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Dr. Mercola
May 06 2008
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What is Thyroid-Related Fatigue?

fatigue, yawningNot all fatigue or tiredness is due to thyroid malfunction, so how do you tell the difference?

Thyroid-related fatigue begins to appear when you cannot sustain energy long enough, especially when compared to a past level of fitness or ability. If your thyroid foundation is weak, sustaining energy output is difficult. You will notice you just don’t seem to have the energy to do the things you used to be able to do.

Some of the key symptoms of thyroid fatigue include:
  • Feeling like you don’t have the energy to exercise, and typically not exercising on a consistent basis.
  • A heavy or tired head, especially in the afternoon, as your head is a very sensitive indicator of thyroid hormone status.
  • Falling asleep as soon as you sit down and don’t have to do anything.
If you wake up energized, maintain decent energy throughout the day, are able to maintain mental alertness/sharpness, have energy as needed to meet demands, and your muscles feel fit, you do not have thyroid-related fatigue. However, the more you do not feel like this, the greater chance there is a thyroid-related problem.

Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:
Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland that produces hormones that influence essentially every organ, tissue and cell in your body. Thyroid disease, if left untreated, can lead to heart disease, infertility, muscle weakness, osteoporosis and, in extreme cases, coma or death -- yet it’s estimated that half of the cases in the United States remain undiagnosed.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) affects some 80 percent of people with thyroid disease. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, forgetfulness, depression, constipation, and changes in weight and appetite.

How do You Know if Your Thyroid is Not Working Properly?

Your body will likely let you know, and fatigue is the most common sign, followed by depression and muscle weakness. Along with the symptoms above, signs of an underactive thyroid also include:
  • Difficulty losing weight despite proper diet and exercise
  • Sensitivity to cold
  • Dry, rough or scaly skin, and dry, tangled hair
  • Hair loss, particularly from the outer part of your eyebrows
  • Brittle nails
The most common conventional way physicians diagnose hypothyroidism is with a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test that is elevated beyond the normal reference range.

The range for acceptable thyroid function is between 0.3 and 3.04. In my experience, most adults with levels over 3 have hypothyroidism, and many with levels from 1.5 to 3.0 seem to benefit from thyroid support.

Be Wary of Using Hormones to Treat Hypothyroidism

Nearly every conventional medical doctor will use synthetic thyroid to treat the symptoms of underactive thyroid.

Unfortunately, in my experience, this will not help the bulk of people who are suffering with these symptoms, and to understand why you need to know a bit more about the role of your thyroid and how it functions.

Your thyroid produces several hormones, of which two are key: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones help oxygen get into cells, and make your thyroid the master gland of metabolism.

However, most people can’t effectively convert the pure T4 in the synthetic thyroid preparations to T3. A natural thyroid hormone may be a better bet and I encourage all patients taking synthetic thyroid prescriptions like Synthroid to find a natural medical doctor and switch to Armour thyroid.  Clearly this doesn’t work for everyone, just most in my experience.

But even when using natural thyroid preparations there are concerns.

You see, once you remain on a thyroid hormone for a period of years, your thyroid will tend to become progressively less functional. In time, it will probably stop producing any functional hormones whatsoever, which could condemn you to taking thyroid hormone for the rest of your life.

Natural Methods to Restore Your Thyroid

The first and most basic step you can take is to clean up your diet. This means reducing your intake of processed and refined foods, while following a nutrition plan that is right for your nutritional type.

You can also:

1. Make sure you’re getting enough selenium and iodine, which provide the raw materials for your thyroid gland to work better.

2. Get plenty of omega-3 fats from high quality sources like krill oil. A variety of studies and physiological principles suggest that omega-3 fat in doses of 3-5 grams per day would be helpful in restoring thyroid function.

3. Get a sound night’s sleep, in complete darkness.

4. Address your emotional stress. The vast majority of people's thyroid glands become impaired as a result of weak adrenal glands. The thyroid gland tries to compensate for this and eventually just gives up and stops working.

Well, adrenal impairment is frequently due to emotional stress, and unless you have these previous emotional challenges resolved, there is little likelihood of recovering your thyroid function without hormonal replacement.

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Community Comments ( 67 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
DJones3423
 [ Joined on 05/07 ] [ Posted on May 7, 2008 ]
27 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User

I haven't read all of the comments, but I wanted to add something that might help some women. My thyroid problems were directly related to female hormones. Over the years, I was on various hormonal birth control (from various forms of the pill to Depo Provera to the mini pill to the Nuva Ring), and over time, each one of them affected my thyroid levels. I still don't know why, but the connection was undeniable. I'd be okay for about a year, then the symptoms would start to set in. I also had pre-eclampsia with my first pregnancy and hypothyroid-like symptoms with my second two.

From various blood tests, it appears that my T3 and T4 numbers would be low while my TSH number stayed relatively low (usually below 2.0). That's not the way the numbers usually relate to each other. Usually, as T3 and T4 drop, the TSH number goes up. The few times that my TSH number was captured at more than 2.0 was during times when I felt as if I were going to die, but my T3 and T4 were "low normal," so most doctors wouldn't treat me for hypothyroidism. My free T3 and free T4 were low, but most of the doctors who I had the misfortune of dealing with didn't test for those.

When I saw Dr. Mercola as a patient a number of years ago, I brought in all of my previous blood test results. He took one look at them and wrote me a prescription for Armour Thyroid. That action saved my life. Eventually, I became well enough again that I could see how my birth control led to the hypothyroid conditions. If I didn't take my birth control for a few days, the symptoms would lessen. As soon as I got back on it, the symptoms came back full force. I got off of all hormonal birth control, and I was able to wean myself off of the thyroid medication as well. I'm now entering perimenopause, and I can sometimes feel my thyroid becoming sluggish again. A few days of half of a thyroid pill per day (taken until I can feel my own thyroid picking up again), and I feel better.

I hope this helps someone.

Donna

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
sunshinelover
 		[ Joined on 04/08 ]  [ Posted on May 14, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Interesting. Thanks for sharing DJones3423!

My Mum is the one in our family who has suffered from low Thyroid.  As a baby she was fed Soy Infant Formula because she couldn't tolerate the dairy kind.  Foolish, yes?  If my Grandmother had been encouraged, there was no reason she couldn't have nursed her, but in that time it wasn't what was promoted.  So sad...  

When Mom was engaged to be married she went on the pill.  She became so ill she said it was a wonder my Dad married her.  She finally got off the pill, but she felt it messed her up hormonally for many years afterwards.  After she had all of her children she had a brush with melanoma and recovered from the cancer (using natural treatments and surgery) but did not become fully healthy.  It was difficult for her, she had many symptoms: flying off the handle, feeling tired, uptight, and just overall not herself.   She continued to search for answers.  At last her N.D. put her on Armour Thyroid and she says that is what gave her stability.

So, I want to offer a BIG THANK YOU to all of the wonderful N.D.'s out there who help us regain our health!  You people rock!  
  
  
Reesacat
 [ Joined on 01/07 ] [ Posted on April 21, 2008 ]
15 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Excellent article on the symptoms of thyroid-related fatigue-this should be Thyroid 101 at Medical School instead of 'how to order thyroid tests and ignore what the patient is telling you' currently being taught.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
schnauzermom
 		[ Joined on 08/07 ]  [ Posted on May 6, 2008]
5 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I TOTALLY agree! I went to 5 different doctors; each one recommended something different...exercise or more sleep, or do an anxiety program, manage stress, take a vacation. Two of them just looked at me, shrugged their shoulders and had NO answers or suggestions, maybe even referral to someone else...but I can say that one of those doctors wrote down ANXIETY on my paperwork!

They are not trained well enough. I also think that some of the doctors I saw before I was dx'd are not taking the time to read journals, go to seminars, network with other physicians, or take the initiative to take time after they have their degrees to LEARN. (at least around us they seem not to) I have talked to several people that have used the same hospital network of doctors I use. SHe stated that she was having headaches, blurred vision, dizziness and her BP was high in the MD's office which the MD said was "normal nervousness in the MD's office". Sure! For 5 visits?!!! She got fed up with these west suburban MD's and went to Park Ridge.(she is NOT the first person I know that has done this either!) That first doctor she saw there NAILED IT! Did not surprise me. I had an issue too and went to an MD in Glenview and he was passionate about his field and really WAS (not seemed, WAS!) interested in ME! WHAT a breathe of fresh air! I have found the west suburban (Illinois) MD's I have seen are great for sinus infections, colds and some minor issues but most do not work evenings, no office hours on Friday and FORGET Saturday because they are close too, closing for 2-3 hours for lunch, no appointments after 5pm with some MD's except for 1 day a week and then you need to wait 6-8 weeks because everyone else that works is booking those times. With SO much time not seeing patients I would think they would have time to read. I know all cannot know everything, and that is fine...REFER me to someone else. Some rather not as it shows their lack of knowledge maybe? Egos can (and do) hurt people though!
Mercola
  
organigirl
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on May 7, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Amen to that!!!
  
  
seg
 [ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on April 22, 2008 ]
11 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
In addition to the thyroid, another thing to watch for is Adrenal fatigue and it takes a very experience Physician to diagnose and or differentiate . For Adrenal fatigue here's a superly informative and detail read, one of the very best i have read on this subject :

http://www.lammd.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/adrenal_fatigue.cfm
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
WellnessMom
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on April 22, 2008]
4 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
Great Info...thanks! I've been asking my doc if I could have bad adrenals for awhile now and he just kind of ignores me. I have CFS and Fibromyalgia, and I have alot of the sypmtoms of Adrenal Fatigue. I'll be getting this report to him!
Mercola
  
seg
 		[ Joined on 11/06 ]  [ Posted on April 22, 2008]
5 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Yes conventional physicians would not order a test where they would not know what to do with the results.....That is why it is imperative to get a good Physician, either an EXPERIENCED Integrated or Naturopath....
Best of luck to you......
Mercola
  
Reesacat
 		[ Joined on 01/07 ]  [ Posted on April 22, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Seg, excellent article!  Thank you for the link.
Mercola
  
Barbiec1953
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on May 6, 2008]
2 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Pertaining to the adrenals  

www.drrind.com
Mercola
  
Lidija
 		[ Joined on 05/07 ]  [ Posted on May 6, 2008]
       
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Thanks for the link.

I got "lost" on this site for over an hour and found the info and links on cancer and paleolithic diets also very interesting. Lot of good information.  
Mercola
  
CATRYNA
 		[ Joined on 07/06 ]  [ Posted on May 6, 2008]
2 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Dear Wellness Mom:

If your doctor ignores you, find another doctor. A couple of years ago my doctor turned me onto the website Wilsons Temperature Syndrome (WTS)after I had tried Armours and a synthetic with resulting bad reactions. Check it out, it has done wonders for me. BTW, what is your temperature? It should be around 98.6 and if it isn't (according to Dr Wilson) that is a sure sign of Hypothyroidism no matter what your blood test says. Mine, since, my teens ran around 96.4, it's now up around 97.7. I do feel much better, but still working  on getting it up to 98.6.

I don't know where in California ((my home state too(Ramona)) you live, but you will find physicians, in California, on Dr Wilson's list who understand his methods (WTS Protocol) and will work with you. If you can't find a physician near you, the website has supplements that work absolute miracles.

The best to you. Catryna.
Mercola
  
WellnessMom
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on May 6, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Catryna,

Thanks for the info on Dr. Wilson. I'll check it out. I have never taken my temp as it suggests to do in the morning before getting out of bed. I have had my thyroid tested a few times. My first doctor jumped on the results with one option, to take Synthroid even though my results were borderline. When I refused and told her I wanted to find something natural, she blew a gasket.

I then had it tested by my Homeopathic doctor and he said he is more liberal than regular doctors and didn't see anything wrong with my thyroid. I had been taking a product called Thytrophin PMG for several months before the second test. My chiropractor who is very much into natural medicine, told me about it. You can read more about it here: www.standardprocess.com/.../displayFile.aspx

Thanks again for the info.

Seq,

Thank you also for the info. I will look in my area for one of the experienced doctors you suggested.

Teresa (WellnessMom)
Mercola
  
potter1958
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on May 6, 2008]
       
   
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.
  Mercola

I heard of WTS 3-5 years ago.  When I started taking my temp, I averaged 97.1.  My doctor would not do anything because my blood test showed it barely being in the 'normal range'.  I also have very low testosterone for my age (49), and low adrenals.

Another useful site, healthline.cc and look at the Quantum Reflex Analysis.  They located a practitioner near me (lst week), and her diagnosis is that I'm pretty much the walking dead.  I have a heavy metal block, mostly because of the metal in my mouth, something called an 'interference' block,