Tired all the time. I mean ALL the time.

[MinaPaws]

Is this menopause? I've been fighting serious fatigue for five years now. Had blood tests, taken iron, Vit D, tried meditation, yoga etc. I've been peri-menopausal but this year have now missed two periods in a row for the first time ever (now 53). I work from home, so there's no one to keep me awake during the day. I just fall asleep for hours on end. Yesterday, slept 1-3pm then was back in bed, fast asleep by 9pm and slept until 7am. That's a bit more extreme than usual, but not much. I often nap for two hours in the afternoons.
I HATE this. feels like I'm sleeping my life away.
Is it normal? Is there anything that can be done? I feel the GP thinks I'm a time waster because I keep coming back with this single symptom that she doesn't seem to feel is a problem. But I'm losing weeks a year, and have no energy when I am awake to tackle jobs that need doing or work or projects that I would enjoy if not so tired.

Anyone else have this or know how to tackle it?

It's not really normal to feel that tired all the time, no. Has your dr tested your thyroid? That's the first thing.

Are you getting any exercise? I know it can be hard but if you aren't then try because it really can help energy levels.

How's your diet? Booze and sugar are real energy-drainers so cut them out if you can or reduce them.

And then there is HRT. If your cycles are starting to be erratic you may well get all the other symptoms soon like flushes, sweats, aches and pains. If you suffer, do think about HRT. Your fatigue is most likely to be linked to falling hormone levels.

Is there a pattern to your fatigue MinaPaws, or is it just all the time? I've had periods of crashing fatigue but it isn't constant due to the hormonal ups and downs of perimenopause. For me I also have spells of waking up at 2am or 3am and being unable to get back to sleep - do you have any of that?

It does sound like possible thyroid issues, if they have been tested maybe you could post the results on a thyroid forum for advice?

For me I also have spells of waking up at 2am or 3am and being unable to get back to sleep - do you have any of that?

This is classic perimenopause and post menopause.

My mum hasn't slept well since she hit menopause 40 years ago (now in her 90s.) She tried to use HRT at 60+ but in those days her GP refused due to her age (it's ok now...)

The main reason I use HRT is for sleep. Hot flushes were hourly but lack of sleep was the killer. And actually lack of sleep can be a killer long term- diabetes and heart disease can both be triggered long term by poor sleep.

I don't have insomnia problems. I wish I did. I had it once a couple of weeks ago, and was so excited that I was wide awake at last, that I got up, made tea and worked for a couple of hours. really enjoyed it. Normally, it takes me five mins to fall asleep and then I'll stay asleep until a bomb hits the house. I could sleep at any moment. Stayiung awake is a constant battle 24/7. I never feel awake any more. It's like being drugged.

Hot flushes have just started. i was getting terrible joint aches but they've gone now.

I do yoga once a week, swim (not far - only 300-400m) once a week and walk a couple of times a week. Also do a 10 min kettle bell when I remember, which is about 1-2 times per week.

I don't eat sugar at all at the moment (Lent) Really hoped that would help my energy levels but it's made no difference at all. I drink a bit - not much - never more than two glasses. Could cut that out I suppose. But I did Dry Jan and that made no difference to my energy either.

Minapaw - did the doctor definitely test your blood for iron? I am only asking because I had all your symptoms (plus a 12 week long period). GP was sending away for blood tests for me. As I was leaving as I asked her if she was testing for anaemia? She said, oh no, I will request that too!

Got bloods tested on Monday evening and I was in hospital the next day getting a blood transfusion.

Maybe ask your doctor what your haemoglobin level is. I could have constantly slept. I would be awake for less than an hour and feel I had to get back to my bed. Obviously I never did as work full time but I constantly feel that I am forcing myself to stay awake.

That sounds difficult to cope with and sounds like you've tried a lot to sort it. Do any of the symptoms of CFS sound familiar? Or Lyme disease?
www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs/

Maybe it is worth trying HRT to see if it makes a difference? So hard to know at this stage in life what is caused by hormones and what isn't.

If you have other peri symptoms then yes, it's loss of estrogen.

Fancy HRT? Should sort all of this.

To add to what trickiedickie said, ask what your ferritin levels are too - that post has reminded me how exhausted I was when mine were at 10. Has taken 2 years to get up to 70 which is a far better number.

Dr Louise Newson is great- she's been on Woman's Hour recently and if you are on Twitter she is there and quite active...offering tips and links to recent research.

This is from her website- signs of perimeno. There are some great videos there with her as well as all the info on HRT. She's a GP with specialist meno training.

menopausedoctor.co.uk/what-is-the-menopause/menopause-symptoms-perimenopause-symptoms/