hypothyrodism

[tmkclscroggins]

Has anyone dealt with hypothyrodism? I just got back from a doctor's appointment and my thyroid isn't functioning. The lab tests say my TSH level is 5.19 and the acceptable limits are .450-4.5.

 

I have to go see a different doctor.

 

Does anyone deal with this naturally or is medication a given? I really have a problem taken prescribed medicines.

 

Thanks,

melissa

[Sugarfoot]

My thyroid quit working after my first DS was born. It was diagnosed as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I take Synthroid daily. I'm pretty sensitive to medications, and I've been taking this for almost 13 years with no problems.

 

HTH!

[Lovedtodeath]

Formula IV®—Box I was able to get off of my thyroid medication with this product. It is proven to raise hormone (thyroid is one) levels. You can contact Jim Coyle for more information.

 

If you do take the prescription, Armour Thyroid is the most natural form and includes T3. Some people with Hypothyroidism have plenty of T4 but cnnot convert it to T3, so synthroid and the such do very little for them.

 

Some people have supplemented with iodine and/or selenium to get their thyroid working properly.

[DB in NJ]

Has anyone dealt with hypothyrodism? I just got back from a doctor's appointment and my thyroid isn't functioning. The lab tests say my TSH level is 5.19 and the acceptable limits are .450-4.5.

 

I have to go see a different doctor.

 

Does anyone deal with this naturally or is medication a given? I really have a problem taken prescribed medicines.

 

Thanks,

melissa

 

Your thyroid is supposed to release Thyroid hormone. Your pituitary gland secrets the thyroid stimulating hormone, telling the thyroid to do its job. The less responsive the thyroid, the more TSH in the blood. The "medication" is synthetic thyroid hormone; you're simply replacing what your body *should* be producing but is not.

 

Relax. Synthroid or Levothyroxine (or any other thyroid med) is inexpensive, harmless, and incredibly helpful. Amazing how much better you'll feel after a day or two with a correct thyroid level.

 

BTW, when my thyroid went whacky a few years ago, my TSH was 837. Yes, EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN. The specialist who got those results called my family doctor instead of calling me. His comment was, "Dr. S, this is Dr. K. I'm calling about Donna H......is she still with us???" LOL

 

Obviously I was still with "us" but boy was I a mess!!!!

[MgoBlue]

i've taken syntharoid for about 6 yrs w/no problems. I did just find a holistic doc that prescribes armour thyroid stuff. i had a bunch of blood drawn and will go back next month to find out how it will work. Good luck...i feel so much better than before i started.

[Veritaserum]

I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Graves. Right now I'm not on meds because they are (apparently) keeping each other in check. I had my doc draw my levels again last week, though, because I think something's not right (I'm getting frequent infections and have no energy).

 

Selenium and Armor Thyroid can help. I haven't tried either personally, though. I hope you figure out something that works! :)

[Carrie12345]

My labs are borderline and I have a goiter and my symptoms are ALL over the place (on the hypo and hyper lists) and my current doctor doesn't think I should do anything, so I've started to read up on things to get a better understanding.

 

The Hypothyroid Sourcebook is pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/Hypothyroid-Sourcebook-Sourcebooks-Sara-Rosenthal/dp/0737305959

 

The Thyroid Sourcebook for Women is the one that was recommended to me, but the other came up on Paperbackswap first.

http://www.amazon.com/Thyroid-Sourcebook-Women-Sara-Rosenthal/dp/073730264X/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235003674&sr=1-12

[SnowWhite]

I take synthroid and as long as I keep my dose properly adjusted through regular blood tests (6 months-1 year unless pregnant), it makes a big difference in my energy level, outlook and ability to exercise and manage my weight. My doctor tells me a low thyroid level will increase blood sugar and cholesterol as well.

[AnnetteB]

My gp told me not to have any more children when I first complained that I was tired beyond belief and not "bouncing back" from baby #7. He told me to lose weight and wondered aloud why I had so many children. I went home feeling miserable. How do you excersize and lose weight when you feel so sluggish? I struggled along with self-help and vitamins until after baby #8. Continual m. bleeding signalled something was really wrong. The nurse practitioner didn't think my symptoms were thyroid related, but she humored me. She also ran blood tests looking for cancers. My tsh was in the high 20's and I started thyroid replacement immediately. My kids were amazed to see mom out working in the garden with energy they hadn't seen in a couple of years. I hoped that it was just a post-pregnancy issue, but my thyroid has quit and replacement is my only option. It turns out that EVERY adult woman in my extended family has thyroid disease. One caution: You're replacement needs are not a constant. Too much thyroid rx and one can become hyperthyroid and suffer thyroid storm. It is a good idea to have bloodwork done to monitor levels until you can tell the symptoms of highs and lows. Thankfully, it is just a little pill and not too expensive. (I have to break mine in half to avoid food coloring in the one that would be the correct dosage, but the bottle lasts 200 days!)

[Pamela H in Texas]

TSH alone really isn't enough information. Have a full panel thyroid test done and go from there. There are products that regulate a fairly minor issue. However, some of us are REALLY bad off and have to be very closely monitored and medicated.

 

Hope you get some answers soon :)

[Lovedtodeath]

Your TSH levels can be normal and you can still have a thyroid problem. What if your pituitary gland isn't working? You can get great information at Drrind.com.

[LG Gone Wild]

Formula IV®—Box I was able to get off of my thyroid medication with this product. It is proven to raise hormone (thyroid is one) levels. You can contact Jim Coyle for more information.

 

If you do take the prescription, Armour Thyroid is the most natural form and includes T3. Some people with Hypothyroidism have plenty of T4 but cnnot convert it to T3, so synthroid and the such do very little for them.

 

Some people have supplemented with iodine and/or selenium to get their thyroid working properly.

 

 

as my dr. explained that people are given T4 and their body converts it to T3. Sometimes a person cannot convert T4 to T3 very well so they take Armour (T4 and T3) or Synthroid (or generic) plus cytomel (T3). A run of the mill blood test won't tell you this information. You will have to get a blood test that measures T4, T3, and Reverse T3 levels.

 

I am also taking loads of supplements including selenium.

[LG Gone Wild]

I take synthroid and as long as I keep my dose properly adjusted through regular blood tests (6 months-1 year unless pregnant), it makes a big difference in my energy level, outlook and ability to exercise and manage my weight. My doctor tells me a low thyroid level will increase blood sugar and cholesterol as well.

 

 

I have been having a heck of a time controlling my cholesterol and recently, lab work came back that I was prediabetic. My dr. did some more digging and adjusted my thryroid meds. Hopefully, that will do the trick with my sluggishness, high cholesterol, and sugar sensitivity. Afterall, as my dr. pointed out, premenopausal woment should not have high cholesterol (unless something is really wrong). I am not overweight, exercise a good deal, and have a modest diet and my cholesterol levels remained stubbornly high.

[Ria]

Has anyone dealt with hypothyrodism? I just got back from a doctor's appointment and my thyroid isn't functioning. The lab tests say my TSH level is 5.19 and the acceptable limits are .450-4.5.

 

I have to go see a different doctor.

 

Does anyone deal with this naturally or is medication a given? I really have a problem taken prescribed medicines.

 

Thanks,

melissa

 

If you were diagnosed with diabetes because your pancreas failed, would you take insulin? Probably, and without a second thought. When an organ ceases to function, one usually needs to do something. A non-functioning thyroid could be life-threatening. If prescribed meds (ie, thyroid hormone that yours is no longer producing) keep you alive...well...I think your family would be happy for you to take it. I'm just saying...

 

Ria

[texascamps]

I'd see an endocrinologist if your insurance permits. My doctor did a larger panel than just the TSH. Plus, she said she like to get the level to 1.0 even though the range can go up to 4.5. Some doctors just like it below the 4.5 She felt it made a big difference to get it to one. So whatever that's worth.

 

After a few days of Levothyroxine, I felt soooooo much better, not so grumpy!. THe doctor said it was very satisfying treating thyroid issues since folks can feel so much better so quickly!

 

Good Luck!:)

[Unicorn.]

Yes, and I'll be the odd one out here. First, doctors do not agree on what is a normal range. Most of my research/ and my doctor, say that normal is .5 to 5.5. That puts you in the normal range. Also, yes there are natural remedies that you can take. Research it, and check your local health food store.

 

I'm being the odd one out, because the meds did. NOT. make. me. feel. better. In fact, they made me feel horrid!!!! I told my doc over and over that I had all the symptoms of being over medicated, and she increased my dose! Why? because the numbers said I was high.

 

I finally listened to the voice in my head that kept screaming at me to get off this medication. I feel 1000% better than I did while I was taking them!! I have energy that I didn't have before, I don't have headaches everyday, I'm not Ice-cold. I'm not gaining weight, etc.

 

Just wanted to say that sometimes, it's not about the numbers. If you're not comfortable w/ the diagnosis, do your own research and make your own decisions. HTH

[Lovedtodeath]

Unicorn is right.

 

If you have hypothyroidism and low adrenal glands (which they hate to treat) then the thyroid meds will make you feel worse. Also, if you need T3 and you get too much T4, not enough T3, they can make you feel worse.

 

From Fatigued to Fantastic and DRrind.com have more information on this.

[Pamela H in Texas]

it's not about the numbers.

 

This is generally true....different people have different needs. If I felt fine at 5, I'd probably leave well enough alone as long as there weren't other issues happening to me also. I might use supplements and such.

 

However, I have Hashimoto's and it's BAD (treated, my antibodies are still over 1000 and my tsh swings wildly). Under-treated, I had severe physical issues and each time it goes WAY out, I end up with significant mental health issues (bipolar, ocd, seriously suicidal, etc).

 

So different people just need to do differently. And we have to be very careful about suggesting people do as we do. It isn't necessary for some people to do what I must do. And it would be downright dangerous for me to do what others have found helpful. This was discussed recently in one of our Christian meetings (similar to church services for other Christians). I'm glad we got the reminder.

[Lovedtodeath]

My doctor ignores the blood test and determines my dose based on a temperature chart. I did not have TSH when he first treated me, but it sure made me feel better! Then my TSH shot up to dangerous levels later (because my endocrine gland started working, and I got pregnant!), and we raised my dose. But the temperature graph is more accurate than the blood test and will not give you a "false normal". Basically, low body temp first thing in the morning means low thyroid, and wild swings means low adrenal.

[StephinAL]

You might wanna check out stopthethyroidmadness.com. My tsh is still higher than it needs to be even on replacement, but my adrenals aren't allowing me to take more right now.