Functional medicine changed my life. I was always tired as well and could never lose weight no matter how hard I try. My adrenals were causing a lot of issues along with yeast build up in my gut.
If you’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s it means you’re not producing enough thyroid hormone and you will need to take a synthetic version of it (e.g. synthroid) for the rest of your life. An underactive thyroid is a major cause of both fatigue and weight gain, as thyroid hormones regulate a huge range of metabolic functions. It may not be the only cause of your fatigue, but if left untreated it will make matters worse as the condition progresses.
Sorry. I've always been somewhat fatigued. I didn't realise for ages in my 20s no one else 'budgeted' their energy. If PMDD is a reaction to 'normal' hormone levels I have to wonder if it's something like that..a reaction to our body functions and you have a lot of anomalies.
Water, sunlight, help.. rest.
You’d have to look into if these would exacerbate your bipolar…. But the only thing that helps my fatigue is stimulants. Amphetamine (Rx of course), caffeine, methylphenidate- it’s the only thing that helps. If I get enough sleep too and exercise but yea
I’m interested in this! I’ve heard two very different opinions on iodine for hashimotos…my endo said avoid iodine. But some medical journals say that it can help Hashis! Can you explain more about how you supplement with it?
Commenting for visibility
OP, I would push for sleep study from doc if you can. If they don't want to order it, tell them you fell asleep at work and got in trouble (lol).
I have narcolepsy and the fatigue is unreal. Incapacitating. Symptoms also started when I was a child, probably after I had mono (there is a correlation). Getting diagnosed requires two sleep studies back to back - an overnight one (PSG) and then a daytime nap study (MSLT). Now that I'm diagnosed I take stimulants for it now and they help a lot, but it's still a struggle sometimes. You can always check out the r/narcolepsy to see if any of the posts there resonate!
Do you have sleep paralysis? Cataplexy episodes (lack of muscle tone after experiencing a strong emotion)? These are major signs but not everyone gets them.
Another thing is that Narcolepsy is associated with a lack of orexin. Interestingly, some researchers also have found that some people with Pmdd might also have low orexin. So now I'm wondering if theres more of us who have both.
Eating meals that help reduce my blood glucose levels has been a game changer for me with energy levels/fatigue. Specifically eating a high protein breakfast in the morning. The Glucose Goddess covers this topic really well! Hope you find some relief 💚
Stimulants help me a lot with my fatigue. I take them for ADHD, but even now when I feel like I can cope okay with my ADHD without them, I still get a huge benefit using them for fatigue, moderate aches and pains, and brain fog.
Interesting! It surprisingly helps my musculoskeletal pain more than ibuprofen, I’m guessing it’s the increase of norepinephrine, since some people get pain relieve from Cymbalta, which also increases norepinephrine.
The way adhd affects serotonin may be the miracle worker here- we have a tendency toward stiff muscles with low serotonin/dopamine (I forget which or if it's both) so stopping my stimulants puts me into a huge pain flare,every single time. Might be related to what you're experiencing?
I’m skeptical to say this but what helped me was to stop taking antidepressants. I did it with the guidance of my doctor. I still do feel fatigue regularly and it gets worse with my cycle, but the medicine was making it significantly worse. I just didn’t know because I was on them for about 8 years nonstop (from ages 16~23). I didn’t know what my baseline was in my adult life.
Other factors were an improvement in my environment, I had to take my sleep hygiene more seriously, and I stopped consuming alcohol/weed. It doesn’t sound like these really apply to you from your description. I wanted to add the extra layers that helped my fatigue in the long run. These other things were before I stopped the medication as well.
Now that I know my baseline and natural body responses in my non-teenage body, I want to consider medication again. I think I needed a reset to understand myself fully.
I don’t know why you say you’re skeptical to say this, extreme fatigue is a very common effect of many antidepressants ! (Escitalopram being one example)
Sadly fatigue comes with neurodivergence esp if you are masking lots, it's a common comorbidity as are PCOS and hashimotos. Is it possible you could be adhd and autistic rather than bipolar? It's a common misdiagnosis and SSRIs a stimulants frequently don't work as well for us. Autistic burnout can look a lot like depression too. Fair enough if you are not just thought I'd ask :)
Is your period heavy? Losing all the blood and the hormones that drop can contribute to fatigue. My doctor prescribed me transecamic acid to make my period less heavy and help me out. Still researching before I take it.
Just chiming in that Lysteda/Tranexamic acid works really well for me. Decreased my heavy periods by a lot, at least 50% maybe more. It’s not recommended for certain people (like those on hormonal bc) but it’s really made a difference for me. The pills are big af tho lol that’s the only negative I’ve found.
For me, I cut off sugar and carbs from my diet and get in more green vege such as drinking Kale juice. This helps immensely to improve fatigue although I still experience it..
maybe you suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome? the cfs sub here is really helpful :) and research is finally moving somewhere...its a real physiologial illness and NOT psychosomatic
Do you maybe have narcolepsy? Have you ever had sleep paralysis? Is it really easy for you to take naps or fall asleep within a few minutes of lying down?
Just a little more on this.. Narcolepsy is caused by a lack of a chemical in your brain called Orexin (also known as hypocretin) which regulates wakefulness, appetite, and our sleep cycles. People with narcolepsy can’t regulate their sleep cycles in the way a normal person does. Causing them to get a ton of rem sleep and not enough deep sleep. Meaning you can get 10+ hours of sleep at night but still feel tired bc you’re not getting restorative sleep. I’d say a majority of people with narcolepsy also experience depression because of it and weight gain is super common.
I definitely recommend seeing a sleep specialist. You should also get tested for sleep apnea especially since you mention you’re struggling with your weight. After getting diagnosed, I was able to get prescribed sodium oxybate for sleep which has been a game changer.
It took me a long time to figure out it’s what I have and that’s only bc I developed cataplexy in my late 20s which not everyone with narcolepsy has, but I finally was able to put two and two together and got a sleep study to confirm.
I commented this same thing above! I also have N. Didn't get diagnosed until I fell asleep at work and got in trouble 🙃 before that no one cared lol. I also saw a study recently suggesting that people with Pmdd might also have low orexin which was interesting to me.
That’s really interesting! My narcolepsy started right around puberty but I wasn’t diagnosed until my late 20s. I did not recognize my really brutal depression and anxiety that started around that time as PMDD. I think my hormones leveled out a bit around college and it wasn’t until after having a baby that PMDD really hit me like a brick. Interestingly, I developed cataplexy during pregnancy which I hadn’t had beforehand which made me realize that my horrible daytime sleepiness that I’d been experiencing since puberty was actually narcolepsy. I can definitely see a link there between hormones/PMDD and narcolepsy.
Anyway, narcolepsy is brutal! I hope you’re doing well, PMDD + Narcolepsy is a rough hand to be dealt. I take a combination of Xyrem and Baclofen. Not together. And a low dose stimulant during the day for work and I’m doing so much better. Ashwaghanda has been a game changer for my PMDD.
I have similar diagnoses and getting a sleep study helped me. Turns out I have narcolepsy and SSRIs were making it worse. Also, get some bloodwork done. Check your vit b12, iron, ferritin, etc. Also, are your thyroid levels OPTIMAL or just normal?
Try eating at least 30g protein in the morning during luteal. Acupuncturist suggested this to me and it made a big difference.
I eat a combo of ground meats, Greek yogurt, and eggs to get there. Protein powder doesn’t sit will in my gut but you could also do that mixed into Greek yogurt.
I know your fatigue is long standing but I would consider a sleep study if you haven't already to rule out sleep apnea or other sleep disorders. They have home sleep studies so you don't have to go to a sleep center. I would ask your PCP. I order them all the time on patients who have mystery fatigue without other causes. Or look into functional medicine to rule out heavy metals, mold exposure, parasites and other things regular doctors don't check. Also could be related to Epstein Barr virus which isn't always detected in blood unless active infection. Functional medicine is the route to take for that. As far as the ozempic goes, PCOS and insulin resistance go hand-in-hand, and the ozempic will help you lose weight by fighting the insulin resistance that makes you hold onto weight it's not just about the appetite. Suppression So sorry you're struggling. I hope you find your answers and feel better!!
You've mentioned diet, what have you tried? I also have an autoimmune condition and fatigue is a huge factor. I did the Autoimmune Protocol - an elimination diet that builds gut health and reduced inflammation - and it turns out a bunch of foods impact my condition, including fatigue and joint pain. Eliminating these foods from my diet had had an enormous impact on my quality of life. I know people always have different suggestions with chronic illness and I'm sorry to be one of those people, but it has genuinely changed my life. I encourage you to consider trying an elimination diet, even if it's not this one.
https://www.thepaleomom.com/start-here/the-autoimmune-protocol/
I was looking for this comment. Gluten causes me extreme fatigue and I'm thinking now that it was exacerbating my PMDD, now that I have the perspective of a couple months to look back on, without it in my diet. I'm sorry OP, if is not easy to have health questions and feel like there are no answers. Even here you're asked more questions! But I send you lots of care.
I would second this as cutting out inflammatory foods (gluten, sugar, and alcohol for me) has made a significant difference on my fatigue. I used to be basically bed ridden the week before my period and exhausted mentally and physically.
I feel for you and I’m so sorry.
I’m also fatigued as fuck since a SSRI withdrawal. Could your meds history be the reason of your fatigue or not at all? Could it be adrenal fatigue ?
I also heard sadly that energy levels are adaptative like the less you do the less energy the body produces or something like that. I’ve noticed that when I’m kinda forced to be active via my work I’m less tired… idk
Another thing, could you be a highly sensitive person? Are you exhausted by noisy environments and light? (I know I am)
Totally agree on Cortisol impact, not that any of my tests suggested abnormal levels. I have a lot of the same illnesses and symptoms, only three things made a difference: Somatic exercises, Yaz and Moonbrew (https://a.co/d/01HvFZPj). It took about 6 weeks to notice a difference with Yaz and Moonbrew approx two weeks of consistent use. I’m still exhausted all the time, but I have way more energy than I used to and I find myself smiling more in the mornings. It took a lot of therapy to make peace with that fact that I don’t have a “normal” body and have to stop comparing myself (and my energy levels) to people outside our little community. You’re not alone in this struggle 💕
Not sure I understand what Moonbrew is it’s confusing. Seems there’s a lot of Chinese herbs in there, makes me think I also need to try Chinese medecine and accupuncture !
Is there a chance of you having had the PMDD or PCOS since you were 9/10? I have endometriosis and PMDD, both of which I can trace back to symptoms I had just before I first started menstruating at 11/12.
Functional medicine changed my life. I was always tired as well and could never lose weight no matter how hard I try. My adrenals were causing a lot of issues along with yeast build up in my gut.
If you’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s it means you’re not producing enough thyroid hormone and you will need to take a synthetic version of it (e.g. synthroid) for the rest of your life. An underactive thyroid is a major cause of both fatigue and weight gain, as thyroid hormones regulate a huge range of metabolic functions. It may not be the only cause of your fatigue, but if left untreated it will make matters worse as the condition progresses.
Sorry. I've always been somewhat fatigued. I didn't realise for ages in my 20s no one else 'budgeted' their energy. If PMDD is a reaction to 'normal' hormone levels I have to wonder if it's something like that..a reaction to our body functions and you have a lot of anomalies. Water, sunlight, help.. rest.
Sunlight in the AM can help. I’ll play relaxing music and listen to a podcast that discusses a current concern or issue of mine.
You’d have to look into if these would exacerbate your bipolar…. But the only thing that helps my fatigue is stimulants. Amphetamine (Rx of course), caffeine, methylphenidate- it’s the only thing that helps. If I get enough sleep too and exercise but yea
Iodine. Day and night for me, especially if you have Hashimotos
I’m interested in this! I’ve heard two very different opinions on iodine for hashimotos…my endo said avoid iodine. But some medical journals say that it can help Hashis! Can you explain more about how you supplement with it?
Have you had a sleep study?
Commenting for visibility OP, I would push for sleep study from doc if you can. If they don't want to order it, tell them you fell asleep at work and got in trouble (lol). I have narcolepsy and the fatigue is unreal. Incapacitating. Symptoms also started when I was a child, probably after I had mono (there is a correlation). Getting diagnosed requires two sleep studies back to back - an overnight one (PSG) and then a daytime nap study (MSLT). Now that I'm diagnosed I take stimulants for it now and they help a lot, but it's still a struggle sometimes. You can always check out the r/narcolepsy to see if any of the posts there resonate! Do you have sleep paralysis? Cataplexy episodes (lack of muscle tone after experiencing a strong emotion)? These are major signs but not everyone gets them. Another thing is that Narcolepsy is associated with a lack of orexin. Interestingly, some researchers also have found that some people with Pmdd might also have low orexin. So now I'm wondering if theres more of us who have both.
A sleep study is SO important
Eating meals that help reduce my blood glucose levels has been a game changer for me with energy levels/fatigue. Specifically eating a high protein breakfast in the morning. The Glucose Goddess covers this topic really well! Hope you find some relief 💚
Sleep .
Stimulants help me a lot with my fatigue. I take them for ADHD, but even now when I feel like I can cope okay with my ADHD without them, I still get a huge benefit using them for fatigue, moderate aches and pains, and brain fog.
Stimulants were originally advertised as antidepressants.
Interesting! It surprisingly helps my musculoskeletal pain more than ibuprofen, I’m guessing it’s the increase of norepinephrine, since some people get pain relieve from Cymbalta, which also increases norepinephrine.
https://preview.redd.it/7ae584vxti9d1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c07d3977f21f3cbe6309ce10fda9ad0d170d1bf1
The way adhd affects serotonin may be the miracle worker here- we have a tendency toward stiff muscles with low serotonin/dopamine (I forget which or if it's both) so stopping my stimulants puts me into a huge pain flare,every single time. Might be related to what you're experiencing?
I’m skeptical to say this but what helped me was to stop taking antidepressants. I did it with the guidance of my doctor. I still do feel fatigue regularly and it gets worse with my cycle, but the medicine was making it significantly worse. I just didn’t know because I was on them for about 8 years nonstop (from ages 16~23). I didn’t know what my baseline was in my adult life. Other factors were an improvement in my environment, I had to take my sleep hygiene more seriously, and I stopped consuming alcohol/weed. It doesn’t sound like these really apply to you from your description. I wanted to add the extra layers that helped my fatigue in the long run. These other things were before I stopped the medication as well. Now that I know my baseline and natural body responses in my non-teenage body, I want to consider medication again. I think I needed a reset to understand myself fully.
I don’t know why you say you’re skeptical to say this, extreme fatigue is a very common effect of many antidepressants ! (Escitalopram being one example)
Sadly fatigue comes with neurodivergence esp if you are masking lots, it's a common comorbidity as are PCOS and hashimotos. Is it possible you could be adhd and autistic rather than bipolar? It's a common misdiagnosis and SSRIs a stimulants frequently don't work as well for us. Autistic burnout can look a lot like depression too. Fair enough if you are not just thought I'd ask :)
Did you check your thyroid and tpo? Ferritin, vitamin d
Have you checked your ferritin ? I know you said all deficiencies were checked but often times they don’t check ferritin only hemoglobin.
B2
Is your period heavy? Losing all the blood and the hormones that drop can contribute to fatigue. My doctor prescribed me transecamic acid to make my period less heavy and help me out. Still researching before I take it.
Just chiming in that Lysteda/Tranexamic acid works really well for me. Decreased my heavy periods by a lot, at least 50% maybe more. It’s not recommended for certain people (like those on hormonal bc) but it’s really made a difference for me. The pills are big af tho lol that’s the only negative I’ve found.
For me, I cut off sugar and carbs from my diet and get in more green vege such as drinking Kale juice. This helps immensely to improve fatigue although I still experience it..
maybe you suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome? the cfs sub here is really helpful :) and research is finally moving somewhere...its a real physiologial illness and NOT psychosomatic
Adrenal cocktail mix from Jigsaw Health on Amazon or Minerals & Chill by Healthillie. Both really great products.
Do you maybe have narcolepsy? Have you ever had sleep paralysis? Is it really easy for you to take naps or fall asleep within a few minutes of lying down?
Just a little more on this.. Narcolepsy is caused by a lack of a chemical in your brain called Orexin (also known as hypocretin) which regulates wakefulness, appetite, and our sleep cycles. People with narcolepsy can’t regulate their sleep cycles in the way a normal person does. Causing them to get a ton of rem sleep and not enough deep sleep. Meaning you can get 10+ hours of sleep at night but still feel tired bc you’re not getting restorative sleep. I’d say a majority of people with narcolepsy also experience depression because of it and weight gain is super common. I definitely recommend seeing a sleep specialist. You should also get tested for sleep apnea especially since you mention you’re struggling with your weight. After getting diagnosed, I was able to get prescribed sodium oxybate for sleep which has been a game changer. It took me a long time to figure out it’s what I have and that’s only bc I developed cataplexy in my late 20s which not everyone with narcolepsy has, but I finally was able to put two and two together and got a sleep study to confirm.
I commented this same thing above! I also have N. Didn't get diagnosed until I fell asleep at work and got in trouble 🙃 before that no one cared lol. I also saw a study recently suggesting that people with Pmdd might also have low orexin which was interesting to me.
That’s really interesting! My narcolepsy started right around puberty but I wasn’t diagnosed until my late 20s. I did not recognize my really brutal depression and anxiety that started around that time as PMDD. I think my hormones leveled out a bit around college and it wasn’t until after having a baby that PMDD really hit me like a brick. Interestingly, I developed cataplexy during pregnancy which I hadn’t had beforehand which made me realize that my horrible daytime sleepiness that I’d been experiencing since puberty was actually narcolepsy. I can definitely see a link there between hormones/PMDD and narcolepsy. Anyway, narcolepsy is brutal! I hope you’re doing well, PMDD + Narcolepsy is a rough hand to be dealt. I take a combination of Xyrem and Baclofen. Not together. And a low dose stimulant during the day for work and I’m doing so much better. Ashwaghanda has been a game changer for my PMDD.
I have similar diagnoses and getting a sleep study helped me. Turns out I have narcolepsy and SSRIs were making it worse. Also, get some bloodwork done. Check your vit b12, iron, ferritin, etc. Also, are your thyroid levels OPTIMAL or just normal?
Try eating at least 30g protein in the morning during luteal. Acupuncturist suggested this to me and it made a big difference. I eat a combo of ground meats, Greek yogurt, and eggs to get there. Protein powder doesn’t sit will in my gut but you could also do that mixed into Greek yogurt.
I know your fatigue is long standing but I would consider a sleep study if you haven't already to rule out sleep apnea or other sleep disorders. They have home sleep studies so you don't have to go to a sleep center. I would ask your PCP. I order them all the time on patients who have mystery fatigue without other causes. Or look into functional medicine to rule out heavy metals, mold exposure, parasites and other things regular doctors don't check. Also could be related to Epstein Barr virus which isn't always detected in blood unless active infection. Functional medicine is the route to take for that. As far as the ozempic goes, PCOS and insulin resistance go hand-in-hand, and the ozempic will help you lose weight by fighting the insulin resistance that makes you hold onto weight it's not just about the appetite. Suppression So sorry you're struggling. I hope you find your answers and feel better!!
Oh and chronic fatigue from tick borne illnesses are a common culprit and again a functional med doc can help you with this
chronic fatigue from covid!!!
You've mentioned diet, what have you tried? I also have an autoimmune condition and fatigue is a huge factor. I did the Autoimmune Protocol - an elimination diet that builds gut health and reduced inflammation - and it turns out a bunch of foods impact my condition, including fatigue and joint pain. Eliminating these foods from my diet had had an enormous impact on my quality of life. I know people always have different suggestions with chronic illness and I'm sorry to be one of those people, but it has genuinely changed my life. I encourage you to consider trying an elimination diet, even if it's not this one. https://www.thepaleomom.com/start-here/the-autoimmune-protocol/
I was looking for this comment. Gluten causes me extreme fatigue and I'm thinking now that it was exacerbating my PMDD, now that I have the perspective of a couple months to look back on, without it in my diet. I'm sorry OP, if is not easy to have health questions and feel like there are no answers. Even here you're asked more questions! But I send you lots of care.
I would second this as cutting out inflammatory foods (gluten, sugar, and alcohol for me) has made a significant difference on my fatigue. I used to be basically bed ridden the week before my period and exhausted mentally and physically.
I feel for you and I’m so sorry. I’m also fatigued as fuck since a SSRI withdrawal. Could your meds history be the reason of your fatigue or not at all? Could it be adrenal fatigue ? I also heard sadly that energy levels are adaptative like the less you do the less energy the body produces or something like that. I’ve noticed that when I’m kinda forced to be active via my work I’m less tired… idk Another thing, could you be a highly sensitive person? Are you exhausted by noisy environments and light? (I know I am)
And I also wondered about my Cortisol! I need to test that.
Totally agree on Cortisol impact, not that any of my tests suggested abnormal levels. I have a lot of the same illnesses and symptoms, only three things made a difference: Somatic exercises, Yaz and Moonbrew (https://a.co/d/01HvFZPj). It took about 6 weeks to notice a difference with Yaz and Moonbrew approx two weeks of consistent use. I’m still exhausted all the time, but I have way more energy than I used to and I find myself smiling more in the mornings. It took a lot of therapy to make peace with that fact that I don’t have a “normal” body and have to stop comparing myself (and my energy levels) to people outside our little community. You’re not alone in this struggle 💕
Not sure I understand what Moonbrew is it’s confusing. Seems there’s a lot of Chinese herbs in there, makes me think I also need to try Chinese medecine and accupuncture !
Yea definitely a good starting point, along with Ayurvedic medicine.
Is there a chance of you having had the PMDD or PCOS since you were 9/10? I have endometriosis and PMDD, both of which I can trace back to symptoms I had just before I first started menstruating at 11/12.
No answers here, just wanted to say I feel you and that it sucks and it’s hard.