Thyroid fatigue

Hi all,

I have hypothyroidism and take thyroid medication every day. I was diagnosed about 11 years ago, but had been borderline for a long time. I have never felt that the medicine made me feel better, though it does reflect positively in my blood work. I struggle a lot with physical fatigue, which with fair frequency is truly profound. I do know that when I last was slim, I felt much better than I do now while on the same dose of medicine.

Right now I am so pooped its pathetic. I have sooo much to do today, cleaning and lifting and organizing and running around, and it all has to be done today, but I am almost unable to do it - I just want to sleep, or at least lie down. I get up and attack some task, then simply have to rest again. It is very boring and frustrating! This seems to have exacerbated over this past two weeks of pre-op diet, perhaps because I am only taking in 650 protein-rich calories a day. When I was younger, calorie restriction revved me up, but now I feel like a rag doll! Do any of you here deal with this type of fatigue? How do you deal with it? Did it improve with your weight loss?

Edited to add: I am right on the verge of going against my surgeon's pre-op coffee restriction. I need caffeine very badly. I have to finish my tasks today so I can take a week off after my RNY on Monday.

I've been taking levothyroxin for almost 15 years and I did not notice a difference.

Hows your breathing? Many obese folks have sleep apnea and that can really make you tired during the day.

Overall my energy level has improved as im no longer carrying an extra 50+ lbs around but losing weight is taxing on the body. Especially when you're losing it at an accelerated rate. What will be easier is your diet. You'll be consuming around the same 650 calories but you won't be hungry and driving yourself crazy thinking about food.

Youre definitely going to be worn out after surgery and you'll tire easily. One week out of work is definitely on the short side. Most need at least two.

Nobody told me not to drink coffee pre-surgery.

Hi Scott,

Thanks for responding. I passed my pre-op breathing exams and tests without having to do a sleep study. Not needing the study is a rarity at my center. I have never been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

I'm not hungry, really barely at all except occasionally around bedtime,, and then it's mild. I'm honestly not thinking about food. I've lost around 20 pounds in this past 2 weeks. My knees do feel a bit better. I don't know why I'm experiencing this knockout fatigue, but I figure it probably is thyroid related. If not, who knows. I look forward to losing more! I really look forward to exercising more, and building my core. In the past I had to get down to about 230 to start really feeling better (I'm 5' 8" ). That's 100 pounds in the future! But I know it will come. I just really wish I had more physical stamina today!

I am going to have some coffee. I need the boost to try to finish at least some of these tasks! I know it will help.

I work out of my home office for myself, so I will take it easy and rest when I need to. Thanks again.

Edited to add: I had some coffee. I'm still easily bushed, but not nearly as tired as I was. Today's cup was a medicinal necessity...and also the last coffee I will have for a good long while. Farewell, beans!

Possibly it could be from ketosis. Many have described it as an energy drain.

That could be, it's only been 2 weeks, and there is an adjustment period, I remember it from previous forays into ketosis. This one is a doozie, though.

Other things can cause that exhausted feeling. How's your ferritin?

I haven't had it tested yet - I wanted to do so this week, but life was too jammed and crazy here, plus I was so bloody tired. Surgery is Monday. Within the next month I will order and self pay for a ferritn test, it's only $30 and Quest Diagnostics is 5 minutes from my house. I hope it won't change too much in the intervening few weeks, then I'll know where I'm at.

I am hypothyroid, and have been on Synthroid for a few years now... some things I've learned...

• Doctors are not created equal when it comes to where they consider 'normal' numbers. I did a lot of research and went to a couple of different doctors before I found one that would treat me more aggressively. My numbers sit on the high end of the 'normal' scale now, and my doctor likes it that way. So do I. Make sure they aren't just giving you the generic thyroid number. Look into learning about the T3 and T4 numbers specifically, and learn about how those affect you.
• Levothyroxine in it's generic state is not created equal. Each lab can make it just a little different, and you can even end up with different pills from different labs in one prescription (once I had two different colored pills, and when I talked to the pharmacist, she explained that to me). Once I Shelled out the extra money for Synthroid, which is always made exactly the same way, I felt a difference, and my labs showed it.
• Ketosis is definitely something that will make you feel tired and weak. Plus the huge drop in calories will also add to that (although I doubt you've hit Ketosis at 100 grams of carbs a day). If you were feeling OK before starting your pre-op, this is probably your biggest issue.
• Hang in there! Keep a vigilant eye on your thyroid numbers, and don't be happy with just that generic 'thyroid' number... get the details, and understand them.

Thanks Pammieanne,

I figure if the fatigue persists, I will see an endocrinologist - but for right now I have my hands full, as I just got out of the hospital. First things first.

I was definitely in ketosis, though (and still am), with 0 grams of carbs per day in my diet for 2 weeks pre-op, not 100 grams of daily carbs.

All the best and thanks for your response!

I have found that Vitamin D really affects my fatigue levels. I have been hypothyroid for over 30 years and only since I have had RNY and added Vitamin D, has that severe fatigue gone away. Good luck!