Hypothyroid Questions

I had symptoms but when undiagnosed until I met a friend going through thyroid cancer and she said I should get checked. I went to her dr and described my symptoms (including not being able to get pg for over a year). She truely believed me, did the expensive test, and even when they came bake very borderline (something most dr would have said I was fine) she said lets try low dose meds. Well, to be honest the meds worked so well and I have had such success with low doses I haven't stopped taking them. BUT I have gotten healthy, lost weith, and eat better (but am pg again) and my dr. has always done blood work to see where I'm at and adjust doses nearly every 6 months or year. I'm sure if I told her I didn't need them she would test me and believe me if my levels were good. I think you need to try some combinations of natural and meds with a good dr. If you are interested I see Dr. Dina Levin at Gateway Womens Clinc.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M. - I was just diagnosed this past fall. I thought I had Postpartum Depression. I was really tired, uninterested in things (not my usual self, according to friends), not eating as much as normal, heavier periods. I've always been tested for it because my mom has had hypothyroid most her life and when I got hypERthyroid while pregnant with my first daughter they said it's often a precursor to hypO later in life.

I go to a naturopath, Dr. Brandy Ross, and she explained to me all the different things that your thyroid controls - hormone levels, vascular system (which means your heart), growth, if your thyroid doesn't work then your other organs take over and you can end up with kidney and liver damage. All in all, not something to leave untreated. Even though I don't like taking medicine and try to use good nutrition and supplements for my health, this is one point where I'm thankful the good Lord gave us the brains to make a medicine that gets me back to normal so that I don't ruin other parts of my body.

I take Armor Thyroid, which is dessicated pig thyroid. It takes a little more tinkering to get the dosage right, but my doctor explained why she feels real thyroid is better than Synthroid (the made-in-a-lab version).

To sum up, I am a new woman! (My iron was also RIDICULOUSLY low, so I'm taking Ferrasorb, too.) I sleep a full night, have energy during the day, eat normally, and just overall have a better perspective on life.

If you do not test as having low TSH levels, I would ask about Adrenal Gland failure or overactivity. The symptoms can be very similar to Thyroid problems.

Blessings,
js

P.S. Please ask that the test be run for both T3 and T4. Your body turns one into the other, so you might test within normal limits if they're only checking your TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). You should be between a .8 and 2.4 or something like that. Mine was 8.4!! That means the stimulating hormone is being pumped out like crazy, but the thyroid just isn't waking up to do it's job of cleaning it out of the blood. Also, you don't need to be out of the range to be treated. You can be on low doses to get you feeling better and then check to see what level you're at within the range when you're feeling well.

1 mom found this helpful

My mom was, took thyroid, was fixed when her body reorganized after first pregnancy (phew).

I probably was, but the doctor wouldn't run the expensive test, only the cheap one (I gather that sometimes the body overcompensates for low levels of one thyroid hormone by churning out extra of the other, and the second is the one the cheap test tests for) ... which I mention in case the 'blood tests' were only the cheap one and not the expensive one (I think for T3 and T4, respectively, but it's been a while).

My system also seems to be mostly better (or I've learned to compensate), but were I to deal with it now, I think I would see an aruevedic(?) nutritionist or a kinesiologist who specializes in nutrition issues ... in both cases you'd get a coherent nutritional overhaul instead of a piecemeal, internet-advice ;), one.

Now that you've asked this, I should reevaluate myself, because my dry hands might be an indicator that I've fallen back into hypothyroidism (I've been blaming them solely on all the handwashing I have to do to raise my kiddos).

I sympathize. This is a tough dilemma. I don't know where you live, but I go to a dr. in Issaquah, WA who is good at noticing when the whole picture doesn't make sense even though most of the numbers are within "normal" ranges or at least not way off. I am on a mix of armour and a compounded thyroid, so I take two things per day to try to fine tune my levels. If you go with a compounded version, make sure you get it from a reputable source. I get mine by mail from University Pharmacy, and my dr. just faxes the Rx to them and then I pay for it over the phone and they mail it right out. Looking at all the different components of the thyroid blood tests are critical as looking at overall numbers can hide the real picture. What is normal for one person isn't necessarily normal for another. I would really appreciate hearing about anything you learn as it is a struggle to manage and know what is going on. I am tired of getting my blood drawn so often looking for variances. The fatigue and weight gain are not fun either. I haven't heard much about low body temperatures, but I am often cold, especially on my extremities...Thanks for your post and I'd love it if you kept me posted! My email is: ____@____.com

Thanks so much for asking this Q. I having been trying to figure out "what next" now that Levothyrxine is not doing it for me. Sorry I can't help, but I am grateful for your question and not feeling so alone.

I am not taking any pills for it. When I watch what I eat, exercise regularly, and avoid caffeine, all goes well. That's all I have for you, though. Good luck!

I had a lot of trouble getting my hypothyroidism diagnosed. Mine is a long story, but essentially I had a nodule on my thyroid a few years back and was gaining weight like crazy. I saw a specialist who didn't believe me that anything was wrong, so switched and eventually had the nodule removed along with half my thyroid. I was better for a bit and didn't have to take any meds, but then about a year after my son was born, I started to get all the symptoms of hypothyroidism (my mom and my aunt have it, so I know what they are): hair like straw, incredibly tired, feeling blue and overwhelmed, hot sweats in the night, freezing all day, etc., etc. I went to see my doctor's nurse practitioner and explained all the symptoms to her. She tested my thyroid and even though I was in the normal range still, it had fallen a full point since I'd had my son so she decided to treat it instead of wait until it fell further, which is great, because I thought I was going to have to convince her that I really am hypothyroid. Some doctors believe in treating the symptoms and that there are different levels of normal. The normal range is so great that I think if you're in the low end, you can often have the symptoms... I am on .05 mg of levothyroxine at the moment and feel great. In fact, there was a noticeable difference in me after just three days on the meds. I've been on them for over a year now and have continued to feel great and my thyroid levels are fine. I also was able to lose weight and had lots of energy for my son this past year. Now I'm pregnant with twins, though, so all that's gone by the wayside! ;-) Good luck!

Hi M.,
I feel for you. It's very frustrating.
I knew something was wrong when I went from a size six to a size 12 in two weeks. I went to a progressive medical clinic and my N.P. put me on Nature Thyroid. It's like Armour Thyroid. I love it. I feel so much better. The kelp and thyroid support herbs didn't cut it. I'm unsure of where you live but if you look for a clinic that does alternative medicine you may be able to find someone to help you. My N.P. just went off my symptoms. All my blood tests were normal. I got pregnant right away and after having my baby never got the baby blues.I also gained 27 lbs. with my pregnancy and it came right off. I wish doctors would actually listen to people. I would've felt much better along time ago. Good Luck to you!

L.

The first person to diagnose me was an Iridologist in Texas. Then I saw a naturopath here in Seattle and the diagnosis was confirmed. I will go on record as saying your temps look like mine. I would highly recommend you see a naturopath they look at things differently.

I went to an endocrinologist for my PCOS and he was completley ineffectual with my thyroid. My ND does T3, T4, Free thyroxine, and TSH tests to get the full picture.

My suggestion would be to go to a naturopath and let them help you. I know a great one in Issaquah and West Seattle. Not sure where your at but you can contact Bastyr and ask for referrals in your area.

HTH,
C. WAHM to 5 y/o virtual twins
Owner: www.BeHappierAtHome.com

Great question! That's my problem! Only I'm not diagnosed. I've gone from an 8 to a 12 in less than a year and I really watch what I eat. The doctors that I've seen say I don't have the right symptoms. I want to know why I've gained so much weight!
Thanks for asking such an important question!

I have recently been diagnosted with Grave's Diesase. I am hoping my doctor will help me with a more natural solution, but it appears the word "Natural" is like garlic to a vampire I am still looking. Don't give up hope, but from what I have seen on line (not taking everything to gospel yet) that we'll need to make a life style change (eating better, exercising and managing stress.)

M.,
I was pretty stunned when I was diagnosed with hypothyroid. And I had been completely exhausted, depressed, gaining weight losing hair from my head, eye brows and lashes and having terrible leg cramps. Talking to two of my friends in the medical world, who are a nurse and doctor and very open to alternatives, they assured me that the medication for hypothyroid was the least harmful for my body of many medications that people take for other things. I tried armor, but I didn't like having to play with the right doses, because it prolonged how horrible I was feeling. I take synthroid and work with my main doctor and MD who practices homeopathy. I am currently supplementing with iodine and feel great. I'm just sharing my story. Perhaps your not as low as I was. But it's been fine to be on synthroid versus armor and do other things naturally. Initially, it felt like a huge loss, loss of control and sad that I was joining the AMA model. I've grown to appreciate the balance of both main stream medicine and alternative. I hope you find what works best for you.
Good Luck,
Mary
A little about me: MWM of 6 year old fraternal twin boys.

my MD didn't take my thyroid symptoms seriously either, just gave me the whole eat better, exercise, etc. because my levels were still in the 'normal' range (tho very low). i gave up on her and went to a ND and it is so much better there. they actually listen to you, your instincts, and your symptoms! she put me on thyro complex and i'm currently waiting on my blood test to see if the low dose helped. (i do feel better but i think it's from replenishing my iron levels.) we're trying to support my thyroid to see if we can get it to do what it's supposed to, rather than take meds for the rest of my life. (i suspect i'll have to tho because it's hereditary in my family.)

i'm glad you asked this question. now i'll have more info too :)

I am hypothyroid but it took years to determine this because the doctor (MD) said my thyroid was normal but my eye doctor said I had classic signs of hypothyroidism. I finally went to a doctor who did a temperature test. You get a mercury thermometer (hard to find anymore - but you may find them on the internet)

Shake down the thermometer the night before and place it close to you in bed.
As soon as you wake up place the thermometer snugly in your armpit for 10 minutes and record the temp each day for six or seven days (time the 10 minutes with a clock)
Women who are having regular menstrual cycles should take their temps starting on the 2nd day of flow.
Normal readings are from 97.8 to 98.2. Celsius readings are between 36.6 and 36.8.
If temp is lower than this it probably indicates a need for thyroid supplementation.

MD's will not give you thyroid supplementation unless the blood test are low which most people's blood tests are not but are temperature low.

I take amour thyroid and feel so much better and symptoms have gone away. I needed thyroid for years before I found this doctor who did the tests this way. The MD's back in the 40's and 50's did tests this way until the blood test. The blood test only tells you the thyroid in the blood - but the temp test tells the thyroid in the whole body by the temp of the whole body.

Avoid any caffeine in any form which taking this test.

See a naturopath to see if he can prescribe Armour.

N.
wife, mom. grandma, wellness coach

I had the same issue years ago before my daughter was conceived. I found a naturalpath/acupuncturist to be a great help. The seem more open to alternatives - they also had me do some medications - I really think for thyroid issues there is not easy fix - it wasn't covered on my insurance but it did eventually work.

Ironically - my mother had similar issues when trying to conceive me 30 odd years ago.

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism through a naturopath at the Bastyr Center, a natural health clinic. Treatment without medication didn't seem like a realistic option, so I am taking Armour, which is a naturally derived medication, instead of the synthetic brand. Theoretically, it is supposed to be easier to wean the body from, if there is an opportunity in the future. I can't tell from your post if you're planning on getting pregnant, but untreated Hypothyroidism can lead to delayed development in babies. I don't know how severe it is or how severe the condition is. And, my BBT is low, but I still was able to get pregnant.