bone tired -- any experiences?

[Christine]

I have to add in--I've had both low thyroid (up to 100-ish was my TSH) and low iron. I felt FAR worse with the low iron. It was awful.

 

[Hoodie]

The normal range for TSH is only .3-3 . That isn't all that wide of a range considering when they found my thyroid issue my TSH was at 95.

While that's the new recommendation, not all labs have gone to that and still give a "normal" range of 0.5-5.0. With me, my first level was 4.0 (in normal range at the time) After MANY battles with my doc, they finally ran a full panel and my T3 was off the charts. started 50mcg of thyroid and went up to75mcg before I felt a difference. My numbers settled at about 1.0. A couple of years ago I felt awful again - tired, losing hair, etc. TSH was 2.0 - again, normal, but that difference was enough for me to feel it. Doc bumped me up to 100mcg and everything settled again at 1.0

Yours was extreme, but people can certainly feel pretty miserable with even slight changes in the thyroid panel, even within the normal range.

 

[Lachesis00]

And make sure to have the doctor do a complete iron test (there is 3 parts to iron my doctor checks). I get venefur infusions (IV drip) every 4 weeks. I don't absorb iron from food or iron pill. I feel like a whole new person!

This has probably already been checked, but have they tested your iron levels? When I was severely anemic, it was just like you described, right down to the mental fog, complete exhaustion and hair loss.

 

[englishteacha]

I'd say your thyroid levels are off. TSH is only one way of measuring thyroid levels. You might want to see an endocrinologist.

 

[amyy]

A co-worker who has a lot of energy was bone tired and it was a lack of vitamin D.

The thyroid stuff is frustrating as I suffer from that too. It has been forever and they kept me at the same level for a few years. Finally after a push from my hair dresser (as she was bothered by my thinning hair) I was retested and they increased my does. I had gotten so use to being tired that I forget what it was like to have energy.

Good luck.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Strange as this may sound, you may be suffering from major clinical depression. I had all those tests, but as the psychiatrist explained it to me, "Clinical depression can hit even when life is going along just rosy. It's a physical thing." I barely ate for a month-know why? It just look, like, work to eat. All I wanted to do was sleep all the time. I'll admit that when my PCP first suggested clinical depression, I almost fell over-"I'm not depressed about anything, except now I'm depressed about being tired all the time!" $26,000 worth of hospitalization and tests later (not counting the office visits to the psychiatrist), turned out my PCP was right.

 

[vettechick99]

Depression was also the first thing I thought of too.

Hugs to you, OP!!!

 

[davidsprincess]

Get your hormones checked out - estrogen, progesterone and testosterone (yes, we women have it too!). Get your progesterone done 1-2 weeks before your menstration, and your estrogen either before or after that. You will get truer numbers that way.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I'm glad I saw this. I had a thread on this issue a month or so ago. I talked to my PCP at my last visit and had the full panel- TSH, T4, metabolic, iron. Everything came back "normal" but I don't have my numbers. She did order a sleep study and I amwaiting ot hear from the center to schedule that. When I follow up with her I do plan to ask her what my exact numbers were.

I know for my mom, she does not feel well in the "normal" range of thyroid. She had hers out and is still tweaking the meds because where her doctors say is right and where her body says is right are two different things.

Don't rule out a condition like sleep apnea. That could definitely cause fatigue and you would not even realize you have it.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Suffering from similar symptoms now.
Currently diagnosed with Celiac Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Being examined for arthritis currently.

 

[Abbie]

You've gotten a lot of good ideas here OP, hope something helps!

The only thing I would wonder about (although honestly your symptoms point to thyroid issues) is to check and see if you test positive for Epstein-Barr. That might explain the overwhelming fatigue at least. Make sure they do the blood test that will actually tell if you have an active case and not just a matter of having had it in the past.

When you mentioned about taking care of your mom, I did also think there might be an element of depression. It can be exhausting mentally (and physically!) to become the caretaker for a parent, even if intellectually you don't think it's possible.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[ahutton]

Several years ago I had non-stop aches, very fatigued, felt like I had the flu but didn't, and had a low grade fever. It turns out I had mono. My spleen was very enlarged, my temp was in the high 99s low 100s for about two months. Nobody else in my home or at my office had it, and nobody caught it, but sure enough that was what it was. For about 12-18 months after that when I got a minor cold or something it would totally wipe me out for several days, but eventually it got better.

 

[tinkntraining]

Thank you, everyone, for all your kind replies!
First of all, it's so nice to know I'm not alone. I am going to ask my doctor for a copy of all my labs done to date, and the last couple of results of my TSH test. And I'm going to ask to see an endocrinologist and start there. I'm hoping with my symptoms, he/she will know what tests to give me. If not, I'll suggest the appropriateness of the T3 and T4, at least.
For those who mentioned depression-- there's no doubt, I am depressed, too. This has been a huge lifeswing for me and my family. I recognized the symptoms and was put on medication over a year ago for the depression. Now, the physical symptoms are just getting worse and worse, which leads me to believe, there's something else going on, too.

I may be in for a long ride, but at least I know where I'm going.
Thanks again. I knew I could count on my DIS friends to lead me in the right direction!

 

[wdhinn89]

Some days, it takes every ounce of strength I have to just pull myself out of bed. My knees ache. I can't think clearly, I feel like I've been hit with the flu that never got better. My hair is falling out by the clumps.
I'm not just tired -- I'm absolutely exhausted. Some days, even lifting my arms in the air to blow dry or put my sweater on, feels like a major to-do. Other days, I am able to plug away, even though I haven't felt "normal" for awhile.
I'm scheduled for a follow-up appointment with my PCP tomorrow. So far, I've tested negative for Lyme's Disease and Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever. My CBC's are "normal". I do have hypothyroidism, but my latest TSH results were normal. Should I be asking for a referral to see a specialist of some kind? What can I expect from the second appointment?

Thanks for all your help.

I thought of alot of the same suggestions that others have said BUT is hair falling out in clumps a symptom of thyroid, lupus, low vitamin D, mono? This is the one part that is throwing me off

 

[claudia]

I thought of alot of the same suggestions that others have said BUT is hair falling out in clumps a symptom of thyroid, lupus, low vitamin D, mono? This is the one part that is throwing me off

Thyroid (hypo and hyper), lupus and iron deficiency all have this as a symptom.