[indigo1015]

This is becoming a real problem— every morning I ignore my alarm at 7am. I sleep in until 8am. Finally get up, 2+ cups of black iced coffee and I’m still groggy. I went to bed early last night too. I’m at work (my shift doesn’t start until 10:30) and all I want to do is sleep. I want to get into an exercise routine, however the only time I can really do it with my work schedule is early in the morning, and when I’m too exhausted to get up on time, that doesn’t seem feasible. I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, but it’s well-controlled. I just hate feeling so exhausted day in and day out. I’ve tried setting two different alarms— one by my bed, the other in the kitchen so I’d have to get up and walk over to turn it off— and that didn’t work either. I’m kind of worried at this point.

[CANDC]

That sound rough on you to be so groggy. How about sleeping more, @indigo1015 ? When is th latest you can sleep to and still get to work on time?

CANDC

[If you want me to see your reply to this post please tag me by including @CANDC in your message - not in requoting my message and not the first word of your message]aca

[divine1966]

I would probably talk to a doctor at this point. Maybe they have some suggestions. Maybe you need some supplements or sleep study

If you go to bed early, getting up shouldn’t be a problem. Especially since you don’t get up that early. 7am is a good time to get up. What time do you go to bed?

[indigo1015]

My bedtime varies— which is probably not ideal. I’m a night owl by nature, but I’ve been going to be earlier than usual lately. Last night I went to bed around 9pm. Super early. I shouldn’t be so exhausted. And in case you’re wondering, I’m still exhausted this afternoon.

Originally Posted by divine1966

I would probably talk to a doctor at this point. Maybe they have some suggestions. Maybe you need some supplements or sleep study

If you go to bed early, getting up shouldn’t be a problem. Especially since you don’t get up that early. 7am is a good time to get up. What time do you go to bed?

[divine1966]

If I went to bed at 9 I’d certainly be ok getting up at 5am. I’d check if you need some vitamins. Now I am always too tired. So that doesn’t surprise me but not getting up seems to be a bit unusual

[Discombobulated]

I would definitely check in with your Dr, that sounds worrying, especially with Hashimoto’s even if it appears well controlled.

How do you feel on your days off? Is the fatigue just as bad?

[indigo1015]

The fatigue is usually as bad or slightly worse on my off days. I was on vitamin d over the counter for awhile— it helped a little.

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

I would definitely check in with your Dr, that sounds worrying, especially with Hashimoto’s even if it appears well controlled.

How do you feel on your days off? Is the fatigue just as bad?

[Blueberrybook]

I have noticed that some combos of psych meds cause me more fatigue than others. It's tough though because what helps best may cause the most fatigue, and chronic fatigue doesn't exactly help anyone's mental health situation.

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Originally Posted by indigo1015

The fatigue is usually as bad or slightly worse on my off days. I was on vitamin d over the counter for awhile— it helped a little.

I take 2,000 I.U. of Vit D, which my PCP recommended many years ago. My levels are good. I do not take mega doses. There is some confusion regarding what a vitamin D level is, a cause or a marker of symptoms. Unless you have a frank, severe deficiency, supplementing with Vitamin D beyond the sensible 2,000 I.U. a day is unlikely to resolve your symptoms, because Vitamin D is more a marker than a cause. In other words, when things go awry, vitamin D levels might drop. But to recap, if you are deficient, taking vitamin D will help. If your levels are normal and you are fatigued, more vitamin D is not likely to resolve the fatigue. And mega doses of Vitamin D can be unsafe and should not be attempted without medical supervision.

There has been research regarding WHEN it is best to exercise. The answer: in the afternoon or early evening. Even larks (early risers) do worse when exercising in the morning, and night owls definitely shouldn't force themselves to exercise in the morning. I understand that mornings seem to be the only logistical option for you, but since you are unable to actually exercise in the morning, I thought you'd be relieved to know that mornings are not a good time to exercise, both for performance reasons and long-term health reasons.

And while exercise is vital for health, it should not be prioritized at the expense of sleep. I agree with posters above that you need a sleep study and a consultation with a doctor. Just start with the PCP, report the symptoms, explain that going to bed very early doesn't help, and fill out the self-administered Epworth Sleepiness Scale. What is your score on that scale? If it is high, take the filled-out questionnaire to your PCP and show, asking for a referral to sleep medicine.
I believe you will need to be evaluated separately for CFS and sleep disorders.

Have you tried Provigil or Nuvigil, which are prescription medications?

[indigo1015]

The reason I was taking vitamin d was because i have very low levels per my lab results. At least, I did when we checked them last year— I switched to my employer’s coverage and my new insurance will not cover checking vitamin d levels. But that’s why I was on it. Regarding Nuvigil and Provigil, I am familiar with them as a pharmacy tech; haven’t heard anything necessarily bad about them but I know they are controlled substances, which makes me nervous about being on one of them.

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

I take 2,000 I.U. of Vit D, which my PCP recommended many years ago. My levels are good. I do not take mega doses. There is some confusion regarding what a vitamin D level is, a cause or a marker of symptoms. Unless you have a frank, severe deficiency, supplementing with Vitamin D beyond the sensible 2,000 I.U. a day is unlikely to resolve your symptoms, because Vitamin D is more a marker than a cause. In other words, when things go awry, vitamin D levels might drop. But to recap, if you are deficient, taking vitamin D will help. If your levels are normal and you are fatigued, more vitamin D is not likely to resolve the fatigue. And mega doses of Vitamin D can be unsafe and should not be attempted without medical supervision.

There has been research regarding WHEN it is best to exercise. The answer: in the afternoon or early evening. Even larks (early risers) do worse when exercising in the morning, and night owls definitely shouldn't force themselves to exercise in the morning. I understand that mornings seem to be the only logistical option for you, but since you are unable to actually exercise in the morning, I thought you'd be relieved to know that mornings are not a good time to exercise, both for performance reasons and long-term health reasons.

And while exercise is vital for health, it should not be prioritized at the expense of sleep. I agree with posters above that you need a sleep study and a consultation with a doctor. Just start with the PCP, report the symptoms, explain that going to bed very early doesn't help, and fill out the self-administered Epworth Sleepiness Scale. What is your score on that scale? If it is high, take the filled-out questionnaire to your PCP and show, asking for a referral to sleep medicine.
I believe you will need to be evaluated separately for CFS and sleep disorders.

Have you tried Provigil or Nuvigil, which are prescription medications?

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Originally Posted by indigo1015

The reason I was taking vitamin d was because i have very low levels per my lab results. At least, I did when we checked them last year— I switched to my employer’s coverage and my new insurance will not cover checking vitamin d levels. But that’s why I was on it. Regarding Nuvigil and Provigil, I am familiar with them as a pharmacy tech; haven’t heard anything necessarily bad about them but I know they are controlled substances, which makes me nervous about being on one of them.

They are controlled substances, but, as controlled substances go, they are on the mildest end of the spectrum. They are not even true stimulants.

To me, they did nothing – I would take them in the morning and go back to bed to sleep more until I slept enough, exactly the same amount as without them, so exactly like sugar pills, but at least they didn't cause side effects. My reaction was rather unusual, though. I have a friend with Bipolar II who takes them and is able to work as a software engineer in part thanks to what they do (helpfully) to his focus.

They would be the first medications to try for what you have if your insurance covers them. Mine covered them back in the day, before I had a hypersomnia dx, because I already had had an OSA dx, and OSA can manifest in excessive daytime sleepiness, so the insurance covered them. A prior authorization was required, though. But as a pharmacy tech, you know the drill.

Behaviorally, sunlight in the morning is typically recommended, even during overcast days and even through windows. It doesn't help me, but many people find it helpful.