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[Wilks]

Hi
I'm 51 and been taking transdermal oestrogen and utrogestan for 3 years, and testosterone for about 18 months.
Despite that, I have a persistent problem with daytime sleepiness which is driving me insane as I have a full time job and family.

My oestrogen dose is correct, as the next dose up proved to be too high for me when tried it. I've had blood tests for thyroid function, anaemia, liver function, vitamin D, glucose amongst other things and all results were normal.
I do a lot of exercise which helps, and I don't drink much alcohol. My GP says there's nothing we can do about it. My menopause specialist suggested increasing my testosterone dose to the recommended one (I use less than the recommended amount).

Does anyone else have this problem and how are you managing it? I'm at my wits' end with feeling like my brain has turned to treacle!

[CLKD]

Have you had the VitD levels checked?  I would do 20 mins. weeding and have to sit for 2 hours.  Absolutely still.   No energy at all.  Capsules solved the problem.

Were you sleepy prior to beginning testosterone?

[jaycee]

Were you feeling like this before the HRT,i have stopped taking livial, partly for this reason,i was dozing every time i sat down, since stopping it i have more energy, could be your HRT causing it,
Although of course i know it is a different kind of HRT

[CLKD]

Mum had crashing fatigue.  She would stop what she was doing even int he middle of cooking, sit down and sleep deeply.  She never took HRT.

[sheila99]

Are you on a sequi or conti regime? Utro makes me tired. Currently peri but when I get to meno I'll continue on a sequi regime so I get some time when I feel 'normal'. If you're conti perhaps try sequi (200mg for 12 days) and see if you feel less tired when you're not taking it.

[KiltedCupid]

Wilks - I've had the sleepiness problem too. I'm pretty sure in my case it was low e and when I changed to Sandrena gel, it stopped. I also had a very low ferritin and vit b12 reading from my ‘tiredness' blood test and have been supplementing so that could be in the mix too.

[Hurdity]

Wilks - as sheila99 said - if you are on conti utro this will be a very likely cause of sleepiness as it is a sedative. Did you also say elsewhere you took Fluoxetine? Maybe this also has a sedative effect? I  don't know about this type of med sorry.

Also I have a problem with sleepiness although mine is mainly in the mornings although I do get (over) tiredness after exercise too which improved when i started taking T gel 4 years ago.

I know I am mid 60's but I do feel mine is more than one would expect - takes me so long to wake in the mornings. Usually disappears during the day (the sleepiness) although I'm wacked (whacked?) out after vigorous exercise. I still do it though - for my heart and general health's sake.

I don't know of any suggestions apart from taking utro cyclically if you are taking it continuously. What dose of oestrogen and T do you take ( sorry you probably said in your other post...)? You are still very young! If on patches could you try upping the dose a little eg I increased from 50 to 62.5 ( 75 cut down) although this hasn't affected my tired problem!

Like you I don't drink much alcohol - a couple of drinks or so at the weekends Fri-Sun and have plenty of exercise, as well as v good diet so won't be deficient in any vits or minerals especially at this time of year.

Also re the tests you've had - depending on how much sunshine you had over the sunnier months - april to october - you may not have stored quite as much vit D in your liver although most should have enough at this end of the year. I do take a bit of cod liver oil once a week just to top up in case. Also if you have a gut absoprtion problem or take PPIs ( eg omeprazole or similar) this can affect absorption of vits and minerals. Also thyroid function - what were your actual measurements? Normal does not necessarily mean symptoms free? However if you had some sort of problem you would also be overweight (tendency to put on weight) and feeling cold as other major symptoms.

When do you take your exercise? Is your job a sedentary one? Maybe have a quick workout of some sort in the mornings if you're not doing so already - to wake your body/brain up?

Sorry I can't be of more help!

Hurdity x