Feeling exhausted

Back in 2023 I had a really bad bout of bronchitus over Easter. Felt really, really ill during that. GP tried treating it firstly with anti=biotics, and then with anti-virals. I was then 81 years old.

I did recover, slowly, but from then onwards was totally fatigued so much of the time. Would get up, have breakfast and then fall asleep in my risere/recliner chair for an hour. Wake up and dress, have a couple of hours, then start yawning and feeling tired. Early light lunch and would then fall asleep for a couple of hours. Had a further two or three hours to do anything - but once having eaten mymain meal of the day - again would just fall asleep.

This pattern was daily - and although I told my GP, etc no-one took any real interest. Always put down to 'my age'.

Went on for over a year, even my eldest daughter - who had dismissed my concerns, re-acted when I fell asleep in my wheelchair when out with her for the day and waiting for her to finish looking in a particular shop. she thought it was sleep apneoa, as I did snuffle and snore a lot. I actually fell asleep sitting around the table at a committee meeting,.

All I can say is that after about eighteen months it slowly started to improve. Then I raised the head part of my bed so no longer slept flat (as I always had), and the improvement increased.

I expect at my age, to need more sleep than I did when I was younger (after all, my body is wearing out after nearly 84 years of usage), and I still need a sleep after my lunch, but only for about 30-45 minutes. Another short power nap after my tea, but no more than 30 minutes. I am now back at going to bed just before 10.00 pm and doing puzzles and listening to audio books until elevenish. I get up at 7.50 each morning.

I am now pretty certain that I had some sort post-viral exhaustion (similar to Long Covid). And that has taken eighteen months. Do find GP's are often far too quick at putting everything down to 'age', but then know that tests, etc cost the surgery money!!!!

In a way it’s heartening to hear the stories of others who are tired or exhausted and how you cope. When it’s just you feeling grim, or creeping up to bed for a lie down, you wonder if others feel the same or if you are particularly pathetic! Thank you for telling!!! I do think that working age doctors have no idea at all what it is physically like to be older. It’s hard work and takes some bluff to show the public you are not past it. On with the show! 😁

MayBee70

pascal30

Another cause of exhaustion can be bed mites.. Do you have a bed mite hoover for your mattress and sofas?

Is there a hoover that you’d recommend? My mattress is ancient but a really expensive one so I don’t want to replace it but I’d really like to give it a good clean. It does have a mattress protector on it but I didn’t use one when I first bought the bed. I did look at mattress cleaners but some of them didn’t have good reviews.

I've PM'd you MayBee

La Crepescule, maybe listen to your body and have the rest that your body demands. You don't owe any duty to springtime, or even to your friends compared with what you owe to your own body. Any way, I agree with others who recommend see the doctor for bloods etc.

I had to go and do some shopping today. I rarely leave my house these days as I feel quite normal whilst pottering around at home. But when I leave my comfort zone I’m very aware of how different I am from the me of a few years ago. I can’t quite work out why I struggle to walk. It isn’t just the bad knee; I think it’s a combination of knee, hips and a bent back. And I’m sure that it’s the rigid way that I now walk which makes me tired all of the time and also contributes to the motivational tiredness, because I put off leaving my comfort zone. I make excuses not to go anywhere.

Can l ask which moisturiser & night cream people are using?
I'm 62 & have sensitive skin.I've been using the same cream for years & feel l need a change 😊

Has anyone had the condition where they have loose crystals in one ear, causing the feeling of spinning in your head, especially when laying down and turning over ?

Mary59 - I think thats Benign Positional Vertigo - comes on when you move your head quickly. I had it 2 years ago but luckily it resolved very quickly & hasn't recurred.

Oystergran - my skin care is the Boots No7 range and always has been. For me their Restore and Repair Serum works beautifully on face, neck and décolletage, plus the day cream and night cream more irregularly depending on what I have been doing. Body lotion is Seychelles from The White Company online which goes on perfectly and smells divine. I expect different products work for different people.

valdavi

Mary59 - I think thats Benign Positional Vertigo - comes on when you move your head quickly. I had it 2 years ago but luckily it resolved very quickly & hasn't recurred.

If it is vertigo you can look on google for 'The Epley Technique'
which is an exercise to relieve the symptoms.. Your GP may also be trained in this technique..

Thank you both just waiting on GP to call now as its making me feel so unwell

Mary59nana

Has anyone had the condition where they have loose crystals in one ear, causing the feeling of spinning in your head, especially when laying down and turning over ?

Oh yes.

Mine was called Vestibular Labrynthitis.
The day I first had it I was being sick all over the place. I couldnt move more than a few inches without literally being sick again.

I am just about over it now, 6 years later.
I wouldnt for instance book an early flight, as it has taken me about 40 mins each morning to keep my head still before I start each day.
After that, so long as I didnt see things spinning, even on the tv, I was ok.

Do not think that BPV is anywhere near as bad as Labrythitis. With the latter condition if is with you virtually all the time, and is very, very debilitating. Benign Positional Vertigo is much milder and you usually continue your normal life with it.

I had a bout of this for a few weeks last Christmas time. Actually fell over just because I lent forward to take off my nightdress - fortunately fell onto my carpeted floor. Totally dizzy and afterwards felt nauseous for a good half an hour. Two further dizzy falls over the next week sent me to who diagnosed BPV. Gave me a sheet with exercises on it that I had to do sitting on bed each day several times. Said they were not quite sure how these exercises (that actually brought on the dizziness), worked, but they usually did so - and they did for me.

I knew at the time, that the fact that I was functioning normally provided I did not lean forward at all, meant that I could not have Labrynthitis.

I've had labrynthitis as well as BPV Franbern, BPV is the one where it's crystals in your ear like Mary 49 mentioned.I agree with you labrynthitis far worse, I felt so sick & ill, but the promethazine? travel sickness tablets really helped me get going again.