8 Ways to Stay Energized With Hypothyroidism

Tired of feeling tired all the time? Extreme tiredness, fatigue, and just feeling wiped out — these are common symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland. The best move you can make to get a bounce back in your step when you have hypothyroidism is to get your thyroid hormone levels back on track. Talk with your doctor about how to get this done with hormone replacement medication.

Most experts agree that once hypothyroidism is diagnosed, medication should be tweaked until your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels move into a range of 1 mU/L to 3 mU/L , says Victor Bernet, MD, an endocrinologist and assistant professor at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Be patient as you target getting TSH levels into that range. It can take some time — even a few months.

Jan Hoffman, MD, an endocrinologist in Wichita, Kansas, also points out that it’s important to confirm that hypothyroidism is actually what’s causing you to feel exhausted. “Sometimes people equate being tired with their thyroid medication being out of balance, but there are other things that can make you tired in the first place,” he says.

Dr. Hoffman often screens people for vitamin D deficiency, for example. He says this vitamin deficiency is very common in his area of the country (at a high latitude, where there is less sun exposure) and can cause ongoing tiredness. He also tests people for connective tissue diseases, anemia, and inflammatory illnesses — all of which can cause fatigue.

If you have a definitive diagnosis of hypothyroidism, you’ll have to wait for your thyroid hormone levels to adjust with the replacement medication. While you still may feel tired for a bit, Dr. Bernet says not to be discouraged. You can still make a difference in how you feel from day to day. Try these strategies to manage fatigue when you’re living with hypothyroidism.