Fatigue every afternoon - How can I get more energy?

i've been taking metoprolol for decades. I'll ask my cardiologist. Thanks for the suggestion.

I’m 72 and rise around 3AM. My recipe for more energy:
Go with the flow, and channel it.
I sleep an average of 5.4 hours/night per my iPhone ‘Sleep watch’ app. Not anecdotal -but DATA. Yep that’s low, but in the 2 sigma range of the normal curve.
Channel: When I have vigorous cardio during the day, my sleep quality (as measured by heart rate drop) increases markedly (from ~14%>>20%+ drop)
Flow: I can ‘bonk’ and need a nap anywhere from 7 AM to 3PM. I just take that flow to a ‘back eddy’ for a 5-15 minute nap, wherever I am. Driving; stop, n recline or switch out w/a passenger, In a noisy place; put on the AirPods & hear soothing background sounds. Or; use 4-7-8 breathing which simulates sleep, like a ‘faux sleep’. 5-10 minutes makes a ‘level 3 charge’ to my Body EV battery.
Steer that kayak carefully down the river, use those back eddys and avoid paddling upstream 🛶

What about the life jacket? Sometimes life requires one to paddle upstream!
Thank you for being so candid. I am a 4 am riser so I get your drift and in the summer go paddling at 5am. I paddle upstream and return with the current. No traffic on the river at that hour. Whatever turns your crank!

Have you had your thyroid checked. My heart doctor put me on a small amount of thyroid medicine that I take every morning first thing and must wait a half hour before eating breakfast. You also may need to eat small meals more frequently to keep blood sugar level OK. Hope this helps.

Changing from metroperol to Hydrochlorothiazide, like my sister takes with no dizziness, helped very little. My cardiologist has now put me on Amlodipine. It’s been two months now and this change is making a real difference. It’s happening slowly and even if it doesn’t go away altogether, it’s far easier to manage. There are still good days and bad, but manageable, though sometimes I’m reluctant to go out. Over the last three years I’ve had vestibular physical therapy several times, starting with Home Health after an ablation procedure for Afib. Medicare generously paid for two more six week sessions at a nearby physical therapy clinic. The first was prescribed by an ENT and the second by my GP. It does help build confidence and strength, and I was able to drive myself to the second six week, twice a week series. Keep trying small adjustments to your daily routine. I’m focusing on better sleep, which has eluded me for some time. Afraid of drugs, I’m working on lighting, food, timing, that sort of thing. Best wishes, Cybele

Love your “lights out” analogy. I have one too. Thanks for the chuckle.

Hey. Im 75 on the 22 of February. There have been times i slept 4 hours in the afternoon. Not a real happy camper so, as a guide to over come that dip. I challenged several things. I go to bed with the chickens, do box breathing to settle my mind. In the morning i do 30 jumping jacks first thing to get up and going. Eat a grain breakfast. I read, play cards. I live on a street when trash gets thrown out the window so im the garbage pick up dude.
I keep as active as i can. My kitty keeps me busy as well.
I piddle at times in the house as well.
So, im just a busy guy. And if im not busy, the bed is a nice break. Wish you well.

My 92 year old mother was diagnosed with sleep apnea. She started using her cpap machine, and now all I hear about is how great she feels and how she no longer needs her nap! You may not think you have apnea (she didn't) but that doesn't mean you don't!

Welcome @rozo123, It's good news to hear that your mother is doing well with the CPAP. I had the same experience a few years ago and was diagnosed through a sleep study after mentioning to a doctor that sometimes my snoring woke me up at night. He sent me to a sleep medicine doctor and they setup an overnight study that resulted in my diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

I think the most difficult part of using a CPAP is getting used to the mask. It sounds like your mother didn't have any trouble with using the CPAP.

No, she didn't, which is VERY unusual.

I have apnea as well. I found that the ResMed AirFit N30i with a nasal cradle (ON the nose, not IN the nose) has made it all so much easier. The hose is at the top of the head, so I can lay on my side or stomach. I barely notice the hose now, and the nasal cradle is really comfortable. I almost gave up before trying this mask.

I hope you find the right mask. Keep going!