Fatigue is an incredibly common symptom of thyroid disease, most specifically hypothyroidism. Indeed, fatigue as a symptom is often the primary alert that something is going wrong with your health.

Thyroid fatigue is not just being tired. It doesn’t go away with a good night’s sleep. It’s draining, lingering and pervades every area of life. Indeed, thyroid fatigue can very much interfere with your ability to function in daily life and, as such, can be incredibly debilitating. Whether you feel like you need constant naps and are still tired, or feel foggy and lethargic, thyroid fatigue needs management.

Here we look at fatigue as a symptom of thyroid disease and discuss what you can do to alleviate and manage it.

Fatigue as a symptom of thyroid disease

Fatigue is a common symptom of either undiagnosed or not-yet-managed thyroid conditions. Thyroid medication, such as levothyroxine, can help to reduce or even banish this symptom.

Most people with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) which is not yet managed with medication, experience fatigue. It is a defining characteristic of your body not producing enough thyroid hormone. It may come on gradually, or it can present suddenly. It may be consistent and you feel tired all the time, or it may be intermittent, at least in the early stages of the disease.

However, it is also possible to experience fatigue with hyperthyroidism too. This is when your thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone. This is because with hyperthyroidism, you often experience insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns which can leave you feeling abnormally tired.

Treatment for thyroid fatigue

Fatigue is just one thyroid symptom that indicates you may need treatment for hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism treatment involves replacing the thyroid hormones that the thyroid is failing to make. Once you’re settled on treatment, you will probably find that the fatigue radically improves, or even goes away entirely.

Hyperthyroid treatment is dependent on the cause, but may involve removal of the thyroid gland. This will cause hypothyroidism and will also require replacement thyroid hormone medication.

Coping with thyroid fatigue

However, we all suffer from fatigue sometimes, and it may take some time to get your thyroid medication working and balanced. It’s therefore important to know how to cope with thyroid fatigue in the meantime.

·Acknowledge it’s fatigue

It’s easy to dismiss fatigue as ‘just tiredness’. It’s certainly easy to feel it is dismissed by others in this way. However, if you’ve experienced fatigue, you will recognize that it’s not just a bit of common or garden tiredness. It isn’t simply alleviated by sleeping more.

Where necessary explain this to the people around you, so that they can understand. But at the very least, acknowledge it yourself and act with self-compassion.

·Take your medication routinely

Try to be very consistent with when and how you take your medication. You’ll need to take it regularly, every day, in order not to experience symptoms. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Follow the instructions you receive with the medication, in order to take them safely and most effectively.

Levothyroxine, which is a commonly prescribed medication for hypothyroidism, is best taken with water on an empty stomach. It’s worth waiting around half an hour or so before eating, after you take it. It’s also best to take levothyroxine well away from taking iron or calcium supplements, or cholesterol-lowering medications. This is because they interfere with your ability to absorb levothyroxine. So make sure there’s at least four hours between taking your levothyroxine and using any of these. Interestingly, grapefruit and soya also affect the body’s ability to absorb thyroxine.

·Have a good sleep routine

It’s tempting, when you are suffering from fatigue, to sleep erratically. However, this can worsen the fatigue. Instead, try to create a good sleep routine, going to bed and waking at roughly the same time every day. Use a regular routine which helps you wind down and signals to your body that it is time to sleep. Avoid electronic devices for at least an hour before sleep, and turn down room lights in the evening.

A good sleep routine also involves going outside in natural daylight early in the morning. Exposure to natural light earlier in the day will help to ensure your circadian rhythms are primed to help you sleep at night.

·Avoid sugary snacks

A quick pep up with some sugary snacks is tempting when you feel sluggishly exhausted with fatigue. However, your energy levels may be boosted in the short term, but you’ll quickly feel worse than before.

Instead, reach for protein rich foods which help to balance your blood sugar levels. Good snacks with fatigue include nuts and seeds.

·Cut down on caffeine and alcohol

You might be inured to its affects, but the reality is that caffeine consumption will affect your sleep and your energy levels. Contrary to what you think, cutting out caffeine may actually make you feel less tired after a short adjustment period.

Similarly, reducing your alcohol intake will improve the quality of your sleep.

·Get some gentle exercise

It’s very hard to advise someone who is fatigued to do more exercise, but it can actually help. You aren’t, contrary to popular opinion, using up energy supplies in a detrimental way, by exercising. Some gentle exercise can actually help to boost your energy levels, and it can certainly boost your mood. Choose something gentle like swimming, Pilates or yoga.

·Pace yourself an prioritize tasks

When you’re living with fatigue, you may need to learn a new approach to daily activities. Prioritize the tasks which are less overwhelming and need your attention first. Then, as you work through these, take regular breaks, pacing yourself to manage it easier. Build in regular rest breaks and acknowledge that you need these.

·Make changes to your living space and lifestyle

It can help to think about practical changes that you can make that will make living with fatigue more manageable. It may be that you need to reduce your working hours, or arrange more flexible working arrangements to allow for pacing, or reorganizing your living space so that you don’t need to get up and down so much. It can help to speak to an occupational therapist about ideas which might help.

Thyroid fatigue can feel debilitating, but hopefully with medication, it will be short-lived. If, despite trying the strategies above, you are still struggling, it is worth speaking again to your healthcare provider. It may be that your medication dose needs adjusting, or that the fatigue is being caused by another condition, such as depression.

The information given here by International Pharmacy is intended as guidance only and does not constitute medical advice. If in doubt, please get advice about your thyroid disease from your healthcare provider. Always take your thyroid medication as advised by your doctor.