BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Thyroid Health BIG fright and tiredness?

Hi there!! I suffer from hashimoto (?) disease, after a bout of graves'. Friday night I was in a 'smash&grab' attack. I cannot begin to tell you what a shock it was. Since then I am sooooooooooo tired. I just want to sleep. Does this have anything to do with my thyroid? I mean, honestly - it's not that I've been near murdered or anything - just got a massive shock!! Advice pls? (Yawn....)

Oh I do hope you weren't hurt Adelle, I am so sorry you were attacked.

I was absolutely exhausted after my burglary a couple of years back, there was so much to sort out. But there's no reason you shouldn't see your doctor and ask his advice.

I have hypoparathyroidism myself, and I get terribly tired especially if things are stressful, although my meds have kept my bloods normal since the 1970s.

Oh Adelle - I'm glad you are OK!

I can't speak as to the thyroid issue, but I think a major stress like that can make anybody exhausted! I know just after my cousin's funeral this past week, I have felt so emotionally drained that it has made me feel physically tired as well.

And you've got to consider that your body poured floods of adrenaline through you, so you had a major crash after that. And then just mentally your brain is probably subconciously still somewhat firghtened (understatement) so it is making you tired as a self defense mechanism.

I wonder how well you are truly sleeping at night also right now?

Going to your doctor is never a bad thing, but saying "just a massive shock" is kind of like saying "only got my foot driven over by a car". It is still shock.

Adelle,

This is an area that's always been of interest to me and as Michelle pointed out, it's an adrenal issue in my opinion.
Both sudden stressors and chronic (ongoing) ones can tax the adrenals more-so in people with autoimmune diseases, especially endocrine ones like thyroid. It's similar to the state experienced by people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and research studies on PTSD state that the stressed adrenals are what causes its symptoms. I refer to it as "adrenal fatigue" because it's a good term for a subclinical type of lowered adrenal function.
When I first experienced noticable symptoms from Hashimoto's-hypothyroidism, I was in property management at the time (stressful)and with delay in treatment due to doctors not ordering proper tests to diagnose me, I developed co-morbid (co-existing) adrenal fatigue. I still experience spells of it that can at times be severe with severe stress or if I exceed my tolerance level physically. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as well and even with optimal thyroid hormone replacement, it has to be treated as a seperate issue because of symptom flares.
Another reason adrenals are fatigued more with autoimmune diseases is because they are inflammatory and there's more demand for the adrenal hormone "cortisol", the one that is most often low with adrenal fatigue. Cortisol works as the body's natural anti-inflammatory and constant demand for it can cause it to go low at times.

Here are a couple of interesting research study quotes:

"CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study indicate that low-dose cortisol treatment reduces the cardinal symptoms of PTSD."
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/8/1488

"Dr. Reeves said: "People with CFS have reduced overall cortisol output within the first hour after they wake up in the morning, which is actually one of the most stressful times for the body."
http://www.ei-resource.org/news/chronic-...ortisol-levels/

I'm quoting these to show the relationship of low cortisol to conditions that have adrenal fatigue as a feature of them. As far as supplementing with cortisol to help with it, other studies recommend against it. There are however safe supplements that can help and I talk about these in this article>
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art37137.asp

In your case, extra rest and reducing stress for a while might be enough to get your adrenal reserves at better level. If you do struggle with it, you might consider adrenal support supplements that your doctor approves. Also if you have any suspicion that your thyroid levels are a little low, you might ask your doctor to order a blood recheck to make sure your thyroid hormone dose is high enough. I believe it doesn't hurt when you struggle with fatigue, to have thorough blood work done, just to make sure you don't have developing anemia, etc...

I'm pretty detailed in replying on the forum but that's because traffic is not high, so gives me op to give detailed replies.
I hope this info helped.

Tx for the replies. I'll definately read the links, as I am most interrested in this. Thing is - I've always been a 'fighter'. Nothing got me down - and I would 'stand up' for what's right, fight an attack etc. (not fists and kick-boxing ha-ha)- but for the last few years, stressfull situations leaves me numb, blank, in a cloud and tired. I've lost my 'fight' for survival (wow, melodramatic), and just succumb to 'stuff'. Although my MIND fights, my body becomes a blob. Me jumping over a fence when a lion approaches?? Not any more!!! I'll just stand there - waiting. Too tired to move. Is it age? (I'm 40 now) - or is it thyroid? And it takes sooooo looooong to feel myself again. I don't sob and fret, I just 'park' - thinking 'I wish I was a dog, lying in the sun....'

I suspect this 'new, tired me' irritates my family no end. I try to just 'snap-out-of-it', but then the yawns overcome me. I know I'll feel much better in a few days - but these 'resting' periods is most unfamiliar and time-wasting for me.

I suppose you're right - I must go chat to my GP. Just hope she understands that a handfull of vitamins might not be the only solution.... (?)

And when you take that handful of vitamins, if you still have a thyroid check that they're free of iodine and kelp. Good luck!

You're on the right track Adelle, in getting with your Doc and when you do, I would be firm about wanting to make sure those thyroid levels are checked! Once you do, feel free to share the results with us, for fellow-patient input.


(Thanks Fayge for the iodine mention, I've been posting some lately on the issue of iodine and thyroid autoimmunity.)

Hi Adelle,
Something similar happened to me over 18 months ago. l had been through 3 years of stressful life changing events and coped ok. Then l was attacked by someone and l just went down hill health wise until l was too weak and ill to leave the house.l ended up in hospital because my GP was so shocked at the change in me. l still need a wheelchair to go any normal distance.
Like Jim says, l am sure the problem was/is adrenal although tests at the doctor and endo's showed "normal" l went down hill over weeks maybe a couple of months, l am a different person now, compared to before the attack, l can't take any stress at all or l just want to slide to the floor.
l hope you start to feel better soon, Adelle.