Extreme Fatigue in a 26 y/o Female

Hairstylingnurse · Apr 21, 2005

First I want to apologize for this post being so long, but I'm hoping to get some information and/or ideas on how to help my daughter.
My daughter is 26 years old, married, with 3 children. During her last pregnancy in 2003, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease. She has had symptoms of hypothyroidism on and off ever since the diagnosis was made and has had several adjustments made to her Synthroid and has always "bounced back". She has T4s, TSHs, and other thyroid tests drawn frequently, but they always come back normal.
In December, she had a viral syndrome and was hospitalized for 24 hours. Ever since that time she has had overwhelming fatigue along with a weight loss of about 15-20#. She went from a size 8 to a size 2 ! She describes the fatigue as more than just being real tired ... more like she has to rest after taking a shower and a trip down the driveway to the mailbox wears her out.
Recently, she has had trouble concentrating. She went to the doctor yesterday and the office nurse sorta blew her off saying, "anybody with three kids under the age of 5 is tired." Even the doctor sorta blew her off saying he couldn't find anything wrong with her, maybe she's depressed, maybe she's doing too much, maybe she not eating well.
She was a little offended, but refuses to be brushed off. She is taking very good care of herself, has stopped doing alot of outside activities (she is a stay at home mama), eats well, takes vitamins, etc. She is not anemic. She claims she is not depressed or anxious, is happy and seems to be so to me.
The doctor examined her and drew more blood for tests.
As an aside, I have Type 1 diabetes and Graves Disease, my father had rheumatoid disease, a cousin was recently diagnosed with MS... so autoimmune disease runs rampant in our family.
Do any of you have experience with Hashimoto's or Hypothyroidism? Any ideas of what could be causing the fatigue and weight loss?
I have thought of Addison's Disease, MS, heavy metal poisoning, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, but I have no experience with any of these.
Any ideas or information/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Hi and sorry to hear your daughter is feeling so bad. Unfortunately, I have hashimotos. I developed it 2 months after the birth of my 10 yr. old son. I had taken synthroid for 3-4 yrs, then was switched to 150mcg. of levoxyl. I still was always tired and had a very hard time concentrating. That said the levoxyl is great for me. Then last may I started to lose alot of weight, very tired(to the point I literally could not get up & walk without assistance) and called 911and long story short ended up in ICU in ketoacidosis. Was diagnosed type 1 diabetic that day. Been on insulin 4 times a day since, but I feel like a new person most days. It's been a rough year but I have felt really good on insulin.Have your daughter stay on that doctor or find another one. I have went from a size 18 to a size 6 since all of this. That is great in away(everyone says I look like a teenager), but it's also bad because what it has cost me financially and physically. I will tell you this, diabete's has saved my life. Please keep us updated.:)

June55Baby · Apr 22, 2005

HairstylingNurse, Thank you for your post! I, too, have Type 1 Diabetes and Graves Disease. I use an insulin pump which works GREAT for me.

As for my daughter, they check her glucose frequently and thank God they have always been normal.

She is currently taking Synthroid, but is willing and eager to switch meds. She has investigated Levoxyl and even Armour Thyroid. Hopefully her PCP or the physician he is consulting will be open to trying different meds.

Thanks again!

Mandarella · Apr 22, 2005

hmmm, they thought i had hypothyroidism possibly lyme dx...it turns out that i have an autoimmune dx called psoriatic arthritis. makes me exhausted from constantly fighting pain & inflammation. all i knew was that most prominantly i was exhausted, my feet and my hands hurt and i had strange nail pitting. i am 29, married have a 1 & 2 year old, work part time and go to school.

after a bone scan and 4 days of prednisone they made a definitive diagnosis.

autoimmune disease's are so tricky, they mimick so many other things. if autoimmunity runs in your family that would be my guess. (it does in mine) research the diferent diseases, compare and contrast. you may be suprised at what is out there. if you have 1 autoimmune disease you are much more suceptible to others. she does have hashimoto's so maybe there is another that is giving her the problems also.

for some people it takes years to be dianosed..i was lucky in a sense, it only took me about a year (yes, a year i had, to have 2 c-sections in the last 2 years and some very minor health problems...i had just contributed my symptoms to that.) to make myself realize something was wrong and i was not just "tired". then 4 months to make the diagnosis.

i still haven't taken the "meds" yet...too afraid. will cross that bridge later. the only thing i have taken when i need it is provigil. my lifesaver. it doesn't wind me up or make me feel jittery, just alert and able to accomplish a normal day. i don't take it daily, just when i wake up and put my feet on the floor and think to myself...today is going to be a bad day...

keep stress in check, good & bad. remember that it turns on that sympathetic nervous system that triggers the immune system, no one really knows what triggers it to stay "on" continuously but science definately doesn't know how to get it back in check yet. i've tried searching to get around having to take meds.

good luck to you & your daughter. i hope you find the answers you are searching for.

first i want to apologize for this post being so long, but i'm hoping to get some information and/or ideas on how to help my daughter.
my daughter is 26 years old, married, with 3 children. during her last pregnancy in 2003, she was diagnosed with hashimoto's disease. she has had symptoms of hypothyroidism on and off ever since the diagnosis was made and has had several adjustments made to her synthroid and has always "bounced back". she has t4s, tshs, and other thyroid tests drawn frequently, but they always come back normal.
in december, she had a viral syndrome and was hospitalized for 24 hours. ever since that time she has had overwhelming fatigue along with a weight loss of about 15-20#. she went from a size 8 to a size 2 ! she describes the fatigue as more than just being real tired ... more like she has to rest after taking a shower and a trip down the driveway to the mailbox wears her out.
recently, she has had trouble concentrating. she went to the doctor yesterday and the office nurse sorta blew her off saying, "anybody with three kids under the age of 5 is tired." even the doctor sorta blew her off saying he couldn't find anything wrong with her, maybe she's depressed, maybe she's doing too much, maybe she not eating well.
she was a little offended, but refuses to be brushed off. she is taking very good care of herself, has stopped doing alot of outside activities (she is a stay at home mama), eats well, takes vitamins, etc. she is not anemic. she claims she is not depressed or anxious, is happy and seems to be so to me.
the doctor examined her and drew more blood for tests.
as an aside, i have type 1 diabetes and graves disease, my father had rheumatoid disease, a cousin was recently diagnosed with ms... so autoimmune disease runs rampant in our family.
do any of you have experience with hashimoto's or hypothyroidism? any ideas of what could be causing the fatigue and weight loss?
i have thought of addison's disease, ms, heavy metal poisoning, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, but i have no experience with any of these.
any ideas or information/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Mandarella · Apr 22, 2005

Pardon me for butting in but shoot for the Provigil...it is a lifesaver when I need it. It makes me alert and not sleepy. But definatley not jittery or speedy. The only thing is that it interferes with birth control pills and hormones. If you are on birth control you may want to explore different options there. Honestly, good call on the Provigil. It does work wonders.

To Kelly: There are some really great medications out there for the treatment of Narcolepsy. I work in a sleep clinic and the docs don't usually prescribe Ritalin because it isn't very effective. Ask your doctor about Provigil or Vivactil. You don't have to live with constant fatigue! Where are you at in Ohio?

My doctor did mention Provigil after the diagnosis..but the neurologist pushed for the Ritalin - lucky me!!! I live in the Fairlawn/Cuyahoga Falls area. Originally from Cleveland area. Thank you for taking the time to respond :)

June55Baby · Apr 22, 2005

Thank you for your post Mandarella. Tell me more about the Provigil. I am not familar with this drug.

Mandarella · Apr 22, 2005

Hi June55baby,

Provigil Overview: http://www.provigilweb.org/provigil.htm

Here is the long 35 page FDA information link; http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2004/20717se1-008_provigil_lbl.pdf

Provigil site: http://www.provigil.com/patient/home.aspx

Honestly, I feel so good on it. Like I said, no jitters no nervousness but I feel more alert and capable. I take it probably on average x2/week.

Provigil has a 15-hour half-life. Provigil can be taken with or without food; but, food may delay absorption by approximately 1 hour. Dosing comes as 100-mg and 200-mg tablets.

Your daughter sounds tiny, she could start by cutting the 100 in half. I did to see how it would effect me. I got the ok to bump it up to 200mg po bid, if I didn't see the expected results. :no: Thank God I didn't need to do that. I am not a good medication taker! I take the 100mg in the morning or early afternoon.

But confer with her MD. They would be the best bet to advise.

Has anyone else taken Provigil?? How do you feel on it??

Here are some autoimmune diseases to maybe start you on your journey, I just googled them so I didn't pick them apart to see if they were appropriate or not. But it's a start.

http://www.aarda.org/patient_information.php

&

http://hepatitis.about.com/od/autoimmunediseasebasics/a/AutoimmuneList.htm

A checklist...http://http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/autoimmune-checklist.htm

Thank you for your post Mandarella. Tell me more about the Provigil. I am not familar with this drug.

kidluvinRN · Apr 22, 2005

I thought it was the policy of this site to not engage in speculation about medical diagnosis!!!! Sorry for your daughters troubles, sounds like she needs are more compassionate primary care provider, perhaps a Nurse Practitioner.

June55Baby · Apr 22, 2005

KidluvinRN - thank you for your post. I appreciate your concern and ideas.

So sorry if I offended anyone or broke any rules. That certainly was not my intention.

My reason for initially posting was to hear from others who may have experience with Hashimoto's as well as other autoimmune diseases and perhaps obtain some ideas and input, as well as some sympathy and compassion, which is exactly what I have received.

I felt so much better after reading the posts from others.

We will not be using any advice, input, or "speculation" from this forum in the place of medical care and advice.

June55Baby · Apr 22, 2005

Mandarella - Thanks for these sites. When you are learning about autoimmune diseases with all their complications, you can't get enough good sources.

Mandarella · Apr 22, 2005

Not a problem. I know how you feel, you try to absorb anything you can. Good luck to you.

Mandarella - Thanks for these sites. When you are learning about autoimmune diseases with all their complications, you can't get enough good sources.

sharann, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2005

I thought it was the policy of this site to not engage in speculation about medical diagnosis!!!! Sorry for your daughters troubles, sounds like she needs are more compassionate primary care provider, perhaps a Nurse Practitioner.

I think she needs to go to a major medical center for exhaustive testing. June, your daughter is young and has her 3 kids to care for. She is lucky to have you! A mom will go anywhere to find help for her child. Don't be sorry for coming here. You didn't offend me or anyone here(almost). You just keep asking questions and fighting for an answer.She has SOMETHING obviously. Kidluvnrn, I don't think anyone was diagnosing here, just sharing therir own experiences, lending compassion and opinion not medical advice.Wishing you all the luck.

June55Baby · Apr 22, 2005

Sharann - Thank you for your post! It reinforced that I am doing the right thing.

We intend to keep looking until an answer is found... hopefully soon! As I said earlier I am even willing to take my last vacation day and time off without pay if needed to take her to Houston to see this Dr. Arem! She is my heart and I will do EVERYTHING in my power to help her.

Again, I appreciate all the care and concern I have found through these posts!