Menopause Support Group

Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age. It normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, when the body begins to slow and stop the production of eggs, estrogen and progesterone production decreases, and menstruation diminishes, eventually stopping altogether.

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Fatigue...and just not feeling right

megsmom8816
megsmom8816
I am sure this has been discussed, but I couldn't find it. I have been fatigued for a number of years, but lately it is ridiculous. I yawn constantly.....the whole time I am awake. I do have a demanding, stressful job, but this fatigue is getting worse. Lately I also feel so out of it....and I get warm all the time, feel like I will pass out, and sometimes feel like I can't get enough air. Since I began menopause four years ago I have gained weight....over 20 pounds....and now that makes me about 40 pounds overweight. I feel breathless at times, and just so out of it. It saddens me that I can't keep up with my life like I used to. I have no energy to do anything. I do my job and that is basically it. By the way, I teach high school....and I can NOT be less than 100% or the kids eat you alive.

Should I be concerned or is this normal menopause. I do have hypothyroid, and have been on MANY medications and dosages, but the last time my numbers were finally getting closer to normal. I have been on a rollercoaster with those numbers for about 10 years too.

HELP please!
fighting4change
fighting4change
Hi Megsmom. With your fatigue, air "hunger", and weight gain, I have to wonder if your hypothyroidism is under-treated. I know most doctors treat solely based on TSH and don't even look at free T3 and free T4. Also, T4-only Synthroid (or its generic) seems to be the standard med but some do better on a T4/T3 natural dessicated thyroid med. The T4 has to be converted into T3 and some people's bodies aren't efficient at doing that conversion.
megsmom8816
megsmom8816
I do know right now my numbers are not what they should be, but they are better than they have been in a long time. I have been taking a new medication for about 8 weeks....I don't know if I could still be adjusting?? I do know the fatigue is extreme right now, and the brain fog, and I continue to gain weight despite my good eating habits. I am also depressed most days....just no interest in anything.
fighting4change
fighting4change
Since hypothyroid and menopausal symptoms overlap a bit, it's hard to know what's causing what. Before they came out with anti-depressants, they treated depression with thyroid meds. If you changed thyroid meds, maybe some tweaking of dosage will do the trick. If you had any other med changes, that could be the cause.

When you have your labs drawn, are you consistent in the number of hours between your last dose and the lab draw? If not, that can cause a big variation in results, at least in free T3 and free T4 levels but not sure about TSH.
megsmom8816
megsmom8816
My TSH numbers have always been too high, but I am not too worried about those numbers as they don't tell the true story. The T3 and T4 are what I focus on, and they are still off, but getting closer to being in range.