Thyroid Question

April 7, 2004

I just read all of the postings from those who have thyroid conditions. I know I have had this checked in the past couple of years and it was fine. But, I have been incredibly fatigued since my banding. I lost 40 pounds in the first 4 months, but have not lost since, and I'm 12 months post op. I thought that the fatigue was due to emotional stresses that I'm facing, and was thinking that I was eating too many soft, high fat foods. I've now been using FitDay and monitoring food intake closely. I'm taking in 1200-1400 calories per day, and although I'm not exercising regularly, and not drinking Water, I expected to see some weight loss. My basal metabolism should consume all of the calories I'm taking in and according to FitDay my calorie consumption is about half of what I supposedly burn. So, what's happening???

Alexandra · April 7, 2004

Hi Bubbles,

What's going on? If you truly don't know why you're fatigued, you probably do want to discuss it with your doctor. Hypoactive thyroid is just one thing that can cause fatigue, there are many others.

One thing I know happens to me when I lose weight is that I get more sensitive to sugar. Sugar makes me sleepy and fatigued, and for some reason the effect is more pronounced as I lose weight. So I've been noticing it much more recently.

I'm very prone to fatigue, just as a fact of life, I think. Sugar is just one of the things that makes it worse. Not drinking Water and not moving around at all also make it worse. Boredom at work is a killer, too. There are days when it is all I can do to haul myself out of bed in the morning--and THAT is much worse this week after the time change.

So I don't have any answers for you, except to say perhaps you could start trying to notice if there are "fatigue triggers" that affect you. I think that if you do nothing else, drinking more Water will help both with the fatigue and the weight.

Good luck!

mel22 · April 8, 2004

I would suggest that you make an appt with your pcp to get checked out. There are lots of things, including thyroid conditions, that can cause fatigue. Be aware that they have recently lowered the "normal" range for TSH, so if you were borderline before, you might be considered hypo now. I tested high-normal for years before I became hypo, and I feel 100% better since I started taking meds.

You may also be at point where you have to exercise to lose weight. In my experience, even before banding, if I eat 1200-1400 cal/day, don't exercise and don't drink enough Water, I won't lose any weight, and I might even gain a few lbs. I think that FitDay really overestimates the calories burned for basal metabolism.

Good Luck!

Melissa