and will certainly see my doctor. Even a two hour flight and the associated long walks around the terminals to the departure gates leaves me exhausted the day after. Is it just getting older? I am 72 now and yet at 70 and the same weight I had loads more energy . When I hear of all the lovely grans on here looking after dgcs on a daily basis I am full of admiration because I know I couldn't do it. I lost my beloved Mum 17months ago and am finely free to travel wherever I want but this tiredness is making me think twice if I am exhausted with just a two hour flight.

And what about the poor women caught in the delayed pension trap? I'm only 67 but am so glad I'm in receipt of my pension so I can plan my days and if I need a nap I have one. I know several women who have to soldier on til they get their pension and they're tired out and they don't do particularly physically tiring jobs either! Shame on us allowing this to happen to our sisters, do all you can to support them to get the pension they have paid their contributions for.
I'll get down off my soap box now. . . If someone will just give me a hand that is

Phew-felt exhausted reading these posts. Was watching Jayne Eyre recorded on telly at the same time and guess what. . . . Nodded off. That is after a morning with elder DD and 2 DGC aged 6 and 7 on their bikes at flooded nearby Shugborough Hall (NT). Didn't walk a huge distance but what with picking up bikes, helmets, sorting them out, nearly slipping in mud a few times. Anyway will have a cup of tea now and an hour in the garden.
I was v tired for YEARS blamed it all on busy life, turned out I had an under active thyroid so now on Levothyroxine daily. I have an annual blood test for that and get them to test everything else they reasonably can-I've said think of it as my MOT!
I must say I find GPs useless-you feel as if you have to do do-it-yourself doctoring these days, no initiative shown, no reasonable suspicion, no referrals. I'm coming to dread the thought of true old age.

I'm nearly 67 and still working 37 hrs a week - am knackered by afternoon! In fact, come to think of it, I feel knackered most of the time! Have to keep working as we have a mortgage which won't be paid for another 18months. We also have two children both of whom live half-way round the world (Oz & America) so we need funds for travelling to see them.

I have thyroid problems but on medication - recently the dose was increased but no little effect. Rheumatoid arthritis doesn't help either.

Husband had a heart attack a little over 12 months ago but since having stents in (twice) he's like a spring lamb. I, however, am still recovering from the trauma of his attack!

A jolly good holiday is what I need - the only ones we get are visits to Oz and the States but it takes nearly the length of time we're there to get over the flights before we have to return.

Ah, well - at least I'm still breathing in and out!

I don't have a thyroid gland now so am another one who suggests you get it checked but be warned, what is 'normal' may not be normal for you. I am on a lot lower dose than people who still have the gland.

I would strongly advise everyone to check with their pharmacist before taking St John's Wort as it can be dangerous in conjunction with other meds.

DH has been on many pain killers which have been added over the years and we recently talked him into dropping them a bit at a time until he is only now taking one. As a result he feels a lot better in himself so maybe anyone on lots of meds could try this after consulting with their doc?

I cannot be the only one who had polio as a child and have recently been advised that I may have Post Polio Syndrome and need to pace myself. Useful link www.britishpolio.org.uk/polio-and-post-polio-syndrome/post-polio-syndrome/

For anyone else feeling too tired for their age, yes get your thyroid checked out.
I mentioned this to my GP before Christmas, and she looked at last years results ( they do a bloods test annually) and said it looked ok.I went back a few weeks ago and asked for another test anyway, they agreed , and it came back as borderline low as another poster was saying.So a low dose of tablets and another check in six weeks to see if they have made a difference.If not, they will 'up' the strength of the tablets.So everybody should not only have a bloood test for this, but actually ask the GP how they measure on the scale, borderline, and medication may help you enormously.I do have a busy ( retired) life but should not feel as tired as I do.

I'm just looking at Jamie's book on Amazon. Is it going to worth a tenner, do you reckon? If it gives me energy it will be!

I'm using Jamie,Olivers recipies from his book superfoods for last 3months feel more,energetic some really good idea s for busy people.

Ps DD in her twenties has B12 injections -knows when they are due as her energy levels drop. Apparently deficiency is very common in older people

Definitely get your thyroid checked .Was diagnosed 12 years ago after extreme weariness .
I am 65 and can't say I get desperately tired that often But I have been retired for 5 years and do not have grandchildren to look after
I do try and pace myself. If I know I will be particularly busy one day I will have a quiet day the next.Do chores in the morning and have cured myself of feeling guilty reading in the afternoons .I try not to nap as I don't sleep very well .
I am a bit weary at present but that is the result of stress, as there are a lot of challenging things going on in my life .A day with a friend usually helps!

Several years ago, when the children were quite young, I also went through a period of total exhaustion. Had survived glandular fever when they were both even younger, which was an absolute nightmare! (Think husband working away Monday to Friday and no other family support!).

Eventually went through some horrendous checks, only to find that I was deficient in B12, couldn't be treated with oral meds as my gut was destroying the vitamin. Hence I had an intensive course of injections for a week, and from then on I've had a B12 injection every 12 weeks; I 'm mostly brilliant at remembering as it is down on the calendar, but if I do over-run, I certainly know to it!
Put this together with my being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about 6 years ago, and yes ! at 69 years old, there are days when I feel absolutely c . . p! I have 2 grand-children after school and sleeping over at least twice a week (Mum's work commitments).
But we only have one life! How we choose to live it is up to us as individuals. I choose to 'go for it' and if I feel k . . . . . . . d so be it! At least I know I'm alive!!! And I'm part of today!!

Oh no, Pleeease!! Not another one banging on about effing exercise. We don't need to be super human!

I hate sodding self help books.

To feel really tired, just follow this Duracell bunny youngernextyear.com/
I borrowed the original book from the library and have now got a copy of the women's version plus the Thinner Next Year book.

When Chris Crowley retired (from Wall St), he asked his new doctor how he could stay well as long as possible. The outcome was a book with Chris telling you what to do in alternate chapters and the doc giving the scientific reasons why in the others. It all sounds so sensible, if I could only get up and get going.