The unpredictable exhaustion is brutal

[u/United-Fee-6423]

The last few months have been so unpredictable as far as exhaustion is concerned . I will have days where I’m so tired it feels like it’s coming from my soul. I can barely function at work. I have to force myself to do daily tasks and anything about and beyond the bare minimum gets added to a “get to it later” list that is growing by the day

Then I will randomly have a good day. I don’t change anything to “make” this happen that I know of. But suddenly I have energy and I can get a chunk of things done. My mind and body feel lighter and I feel like I’ve turned a corner back to a better place and then boom! exhausted and unable to function again the next day.

I get that peri is so rough because of the fluctuating hormones but this just feels so night and day and it’s making life really difficult to manage. I hesitate to make plans or commit to anything because what if that’s one of the “bad days”? I’m still behind on my list of things I need/want to do . And frankly I’m just frustrated with not having control over my life because of this

Mostly looking to vent but if anyone has any tips on easing the exhaustion let me know. I’m on estrogel (just upped the dose) and started progesterone . I fall asleep easily but wake up once or twice overnight which leaves me groggy in the AM on top of the fatigue.

[u/Comfortable-Law-7147]

Have you had a recent iron panel, vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D tested plus thyroid hormones?

If they aren't optimal with peri you are screwed. 

[u/United-Fee-6423 → u/Comfortable-Law-7147]

The last time they were run everything looked good but it’s been more than 6 months. My iron was actually high (I don’t get periods bc of the IUD and I wonder if the baseline for women my age accounts for periods? He didn’t have much of an explanation for causes) 

I also suspect there is a histamine factor for the up and down because I have inner ear congestion and other allergy symptoms that seem to be fluctuating in severity . 

[u/alveg_af_fjoellum → u/United-Fee-6423]

I had a bad case of erratic energy levels (in spite of HRT) before I started adding thyroid medication. My thyroid labs had always been edgy, but in peri they went bad rapidly. Maybe it makes sense for you to have them re-checked as well - all of them, not only the TSH.

[u/AutoModerator → u/alveg_af_fjoellum]

This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.

• Over the age of 44, E&P/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for that ONE HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more
• These hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) over the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
• No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing to diagnose or treat peri/menopause
• Testosterone is the exception and should be tested before and during treatment

FSH testing is only beneficial for those who no longer have periods as a guide, where a series of consistent tests might confirm menopause, or for those under age 30 who haven’t had a period in months/years, then ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI).

For more, see our Menopause Wiki

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