Fatigue in peri-menopause? or just fatigue? Help!
I am sort of at a loss. I'm almost 44, no idea when my mom went through menopause or what her symptoms were. I have never been a morning person, and always found it hard to get out of bed in the morning or function for the first hour or so. But lately it's gotten WAY worse. It doesn't matter how much sleep I get. how good the sleep is, how much exercise I get, how much sugar I eat... I CANNOT get out of bed in the morning. Even if I've gotten 10 hours of sleep!
Is this peri-menopause? Something else? Any ideas? I take vitamins, I eat healthy, I don't have much caffeine, and I've had my iron tested and I'm fine.
My doctor doesn't know what to do. Has anyone else experienced this??
May 22, 2019
Parent Replies
Have you had your thyroid checked? Hypothyroidism is pretty common and fatigue, among other things, is a side effect. Ask your doctor to order you at least TSH and free T3, if you haven’t had those labs run.
I am in early menopause at age 42 and fatigue was definitely a symptom. I went on hormone replacement therapy and it has helped so much. Are you working with an OB/gyn? That would be the doctor to ask about whether the fatigue is related to perimenopause. The OB/gyn can test your hormone levels to see if you’re entering perimenopause.
The other thing you should have checked is your thyroid hormones. Hypothyroid is a common cause of fatigue in middle aged women. I’m surprised your doctor didn’t think to check it. Treatment is very simple for most people (daily thyroid hormone pill).
I'm 50 and have been in perimenopause for some years. I've also always been a night owl, and I definitely have even more trouble getting going in the morning than I used to. But what you're experiencing sounds more extreme. If there haven't been any changes in your daily routines (diet, exercise, sun exposure) my first guess would be a thyroid problem. I have a number of friends whose first symptoms of an ill-functioning thyroid arose during pregnancy, but any hormonal change, presumably including perimenopause, could be a trigger!
That's exactly how I felt when I had undiagnosed thyroid disease. Have you had your thyroid checked? (And not just the TSH, but also Free T3 & T4 and anti-thyroid antibodies?) You might try asking your doctor to refer you to an endocrinologist.
I have *exactly* the same issues, same age, same experience with getting blood work done. I'm at a loss. I'm looking into the DUTCH test.
I felt similar for last couple years starting at 44 too. I tried B12 and antidepressants, ect ect .. The worst was the brain fog that accompanied it. On a whim I asked for sleep study. Diagnosed w sleep apnea. First night using cpap machine was drastic improvement. I am shocked how this helped.
Hi, have you had your thyroid levels checked? (TSH, T3, T4 & antibodies) Fatigue is a pretty classic symptom of hypothyroidism.
I would suggest seeking out a yoga therapist or another type of holistic wee-care provider.You can visit the International Association of Yoga Therapist to find one near you.