Underactive Thyroid

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Hi S.! I too have had thyroid testing done and numbers are low, but not low enough to medicate. I also had the fatigue,had weight gain, and had swelling in my neck where the thyroid is. My Dr. told me to take iodine supplement. I didn't really lose any weight, but I felt a lot better and the swelling went down. I was happy that I found something effective without having to put "medicines" in my body.

Hi S.,

Looks like you got some good advice! I also had Hashimoto's Disease, had it for about 3 years before having a total thyroidectomy several months after my son was born. I was managing on medication before then (though once you are hypothyriod, you never really are the same again) but my pregnancy and birth knocked it completely out of function and it was becoming more and more diseased. I have a great endocrinologist, Dr. Marie Griffin, who works out of St. Lukes South Hospital. I don't know if she is on your insurance, but I would send anyone to her - she is as caring and reasonable as any doctor I have ever encountered. She took my care to a whole other level, and if you are feeling cruddy - she says let's fix it. It is a long wait to get in, usually a couple of months, but she is worth it. Her phone number is ###-###-####.

Good luck to you. Thyriod illness is so difficult to manage, my thoughts are with you.

D.

FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR!!

S.,

I was about your age, maybe 38-39, and I had very similar symptoms. My thyroid tests kept going back and forth so they wouldn't prescribe anything because I would be "within normal" limits at times. But what I was also fighting and trying to get docs to see was pre-menopause vs. thyroid. I went to 4 docs in 2 years who all basically told me I was crazy and would hand me another prescription for a pill I didn't want or need. I'm sorry but you do not need Lexapro, it's just masking the other symptoms. They kept asking me when my mother went through menopause and I would say, "I have big boobs she has little boobs, what does that have to do with it?" In talking to my mom, she did have almost all of the same symptoms I did around the same age and they kept putting her on Valium, the 60's and 70's version of Lexapro. I finally found a doc who told me I wasn't crazy, I was pre-menopausal and he drew the hormone levels to prove it. *Funny once I got the hormones under control so was my thyroid. It's all connected.
Since that time I've done a TON of my own reading and research and have become very assertive when it comes to my health. I have also found that I have to watch my diet.
I'm not saying to go on a diet, but I believe and there is research to prove that all the chemicals in our foods, mostly processed, packaged and restaurant foods, is playing havoc with our own metabolism and hormone levels.
There is a great book, "Screaming to be Heard. Hormonal Connections Women Suspect. . .and Doctors Ignore" by Elizabeth Lee Vliet, MD. Dr. Christiane Northrup is also a weath of modern hormone information.
I have all kinds of articles and resources I would be happy to share. I would also love to talk to you more about helping you look at your foods and explain which ingredients may be harmful and why. By the way, less than 25% of all doctors are even required to take a nutrition course in med school so they don't think of a food connection.

You can see this has become a passion of mine. Because I believe so strongly in the diet/food connection with disease I've started a business to educate others on what to look for. My website is below.
And as a registered nurse myself, I get so frustrated with the medical community when they put us through things like this.

Please don't hesitate to contact me, I will try to help.

In good Health,

Lori Krause
____@____.com
www.YourKitchenCoach.net

S.-
Are you going to an endocrinologist for treatment for your thyroid or an MD? I went to an MD for a couple years for the same issue, and he always said my #'s were not low enough for meds as well. I finally went to an endocrinologist who explained to me that MD's only look at what's "normal" and if you fall in that range, will not treat you-made sense since they are not specialists. He put me on Synthryoid and is continuing to try to stabilize my thyroid. I am feeling better and continue to get regular blood tests. I would recommend going to an endocrinologist just for a second opinion. Let me know if you need anything else, I have been on the underactive thyroid roller coaster for about 13 years now.

I would like to recommend a book "Dr. Abravanel's Body Type Diet and Lifetime Nutrition Plan". It is a way of eating that strengthens your body's organs...My dominant gland is my thyroid. I ate the way described in the book and felt better and had more energy than I had in years. I couldn't keep myself sitting in a chair in front of the tv.
The book is facinating and makes sense.

Hi S.!
Bless your heart, I had an underactive thyroid for years. As it turns out, it was actually Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Eventually, my thryroid grew to constrict my airway and interfered with my swallowing. Underactive thyroid can cause all manner of symptoms, including depression. Remember that your thyroid is your body's thermostat.

The range for thyroid level is SO broad, NO doctor can determine from your test (which is not so precise) that your level is not low enough to treat. Your symptoms are tell take enough. Everyone is different, therefore, everyone's level of TSH, etc. will be different.

Your feelings are YOUR FEELINGS!! TIME FOR A NEW DOCTOR, SIS!! PRONTO!!! You can also opt for some other non-medical thyroid "encouragers'. There's plenty on the subject if you search "underactive thyroid" on google.
Best wishes!
R.

I was told i have the same condition when my daughter was 2. She is now 12. I would get a second oppinion. If i can help you locate a doctor or answer any questions, please let me know. I know your pain!

M.

S.,
you might consider yoga-i know there are supposed to be some poses that help. the other option might be acupuncture. and i am sure your doc will probably continue to keep an eye on it and test you every six months or so. if she/he doesn't you might just push for that, to make sure your condition doesn't change.

Natural remedies can be helpful. You can also think about an alternative sound therapy treatment called Cymatherapy. I have a PhD and work with alternative therapies, one being the Cyma-1000. You can read about the Cyma at www.Cymatherapy.com. It really might be of help. I use it for my thyroid and have gotten off thyroid medicine all together. And again, there are many natural remedies that can help also. Good luck.

Hi, S..
Is your doctor an endocrinologist? If not, go see one immediately! I suffered from Hashimoto's when I was in college and now my thyroid is basically non-functioning. This is a condition that requires frequent monitoring. I had the same symptoms that you have in addition to hair loss, dry skin, and eventually inability to regulate my blood pressure so that if I moved too quickly I would faint. I can't stress enough how important it is for you to be seen by an endocrinologist. The thyroid is an incredibly complex organ and many primary care docs--even good ones--don't really understand all the methods of monitoring and treating its problems. They have to monitor my TSH, T3, and free T4 to get a real picture of how my status is, and I have to adjust my dose about every three years. I'm 40 and have 3 children. My thyroid levels had to be adjusted with each pregnancy. Please, please go see an endocrinologist with a good reputation!

Hi S. - I have lived with thyroid problems since my teens. My advice would be to go to an endocrinologist - someone who spcializes in thyroid diseases. Maybe you already have seen one.
My thyroid became extremely over active after my second child was borm. Rather than surgery, I opted to have mine radiated. In 6 weks it stopped functioning all together - that was not supposed to happen for 6 months. The forgetfullness, fatigue, etc were devestatng - I had a 2 year old and a three month old child. My muscles cramped every time I moved. I kept teling the Dr. about how I felt - but he just did not get it. It is awful feeling like a zombie. Stay with it - keep expressing how you "feel". The numbers do not always tell the whole story. Sincerely, G.

I have had the same thing for many years,its not so much that the thyroid is underactive but that the part of the brian that produces the enzime(sp)to tell it to work is not doing its job correctly. I was lucky my docter put me on a low dose of levoxyl, and it made a very big differance. Tell the docter that you want to try a very low dose to see if it helps. my daughters also have it and take a health food thyroid suppliment that helps but I can't remember the name of it. good luck. If your docter won't help get another dr.

I do take lexapro. I was just telling Amy on here that ask about depression. it does help. but I really think that I am hitting that time where hormones are changing. give it a try. I take 1 1/2 a day. let me know what you do. I may do it too.

I also have hashimoto Thyroditis. I've skimmed through the responses that you have already gotten, and want to add a couple of points:

1. If you like to read about stuff, I recommend Mary Shomon. She has a book, website, newsletter... She really helped me to understand all of the different readings, what they might mean, and most importantly, that it is difficult to find a doctor who will listen to you if you have sub clinical hypothyroidism (lab tests look fine, but you feel like they shouldn't), but that you shouldn't give up until you do.
http://thyroid.about.com/
2. If you need a second opinion, I would recommend my endo: Dr Veronikis out of St Lukes. It's hard to find an endo who does thyroid... most focus on diabetes because there are so many more patients there.

In my totally unprofessional opinion, you want to find a doctor that will treat your thyroid, not just the symptoms. I'm only a little older than you (41), and have learned over the past 5-6 yrs that you have to take control of your own heath care. You have to find a doctor who will listen to your symptoms and work with you.

Good luck!

First off...see what they have checked. They should have checked an ultrasensitive TSH, T4, Free T4, and T3 uptake as well as a profile of "antithyroid antibodies". The TSH can certainly fluctuate, but when we treat people who are diagnosed as hypothyroid, the goal range is not to be above 2! (TSH is the "thermostat" so a higher TSH would be due to LOW thyroid and a lower TSH would be due to an overactive thyroid). Current lab limits say that a TSH up to 5.5 is normal, but we've seen many people who are symptomatic at the 3's and 4's and sometimes lower! When treated with low doses of thyroxine, many times symptoms improve greatly. Also, hypothyroidism CAN cause problems during pregnancy, so it would be important to monitor very closely if you were pregnant. I would avoid the over-the-counter thyroid fixes...they often put actual animal thyroid tissue in them and it IS NOT regulated! As far as taking the lexapro...don't worry, it will not MASK any symptoms. If it is helping, DO NOT suddenly stop taking it. It can be a very helpful medication for multiple conditions.
Unfortunately too many medical professionals are trying to simply "treat the numbers" on paper and not treat the person behind the numbers. (This post is not to be taken as official medical advice and I would recommend seeing another practitioner.) You might even consider seeing a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner. They will sometimes be more willing to listen and explore other possiblities than some MDs.

I would go to another doctor. It sounds to me like you should definitely be treated. I have hypothyroidism and it is so easily treated with levoxyl and synthroid. Do you know what your TSh levels were? Some doctors only treat you if you are above a 5 but now they are finding people in the 3-5 zone should be treated. I know when I hit a 4 my dosage needs to be upped.

Good luck!

I would get a second opinion and then find a vitamin for fatigue.I'am pregnant and exhausted but I also have fogginess my Thyroid has always beed normal but will get my blood work done at 10 weeks.I mentioned this to my sis and she was the same way it was due to pregnancy anyway my point is that it could be ANEMIA did you receive a blood test for anemia..IF you don't take a multi vitamin daily then I would do so and take extra Vitamin B or Iron if you go to the Health food store they will be able to assist you more fully than Walmart or any other store they will ask your symptoms and what you would like or need.I know alot of people disagree with natural products and over the counter medication I however don't like medication unless needed.Vitamins aren't regulated by the FDA nor is herbal remedies and all the other over the counter medications but you know what I hear they work and no side effects look at all the medications out there for every symptom known to man there is a prescribed medication to help but not cure with side effects.I'm not debating which is best but for your own health and well being it is something to look into.

Vitamin B 100 worked for me. Also try chromium piclonate.
Milli