[shamon86]

A brief history about myself:
28 year old female. Diagnosed with Major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety over 2 years ago. Taking medication (Effexor 300 mg per day) for the past year. Since the beginning of this year I have been having some major issues with fatigue. I've always been tired, but it has gotten worse since the beginning of the year and there have been no changes medication wise to point to why I feel this way. I sleep 8 hours or more a night, but wake up still tired. I have mild sleep apnea and used a c pap for a while, but no change there either. I've seen 3 different doctors for my fatigue, and no one had any answers (they all thought it was a result of my depression). After seeing an endocrinologist and running more blood tests, she told me my thyroid levels were on the low side of normal and given that I have a family history of thyroid issues, found it reasonable to put me on a thyroid medication. 2 months after taking the medication daily (along with a vitamin D and iron supplement) I am not feeling any better. If anything the medication is giving me a sore throat often. I have a Feeling when I go back to see by endo that she won't be able to give me any other answers.

Should I just stop trying to find answers and just try to deal with the fact that I may have to feel this way for the rest of my life? I'm out of ideas and it seems that my doctors are too. What would you do?

[Little Lulu]

If your endo started thyroid replacement two months ago, you will have a blood level checked at the follow-up appt. If your thyroid has just started to poop-out, you may need the med. dose increased. Sometimes it takes a while to get thyroid issues leveled out. Your Vit D level will probably be checked again.

Hang in there - at 28 I doubt you face a lifetime of feeling bad. Fatigue is frequently a tricky thing to diagnose and treat.

[benzenering]

I agree with Lulu...thyroid meds are not one and done. You should get your levels checked every 6 weeks. Your dosage will be raised by small amounts if needed. You may not be at an optimal level yet. Hang in there!

[googley]

Don't give up on finding out what is wrong. Keep asking questions. You deserve to feel better.

[unaluna]

How is your blood sugar? I have been complaining of fatigue to my dr for several years, and my blood sugar recently got bad enough for him to put me on meds, and that seems to be helping.

[kiwi33]

Prescription replacement thyroid hormones come in two forms. One form are the "T4 group" (named because they contain four iodine atoms) and the other is the "T3 group" (with three iodine atoms).

The T3 group are more potent than the T4 group. If you have been prescribed a T4, you could discuss the option of a T3 group medication with your endocrinologist.

Also, production of hormones by the thyroid gland is controlled by a hormone called Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which is made by the pituitary gland.

If it has not yet happened, you could ask your endocrinologist to arrange for a measurement of your blood TSH level - if it is abnormal that might indicate an issue with your pituitary gland.

[shamon86]

Originally Posted by hankster

How is your blood sugar? I have been complaining of fatigue to my dr for several years, and my blood sugar recently got bad enough for him to put me on meds, and that seems to be helping.

I don't think there has been anything that has come up with my blood sugar. None of the other docs seemed worried about it and I haven't seen it off in the labs.
Other then my T I can't seem to find a doc that cares enough to not give up on me. It's so frustrating....

[Mundane Gryphon]

I notice that you didn't mention having any testing for anemia (a CBC, for instance). That's usually the first thing doctors check when a woman (especially one of childbearing age) complains of fatigue. You should ask for a CBC and possibly specific iron studies to be sure you aren't anemic. The CBC is a very common blood test, and the iron studies are a little more in depth to investigate if you have proper stores of iron in your body.

I agree with the others who have encouraged you to follow up on your thyroid levels too, as they can be tricky to manage at first.

[shamon86]

I'll keep that in mind. My T keeps stressing to me that I would feel better if I started a work out regime, and I hear the same from my pdoc too, but I don't think that the fact that I don't work out contributes to the severity of my fatigue.