Thyroid And Fibroids

Fatigue And Depression After Birth – Is Your Thyroid The Cause?

Fatigue and Depression After Birth Caused by Thyroid

Do you remember how you used to feel? You were happy and well, with steady energy and emotions. You slept soundly and woke up feeling rested. Your recovery from illness was fast. You maintained a healthy weight without dieting.

Now you are fatigued, your energy lags during the day, you feel depressed, emotionally unbalanced and you sleep poorly. You can’t lose excess weight even while dieting. You use caffeine or carbohydrates as pick-me-ups.

Things instantly change when you have a baby and we are taught to expect that. But how things change often take women by surprise: the intensity of emotions, depression, unexpected strains in marriage, a new connection with in-laws, and unintended disconnection from friends without children. All of these new circumstances require time and solitude to process, two luxuries new mothers rarely have. Worst of all you are more fatigued then you have ever been before.

Your body changes – forever. There are the obvious changes in breast & body shape, but most importantly your hormones change too triggering fatigue and depression after birth.

Symptoms of hormonal imbalance include:

  • Being depressed & emotional
  • tearfulness for no reason
  • low libido
  • tension and anxiety
  • insomnia
  • constant worry
  • fatigue & lethargy
  • weight gain
  • hair loss
  • chronic fatigue

Many chronic illnesses like fatigue and depression in new mothers go untreated, because symptoms are mistaken for common complaints of sleep-deprived parents. “Well, you just had a baby” can answer for a lot of problems, but sometimes there is more to the story.

But some women suffer more intense, longer-lasting postpartum troubles that can threaten their health – and these troubles may be directly related to the thyroid.

Postpartum thyroiditis is a condition in which the thyroid becomes inflamed and dysfunctional after delivery, due to antibodies.

Postpartum thyroiditis typically follows a pattern: at first, you become hyperthyroid, and might feel breathless, nervous, mentally confused, have unexplained weight loss, or trouble sleeping. This phase usually appears anytime between one and four months after the birth of the baby.

In the second phase, which usually shows up three to eight months postpartum, your body becomes hypothyroid. Symptoms of this stage might be depression, fatigue, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, and an enlarged thyroid gland or sensation of pressure in your neck. Sadly, blood tests don’t always pick up a thyroid imbalance leaving you confused.

If you feel that your hormones could be making you gain weight and causing fatigue, take my quick hormonal test online click here

Your adrenals can change your body shape!

Life stages contribute greatly to stress levels especially the arrival of a new born baby, the sleepless nights and insomnia, constant nappy changes and readjustments to family life mean you start to feel fatigued, frumpy and burnt out and depressed!

It is important to understand how stress affects your adrenals and ultimately your health. Adrenal Hypersensitivity simply means your adrenals have been, and perhaps still are, working over time.

“Your adrenal glands provide you with crucial hormonal support needed to get through the day with energy, enthusiasm and efficiency. Adrenal hypersensitivity means you are much more likely to suffer from fatigue, forgetfulness, mood swings and sleep disturbances and depression. Living in the ‘fast’ world of today exposes you to unavoidable levels of stress – and with that stress comes elevated cortisol levels”.

In its normal function, cortisol helps you meet these challenges by converting proteins into energy, releasing glycogen and counteracting inflammation. For a short time, that’s okay. But at sustained high levels, cortisol gradually tears your body down.

Sustained high cortisol destroys healthy muscle and bone; slows down healing and normal cell replacement; co-opts biochemical’s needed to make other vital hormones; impairs digestion, metabolism and mental function, weakens your immune system; and interferes with healthy endocrine function contributing to conditions such as heightened Menopause, Sub Fertility, Thyroid imbalance and ovarian imbalances such as PCOS, Fibroids, Endometriosis and chronic Fatigue.

Tummy Fat That Won’t Budge linked to fatigue!

One of cortisol’s many functions is that it stimulates the release of glucose, fats and amino acids for energy production. It will also keep your appetite stimulated. In addition, the type of fat that accumulates because of this stress-induced appetite will typically locate itself in the abdominal region of your body. Stress contributes to weight gain primarily because of an excess secretion of the key stress hormone cortisol, along with a reduced secretion of the key hormone Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA. DHEA is a steroid hormone synthesised from cholesterol and secreted by your adrenal glands. It’s time to value your health.

It is important to adopt and achieve a diet that supports your lifestyle – one that doesn’t eliminate food groups but focuses on a formula that works for you! It should foster a passion in you to cook and take pleasure in food – choose flavoursome meals that are spirited and nourishing.


Dietary changes such as reducing MSG, excess sugars and cola drinks can greatly improve adrenal performance and reduce fatigue after birth. Even the reduction of coffee and alcohol can substantially assist with a symptom like anxiety. Targeted nutrients prescribed by a practitioner, along with dietary changes can do wonders. Herbs such as Winter cherry, Licorice, Ginseng and the amino acid Tyrosine along with Vitamins B5 & B6 are well documented to support healthy adrenal function.

Remember, your health reflects the way you live – so isn’t it time you started making some healthy changes?

About the author: Narelle Stegehuis, CEO of MassAttack, and BumpFertility is a Naturopath specializing in the treatment of PCOS, Fibroids, Endometriosis & Thyroid imbalance. Uniquely her services are offered online. She is both an accomplished writer and recent recipient of the Australian Naturopathic Excellence Award. www.massattack.com.au

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-health-articles/fatigue-and-depression-after-birth-is-your-thyroid-the-cause-2088857.html

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    Do anyone suffer from fibroids of the uterus and underactive thyroid?
    I just wondered if anyone is suffering from fibroids of the uterus and underactive thyroids, fibromyalgia, arthritis and being deaf all at once?

    • ANSWER:
      I have an underactive thyroid and fibroids, but they are not connected to each other, according to my doctor.

  2. QUESTION:
    Is the norplant birth control suitable for me if i have fibroids and an under active thyroid?

    I am a 26 year old black female.I weigh 145 pounds and my height is 5 ft 5

    • ANSWER:
      All birth control devices/pills contain hormones, one being estrogen. Estrogen feeds tumors. I developed huge fibroids and was getting D&C’s on a regular basis until they didn’t do the trick anymore. I went totally off of estrogen and my fibroids all went away. For birth control, you may have to go back to the old fashioned methods which I know is a pain but they are safe.

  3. QUESTION:
    frustrated with my illnesses, what should I do?
    I have a severe case of hyperthyroidism and added to that, multiple fibroids. Doctors say I have to get the thyroid issue under control b4 I have a hysterectomy done in August. (fibroids cause me to overdose on numerous pain killers and get injections very often to alleviate the pains, they say its the size of a 4 1/2 month old child. I just made 31, small frame. I also experience all the symptoms of someone with hyerthyroidism. I have 5 doctors very often, they say laser surgery for the thyroid as well. Is there a way of controlling thyroids and fibroids without surgery, with all my complications?

    • ANSWER:
      Nothing is a subsitute for proper medical care… BUT, my mother had fibroid tumors, they suggested a hysterectomy, but told her they were too big for surgery… so they were going to shrink them before surgery. My mom said, “What? If you can shrink them small enough for surgery, why can’t you shrink them AWAY?” Sure enough, she went to an endocrinologist (blood/hormone doctor) and he put her on some hormones and stuff. Now, her fibroid tumors went from the size of a baseball, to the size of a pea. They are still there, but they are too small to be an issue. Hers were benign anyway, so she never had to get surgery and she got to keep her uterus! Hooray!

      It is easier, more cost effective (for everyone) and less of a hassle to just do surgery than it is to actually CURE someone.

      Below is the doctor that helped my mom. He’s really good.

  4. QUESTION:
    what do you think it could be? PLEASE HELP!!?
    I’ve been experiencing some female issues for the past few weeks, i’m going to give the short version and would appreciate your opinions. on june 18th i was diagnosed with vaginitis by the er dr. i did the antibiotics & got a yeast infection a couple of days later, i did the monistat for that. i have been queasy (but no throwing up), constipated, hungry alot (but feel full after a few bites), very moody, spotting, no period. i had my annual exam done today at the ob/gyn, the first thing he asked is if i could be pregnant, i took 3 hpt’s, they all came back negative. so, he does my exam and orders blood work. he says he can’t tell 100% through the exam, but it “feels” like i’m pregnant cause my uterus is rounded, but he wanted to rule out fibroids & thyroid. i am freaking out, the appt was on thursday, the 8th, it’s now saturday, the 10th and i probably won’t know anything til monday, the 12th. what does this sound like to you?!

    • ANSWER:
      It sounds like you might be pregnant

  5. QUESTION:
    What might cause chronic pelvic pain for a woman?
    A friend of mine has been complaining of chronic pelvic pain which worsens when she sneezes, coughs, laughs, and orgasms. Previously she had a period lasting about 4 months before put on birth control.

    I’ve been looking all over the internet for her, and haven’t been getting too many results. We know it isn’t PCOS, thyroid, or fibroids.

    The pain is located in middle between her hips, and under her “muffin top.” It’s constant and varies from moderate to severe.
    She’s been tested recently for many STDs, all which were negative.

    Endometriosis is a good possibility.

    • ANSWER:
      Check below – PID or Endometriosis



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