So Tired Always Tired

By tyght

1 min read

Hello, I’m 37 years old and found out 1 year ago I have COPD. It has taken the whole year for it to hit me and get me thinking. I was 13 years old when I started smoking and still do. Hoping to quit in August. I have found myself tired ALL the time. I have been for sleep tests nothing came back. I wake up exhausted and it sticks with me all day. My girlfriend doesn’t understand how I can be tired all the time and it’s hard to explain it. Anyone have any advice?

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The COPD.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
Hi again, tyght. By now you already know, quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for yourself with COPD. It's good to hear you will starting the cessation process in August. Many in our community have addressed the 'fatigue' issue with COPD. I thought you might gain more insight from this article on that very topic: <a href='https://copd.net/living/tired-vs-copd-tired/' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living/tired-vs-copd-tired/</a>. Wishng you the best, Leon (site moderator)
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi again, chrisptx - but the point is, you have quit smoking and should feel good about that! It's a genuine accomplishment and one you can be proud of. Keep up the good work! Leon (site moderator)
2. Barbara Moore Moderator
 Hi chrisptx, Listen to Leon, the fact that you have quit now if a total plus for living a longer, and as healthy a life as possible. Barbara Moore (site moderator)
bunnymusic60 Member
You are lucky to have the warning signs so early. I started smoking at 12 and got my first sign at 57. That's when they gave me oxygen and I had to quit smoking. I am 74 now and the only reason I'm still here is that I had Lung Volume Reduction Surgery at NY Presbyterian in 2004. Quit smoking as soon as you can and then get into a pulmonary rehab program for exercising. Wishing you much success.
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 Hi bunnymusic60 , great advice. Thank you for your comments. We love to hear from you. Barbara (Site Moderator)
2. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi Jolene and thanks for your most recent comment (above) from about 7 hours ago. How wonderful that must have felt for you to be in Paris with your daughter in September. You may be on to something, too! If your breathing improved while you were there (to the point that you barely needed your rescue inhaler), only to have your condition act up again at home, you may want to discuss this in earnest with a physician who knows your case. It could be the weather (France vs. Scotland, depending on the conditions you experienced) and/or the stress, as you analyzed. It's certainly worth looking in to. Please do check back and let us know what you find out. If you improved on vacation, you may be able to determine how you can turn that into a plus for yourself. All the best, Leon (site moderator)
Barbara Moore Moderator
Hi tyght, Once you have quit smoking the best days of your life are ahead of you. It is so nice not to be tied to a package of smokes and a lighter. Just do it and you will see for yourself. Best Regards, Barbara Moore (Site Moderator)
nancyc Member
Quit! Don't give it a second thought. 37 years old you have a life time to enjoy don't waste you time & money smoking. I was a smoker for many years & never thought anything would ever hit me like this COPD. You are shortening you life every time you light up that smelly disgusting cigarette. Every time you light up you are punching more holes in you lungs shortening your life further. Do it, stop smoking now, enjoy your life while you have it. By stop smoking now you will wake up, and that tired feeling will leave you ~ trust what I say. Stop smoking now. I am 76 and feel so good I stopped. I stopped smoking 3 years ago & wish to God I never smoked. I want to live a healthy life & plan to be here for a long time. Quit smoking today, please. Quit smoking for you, quit smoking for those who love you so you can completely enjoy your life.
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 Hi Nancy C, Great Advice. We love to hear you encouraging others. Its what makes our site the best. Keep up the good work. Barbara (site Moderator)
2. Barbara Moore Moderator
 You can do it Jolenem614, You are so much stronger than you realize. Keep us posted on your progress, Barbara (Site Moderator)
jolenem614 Member
I'm 38 stage 3 COPD,and I'm exhausted all the time ,also having anxiety and depression with OCD doesn't help, it pushes me to do things even though I can hardly breathe doing it, still smoking due to anxiety and my mood, I've twins at 5 and I have to be a mother from my bed , it seems it's getting worse and I feel no one sympathys with my illness ,I feel scared and alone .
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 Hi Jolenem614 , I truly hope that you are listening to your health care professional because as Leon said, you do have a lot on your <a href='http://plate.Please' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>plate.Please</a> feel free to reach out anytime. We love you comments. Barbara (Site Moderator)
2. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi again, Jolenem614 and thanks for your more recent response (below) from 3 days ago. We all understand how you feel when you say your family does not take your (condition) seriously enough. It's not always easy or readily forthcoming getting assistance and understanding from family. We're gratified to hear you find our <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a> website 'family' group to be so helpful for you. Please feel free to access the site as often and for as long as you need. Wishing you well - Leon (site moderator)
not found
The simplest explaination is it's very tiring to breathe. When you're working harder to breathe it makes you tired. It's not easy fir those around us to see how much we are struggling. And when your O2 stats are low you'll experience fatigue. If your doctor has you in oxygen therapy that will help, but I had been diagnosed 12 years before I needed oxygen. Now I can't go without it. As you know this is a progressive disease, it will only get worse. What you do now will depend on the progression. When I was first diagnosed I didn't take it very serious. I thought I don't feel any different, smoking doesn't bother me any differently. Now I see how I was a contributing factor to how I feel now. The advice I'd give is quit when you can. I know it's very hard to do. But your fatigue comes within and the more you contribute the worse it will get. It may be slowly or not, just know it will get worse. Good luck on quitting smoking, and I hope your girlfriend can grasp some understanding.
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi j914 and thanks for your post in response to tyght's article. We appreciate you sharing your experiences here with the community. Wishing you well, Leon (site moderator)
2. Barbara Moore Moderator
 Hi J914, thank You for your comments. We appreciate hearing from you. Barbara (Site Moderator)
linnie Member
I hear you. I am 66 years old and smoked for 41 years. I have critical stage 4 copd and emphysema. I tried and tried to quit but finally quit 5 years ago. I am on 3L of oxygen 24/7 and am tired of breathing all the time. I wish you the best of luck on quitting. It will only get worse if you don't.
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi Linnie and thanks so much for your post and sharing your experiences with the community. Congratulations on being smoke-free for 5 years, too! This is a major accomplishment (as you well know), and one you can be genuinely proud of. We appreciate your input here. All the best, Leon (site moderator)
poppopron Member
I was diagnosed with COPD 11 yrs ago. Quit smoking then, but have stage 4 Copd today. Being tired is part of the deal and I have cut back on many things I used to enjoy. I am still able to do many other things so I don't let it get me down. Plus I'm 72 so getting old is also a pain. Hang in there.
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi poppopron and thanks for your post. We all understand how you feel and what you're going through with both COPD and aging. Many in our community find themselves in similar circumstances, so you are not alone! Having a positive attitude (as you do), can go a long way towards managing this condition. We're glad to have you here! Leon (site moderator)
not found
You poor guy. To get this rotten illness so young. I am old enough to be your father and I was diagnosed this past november. I really dont have any advice. I have been drinking really strong coffee(which I hate). The only other thing I can advice is get on the right puffer. I thought I was until last night. For the past 3 days the only caffeine I have had is a can of coke. It was so nice to be free from that awful fatigue. Once again my heart goes out to you. I am an old man and you are at the peak of life, or should be. Good luck....sardonicus
jcupdike Member
Not sure why you want to wait till August to quit smoking. It's hard to do but the minute you cross that line, a lot of your fatigue will be easier to understand. You will get more energy and do more things and then you will sleep better, eat better food and have more ambition. Simple problems, simple solutions.
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 HI JCUpdike, and thanks for lending your support and encouragement here for the post from 'tyght'. To my knowledge this post (from tyght) is the only time he has posted on our <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a> website. I do hope he signs on and has an opportunity to see your comment. We appreciate you being here. All the best, Leon (site moderator <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
jerrydevon Member
Things other than those you mention that make one tired all day include CO2 retention, where the damage to your lungs makes expiration of CO2 difficult. It can cause prolonged dull headaches. Depression can leave one feeling tired all the time. As is often the case, your problem may probably be caused by several different factors combined.
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi JerryDevon, and thanks for lending your support here for the post from 'tyght'. To my knowledge this post (from tyght) is the only time he has posted on our <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a> website. I do hope he signs on and has an opportunity to see your comment. We're glad to have you as a member of our online community. All the best, Leon (site moderator <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
bug2u Member
Well, quitting smoking is a priority. Do it today. I was a smoker in college and continued until I was pregnant and stopped because I wasn't sure what my smoking was doing for my wee one, let alone myself.
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi again, Bug2u, and thanks for your comment here about the advantages of quitting smoking. Glad to hear you were able to quit so many years ago. We appreciate you chiming in here and lending your own support and encouragement. Warmly, Leon (site moderator <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
picturemehappy Member
I’d like to suggest pulmonary rehab. It worked wonders for me! Also on that same note it’s advisable to keep active, keep moving in spite of feeling tired. A body in motion stays in motion... a body at rest stays at rest. I was diagnosed as a young age and by staying as active as possIble I was able to prolong not going on supplemental oxygen for almost 20 years. Don’t give up!
1. melaniem Community Admin
 Great suggestions Picturemehappy, thanks for sharing them with us! Keeping active is so very important. How are you feeling tonight? ~Melanie (COPD.net team member)
2. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi Picturemehappy, and thank you for joining in this conversation. We appreciate you sharing your own personal experiences of what you found to be helpful in managing this condition. Staying active in any way can go a long way, as you've demonstrated. We value your feedback here. Keep up the good work! All the best, Leon (site moderator <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)

Community Poll

Do you have an exercise routine?