Fatigue is a common enemy amongst individuals with hypothyroidism, an ailment where your thyroid gland's activity levels dip below the required standard. In such situations, to reclaim your enthusiasm, it's crucial to get your thyroid hormone levels back in line. Coordinating with your healthcare provider about integrating hormone replacement medication into your healthcare plan is necessary.
Most experts agree that when hypothyroidism is diagnosed, your medication dosage may need to be adjusted until your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels reach a range of 1 mU/L to 3 mU/L. Achieving this desired range may take a bit of patience and time, potentially a few weeks or even months sometimes.
At the same time, it's vital to ensure that fatigue is actually a consequence of hypothyroidism and not something else. While feeling excessive fatigue is often seen in untreated or inadequately treated hypothyroidism it is important to note that there could be other causes as well.
Medically, there can be numerous causes for fatigue. It can include cardiopulmonary disorders, kidney disease, liver disease, anaemia (having low haemoglobin), certain infections and rheumatological disorders, or hormonal issues including thyroid disorders (UpToDate, 2024). Your healthcare provider can help assess what the cause of your fatigue is based on your clinical history, physical examination, and blood tests. Furthermore, among patients with hypothyroidism, the level of fatigue you feel may vary depending on the cause of your underactive thyroid (M. Louwerens et al. 2012)
If you have a confirmed diagnosis of hypothyroidism, you'll have to wait for the replacement medication to adjust your thyroid hormone levels. But you don't have to feel helpless. In the meantime, you can do some things to help improve how you feel. Here are several strategies to manage fatigue in your life while dealing with hypothyroidism:
Maintaining Consistency with Medication:
Consistent intake of thyroid hormone replacement medication can alleviate the debilitating fatigue most people with an underactive thyroid experience. The American Thyroid Association advises that taking the medication, preferably first thing in the morning, is optimal. Failure to reach TSH goals could necessitate adjustments to include both T3 and T4 hormones in your medication regimen.
Healthy Eating Patterns:
No diet explicitly targets hypothyroidism; however, incorporating meals rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can fortify you with the energy needed to handle the day. Another important consideration is the careful selection and limiting of certain foods known to interfere with replacement hormone absorption. A study by J. An et al in 2016 indicated that L-carnitine supplementation could be beneficial in combating fatigue in hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine. Talk to your healthcare provider if this might be a suitable option for you.
Investing in Therapy:
Hypothyroidism can sometimes lead to psychological issues including depression which can itself make you feel fatigued. In such situations, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) could be effective in helping deal with the negative thought patterns seen in depression.
Moderating Alcohol and Caffeine Intake:
Churning with hypothyroidism-related fatigue might pull you towards caffeine for that temporary boost, or alcohol, for that winding down feeling. However, both these substances mess with the quality of your sleep, leading to an energy drain over time.
Implementing Regular Physical Activity:
Exercise is often feared because it's thought to strip you of the little energy that hypothyroidism leaves you with. However, exercise has multiple energy-boosting advantages, and it can significantly enhance your mood and make you feel energised. If you have severe hypothyroidism, have just started your thyroid medication, or have other medical conditions as well, strenuous exercise may not be the right fit for you. So don’t start your exercise programme without first talking about it with your healthcare provider.
Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene:
Regular sleep patterns, aimed at achieving 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night, can help combat hypothyroidism-related daytime fatigue.
Tobacco – It's Time to Say Goodbye:
Quitting tobacco guarantees improved sleep quality, offers relief from fatigue, and can be beneficial for managing hypothyroidism.
Regular Doctor Visits:
Frequent visits to your healthcare provider can keep your plan against hypothyroidism on the right track. If it is found that your TSH levels have normalised and you are still feeling tired, your healthcare provider might suggest investigating other probable causes for your fatigue.
Do visit the Eureka platform for free health recommendations that can take your combat against thyroid-deficient persistent fatigue to the next level. Time to break those chains of fatigue and embrace living life actively again!
References
- Fosnocht, K.M. and Ende, J. (2024) Approach to the adult patient with fatigue, UpToDate. (Accessed: 20 May 2024). Read more.
- Fatigue and fatigue-related symptoms in patients treated for different causes of hypothyroidism by M. Louwerens et al. (2012). This study examines fatigue levels in various hypothyroid conditions treated with hormone replacement, offering insights into managing fatigue in these groups. Read more.
- L-carnitine supplementation for the management of fatigue in patients with hypothyroidism on levothyroxine treatment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by J. An et al. (2016). Investigates the potential of L-carnitine supplementation to alleviate fatigue in hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine. Read more.
