Cause of my fatigue (thyroid, apnoea, too much sleep?)

Scarscub

I have posted several times concerning my unusual fatigue and eventual hypothyroidism diagnosis. Despite starting medication my fatigue, albeit lessened, still persists. My physician does not wish to increase the dose until the next blood test. She thinks my levels may drop into a hyperthyroid state. Despite the hypothyroidism I have no trouble losing weight, but going to the gym does little to improve my energy.

My physician offered several suggestions: a sleep study for suspected apnoea, an antidepressant, and six hours of sleep rather than the nine I attempt. I say attempt because I have not slept through the night in five years. As a child and teenager I was a deep sleeper, but now I wake up and roll over four to eight times every night. I do not snore, I do not wake up gasping for breath or choking, and I am not overweight. I never nap, but used to nap frequently as a sleep deprived teenager. I drink a cup of coffee in the morning and sometimes a cup of tea in the afternoon, an improvement from my 3-4 cups of coffee during university.

Is it still possible for apnoea to be the cause my fatigue? I have attributed my lethargy and decline in concentration to my thyroid, but my physician thinks it unlikely. Six hours of sleep seems like very little, though my physician think nine hours is too much for my age of twenty-three.

Could anyone with sleep apnoea, hypothyroidism, or other fatigue-inducing conditions offer any comments or suggestions? My iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D levels are normal. I strength train three times a week, followed sometimes by ten minutes of light cardio, and dedicate two days a week to 45 minutes of cardio.

Thank you again for your patience with my prating. I just want to recover my age appropriate energy rather than having less than my parents.

walkinthedogs

It could be sleep apnea, you may not know if you snore. I would say I don't, but I can guarantee my daughter would tell you otherwise. I also wake up frequently throughout the night and have been seeking help on my fatigue for years! Fortunately my blood work always comes back with everything right where it should be, healthy as can be, the unfortunate part is then I'm left with, well you must be depressed, go see a therapist. I even tried Prozac for a while, it did nothing because I'm not DEPRESSED! Although I don't discount people who actually have depression, I'm sure it sucks, that is not my problem. I was going to have a sleep study but could never get it arranged (single mother and my child was too young to leave alone) and now I don't have insurance so I cannot find out if that is my problem. It sucks to be so fatigued. I also think mine stems from the fact I had Mono when I was 21. I never really shook out of the fog I lived in when I had it and that's how I feel a lot still. I hope you can get to the bottom of your fatigue. I do find it interesting that a doctor suggest only 6 hours of sleep. I would think at least 8 since that's the number I always hear people should shoot for, but he's the professional . I know I was of no help, but I do understand what it's like to live fatigued. Fogged. I call my problem DragonAsz cause I feel like I just drag my *kitten* through my day. I fight sleep almost constantly through my day. And yes I am very active, I actually like working out and do it daily, always have. Good luck, I hope you find an answer.

Krista916

You don't have to be overweight, snore or wake up gasping to have sleep apnea. Those are often factors in a dx of sleep apnea but some people who do not struggle with weight often have been dx with sleep apnea. I'd suggest going forward with the sleep study first. Antidepressents may add to the problem and often cause weight gain (there is only one that I know of that 'sometimes' helps increase energy). The sleep study is a fairly easy test. You'll go to a sleep center, sometimes they will give you something to help you relax a little so you can sleep normally in a foreign place, they hook a bunch of wires to you and then you sleep there overnight.

That might be a good start instead of dumping a bunch of meds that you might not need.

silken555

You may also want to look into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
http://www.webmd.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/