Any advice for anything that can help with energy?

[ChilledBee]

Hi everyone,

I am just wondering if anyone on here has had luck with any medication or homeopathic remedy that will help with severe exhaustion? I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid (which I am on Levothyroxine for and have just been checked for the correct dosage) and fibromyalgia. I can honestly say that I have spent thousands of pounds over the last few years and the only thing that has made a slight improvement is Ginseng. I even bought a Red Light Therapy Unit (£350.00) to see if that will help as it purports to help with energy. After 6 months of use, I am still not feeling any benefits. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

CB

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ChilledBee

which I am on Levothyroxine for and have just been checked for the correct dosage

Have you got your latest test results that you can post, along with their reference ranges (very important as these vary from lab to lab) to see whether you really are on the correct dose?

We need to see results/ranges for

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

and because we need optimal nutrient levels for any thyroid hormone to work properly and conversion of T4 to T3 we also need to test:

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

It's very likely that once we see these results we may be able to spot where the problem lies. Low T3 is what causes symptoms regardless of where TSH and FT4 lies within their range, and low nutrient levels or deficiencies also bring their own symptoms, fatigue is very often low ferritin or iron deficiency.

[ChilledBee in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Susie, many thanks for all that info. My GP doesn't ever give me any other details other than you're thyroid is too high/too low, and then adjusts them by 25mgs each time. I do not have any numbers but I will get the results from them this week and let you know. Many thanks . xx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Do you know if cause of your hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking, if any

What were most recent vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 results

Fibromyalgia is frequently inadequately treated hypothyroidism, usually mix of low Ft3 and low vitamin levels

Have you had coeliac blood test

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

Please add most recent results and ranges

ALWAYS test thyroid levels as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[ChilledBee in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi Dragon- I am currently taking 125 mgs of Levo - I was on 150mgs but my GP said it was too high so lowered it. Yes, it's always the same brand. I take a good Multi-Vit /Tumeric/Krill Oil /folic acid and Vit C alone. I haven't had a coeliac test ever. Not on gluten-free diet but I do have a very healthy diet for the most part. I will get my most recent results and post them here. Many thanks for all your helpful info. xx CB

[JAmanda]

Low energy suggests you’re under medicated. Post your results here (edit your post above) - I imagine your T3 and t4 are nowhere near the top quarter of their ranges..?

[ChilledBee in reply to JAmanda]

Hi JAmanda, that could be it. I will get my results this week and post them up. Many thanks, CB xx

[New2thyroid]

Have you had your adrenals checked. I had the same issue - despite normal results and normal vitamin levels, I was extremely tired and weak. Turned out my adrenals were totally depleted. May well worth ne getting that tested?

[PixieElv in reply to New2thyroid]

Hi New2thyroidI think I may have a similar problem with adrenal fatigue.

Have you been able to restore your adrenals and if so, what are you doing please?

Thank you

[New2thyroid in reply to PixieElv]

I was asked to use Adrenavive 2 (extract from cows). I am not sure if I see a drastic shift in my energy levels but its not as bad as it used to be. Not sure if this helps.

Currently reading Dr Wentz's book on Hashimoto's and she too suggests a strong link between depleted adrenals and Hashimoto's.

[PixieElv in reply to New2thyroid]

I am trying a similar supplement. I don’t have Hashi’s but thank you for the tip! I hope you feel better soon.

[ChilledBee in reply to New2thyroid]

Hi there, no, I have never had this done. I will certainly get it checked. So amazing that this has helped you. I have always felt that there must be something amiss to be this tired all the tired. Doctors are not remotely interested. Many thanks for letting me know that, CB xx

[New2thyroid in reply to ChilledBee]

Please do so as then you know the cause/ trigger and are not only looking at thyroid as the trigger.

Hope you will feel better soon CB.

[Paquita]

Just wanted to say, unless thyroid and vitamin levels are OK, using ginseng and the like may make it worse. You are trying to force a body with low metabolism to do things it cannot do.

Maybe do a 24 hr saliva test for cortisol. If it is too low or suboptimal (I follow Stop the Thyroid Madness for levels), you should avoid caffeine etc.

[ChilledBee in reply to Paquita]

Hi Paquita, I will get my cortisol levels checked as this is something I have never done. Big yes on the caffeine. Many thanks, CB xx

[shaws Administrator]

You state "which I am on Levothyroxine for and have just been checked for the correct dosage)".

The 'correct dosage' would mean we have no clinical symptoms at all and we'd also feel well.

Doctors seem not to be knowledgeable about clinical symptoms, which is a pity, and they only seem to look at a blood test result without considering clinical symptoms. The aim of taking thyroid hormone replacements is to relieve symptoms and enable us to feel well again.

If you have hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia I believe that you should be prescribed T3/T4 or T3 alone.

One of Thyroiuduk's Adviser was an expert in the use of T3 and of all symptoms that come with a dysfunctional thyroid gland.

When I was first diagnosed and prescribed levo, I was far more unwell on this than before I diagnosed myself when TSH was 100. I then developed severe palpitations and cardiologist was puzzled after many 'middle of the night' recordings. He was considering putting an implant in heart to 'see what was going on'. Coincidentally, T3 was added to T4 and I immediately felt much better and all symptoms resolved. I then stopped T4 and remained on T3

On the link below you will find helpful links - cursor down till you come to the links for Dr Lowe.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthrising.org/blog/2019/...

I am not medically qualified but sometimes our long journeys lead to us knowing more than many GPs.

[ChilledBee in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaw, many thanks for all of that invaluable info. Like many on here, I just feel as if I've been on a merry-go-round for years and it's just never improving at all. I paid to see a private rheumatologist but unfortunately, he was of no help. "I am not medically qualified but sometimes our long journeys lead to us knowing more than many GPs." Boy,oh boy, this is spot-on. I will check out the links you have helpfully provided.

Many thanks, CB xx