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.

@patient101

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.

Jump to this post

I had a similar problem with melatonin. I find the bi-layer melatonin works better for me when I just can't sleep. There's a fast-acting layer to help me eel sleepy, and a slow-release layer that hels me sleep all night without waking up.

But needing melatonin is an exception. My routine includes other non-chemical things. No single one is a magic bullet but together, they work for me. i hope these ideas help someone.
I try to get some exercise in the late afternoon or early evening, so I'm feeling kind of good-tired by bedtime.
I turn off TV and all electronic screens starting an hour before sleep.
I follow the same before-bed routine, at the same time , every night.
I have a little SAD light I bought for $30 on Amazon, and use it in the short, dark days of winter. I sit by it every morning while I read emails, plan my day, and watch the news. It wakes me up, then I start to feel like slowing down and going to bed on time in the evening.
I just go to bed when I start feeling sleepy. If I stay up just a little longer, and then a little longer, I get a second wind and then I'm wide awake for a few more hours.

REPLY

Morning sunlight exposure, everyday morning aerobic exercise, movement/ standing at regular intervals, smaller meal portions, playing challenging games, social interaction, good sleep may help barring underlying physical issues. Apple Watch can help monitor sleep and activity.

REPLY

Also, if you have had Covid, read scientific reports about long term effects. Apparently, the virus and its vascular effects can persist long after you initially feel recovered. That can impact energy levels. Since there is a lot of misinformation on the subject, look for scientific journal level articles vs anecdotal claims.

REPLY

I had been having this same fatigue until I started taking Adrenal Dessicant and Adrenal Complex. The fatigue went away. Plus have you upon waking, taken your armpit temperature each am (without moving about in bed) and recorded the readings for a week? If it’s below 96.3, that can indicate low thyroid function and you will need to report the readings to your dr, even if your thyroid test results are within normal limits.
Also if u have low blood pressure, you will feel draggy. So keep a record of ur blood pressures. Blessings and healing to you!

REPLY
@patient101

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.

Jump to this post

@patient101

I'm glad that you found the discussion helpful. It is a good plan to find out exactly why the med was prescribed. Often there is A-Fib after open heart surgery.

When I needed an alternative to metoprolol (for rapid heart rate), my cardiologist suggested Atenolol (at the same dosage). This is also a beta-blocker as is the metoprolol, however, I did not have the side-effects of the restless sleep and the vivid dreams, etc. I now take this med in the evening, around 6 p.m., but not at bedtime.

I also take an ACE Inhibitor med, twice a day. I have a moderate leakage of the aortic valve and also might be looking at a valve replacement down the road.

I look forward to hearing from you again. Will you post again and let me know how you are doing and if a change in medication is prescribed?

REPLY
@hawkssr

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 😂😂

Jump to this post

@hawkssr
Your friend's short cat nap works for me too. I drove a commercial vehicle in my mid 60's and had to keep a log book. We could only drive so many hrs/day. I would get so drousy I could barely keep my eyes open. Eventually, I pulled over, set a kitchen windup timer for 10 minutes.
I probably only slept a few of those minutes or not at all, but I was refreshed and could drive for hours.

REPLY
@hopeful33250

@patient101

I'm glad that you found the discussion helpful. It is a good plan to find out exactly why the med was prescribed. Often there is A-Fib after open heart surgery.

When I needed an alternative to metoprolol (for rapid heart rate), my cardiologist suggested Atenolol (at the same dosage). This is also a beta-blocker as is the metoprolol, however, I did not have the side-effects of the restless sleep and the vivid dreams, etc. I now take this med in the evening, around 6 p.m., but not at bedtime.

I also take an ACE Inhibitor med, twice a day. I have a moderate leakage of the aortic valve and also might be looking at a valve replacement down the road.

I look forward to hearing from you again. Will you post again and let me know how you are doing and if a change in medication is prescribed?

Jump to this post

Thanks, again. I will indeed post as soon as I have more information. I also take amlopodine, and will do some research on that one, too

REPLY

If u feel up to it.go for a walk,start with 2miles daily.

REPLY

I take a BN-12 injection every week, and there is no doubt it accounts that i walk with a bounce. There is a medical organization on anti aging which I subscribe to many of what they recommend. They recommend taking one additional shot per week for every decade that you age beginning at age 60. I am 92 so that is the reason that i take a shot s week.My doctores always comment on my vitality. There are many other things that you can do so i refer you to the Journal "Life Extension". It is worth looking into.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.