Feeling fatigued and weak after eating

[Jamima]

Is this a thyroid or adrenal symptom?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your post from 3 months ago showed under.medicated

TSH 1.57 (0.27-4.2) March 21 result: 1.63

FT3 4.3 (3.1-6.8) March result 3.82

FT4 13.2 (12-22) March result 13.3

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Was dose increased after these results

Ft4 only 12% through range

Ft3 only 32% through range

Most people when adequately treated will have Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

[Jamima in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you slow dragon. I’m not taking any levothyrixine, but I’m considering self medicating as my endo is adamant that my thyroid is healthy although my symptoms indicate otherwise.

[radd]

Jamima

It’s a classic symptom of insulin resistance, ie you have plentiful sugar in your blood steam but can’t utilise it by turning into energy in the cells. Therefore you feel tired, at worst hypoglycaemic (too little sugar in the blood).

Another cause of hypoglycaemia is when we don’t have enough cortisol to raise blood sugars and end up feeling shaky & disorientated.

If you are eating a balanced diet of several small meals a day, optimising thyroid hormones & supporting adrenals will help adrenal hormones utilise the carbs & sugars better.

[Jamima in reply to radd]

Thank you Radd, that’s really helpful. I’m not currently medicated, so would this symptom indicate that I have an adrenal/thyroid problem? It’s really difficult floundering around trying to ascertain how to treat each symptom. I’ve tried both adrenavive and metavive and even in small doses, they’re not a good fit for me. I’ve got my diet and vits in good shape but I’m never hungry until around 2/3pm, sometimes later, and from late afternoon/early evening I start to feel better.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jamima]

That improving later in day suggests adrenals

Have you done cortisol and DHEA test

regeneruslabs.com/products/...

Adrenals become exhausted trying to compensate for lack of thyroid hormones

[Jamima in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you slow dragon - yes I did the regenerus test but it’s over a year ago now and I feel better than I did then. Back then I was literally sleeping all day.

Cortisol

[radd in reply to Jamima]

Jamima,

Yes. I have provided some helpful links for you below.

Your previous referral to adrenaline surges would indicate adrenal reserves are compromised most likely through inadequate thyroid hormones, and adequate reserves are required for good thyroid hormone function. It becomes a vicious circle.

Adding thyroid glandulars (or any thyroid hormone meds) can be tricky when adrenals issues are present. As your endo is rejecting suspected central hypothyrodism you could either put a post up requesting details on endos in your area or write to ThyoidUK for a list of endos that members have had good experiences with at [e-mail]

Not eating until 2/3pm or later will be putting additional strain on your adrenals and exacerbating blood sugar issues. It would be better to eat several small spaced out meals a day, each with low GI carbs & protein to regain good glucose control.

.

Thyroid & blood sugar issues

chriskresser.com/thyroid-bl...

.

This details sugars issues in Hashimotos but is also relevant for all long term low thyroid hormone scenarios.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

.

[Jamima in reply to radd]

Many thanks Radd, very helpful, I’ll make myself eat earlier in the day and hopefully it’ll help.

[radd in reply to Jamima]

Jamima,

Looking back through your posts you have previously seen an endo who was considering your low cortisol. What was their conclusion? You were then medicating DHEA. What happened after this?

If adrenals are not producing the right amounts of hormones and inhibiting good thyroid function it may be addressing the adrenals will encourage better thyroid function. Stress of any cause, ie physical, mental, etc impacts both the adrenals & thyroid and obviously it is difficult to know what has caused what but improving sugar issues and adrenals reserves is good start. Have you tried adaptogens? Also addressing any gut issues?

[Jamima in reply to radd]

I recently had an introductory phone appointment with a functional medical doctor who suggested I start with DHEA, I didn’t book a further full appointment as it’s almost £300 and then ongoing, and I’d already tried DHEA some months ago. The DHEA did help with energy and brain for but that brand was giving me gut problems. My nhs endo suggested I use DHEA but other than sending me online brands he couldn’t or wouldn’t prescribe it. Ive found another brand that doesn’t cause gut issues and it seems to be helping. I don’t really want to talk about dhea on here as I believe it’s a controlled substance and admin prefer you don’t promote it.

Ive also tried Siberian ginseng, topical progesterone, magnolia rhodiola and ashwaghanda. I find the ginseng MR and progesterone helpful but ashwaghanda makes me feel worse. Ive also tried pregnenolone but that also made me tired.

I suspect that my adrenal output has benefitted from all this ‘experimentation’ as I’m no longer sofa bound but I am still struggling and certainly nowhere near where I was 2 years ago.

I found an endo whilst searching on another forum who specialises in pituitary conditions, her name is dr Tara Kearney, if anyone has consulted with her, I’d appreciate a pm.

[radd in reply to Jamima]

Jamima,

With regard to this endo, if you start a new post with a title in her name it will attract more member views. Ask for answers in a PM as we're not allowed to discuss individual endos on the open forum.

[Jamima in reply to radd]

Thank you, I will. And thanks again for the advice.