Excessive tiredness

[Ju17]

Since the lockdown I have been walking between 45 mins and 1hour each day, plus the usual housework, laundry, food prep etc. I also have my daughter living with us which incurs more cooking, ironing etc. I have found that I am dog tired most days and finding motivation to do anything hard. Usually I do step class of 1 hour each week and the household stuff, shopping and teach one day a week. I would like to know if the tiredness is due to the increase in exercise and if so how long it will take for me to adjust, surely 3 weeks should be long enough? I take 100/125 mg Levothyroxine on alternate days. Maybe I should be taking 125mg daily, getting hold of a GP to sanction this at this time might prove difficult. Thanks for your thoughts.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Maybe your daughter could help out?

Why not drop back on the exercise at the moment, build up gradually?

You would need new test results to see if an increase in your dose of Levo is necessary.

[lisabax]

Mary Shomon has posted an article that might explain this parasolwellness.com/why-am-...

[Bookworm63 in reply to lisabax]

Thank you for sharing this article it has made me feel so much better about the guilt I was feeling for not being as energetic as I felt I should be. So much of what was written in the article has rung true for me and although instinctively I knew why I felt like I did it is so good to have it confirmed and know what I am feeling is normal. Take care and stay safe everyone x

[Hidden in reply to Bookworm63]

I haven't read the article yet, but too much exercise when hypothyroid does deplete T3, which would probably account for your symptoms. You are already getting plenty of exercise anyway, with the added housework load!

[lisabax in reply to Bookworm63]

Well, since fatigue can also be a symptom of the virus, and as I am one of the world's worst health anxiety sufferers, I found it truly reassuring that my fatigue is normal under abnormal circumstances. So glad it helped! Take care

[HLAB35]

If your daughter isn't working at the moment, or extremely unwell I'd have assumed she should be helping you out a bit at home.

Walking can actually be more tiring than short bursts of exercise, especially due to the mental exertion of being constantly alert at observing social distancing (less of an issue if you live somewhere rural). A step counter may be helpful, because you are probably doing more steps now, than before (this includes doing housework) and you are like a rechargeable battery that is getting progressively more drained.

When you get back from a walk do you have a cuppa and a biscuit? That's what a lot of us are used to doing. However, it'd probably be even better to have some vitamin C with sea salt (diluted) as this will feed your adrenals which get very worn out when you are stressed (you may be unaware of stress if you are generally quite laidback). Stress (and that includes physical, cognitive and emotional) messes up thyroid hormone conversion... so looking after adrenal health has become my mantra! Take an Epsom Salt bath to help you relax and have better sleep at night as Epsom Salts are rich in Magnesium. Look up articles on adrenal fatigue.. and the foods and supplements that will help... don't skimp on salt and keep well hydrated. I recommend electrolyte drinks on warm dry days like we're having.... my husband and I are trying different flavours of Zero tablets after our dog walking.