Chronic Fatigue, Any Suggestions?

[txplowgirl]

Ok, I've been gluten free now for 8 months. Everything has either improved or disappeared. The one remaining problem is with chronic fatigue. My Dr says that I do not have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but It sure feels like it to me. There are days I am just so tired I can't hardly move with no reasonable explanation for it. Slept good the night before, nothing strenuous. etc.

Maybe just a part of my fibro and i'll have to live with it but I would like to feel better in this area. I take good doses of Vit B-12, Vit D, DHEA, Vit C, Magnesium.

I've cut out the gluten, dairy, soy, msg, aspertame, lowered my sugar intake, nightshades, etc.

Does anyone have any other ideas or sugestions?

[YoloGx]

Feeling tired all the time is indeed no fun. Unfortunatley many of us here have had those kinds of problems.

I highly suggest taking olive leaf extract and/or tea regularly. It really works against things that cause chronic fatigue of whatever sort. It kills underlying bacterial, viral and yeast/fungal infections as well as a variety of microbes. You could also add neem leaf to be certain in case you think the cause might be parasitical on a microbial level.

Parasites are another thing to check into. Have you??

Maybe start with the olive leaf and neem first and then do more if needed.

I also suggest eating whole natural foods rather than pre-prepared things to eat.

Other things that help are certain supplements that speed up the mitochondria--like R-Lipoic acid and N-acytlcystein (NAC). These two are wonderful anti oxidants and make your other antioxidants work better. Esp. good as one ages.

L-glutamine can also help you feel more energy. Don't take it if you have kidney or diabetic issues. It gives extra energy plus soothes the intestines. Its also a great thing to take if you have been glutened or suspect that you might be, like in cases where you eat out.

Another thing I have found to help is to blend fresh vegetables and have that every day. Very energizing.

Ditto with fresh ground flax seed (1 tblsp) with a little marshmallow root powder (1 tsp) added and apple pectin (1/4 tsp.) ground in a small dedicated coffee or seed grinder. Mix in a large glass of water. Gives you much needed Omega 3's, helps with elimination and soothes/heals the intestines.

Bea

[Roda]

Have you had your thyroid, iron and ferritin checked?

[txplowgirl]

Have you had your thyroid, iron and ferritin checked?

Hi Roda, Yes, I have, according to the Dr, my Iron is ok. He told me I was no longer anemic after nearly 38 years. Ferritin levels are ok too. Thyroid is normal also. But I do know that he just checked the TSH not the T3 or 4 because when I asked, he told me I didn't need those. Kind of irritated me but he refused to run them. Thyroid problems run in the family. So, i'm kind of suspicious there. My mom has been on different thyroid meds for nearly 40 years now. I've been half tempted to ask her for few pills and cut them down a little and try them.

Hi Yolo,

Parasites are another thing to check into. Have you?? No, I haven't, I just can't quite grasp the thought of parasites in my body. But, I will look into the olive and neem leaves. As for flax seed, it causes me to bloat and get really gassy, so that is really out. I'll also give the L-glutamine a try see if that helps any.

Thank you both for your help.

[Roda]

Have you had your thyroid, iron and ferritin checked?

Hi Roda, Yes, I have, according to the Dr, my Iron is ok. He told me I was no longer anemic after nearly 38 years. Ferritin levels are ok too. Thyroid is normal also. But I do know that he just checked the TSH not the T3 or 4 because when I asked, he told me I didn't need those. Kind of irritated me but he refused to run them. Thyroid problems run in the family. So, i'm kind of suspicious there. My mom has been on different thyroid meds for nearly 40 years now. I've been half tempted to ask her for few pills and cut them down a little and try them.

Your doctor was wrong in telling you that you don't need the other tests. For a full thyroid work up you should have a TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and thyroid antibodies. My endocrinologist and I have found that I function the best with a slightly elevated Free T3 and Free T4 in the upper normal range. It does keep my TSH on the low normal side. I supplement with levothyroxine(T4) and liothyronine(T3). This combo works well for me.

[wschmucks]

Diddo on the Thyroid. Go back and insist (tell him you know he doesnt think it would be necessary, but you really need to do it, just to east your mind). My TSH has always been very normal, but if you test my Free T3-- its low, so I am hypo. If you dont test the Free T3 my results look perfectly normal...like every Dr told me for years. I would google: "stop the thyroid madness", its a good source for making sure you get an accurate diagnosis. American Drs have been screwing this up for years.

Yolo is right about the parasites and olive leaf. It seems with Chronic fatigue there are multiple problems, usually: hormones, immune system, viruses/ parasites and nutrition. I would do a few rounds of Parashield (herbal supplement to help kill parasites), add the immune boosters and check out your thyroid and sex hormones to make sure everything is where its suppose to be. Dont push yourself too much when youre tired, but try to get in some walking and such. Good luck, i hope you feel better soon.

[Billygean]

Time... it took years for me, but I got there

[txplowgirl]

Thank you guys for your support, really means alot to me.

Roda, I have a question, Can you find levothyroxine and liothyronine at a health store or are those prescription meds? I've never asked my mom what she takes, she just refers to them as her thyroid meds. I guess I need to ask don't I.

[Jean'sBrainonGluten]

They are prescription meds and the dose needs to be verified by repeat thyroid blood tests.

[Roda]

Thank you guys for your support, really means alot to me.

Roda, I have a question, Can you find levothyroxine and liothyronine at a health store or are those prescription meds? I've never asked my mom what she takes, she just refers to them as her thyroid meds. I guess I need to ask don't I.

Both of those medicications are Rx meds. I see my endocrinologist every 4 months with follow up blood work. Levothyroxine is generic synthroid. Liothyronine is generic cytomel. There are other rx thyroid medications out there but these are the only two I have taken. Alot of people just take a t4 drug like synthroid. Others like me take a combo of t4 and t3 separately. There is a rx medicine called Armour that is a t4/t3 combination pill. Some people swear by it, but my doctor likes the two separate pills because she feels it is easier to adjust the t3 dosage better. T3 is much more potent than t4 and it's effect is days not weeks so if you were to get too much/little, dose can be adjusted pretty easily. Just ask for the full pannel and if something looks "off" then find a good endocrinologist. Alot of doctors are still hesitant to prescribe t3. I know my regular doctors I see alot of the time don't even know what it is and I know that the endocrinologist I see does not have all her patients on it. That said, I do well on it, but as with anything I'm sure it is not necessary for everyone. A good endocrinologist will tailor your meds according to your needs. My doctor's reasoning for putting me on it was despite the t4 supplementation my Free T3 labs test was still low and I was symptomatic that was even with a normal TSH!

[lcarter]

If you are finding the doctor you go to is frequently refusing to run tests you feel are necessary or not listening to you fully, it might be a good idea to change [primary care] doctors. It is a little known fact that doctors are rewarded by insurance companies for not ordering too many labs or other procedures for their patients. Some doctors are more influenced by this than others, which can cause a conflict of interests as far as you are concerned. Or, it could be that your doctor is not as up-to-date as he/she could be in a particular area. Also, in many parts of the US, specialists will not see you without a primary care doctor's referral. So, if your doctor refuses to refer you..that is another occasion which should ring the alarm that it might be time to seek out a new primary care doctor. For whatever reason, if you feel you are not getting what you are paying for...ask and look around... there are lots of other choices out there. Request a doctor recommendation from the local celiac and/or thyroid group in your area for someone knowledgeable and sympathetic.

[wschmucks]

I actually just found a clinic started by one of Dr Oz's colleagues, who personally battled chronic fatigue syndrome to the point of being homeless. Its the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Clinic (u can google it)-- there are about 10 nationwide. Im going to check it out cause ive been battling this for the past few years and have been bed ridden for 4 months. Might be worth looking into.