extreme fatigue

A couple months ago I was feeling fairly tired a lot and thought I might have had an iron deficiency.  But I had labs done and everything was fine.  Then I seemed to get some energy back and lately I've been pretty active, getting lots of stuff done, feeling good.  The last few days I have been totally exhausted.  Yesterday I didn't get out of bed until about 11 am, then I took a nap from 1:30 to 4:30, then another nap from 7:30 to 10 pm.  I went back to bed about 2 am and slept until 11 this morning.  Now here it is 12:30, I've only been up for an hour and a half, and I am so exhausted I can't convince myself to get off the couch.

I have depression and the last couple days have been feeling very depressed.  I'm guessing that's why I feel so tired.  I don't know what I'm asking for here.  What do you do when you are this exhausted?  I really hate this.

Kelly, depression and tiredness do go together. My son suffers from depression and when it is really bad he can sleep forever. Maybe if you got out of the house for a bit. Maybe go for a short walk that would help. He doesnt eat when he gets like this either and I know that makes it worse for him. If you are sleeping that much are you eating right? I hope you feel better soon.

Depression is horrible and I am sorry you are going through this.  

Do you have any friends that you can talk to?  Not necessarily about depression or anything, just someone you can chat with?  I find that when I am really down, a chat with a friend helps. 

If you can make yourself do it, just starting something helps. .. like you probably won't be able to tackle cleaning the entire kitchen or whatever, but maybe clean out a drawer.  Even if you have to pull the drawer out and bring it back to the couch.  The act of doing something that has immediate, visible results helps me sometimes.  I usually end up tackling something else (like the next drawer or even a closet) and before I know it, I am listening to music and back on task.

A cheerful movie or happy music will sometimes snap me out of it (even if the idea of watching/listening to something cheerful makes me want to just go to sleep.. once I put it on, it helps).

I hope you feel better!

What about exercise?  I've heard that can help mood and fatigue because of the endorphins that are released.  Although, I'll be the first to admit that I'm the last person to get off my butt and exercise when I'm feeling tired.

Kelly - just an idea - have you thought about building more activity into your day - getting a part-time job or volunteeing? Sometimes with me, just getting my mind off of "me" helps me physically and mentally - whether I'm feeling depressed - or physically ill.  Just a thought -  Mary

I think volunteering would be a good idea.  I did some volunteer work a few years ago and stopped due to some health problems and then just never went back to it.  I should probably look into that again.

Ah, Kelly, been there, done that, got the T-shirt and sent the postcard! It's a lousy place to be.

First, I would suggest getting your meds evaluated and adjusted.

Second, force yourself out of the sack for little bits of time, getting yourself active in small ways as suggested above. Exercise for me is simply crucial, and when I'm in a place like you are, I have to simply force myself- I call it slogging through peanut butter. One foot, one step at a time! Increase your activity each day- no matter what you feel like.

The trick is to not let your feelings, and your thoughts about your feelings, run the show. This part is even harder than the exercise.

I schedule a lot of commitments in my life, otherwise I can sink like a stone. getting myself distracted helps a lot.

I know in my case depression is both bio-chemical and environmental. I know I resent the amount of time of my life I have been stuck in it. I know for me it is a vicious cycle- the more I give in to it, the more it's got me, and the harder it is to work myself out of it. It's another of my slippery slopes- I have to work like hell to stay on top of it.

This too shall pass! My heart goes out to you.

How is your thyroid?  If it has not been tested, it would be a good idea to have it checked.  Also, use an endocrinologist who will do more than the usual...have te antibodies checked.  Your symptoms are very similar to how I felt prior to being placed on synthroid.

My thyroid has probably been checked a dozen times.  Or more.  You know, I was 17 when I was first diagnosed with depression.  I insisted the psychiatrist order labs to check my thyroid.  I insisted on a CT scan and an EGG in case I had a brain tumor or something that was causing it.  Now that I think about it, he must have thought I was being ridiculous but he did order everything I asked for and never tried to tell me it was a waste of time.

 I wish I had answers for you but I know what you are going through.  I dealt with terrible fatigue for years.  I am finally coming out of it but it is still hard work.  Mine was a combination of physical and emotional.  I was very fatigued and that made me depressed and of course the depression made the fatigue worse.
I still have to fight to get myself up and dressed.  My daughter has been going to school so that has forced me to get up at 8 am and get her there.  Sometimes if I don't have a reason to get up I won't.
For me it has been a combination of eating right, fixing my deficiency problems, getting help for my depression and forcing myself to do things.  
I know you talked about your doctor suggesting exercise in the past and how that seemed impossible when you were so fatigued.  Boy I related.  I was going through the same thing.  All my doctors were on my back about exercise.  For me it was a great effort to go the stairs.  I kept trying different things but I wasn't motivated and couldn't keep up with anything physically or mentally.
I finally got a bike and that has made a difference.  I love riding my bike and it has helped my depression 100%.  I don't have to force myself to ride it.  I set my goal for at least 30 minutes a day but I usually ride for about an hour or more.  I challenge myself to go on tougher routes, to push myself.
I'm not saying that is the answer for you but if there is anything that you enjoy, that you know you can do for at least 30 minutes, I hope you can find it.  Just the feeling of accomplishment I feel, like I have done something, makes it worth it.
I got my first bike for free from Freecycle.  I just posted an ad and asked if anyone had a bike they weren't using.  That first bike wasn't too great but it got me started.
Since then I have found 2 more free bikes on the free section of Craigslist.  I got a cruiser that was in perfect shape.  It even had a basket which I use to buy groceries.  This weekend someone was giving a way a mountain bike so I said I would take it and it turned out to be a beauty.  I don't expect much but this was great.  I just needed to put new tires on it  and I found someone with a bunch of bike parts laying around and he did it for $15 and I have a great bike.  I love riding it.
I hope you can find some answers soon.  It is no way to live without being able to do anything.