Why Am I Increasingly Tired All the Time?

I felt this way when my son was 1 and we just moved to another State. I was starting a new job, looking for a house, etc. I was SO tired. I talked to my OB-Gyn about it and she recommended that I take extra B6. That really helped me.

Good luck!
L.

I had this problem and I was anemic.It causes extreme fatigue no matter how much sleep you get. Also,I know that chronic fatigue syndrome does this. I would go back to my Dr. and demand that they find out what is wrong.It is not normal!

Sinus issues will do that to you. I get severe fatigue every fall and I have determined that it is my sinuses. I don't have outright infections either just a slight congestion-not even enough to blow my nose. I have been to 2 ENTs and they can't determine anything.

Besides measuring your TSH levels do they measure your free T3 and free T4? Synthroid is all T4. Some people do not convert T4 to T3 very well. You might want to consider trying something that has both T4 and T3 in it. I was on Synthroid for over 8 years but I still had some hypothyroid symptoms. I switched to Armour Thyroid (have been on it for 7 years now) and I feel SO much better.

It could be a form of depression. I know you say that life is good, but depression is a disease and not necessarily a symptom of circumstances. Being a SAHM can be very isolating and lonely at times. Do you have good friend support? Do you do things with other Moms and kids during the day? Do you get a chance to go out with your husband and do things without the kids? Do you ever have any YOU time? I have been a SAHM for 15 years and my kids are both in school now, but I remember those days when I was home alone all day with two kids and no adult interaction. Even though you love your boys, IT IS a very exhausting thing to raise kids and can be emotionally and physically draining. If possible, try to arrange to have some time off from your kids at least once a week so that you can take a nap, read a book uninterrupted, have your nails done, go on a date with your husband, etc. Whatever would help you to recharge.

Lots of water--keep incredibly well hydrated. And you mentioned blood work, but not your hemoglobin and hematocrit levels--iron in the blood is what helps the red blood cells carry oxygen. Sometimes it is not iron that needs dietary supplementation, but B-12 and vitamin C, which helps you absorb the dietary iron you take in. Anemia for any reason can cause severe fatigue. Mass produced, commercial vitamin brands often use the cheapest possible versions of the "vitamin"--their "iron" is literally made from rust! You need a food based iron source--a natural supplement from the health food store--if you are anemic.

And yes, the other common reason for that kind of fatigue is pregnancy--you're sure, right?

Don't just let this go. There are less common reasons for fatigue and it is important to find out what is going on. It could be something more serious. I would get a second opinion.

The last time I felt like that, I was pregnant!

Sometimes I feel like that about mid-day. A friend of mine had me try a Me-cofactors. They don't give you jitters or any amount of energy, they simply remove that tired lethargic feeling. They seem to be loaded with vitamin B. Here is a site so you can see what they are, although I get them locally. http://www.eigusa.com/me-cofactors_60_tabs.htm

Not sure if they checked your vitamin D but it might be worth checking. There is not enough in a multi vitamin if you are low. The best way to get it is sun but most people don't get enough these days.
It might be worth trying.
Also maybe being on the lower side of TSH does not fit you? Have you changed brands of Synthroid or started taking it at a different time? Also synthroid is very sensitive to temp and moisture which can change its absorption.
Good luck

Have a sleep study done. You may have sleep apnea. I was just diagnosed with it. I was tired all the time and couldn't understand why after 8 hours of sleep I would still be tired. I thought I was sleeping through the night fine, but it turned out I would stop breathing 47 times an hour. It disrupts your sleep cycles and prevents quality sleep.

I hope you feel better soon.

I so understand your frustration! I'm assuming your doctor has included tests for mono, allergy fatigue syndrome, celiac disease, etc. in all your bloodwork. So, one possibility would be that your normal TSH is not within the statistical "normal" range. When I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism, it took quite some time before I was feeling back to my usual self. Even though, my TSH levels were statistically "normal" I still felt terrible (having to take naps at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. just to get through the day). I kept pushing my endocrinologist to increase my synthroid doses until we finally discovered that my normal TSH is slightly outside of the statistical "normal" range. Find an endocrinologist that will listen to you...no one knows your body better than you do!

If you mail order your synthroid, another possibility is that your bottle of synthroid sat out in the summer's heat too long enroute to your house. I just made this discovery myself two weeks ago. I was taking my synthroid ever day - in the morning, 30 minutes before eating/drinking, so it didn't dawn on me that the medication might be the problem until I got so tired I was having to take naps again (deja vu). I called the mail-order pharmacy and they admitted that they'd been having problems with medications being exposed to high temperatures while enroute. They transferred my perscription to a local pharmacy, and I've been slowly coming out of dark hole of exhaustion.

I wish you the best of luck in finding the root of the problem - and may you find it quickly!

Hi, My name is T.. I have 4 children so i know what you are saying. Some times you just have to take time out for yourself and do what ever it is that relaxes you. You may be super mom and that is great, all my friends ask me how I do it but honesly I do get worn down. My answer is I book a time for the kids to be doing something they enjoy and i take a book and a hot bath 1 hour before bed. I make sure everyone is in bed and i go to bed. The key here is quiet time 1 hour before bed, everyone will wind down and your body will tell you hey im tierd. Another method i use when i wake up still tierd and it works is to set my alarm 15 min before im supposed to get up. For some reason i wake up less tierd. During the day if you feel grogy try eating an apple. It is the best thing to wake you up even better than coffee because you don't get the crash after. You must remember to fuel your body as most people don't realize that is what your body is telling you. You may also be dehidrated so try some water or flavour water to your down times. Take care hope this helps

My suggestion - from experience - is that you do what your doctor says a little longer. Yes, I know you're busy! You probably have six things to fill up each minute.

I'm just saying it because once all my children (I had four) became old enough both to be in school (almost all of them) and to sleep without frequent night interruptions, I was AMAZED to discover how tired I had been. I didn't realize it at all until I started resting more. I thought I had been getting enough hours of sleep, but I hadn't been sleeping well. I didn't realize where my grouchiness had been coming from. In addition, I had the habit of charging into all the work I needed to do and had not recognized the fatigue. Fatigue? Exhaustion! How do you not recognize when your body is exhausted? But I accomplished just that. It took me a while to adjust to something healthier.

Anyhow, if you can continue being able to do it, it won't hurt you. And maybe you'll start feeling better - or something else will happen and you'll be able to say, "AHA! THIS is the problem!" (There now, isn't that encouraging?) :^p

I am going through the exact same thing right now. I think the cause for me is allergies. I see you are in the same city I am in - allergens are through the roof right now! So, depending on when this started for you, that might be it.

Just to be sure, I am going to my doctor for a check-up next week, and I am going to talk to her about my fatigue and moods, and try to rule out a few more things - I have had blood work done also, I exercise, I get about 8 hours of sleep each night... I am pretty sure it is allergies, at this point.

Check into a yeast/candida problem. The mold and fungus here in Texas can contribute to it also.
R.
____@____.com

You are describing my life for the past 2.5 years! I relate to eveything you shared. During all of my struggle with this, I was beginning to think that it was all in my head or that I was just lazy compared to most other people. Every doctor I went to minimized it after they did the standard blood work and found nothing.

FINALLY, 3 months ago I found a doctor who thought outside the box. Since then we have discovered that I have adrenal fatigue and am deficient in iodine. (Iodine fuels your thyroid. So even though my thyroid tests were normal, my thyroid was not getting the fuel it needed to function properly.)

Over the past 7 weeks I have been on: supplements to support the adrenal glands, iodine, mega doses of B vitamins, and mega doses of D2. I am feeling SO MUCH better. I am not full of energy, but I definitely have come out of the fog that I have been functioning in. My husband made a comment 2 weeks ago that he feels like he is getting his wife back. I can't tell you what a difficult and discouraging journey this has been. BUT I am doing better - not 100%, but definitely and noticeably different.

I continue to take these supplements hoping that I will continue to improve.

You are not alone, and this is NOT in your head. If you have any questions or want more info, send me a private message.

Hang in there, and I pray that you will find your answers soon and start feeling better again!

Ask your doctor to check your B12 level and also run a blood test for celiac disease. Low B12 can make you feel extremely tired. The blood test for celiac disease is not accurate so you may want to read up on the symptoms so that you can see for yourself whether this may be an issue for you and, if so, you may want to put yourself on a 2 week trial gluten-free diet and then reintroduce gluten after the 2 weeks to see how you feel before and after you reintroduce wheat products back into your diet.

I started going to a chiropractor. I was a nay sayer from the start. But after a month of adjustments, I stopped one of my prescription meds (overactive bladder). After a couple of months, I stopped wearing hearing aides that I had worn for 7 years (no kidding). Then after about 4 months, after reducing my thyroid meds, I was completely off of them and also stopped wearing glasses. My eye doctor said that it's common to not have to wear glasses if the problems with your eyesight is caused by compression of nerves in your neck. Also, I have more energy than I have ever had and don't require as much sleep as I used to. I'm not sure you would get the same results, but it has changed my life! I have been going now for almost a year now. It's worth a try! I'm into body building so exercise was never an issue for me either.

I have a thyroid problem as well. I was having the same issue, and I remembered my mom had to take an extra B1 pill. I started and within a couple of days I felt a difference. The older we get, the more our bodies need an extra boost.

Take Care,
P.

Malisme,

It sounds like your is not getting all the neutrients it needs, I have been using a great nutritional supplements that are safe and effective, I have energy from the time I wake up through day and sleep well. You should try it and see. I will be happy to share more information if you you would like.

You can also go to http://foryourhealth.reliv.com.

A.

Are you having your thyroid followed by your regular family doctor, or a specialist? In my experience with other things sometimes the family doctor is great for diagnosing and even getting you on a medicine, but sometimes not necessarily putting you on the right medication or right dosage - there may be some deeper digging that needs to be done. I would seek out a specialist for your Thyroid, as I know the thyroid can cause tiredness and it can also change over time. They might just know something your family doc doesn't.

Here is a link for you to check out about adrenal fatigue http://www.womenlivingnaturally.com/articlepage.php?id=6

have you had your adrenals checked? I am hypothyroid and have been on synthroid for about 3 years. My dr. says I'm "normal" range, but I know that synthroid only helps my thyroid to work about 30%. not 100% that we need it to. I just today actually started taking iodine pills that my nutritionist (and 2nd mom) suggested for me to get the rest of my thyroid working. I am desperatly hoping it works! I too am exausted all day long. But, I can not sleep at night. No matter how tired I am, I just don't sleep. I got 2 hours last night!! All part of adrenal fatigue. They have adrenal support pills that are supposed to help with that. But, maybe have that checked out if you haven't? Sorry! I hope this makes sense. I'm just so tired, like you, and feel like I could pass out, but I know I won't

Ha - last time I felt like that I was pregnant too.

But I know what you're saying. I have found that a few more glasses of fresh water in my diet during the day really helps boost my energy. So give that a go.

Also - have your boys help with chores around the house. My 2.5 yr old helps unpack the dishwasher (putting silverware in the drawer) and he puts his dirty clothes in his hamper. Just these simple things will help your workload but also give your kids some repsonsibilities.

Good luck.

WOW - you have just written my life story! I have had the same complaint for five plus years. My doctor finally agreed to do a COMPLETE BLOOD WORK UP and found three things that do not show up on regular blood tests. Two issues have to do with iron...I do not have enough iron in my blood stream but I have too much iron in storage. So, not only do I have iron deficiency; but, also iron overload; but, I am NOT anemic. Right now I can not take any vitamins or supplements with iron and I can not give blood. I am seeing a hemotologist and going through a battery of tests to see if I have a hidden infection that is draining my iron supply. Too much iron in storage can be deadly and we will start addressing that in January after I finish a Vitamin D treatment.

The third thing wrong is extremely low Vitamin D. I am currently taking 50,000 units of Vitamin D once a week for six months. With my doctors' approval, I added a supplement called GS-6. GS-6 does not contain any vitamins or minerals, it contains peptides and came highly recommended as an overall health improvement. Three days into the combination of the two, I could tell a huge difference. Between those two, I feel so much better, that, I don't even realize I feel so GOOD, until I really am tired, and rather than focusing on being tired, it makes me realize how good I have felt and for how long.

My doctor made every excuse you could think of for me being tired and I let her. One of the things is that I take care of my ill and elderly mother-in-law. I finally realized that if this my m-i-l with the problem, I would fight for her to get treatment. I had to go into my doctor's office and insist she do something or I would find another doctor! So, fight for yourself! Exhaustion is NOT normal. You deserve to live a full life and not just be thankful for getting through the day. God Bless You and keep trying to find the answer!

I am amazed at how many people are low in Vitamin D. My doctor told me that even after I finish this mega treatment of Vitamin D, that I will still have to take 5000 units of Vitamin D3 per day for the rest of my life. But, it is worth it!

I realize for my own health, the iron issues are much more life threatening; but, at least now I have some energy and feel like I can face those issues.

Updated

Two things I forgot to mention - my doctor also had me treated for sleep apnia. I disagreed and almost refused to be tested. However, I tested as having severe sleep apnia. Because I have not gotten use to the machine yet, I am now aware of when I am not breathing and I wake myself up to take a breath. I am sure once I get use to the machine, I will not wake up as often.

The other test was to check my liver function and in the process found other problems that required more test and found my gall bladder was only funtioning at 7% - so it was removed. So, by the same token of taking control of your health and fighting for more tests, do all the tests recommended because you never know what they will find.

Ironically, after having to fight so hard to get my doctor to do tests, once started, there was a domino effect. However, it has all been worth it and I do have a lot more energy! God Bless!

I had, and still have, this same concern...my ob said the same thing: "You're raising 3 young children (1, 3, and 5) and probably have an "overscheduled" life." He suggested to take more time to rest, even if it means letting your kiddos watch some tv :)

I'm interested in seeing what responses you get!

Malisme,

You are the typical patient I see in my office. Especially those with the hardest job (and most thankless) in the world-SAHM! What I've found is that you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue. Taking the supplements from GNC only treat the symptoms by giving you energy from the outside in. What your body needs right now is energy from the inside out. What I mean is that you need to feed the organs in your body what they need to fully support your busy and active lifestyle. All your body is telling you is that it's hungry for certain nutrients. Also, we may find some liver issues, but we need to determine all these things with a consultation. I would probably recommend a saliva test that would determine if it is your adrenals, but then again it may not even be necessary after talking with you. I would also suggest getting your nervous system checked. As one post said below that going to a chiropractor really helped. Your nervous system is the system in charge of your entire body. You cannot possibly be healthy if it's not healthy. So, determining the health of your nervous system is just as, if not more important than checking your heart or reproductive system. The only doctors that are trained to detect and correct interferences in this system (without the use of dangerous drugs and unproven surgeries) is a chiropractor. If you are interested, I would be honored to help you. Either email me directly or you can call my office at ###-###-#### and tell Shari that you were referred by Mamapedia. She will then know that you have a discounted price for your first visit (consult, exam and any necessary x-rays) for $45 (normally $265). I look forward to hearing from you.