Posts by fadedskipper20

Michelle Chavez16 said:Hello to all the forum members! To be honest, I have been struggling with this issue for quite some time now.

I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto, specifically subclinical hypothyroidism.
My hormone levels generally hover around the normal range; my FT3 is at the upper limit of the reference interval, while my FT4 stays within normal bounds—though over the years, it has occasionally dipped toward the lower end, though never actually falling below the threshold. My TSH fluctuates between 2 and 4. I am not currently on any medication. My anti-TPO was 160, but it has since dropped to 80. My ferritin has always been drastically low, so I take supplements and monitor it closely. My B12 is also something I keep an eye on. My cortisol levels in the blood are normal. I haven't done salivary testing yet.

What truly plagues me is this abnormal exhaustion that hits right around 6:00 PM, lasting until about 9:00 PM. It doesn't matter if I've slept for sixteen hours or if I've spent the entire day sitting at home without moving an inch—it happens every single time.
My complete blood count, CRP, liver enzymes, lupus antibodies, ANA profiles, and rheumatoid factors—everything comes back normal. My CRP is fine.

Back in 2015, a private gynecologist told me I had microcystic ovaries, though she mentioned it wasn't a major concern. My hormone levels were fine back then. My periods are heavy and painful. My CA125 and other tumor markers have all come back normal.

About a month ago, I went back to the gynecologist because I’ve been experiencing uterine pain and constant bloating in my lower abdomen, almost as if I were pregnant. No matter how much I exercise or how strictly I stick to my diet, nothing changes. I am someone who possesses the discipline and persistence to help myself, but I still feel terrible. The doctor said that on the ultrasound, she couldn't see anything at all—no fibroids, no cysts. I was actually expecting her to find something, because even in the middle of my cycle, I experience this dull, aching pain similar to menstrual cramps, even when I'm not on my period. I told her that my hair is growing much faster than it used to and that I suspected PCOS. She insisted the ultrasound showed nothing. My Pap smear came back normal. I assume she checked everything thoroughly; I can't imagine she would have missed something.

There is one more CRITICAL thing: whenever I eat carbohydrates—especially rice, sweets, or things like that—I am hit with such intense fatigue that I immediately feel like I need to sleep. A strange sensation takes over my head, like a mild shivering or a feeling similar to having the flu. I don't quite know how to describe it.

My fasting blood glucose was between 5.8 and 6.0.
Personally, I suspect insulin resistance.
I am at a loss as to where else to look. I have been thin since I was a child, yet I only seem to gain weight in my lower abdomen and hips. What kind of tests would be best to confirm this? Should I go for a standard OGTT or check my insulin levels?
I have been active for years; I don't smoke, I don't drink, I run, and I practice weight training (recreationally), yet I still feel "waterlogged," sluggish, and constantly carry fat on my stomach.
Looking at my symptoms, it feels most likely to be that. Please, could you direct me toward which tests would most certainly confirm this?

My doctor tells me my results are fine and that she doesn't know what to do with me, suggesting maybe I am just imagining it... but people, I am constantly exhausted. In the morning, I can't even get up for work because of the fatigue; I just can't wake myself up. Every aspect of my life is suffering.

Thank you all so much for your help and advice, because I am truly at my wit's end.

Hang in there, dear Michelle Chavez16.

I suffer from a level of fatigue that I never anticipated; it doesn't matter what time of day or night it is, it becomes unbearable. I get so tired that I find myself asking, "Why on earth am I like this?" Regardless of whether I've been cleaning, playing with my little one, or just lying on the couch, I am abnormally exhausted, regardless of how much sleep or rest I get. I maintain a healthy lifestyle, in a certain sense of that word. I have been diagnosed with MS for two and a half years now, and my condition rarely worsens. Fatigue was listed as a major symptom for me initially; if this is simply what life looks like with this condition, then it's somewhat manageable (you learn to nap during the day and eventually adapt). I didn't feel it too intensely until a few months ago, so it hasn't been a sudden shift. Clearly, it is a very slow decline, and if it continues this way, I will eventually have to deal with finding a solution. Don't go trying to diagnose yourself; take it slow and try not to stress, as that only makes the fatigue worse.Best of luck