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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Question: I have been recently diagnosed with severe loss of executive skills from a brain injury that occurred over a year ago. I've been aware of this since last April but unable to "label" it. I've mentioned it to my doctors, now they have a neuropsychologist telling them the same thing. I also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, live by myself, & have more or less been taking care of myself for the last year. I'm exhausted. They've tried rehab but I was exhausted & dealing with 'severe loss of executive skills' so it didn't help much. --- I think I'm also dealing with 'post exertional malaise' because of the stress of the last year. I've been on Disability & Medicare for 3 years & have yet to meet a doctor that knows anything about CFS. Before I ran out of money I was seeing a CFS specialist. I am still benefitting from some of the things she helped me with.
I have had very little lab work done since these results from the CFS specialist I saw in 2011. The few tests that have been done show that my adrenal glands have stayed in low normal since 2011 & my thyroid has stayed in low normal since 2011 until tests done in the last 2 months showed it as sub-normal. At the beginning of this year test results showed it at low normal.
I have had very little lab work done since these results from the CFS specialist I saw in 2011. The few tests that have been done show that my adrenal glands have stayed in low normal since 2011 & my thyroid has stayed in low normal since 2011 until tests done in the last 2 months showed it as sub-normal. At the beginning of this year test results showed it at low normal.
Brief Answer:
In my opinion,the thyroid gland is not the culpit of your actual condition.
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear XXXXXXX
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue may worsen with physical or mental activity and doesn't improve with rest.
Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is one symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), but is itself more complex than a single symptom. Patients experience fatigue, pain, cognitive difficulties after previously tolerated physical or mental activity.
Your last thyroid tests show subclinical hypothyroidism.It is diagnosed when you have a mildly high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level and normal thyroxine (T4) level and no symptoms or mild symptoms of hypothyroidism.
So,If you are asking if the thyroid gland is the cause of your extreme fatigue,my answer is No,the sligly low thyroid function can not explain this symptom.
Anyway i suggest to repeat the thyroid function test(TSH, free T3 ,freeT4) to see your actual thyroid function and to understand if the thyroid gland can be related to your fatigue.
Some studies demostrate that there is a distinct hormonal disturbance in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients, with a general suppression of the hypothalamic – pituitary – adrenal axis (HPA axis). If the pituitary is malfunctioning like in CFS patients, then this will affect the thyroid gland and the adrenal gland.
This can explain your normal/low adrenal and thyroid function.
My like we discussed earlier,in my opinion the Chronic fatigue syndrome is the culpit of your fatigue.
Hope I have clarified your doubts. If you have any further queries, please feel free to ask. I would be happy to help.
Best regards.
In my opinion,the thyroid gland is not the culpit of your actual condition.
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear XXXXXXX
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue may worsen with physical or mental activity and doesn't improve with rest.
Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is one symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), but is itself more complex than a single symptom. Patients experience fatigue, pain, cognitive difficulties after previously tolerated physical or mental activity.
Your last thyroid tests show subclinical hypothyroidism.It is diagnosed when you have a mildly high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level and normal thyroxine (T4) level and no symptoms or mild symptoms of hypothyroidism.
So,If you are asking if the thyroid gland is the cause of your extreme fatigue,my answer is No,the sligly low thyroid function can not explain this symptom.
Anyway i suggest to repeat the thyroid function test(TSH, free T3 ,freeT4) to see your actual thyroid function and to understand if the thyroid gland can be related to your fatigue.
Some studies demostrate that there is a distinct hormonal disturbance in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients, with a general suppression of the hypothalamic – pituitary – adrenal axis (HPA axis). If the pituitary is malfunctioning like in CFS patients, then this will affect the thyroid gland and the adrenal gland.
This can explain your normal/low adrenal and thyroid function.
My like we discussed earlier,in my opinion the Chronic fatigue syndrome is the culpit of your fatigue.
Hope I have clarified your doubts. If you have any further queries, please feel free to ask. I would be happy to help.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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