Transition Tiredness/Exhaustion

[f_Anna_tastic]

Heya,

I have been on HRT for over 8 months now.  Over the last month i seem to have really hit a burn out.  I am signed off work by my doctor at the moment with exhaustion and stress.  My blood work has all been done and it's pretty much perfect and where i want it to be.  I don't feel ill... i just feel exhausted, mentally and physically.

I work as a police officer which means i do 24/7 shifts, which can be very disruptive.  On wednesday, I have to go in for a meeting with the HR department and a high ranking boss due to the amount of time i have had off.  I am worried I am going to be made out to be work shy or something along those lines.  I've never had a sick note in my life prior to this.

Is it a common feeling to feel tired and worn out whilst on HRT? Of course i didn't expect everything to be hunky dory and to be a spring chicken whilst the changes were taking their toll but I also need to know if this is something isolated to myself or a common theme.  I would feel a lot better if i can go into the meeting and say, 'hey i've talked to lots of my friends and they all or most of them have had to go through this.'

[FalseHybridPrincess]

I dont know if its common but I feel it too somedays

[Ms Grace]

It is something I've noticed this time and last time I was on HRT, I don't necessarily feel exhausted but wow, do I find it hard to get out of bed when I'm on HRT. Normally I'm a real early bird but increasingly I find I'd rather stay asleep. Maybe the body needs more down time to deal with the physical changes. Dunno. One friend said to me "puberty"... might be something to it.

Alternatively it could be that the whole transition process is stressing you out more than you realise. You're already in a stressful job, the transition would probably only add to it. Maybe you need a vacation?

[f_Anna_tastic]

I do feel a lot of mental stress too if im honest which is definitely not helping the whole situation.  Transition and money worries don't make for happy sleeping :/

[Monkeymel]

There are two conditions associated with mental / physical overload - burnout (no mental energy) and it's less known counter part - over stress (mental energy but no physical energy). About 3 months after transitioning and professional downgrading I went through a period of exhaustion. My body just wanted to sleep. Randomly. It was a pain and I was signed off for a couple of weeks - and allowed myself the privilege of sleeping. Retuning to work at 50% whilst watching your job being given to others was not easy. That was the end of last year and even now weekends can be a wipe out - sleeping 12 hours. But I've learned to accept it.

I can understand that being Police officer means strange hours which also won't help the need for physical sleep. It is mis understood and can be misread by HR and others. In my case both my therapist and doctor did not want me to return to 50% - but it saved my job as my CEO was saying I was work shy after downgrading. And better....

If I can suggest anything it is to be able to try to work through it and show you are a fighter - transition is not easy and I have learnt to recognize when I have to stop. And recover.

I wish you a lot of rest and meditation and hope the meetings are constructive. Everyone is different; but you are not alone.
Oh and I'm going to get my iron checked soon. Just in case. And food wise - minimal additives (sugar but I allow a glass of coke) and artificial processed flour / foods. Eat healthy and it can help

[big kim]

It happened to me also.Once I came home from work on the early shift at 3 went to bed at 4 and slept right through til 6 next morning.Eventually I totally burned out with IBS brought on by stress and finished

[Beverly]

With lower testosterone it is easier to use all your energy up and get tired. You need to manage your personal "energy budget" more than as a male. Conserve your energy. Your metabolism will be slower as well. My solution was to get a good solid 8 hours per night and also to have a "nap" for 30 minutes if the opportunity presented itself. I found that after a while I adapted to it. Somewhat...

I had problems with dry skin so I started taking one capsule of code liver oil per day and that did help, but as an unexpected benefit it seems to have helped my energy levels too. Asda will sell you 60 for £1.15

I work as a police officer which means i do 24/7 shifts, which can be very disruptive.  On wednesday, I have to go in for a meeting with the HR department and a high ranking boss due to the amount of time i have had off.  I am worried I am going to be made out to be work shy or something along those lines.  I've never had a sick note in my life prior to this.

An additional thought - are you fulltime? If you are then they should be be made aware of this as part of your transition. It is very common. Remember that as a medical transitioner you have legal protections to allow for the effect of the process.

[Eva Marie]

I find myself under an almost unbearable amount of stress right now with me about to come out at work and some other stuff in my life that has hit the fan at the same time. I tire easily, and when I do fall asleep its the sleep of the dead. My phone can and has buzzed on the nightstand right next to me and i've slept right through it. I cannot sleep for long periods of time; about 6 hours is the maximum time that I sleep, and when I wake up I'm still tired and exhausted. And during the day I'll experience slumps and will desperately want to go to sleep.

The only thing I can do right now is just to keep moving forward with my transition knowing that the thing that is stressing me the most (coming out at work) will soon be behind me.

[Beverly]

Some additional thoughts - I get through the day on espresso. It really helps. Avoid alcohol at all costs. Your slower metabolism means that a small dose of it will have a huge effect and it will make you drowsy. Eat lighter proteins like chicken and fish and avoid big meals.