I Don't Feel Right.

You may ask about B-12 injections. They are doing wonders for me. I was in the same slump as you are...and it is slowly getting better.

I'm sure vitamins will help you. Get a good B-Complex. It can work wonders.

Also try to cut out white foods especially sugar. I used to feel very sluggish all the time even though I was a great sleeper. I changed my diet about two months ago and I feel totally different. I am eating very little sugar now.

Ya know what else? Sometimes I feel a little more like that now that weather is changing and the days are shorter. It just kind of feels more depressing when it is dark so early. Try to get out and enjoy the sunshine as much as you can during the day, save the chores for when it is dark. :)

Yeah, it could be thyroid, it could also be B12 deficiency which I've recently had the pleasure of experiencing, or mono --- which alot of people have and don't know --- or depression. Get the labs done for thryroid, B12 and mono. If you don't have any issues with those, then maybe depression.

You 're a mom of 3... so am I... and I know what a toll that can take on you. That alone could be the issue with a baby being one of the 3. Go to the doc and find out.

Take care of yourself!

Ditto on the thyroid - in particular the fact that you aren't losing weight despite exercising. Also, most docs don't run all the necessary tests to rule out thyroid issues. They just run TSH which is actually a pituitary hormone. And, even then most doctors are using old ranges for TSH - the American Society of Endocrinologists recommended it be lowered to 3.0 in 2003, but most labs are still using 5.0 as the upper end.

You want them to measure the real thyroid hormones - Free T4 and Free T3 (the Free part is important as that's what is available for your body to actually use) and thyroid antibodies and TPO. If the latter two are abnormal, then your other labs can be perfect, but you can still have thyroid problems and benefit from thyroid treatment.
You might want to check out the Texas thyroid Yahoo group:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Texas_Thyroid_Groups/
Folks know alot about local docs and some of the docs don't treat aggressively enough, which can leave folks under-medicated (that's been the experience of several folks I know that have seen Michael Sullivan, whose a PA and not an MD).

And, yes, sometimes anti-depressants can compensate for the impacts on the brain of low thyroid function BUT low thyroid function if untreated can cause many long term health problems - osteoporosis, heart problems, GI problems, etc. - anti-depressants won't do a thing to keep those problems from developing. Also, low thyroid function impacts your immune system, such that you are likely to be sick more often.

I felt just like you in terms of something not being right. Unfortunately, mine didn't get caught in time and I got Lyme disease and have spent 5 years recovering my health. The first thing we learned along the way was that I was hypothyroid (and likely had been for a decade). And, it wasn't until I got adequate thyroid hormone that I could lose the weight and felt like I got my brain back.
Also, many people do not do well on just T4 (e.g., Synthroid) since T4 must be converted to T3 for your body to use. Thus, I also need to add some Cytomel along with T4. Also, many do quite well with Armour Thyroid, which is a natural thyroid hormone.

This is also so very important to catch because if a mother is low thyroid, her kids are far more likely to be AND they likely will be impacted when they're younger. My older son was diagnosed in May and my younger son just this past week. Many thought my older son was just "depressed", but I now have a happy teenager in my home.

So, please, don't accept the "depression" label without really digging further into root health issues.

Also, anemia can cause fatigue, so make sure they test your ferritin. Many will just look at your CBC levels and make a guess from there. But, if you have BOTH low B12 and low iron, your CBC can be normal. So, please make sure that they measure both separately. Also, make sure they test ferritin, which is your body's store of iron versus just the iron value that reflects circulating levels.

I would go see your Dr. and have a full panel of blood work done just to rule out anything. It sounds like you could slightly be depressed. I went through a phase like that where I just felt tired all the time. I didn't think I was depressed until my Dr asked me and then I realized I did feel a little overwhelmed, etc. Good luck.

Hello V.,

when you go to the doctor, have them check your vitamin D levels! I'm doing better after a round of Rx vitamin D. what a difference! the range should be between 30 - 100. By the way, not all Vitamin D work well for every one. the over the counter ones I found that worked for me is the one made from Lanonlin. the vegetable source one, did not work for me. just wanted to mention that. Good luck! ~C.~

I went through something similar with my first born-she was a bit younger. But, I swore I was not right. I MADE my Gyno give me a blood test, because i just "knew" I was dying or it was my thyroid. I had really bad anxiety, down feeling-nothing got my excited...nothing you counld really pin point but you know is just not right...that type of thing. Well, sure enough, there was nothing wrong. My doctor put me on Lexapro, said she hears this scenario all the time from new moms and I have been happy as a lark ever since! So, maybe that is the answer?

One word for you...THYROID!!! I cant say it enough, it causes those exact symptoms! Get a full thyroid panel done though, not just a TSH test. And, i suggest getting your adrenal function tested too. I hope you get some answers! ~A.~

I was just going to suggest something similar to the last poster. I was wondering if you may have mild depression. I feel that way when I've been a bit down...not sad or weepy, just lacking my normal umph! I've found that getting out and "doing" something, anything really, helps. I'm sure that is more difficult now with your 3rd addition. I hope that your midwife can point you in the right direction!

I had a lot of your symptoms and was convinced I had thyroid issues. My doc agreed to run the tests but suggested that I might be clinically depressed instead. I agreed to go on meds for a trial period if my tests came back negative (which they did) and have been great ever since!

Depression (situational like post-partum and clinical) can mirror the signs of thyroid so both should be considered.

Best of luck.

V.,
Everyone is yelling thyroid, and it certainly may be. That was my first thought, and meds helped me tremendously! However, even though synthroid helped tremendously I still had some of these symptoms. I had other things going on too, like pain in my back and hips. I also have always exercised, but I was beginning to become limited in what I could do. Then I started a good vitamin program and am amazed at how good I feel. Pain went away. I'm not tired anymore! I used to want to nap everyday, but not any more.
First, check your thyroid and see what your doc says, but if you would like help getting some nutrition on a daily basis, contact me. I can help!
P.

Maybe you are anemic? I know I was one time and I just was so physically tired and felt blah.
R. B.

Check your thyroid...pregnancy reeks havoc on it.

I have hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) and while untreated thyroid disorders can cause similar symptoms to what you've described, it sounds more like you've got post-partum blues to me, which I had after both my children were born. It was worse with my first child because I had no idea what was wrong with me. I recognized the symptoms immediately after my second child and got treatment much faster. I was put on a mild anti-depressant and I went completely back to my normal self within only a couple of days. The cocktail of hormones floating around in your body after birth can really affect every part of your physical and emotional well-being. I recommend you go to your ob-gyn and let him/her know your situation. They may run blood work or they may just prescribe something to see if it works. Since I already had hypothyroidism which I was being treated for, they pretty much knew right off the bat it had to be post-partum depression, or in my case, "blues" which is a much milder form of ppd.

Good luck! I hope you get back to your old self soon!

Vikki, I was diagnosed with post natal depression after a second great pregnancy - but on the meds got very little joy. I couldn't remember anything ( very difficult for someone who is used to being sharp with a great memory) , my face was swollen on awaking, I couldn't loose wieght, I had no passion for anything... etc I wish I had known to see a 'thyroid doctor' becasue any other was not able to help. Let me suggest:- Mike Sullivan’s info:- www.tienahealth.com/usingtheoffice/contactus.asp.

He is very good, listens & doesn't behave as though thyriod issues are something difficult to deal with. He also takes into account your hormones which for both my husband and I was essential - and no other doctor had done.