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Original poster

Energy levels

4 replies

Caterpillar41 · 27/07/2024 17:57

Hi all I just wanted to see what other people's energy levels are like? I'm 44, married , two teens, full time secondary teaching job, hypothyroid but on meds and more often than not feel exhausted. Two weeks into the summer hols and I'm still tired with little energy. Had blood tests etc and all normal apart from slightly low iron which I took tablets for but am now off them. Diet is good, sleep fine but can't muster up energy to exercise. I hate feeling so sloth like. Is anyone else the same?

OP posts:
YourMumDressesYouFunny · 27/07/2024 20:45

Peri can be exhausting.
If your iron was slightly low then, even if it’s in the low end of the normal range, you can still feel awful. Most women feel better with levels up towards 100, ferritin needs to be above 70 for healthy hair growth.
Low B12 & low vitamin D also seem to go hand in hand with Hypothyroidism, as well as low iron.
B12 levels are set really low in the U.K. so you can be symptomatic at the lower end of normal, low Vit D also causes exhaustion.

Mustardfan · 28/07/2024 08:58

I think the thing with exercise it’s really hard to feel you have the energy for it, it’s a huge effort. I go to the gym regularly, but for short workouts, and I feel that way (like I’m too tired to do it) every time I get on the stair climber (my favorite aerobic machine as it’s low impact on joints, but really gets my heart rate up). The first two minutes on the stair climber feel impossible, but then it gets easier. I think you somehow just need to do it, and ignore that feeling of no energy. Aiming for short workouts, or going to a class helps. My energy level is good during the day, and I’m convinced that this is because I work out regularly. I might only do 1/2 hour in the gym when I go. I had a personal trainer in the gym for a while - they will do 1/2 hour or 45 min slots if that is what you want. Booking the personal trainer means you have to go. I would get there early and do a ten minute warm up first. He taught me how to use all the weight machines and also did fun things like boxing with me. I listen to a podcast while I work out, that also helps. My energy levels also improved when I started HRT.

Original poster
Caterpillar41 · 01/08/2024 13:56

YourMumDressesYouFunny · 27/07/2024 20:45

Peri can be exhausting.
If your iron was slightly low then, even if it’s in the low end of the normal range, you can still feel awful. Most women feel better with levels up towards 100, ferritin needs to be above 70 for healthy hair growth.
Low B12 & low vitamin D also seem to go hand in hand with Hypothyroidism, as well as low iron.
B12 levels are set really low in the U.K. so you can be symptomatic at the lower end of normal, low Vit D also causes exhaustion.

Yes the thing about iron makes sense- the docs put me on ferrous sulphate as my feeeitk was 18 and it's now 66 but still too low I guess. I am putting a lot of it down to the perimenopause but don't want HRT yet as there is breast cancer on my mums side so am a bit reluctant. Thanks for your reply and sorry I took so long we were on holiday x

OP posts:
Original poster
Caterpillar41 · 01/08/2024 13:59

Mustardfan · 28/07/2024 08:58

I think the thing with exercise it’s really hard to feel you have the energy for it, it’s a huge effort. I go to the gym regularly, but for short workouts, and I feel that way (like I’m too tired to do it) every time I get on the stair climber (my favorite aerobic machine as it’s low impact on joints, but really gets my heart rate up). The first two minutes on the stair climber feel impossible, but then it gets easier. I think you somehow just need to do it, and ignore that feeling of no energy. Aiming for short workouts, or going to a class helps. My energy level is good during the day, and I’m convinced that this is because I work out regularly. I might only do 1/2 hour in the gym when I go. I had a personal trainer in the gym for a while - they will do 1/2 hour or 45 min slots if that is what you want. Booking the personal trainer means you have to go. I would get there early and do a ten minute warm up first. He taught me how to use all the weight machines and also did fun things like boxing with me. I listen to a podcast while I work out, that also helps. My energy levels also improved when I started HRT.

What you said is so true sometimes you just have to push through! I'm such an exercise phobe tho! Also my knees are so bad it puts me off as they're so painful. Xxx

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