Fatigue every afternoon - How can I get more energy?

Posted by jmorris58 @jmorris58, Dec 18, 2022

I am 75 and am very tired every afternoon. I need a two hour nap. My blood work is good. Any comments that can help me get more energy?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

As a dear friend of mine born in Oaxaca says, " Siestas are the best, baby!" The days I feel like a siesta I take one, enjoy waking rested and appreciating at 68 how lovely sleep when you want is. I sleep at night or during siesta with my CPAP on! When my body asks for rest, I honor that. I hope you can find some answers to your fatigue.

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@mazeppabob

@casey1329
I am 78 and agree that age is the most significant factor. We are living longer, less active, retiring sooner and think we're 50. I have a lights-out switch on my butt. If I sit and relax I will nod off.

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Ok this 81 year old lady is giggling now ~~ lights out indeed.

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Are any of you on metoprolol? I’ve just found out that it is possible my insomnia may be from that. I’m waiting for a discussion with my cardiologist, and I have started melatonin. I am 74, and have daytime sleepiness, and can’t get to sleep at night,

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@sueinmn

Oh Bob, Thanks for the laugh when you said "I have a lights-out switch on my butt. If I sit and relax I will nod off."
I know a lot of folks like that, just not me. Instead I have a "paralysis switch" on my recliner sofa - once I sit down there (usually to watch the local news) my active day is over! I even covered the spot with a pillow, but it didn't help. I'm thinking of rearranging the furniture to get that out of the room, but I hate sitting on the cold, hard floor.
Sue

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😅😅

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@hawkssr

I’m 77 and after lunch I really get sleepy but I have insomnia so I don’t dare take naps. Like “approaching 86” said, keep moving, be engaged in something so dog walks, puzzle, word games or Bible study with a friend gets me through that period of time.

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I am 73 and I am also experiencing insomnia at night. I will take a Tylenol PM to get to sleep, but often, it doesn’t help me. I get up and end up reading and after an hour or so, my eyes get tired and I can go to sleep. In the afternoon, like you, I get so tired but I don’t want to take a nap because then, I will definitely not sleep at night. By the time I get to sleep, so late at night, I have a hard time waking up in the morning. I think that this probably just goes with aging (sorry to even say that!). It’s difficult!!!

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@patient101

Are any of you on metoprolol? I’ve just found out that it is possible my insomnia may be from that. I’m waiting for a discussion with my cardiologist, and I have started melatonin. I am 74, and have daytime sleepiness, and can’t get to sleep at night,

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Hello @patient101

Many of us have had sleep disturbances while taking Metoprolol. On Connect, there is a discussion on the side effects of this med. Here is the link,
--Side Effects of Metoprolol
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/metoprolol/
As you read the posts you will find many others mentioning sleep problems. After several weeks of sleeplessness, I contacted my cardiologist through the patient portal, and he prescribed an alternative med that worked for my heart rhythm problem but did not cause the sleep problems.

How long have you been taking metoprolol? Have you contacted your cardiologist through the patient portal or by phone to see if there is an alternative med you can take or perhaps, if taking the med at a different time of day would help?

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@mabfp3

I am 73 and I am also experiencing insomnia at night. I will take a Tylenol PM to get to sleep, but often, it doesn’t help me. I get up and end up reading and after an hour or so, my eyes get tired and I can go to sleep. In the afternoon, like you, I get so tired but I don’t want to take a nap because then, I will definitely not sleep at night. By the time I get to sleep, so late at night, I have a hard time waking up in the morning. I think that this probably just goes with aging (sorry to even say that!). It’s difficult!!!

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I’m sure age does cause some sleep problems but I have never been a morning person even as a kid. I don’t think my insomnia started until my 50s (I’ll hit 77 in January) and now with Grover’s it has gotten much worse at nighttime so double whammy for me trying to fall asleep. I do take Zolpidem but break it in half. I have succumbed to a nap a couple times but when I do I’m usually down for two hours and I don’t like losing two daytime hours and then, like you, makes it harder at bedtime. I have a friend that can do a 15 to 30 minute nap and wakes up wide eyed and bushy tailed - I hate her 😂😂

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@hopeful33250

Hello @patient101

Many of us have had sleep disturbances while taking Metoprolol. On Connect, there is a discussion on the side effects of this med. Here is the link,
--Side Effects of Metoprolol
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/metoprolol/
As you read the posts you will find many others mentioning sleep problems. After several weeks of sleeplessness, I contacted my cardiologist through the patient portal, and he prescribed an alternative med that worked for my heart rhythm problem but did not cause the sleep problems.

How long have you been taking metoprolol? Have you contacted your cardiologist through the patient portal or by phone to see if there is an alternative med you can take or perhaps, if taking the med at a different time of day would help?

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Thank you so much for the reply. I have been on it since my bovine valve replacement through mini-sternotomy in Aug 2021. I need to find out if it was for the one episode of AFIB I had after surgery, or for my blood pressure. I take 25mg twice a day.

I have day time sleepiness, some Adrenalin surges, as well as the nighttime delayed sleep. I have a message into my cardiologist, but unfortunately, we are in the winter holiday season, and I may not hear from her for another week. 😩🫣

I am still trying melatonin. The first night 3mg worked, the second it didn’t, and I am titrating upwards. I am hoping that she will either tell me to cut back, drop it, or switch to another med. (But not amiodorone…that sucker made me drop 20 pounds in 30 days).

The discussion thread was helpful and interesting.

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@patient101

Are any of you on metoprolol? I’ve just found out that it is possible my insomnia may be from that. I’m waiting for a discussion with my cardiologist, and I have started melatonin. I am 74, and have daytime sleepiness, and can’t get to sleep at night,

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I've been on it for over 10 yrs. without any problems. Sounds like you have your night and day reversed. Perhaps going to bed later might help...good luck.

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@mabfp3

I am 73 and I am also experiencing insomnia at night. I will take a Tylenol PM to get to sleep, but often, it doesn’t help me. I get up and end up reading and after an hour or so, my eyes get tired and I can go to sleep. In the afternoon, like you, I get so tired but I don’t want to take a nap because then, I will definitely not sleep at night. By the time I get to sleep, so late at night, I have a hard time waking up in the morning. I think that this probably just goes with aging (sorry to even say that!). It’s difficult!!!

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I think that you are right...it does go with aging...at least it's not painful...

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