Everybody who knows me knows I suffer from exhaustion. I’ve been to endocrinologists and have had my blood tested and got the meds for thyroid difficulties. For a couple of months when I first got on the meds, I felt fabulous (and started losing weight steadily, and started having more energy—not amphetamine-level energy, just “It’s 3pm and I’m still awake” energy). Then the effect wore off, even though my blood work showed that my thyroid levels were now normal.
Endless exhaustion makes for a boring day and even worse conversation with friends, so I don’t make it a topic of conversation constantly. A few times I’ve solicited ideas for things to try. One friend recommended acupuncture highly, and so I went in for a few treatments…which did, as far as I can tell, absolutely nothing. I’ve begun running again, and, while I have recovered some from my long running layoff, exercise still makes me tired. (Seriously, the next person who cheerily says, “Oh, isn’t exercise just the best for giving you energy!” is going to get slapped.)
My running bud Rob suggested two things, neither of which I really wanted to do: give up coffee (my only caffeinated beverage) and go on a low-carbohydrate diet. I don’t mind giving up starches, but I really, really like my desserts.
You can get to the point, though, where you’re willing to do and try anything. Which is why I now take several fish oil capsules a day, to get a lot of Omega-3, in addition to several other pills: amino acids, vitamins, etc. And I drink raw milk (1 cup every day, to wash down said vitamins and minerals and amino acids) and I’m avoiding white bread (not all that hard) and I have no sugar in the afternoon (harder). I still drink coffee but probably much less than I have been, and if my local coffee place doesn’t get Yrgacheffe in soon I’m going to find it easy to avoid making it at home.
I’m feeling a little better. I don’t feel like running a marathon come 3pm, but I haven’t curled up on the couch for a nap recently either.
I still like a croissant from Fleur de Cocoa now and again though. I wonder if I could get to the point where I punt that too.