If you eat a healthy diet, you probably won't see a change in your energy level by taking OTC vitamins. Have you had your thyroid checked?

hope you feel better.

I feel fine. Just not the stamina I used to have. On the other hand, I used to put in 16 hour days. Now I don't. I'm sure some of it is lack of exercise. Maybe if I get more active again it will come back.

Do you belong to a Y or anything like that? Maybe some sessions with a personal trainer who has experience with 70-year-old adults can help you get your strength and endurance back. But if you've not had a doctor visit in awhile, a visit and blood draw might not be a bad idea.

Don't feel bad; I can't do 16-hour days anymore either! But being able to work outside for a few hours is still pretty good!

You could just be anemic or need a boost of vitamin B but before defaulting to vitamins you really should see your practitioner and made sure nothing else is going on first. You might feel just fine and it could just be nothing but. We learned the hard way that fatigue is the first sign for many other problems. Better safe than sorry right?

I think my Promethease results showed heart trouble. Maybe it would be a good idea to see a doctor. The last time I was there was two weeks ago for a really bad cold. Before that..............1996? For a tetanus shot.

https://www.promethease.com/

I have an exercise bike and a treadmill sitting in the living room. I was going to do it this year. Still haven't.

Please make an appointment and have this checked out. Maybe ask if he could include a Vit. D test to see what your levels are since you have been inside all winter. When in doubt....check it out. Let us know!

Definitely have thyroid checked...

Vit. D should be OK. I'm outside twice a day at least. I have farm animals.

Would these be tests I could have done at the satellite clinic? It's only 4 miles away. Or should I go for broke and go to the women's health clinic 50 miles away?

I don't know what the satellite clinic is like. Is it like an urgent care center? With the potential for some cardiac issues, I would think it better to see someone for a more in depth exam.
I still say to ask about a test for Vit. D even though you are outside taking care of animals. I live much further south and my levels were very low. I supplement daily. This is another thing you should discuss with the Doctor during your appointment. You need some baseline bloodworm and a good physical so you know where you stand. I know you would insist your animals have their annual exams, you deserve it too!

Definitely see your dr, but at *our* age(i'm 73),motivation seems to get lost, and it could be a chemical imbalance as well. As we get older, chemicals are affected both in our body and mind, some affecting our mental state, including what my dr calls the 'motivation factor'. A small dosage of the right antidepressant can eliminate the problem. I'm good with it and take with my baby aspirin every night before bed.

I'm outside a LOT, in sunny southern New Mexico. I have to take Vitamin D daily. When I protested to my doctor that the results couldn't possibly be correct, as I am outside so much, she replied "Great! You can take your Vitamin D on the way out the door!" :)

If your satillite clinic can do a blood draw for a full panel and cholestoral check as well as an ekg, you might be ok for the preliminaries, but if it were me, I'd probably hit the road and go somewhere where all the follow up (if any is needed) can be done and it's all in one place.

But I don't want to go to the doctor! They'll find something wrong for sure. I don't want to take a handful of pills every day.

I have no idea what the local clinic can do. I'm not sure they can put on a band aid. And of course there's no drug store here so I'd have to go somewhere to fill a Rx. Whine, whine, whine.

@Imhappy - Please get off the butt and make the appointment. Trust me, it will be way worse if there is anything -- and pray there isn't -- and it's not checked early. My late sister didn't want to go either until she was forced to and regretted it to the end of her life. Sick is the worst. You don't want it. A condition is manageable.

I had zero energy last year and an unexplainable high white blood cell count. My GP sent me to a hemotologist. I ended up needing two infusions of iron and my energy returned. They never figured out why the high WBC but it returned to normal after six months. I see the hemotologist every six months now to make sure all is OK.

Do go see your doctor and get the blood work done!

OK. I guess the 50 mile trip. I can stop at Menard's while I'm there!

My aunt was a go getter, never took time for herself because she was always on the go and liked it that way. She finally had to be forced to go to the doctor and by that time it was grave. Earlier detection might have meant she could have had better treatment options. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Get checked out, chronic tiredness isn't normal but it can be treated once they find the cause. Yes, drive and go to the good doctors!!

Make sure you get a B-12 level, too.

But I don't want to go to the doctor!

You remind me of someone in DH's family who never went to the dentist because "I know they're going to pull all my teeth out." Well 30 yrs later, he finally went to the dentist and guess what...they pulled all his teeth!

They may very well find something wrong like hypothyroidism which will affect just about every body function (heart, muscle strength, digestion, bone, hair, etc.) including leaving you with low energy. The good news is, it's a simple supplement pill to fix it and bring you back to normal. Wouldn't you rather feel well again?

Do I need to make a list of what I want checked?

you would want to make an appt for a complete physical with your/an internist. often times it can be arranged for standard fasting blood draws before the physical so that the results can be looked at and discussed during the exam... you can probably get your blood drawn at the clinic. during the appt, tell the doctor how you've been feeling and what your symptoms are. if there are red flags the doctor finds during the physical or with the bloodwork or based on your subjective report, other tests or referrals will be ordered then.

insurance cos don't allow pts to just come in with a list of tests they want- they would go broke if that was the case! some tests are pretty standard, like simple thyroid levels, glucose and cholesterol levels and cbc. but, complete physicals can usually pick up on things that are atypical and a good doctor would then refer the pt to the appropriate specialists or schedule further testing.

calling to make an appt is your 1st step!

@imhappy - absolutely make a list. If you keep a diary of, say a week of ups and downs and what you feel that also should be helpful. Also, you are less likely to forget something important that way. If you exercise, make notes on what you do and how often over the next little while.

Most of our docs are nearby but once a year I have to make a 1-1/2 hr trip for my annual mammogram and cancer screening. I try to piggyback some shopping or at least a special lunch, or a quick visit with a friend. Makes it less forbidding.

Fingers crossed it's nothing but eventual changes in body composition and stamina, which is what I find lately as well.

Just pick up the phone and make the appointment. Do it today, ok?

busybee is right. I second her thoughts on an internist. Ours does exactly as she explained. We go in beforehand and have our blood-work done. When we have our exam, doc goes over results with us. Good luck!

B12 and D - that is what I would get checked along with everything else!

I was extremely deficient in Vitamins D and B-12 when I had bloodwork done a few years ago due to feeling exhausted and stressed.

Apparently my body doesn't process these vitamins very well so I take daily supplements. My sister is out in the sun almost every day and she was also very low on Vitamin D.

I also found out I was hypothyroid. If checking your thyroid, make sure they check your T3 and T4 levels, not just TSH.

And I bet they want to do a mamogram and colonoscopy. This is sounding less attractive as I'm reading a similar thread here. I'll call today.

The anticipation is far worse than the exams and procedures. As they say, Just Do It.

I have low thyroid and have to have my blood levels tested every six months. It makes a world of difference and is a simple fix. Don't over analyze this, just get to the doctor!