feeling very tired lately!

[Suzi_]

I am 80 year old petite female. i have Hashimoto thyroid, I take 50 mcg of synthroid in USA. Endo won’t increase my dose. Often i wake up after 3 hours at night & find hard to go back to sleep!

Evening itchiness on legs- allergist suggests taking Allegra daily, which i do not want to, would rather stick to natural options! I use cortisone cream or coconut oil. The test showed i have no allergy’s!

Recently i increased my vitamin D dose to help alleviate my tiredness!

Anyone else feel tired?

I have a well maintained weight of 107lbs & exercise regularly!

My last thyroid labs were normal range! Thanks

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Can you share your thyroide blood test results for TSH, FT3 and FT4 (with ranges - as these can vary between laboratories)? When medics say ‘within range’ or ‘normal’, this may not be the same as ‘optimal’, where you feel most well. Do ask for a print out of your test results, so we can better advise.

In addition to vitamin D, it’s also useful to test ferritin, folate and B12 as these also support thyroid health.

50mcg of Levo is a small dose of thyroid medication (often regarded as a ‘starter dose’) so it does seem likely you could benefit from an increase. However, it is important to share results before considering an increase.

[Suzi_ in reply to Buddy195]

My test results on September 16, 24

Vitamin D-36 Range 30-100,

Tsh 1.72 R 0.35-4.94

T4free 0.95 R 0.69-1.48

Ferritin 28.16 R4.6- 204

Iron 101 R 32-157

Folate 12.5 R def 5.4ng

Cholesterol 193 R n<199 Hdl 52 R

>59 risk. Ldl 118 R 0.99

B12 on June24, 24

882 R 211-911

Endo does labs every 6 months.

GP Annually

I take magnesium glycinate 240 mg, caltrate with Vitamin D -contains calcium 400 mg, vitamin D 12.5 mcg, recently taking 50 mcg additional Vitamin D to combat tiredness.

Thanks

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Suzi_]

Low ferritin is linked to tiredness. This is a useful link on improving ferritin through diet:

dailyiron.net/

As many members here report feeling best with TSH under 1, I would ask for a slight increase in Levothyroxine. I’m a fan of ‘low and slow’ changes to medication and would suggest a 12.5mcg increase (I even add this alternate days at first until well tolerated). I’ve found going super slowly with changes reduces the risk by of adverse symptoms.

[RockyPath]

I'm only closing in on 70 and I have a similar complaint. I run out of energy. I'm suspecting that the mitochondria just cannot produce energy like they did at 60. Age is linked to tiredness in a manner that cannot be quantified.

That said, you could boost your D3. I take 10,000 IU every day. A Functional Medicine doctor said that some of us need huge doses of D3 to sustain sleep. If I take it after 11 am, it contributes to sleeplessness.

I wake up at 3 am every night. Once I actually heard the "ignition spark" that went off in my brain just as I woke up for the next 2-1/2 hours. On the advice of others to take NDT, I tried titrating my dose from 90 mg prescribed by the endocrinologies to 240 mg, over an extended period of time. I did find that I achieved sleep maintenance on many nights. If I woke at 2 or 3, I could go back to sleep after 15 minutes. People on here have testified that when the brain has the right amount of T4 and T3, we can sleep properly. I'm still tinkering with the dose, as now it's evident that 4 grains of NDT is a bit much.

But there are other causes of fragmented sleep. Traumatic brain injury is known to result in fragmented sleep for about half of patients. There's no known treatment.

Wishing you success in getting a trial of a higher dose of Levo.

[Muffy]

Vit D very low in range.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Muffy]

America uses ng/mL rather than the nmol/L so this actually isn't as bad as it initially looks

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

US and UK

Vit D variations

[DCCC_204]

hi Suzie. I also take meds for my thyroid. Synthyroid 75mcg. I also have itchy legs. Interesting to compare with you. I sometimes put lotion on. I also take letrizole, an anti hormone treatment for the breast cancer I had. This keeps me awake so I take a melatonin plus a nighttime Advil to be able to sleep. You could try the melatonin first to see if it works for you. Good luck.

[Clarrisa]

I am on Synthroid too, and have had insomnia with tiredness as well. My sleep pattern has greatly improved with acupuncture recently. This has also contributed to my tackling more deferred projects, so I believe my energy level has been going up. I am driving miles out of my way however, to go to a former acupuncturist. I tried one closure but it did not work out.

I also do a weekly weight lifting program designed for people with osteoporosis. I think this has helped me too. One insight I read prior is a poster mentioning that unfinished chores was interfering with their sleep. I have made more of a point of getting, and keeping my house in order, perhaps it helps.

I also use to itch but it may have been (fluoride) from my toothpaste! I eat gluten free these days. Have faith, you will figure things out!

[helvella]

I had a similar issue before starting levothyroxine - which got better as my dose increased.

helvella - Personal Insomnia Experience

How hypothyroidism and levothyroxine treatment affected my sleep.

Last updated 30/12/2024

Link to blog:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[klr31]

Do you take statins? They can cause itchiness, I've heard. Karen