Hypothyroidism

[SgtPepperette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaimeLynne "For several reasons, including deficiency of zinc, copper, selenium, or iron, and excess cortisol (the adrenal stress hormone), many people can’t efficiently convert T4 to T3. For such a person, taking Synthroid, Levoxyl, or Unithroid will not likely result in improvement, as the body cannot convert synthetic T4 to T3 any better than it can convert its own natural T4 to T3. Unfortunately, in this situation, the blood tests that doctors routinely use to check thyroid status may be normal, which could cause a physician to miss the diagnosis. The patient all too often ends up with the symptoms of hypothyroidism and the doctor’s bill." Medical Treatment of Hypothyroidism :: Asheville Alternative Medicine | Great Smokies Medical Center Blog Archive

EXACTLY! That is exactly what is going on with me, which is why I want to get off synthroid.

Can you come with me to my endos office and we can beat her up together?

Ive already decided Im not going back to her. I have enough meds left for 90 days, so Im going to get into a new doctor asap.

[SgtPepperette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaimeLynne Ok, you need to leave that doctor ASAP! You are not receiving the treatment that you deserve. I am shocked at all the things you've been saying about her. I found a doc who is a regular family MD out in Lewisville (about 30 mins from me) but he specializes in thyroid and will prescribe Armour. He has received excellent reviews and is supposed to be affordable (I don't have insurance). The only snag is that he doesn't treat adrenal disorders, which I think I have as well. I think I have abnormal cortisol levels which can be connected to hypothyroidism, and medicines would need to be adjusted accordingly. I may try him out anyways because I am ready for a freaking diagnosis at the very least!

That sounds like a good start for you to get some diagnosis started. That isnt going to cost you to sell your car! lol

[JaimeLynne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtPepperette That sounds like a good start for you to get some diagnosis started. That isnt going to cost you to sell your car! lol

Luckily I do have a very good savings, but it is hard to wrap my mind around spending nearly $4k just for a diagnosis, and then $900 each additional visit..

Like I said, right now what I really want is a diagnosis and at this point I would be willing to try Armour if he thinks it would help.

[SgtPepperette]

So as Im doing more research, cytomel, actually increases your metabolism and helps with weight loss. I just realized that I went off the cytomel right around the end of April. And Ive gained a good 20lbs since than. I havent been as good as I could be at my diet, but the weight was very easy to put on.

[JaimeLynne]

Wow, that is crazy!! Over the past 3 years or so I gained about 35 lbs. Last year I realized it was getting out of control so I stopped drinking my weekly margaritas, exercised when I could, and dropped almost 15 lbs (who would have thought margaritas could do THAT! lol) but have since put on 5 of those pounds even though I haven't been eating any worse than normal. It's been weird for me though because the chronic fatigue has come and gone. So there would be spurts where I'd be able to exercise and all that good stuff, and all of a sudden (like this last time, about a month or so ago) it will hit me with a VENGEANCE! Completely wiped me out hard core to the point I'm at now.

 

When I go to the doc I'm not going to suggest anything, I'm going to see what he throws out there. I like to do that to get an unbiased opinion. Then if I think I need to add something in I will mention the Cytomel (I know from reading the reviews that he prescribes it). I must say though that even though I've gained some weight that is the least of my worries right now... I just want my old self back!!! I've gone from an "A" student to dropping out of classes and hoping that I scrape by with a "C" in the current class I'm in. I hate it ... none of my friends really understand what's going on with me and why I'm so tired/out of it when I do see them. They just tell me I need to "take better care of myself". Well, what the heck do you think I'm doing?!

[Samantha S]

I'm so sorry to hear what you gals are going through!!! I thought I was hypothyroid as I have a lot of the symptoms except for weight gain. Not to mention my Dad, his six siblings and my grandma have it. The docs I have seen immediately check hypothyroid off the list for me because I don't have weight gain. My tests were normal but I have a close friend who is an Auyervedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine healer who had me check my basal body temperature for 10 days straight. I highly recommend doing this. If it is low and you have all of these other symptoms, you definitely have a problem. Mine was super low for all of the 10 days. Google how to check your basal body temp if you don't know what it is.

 

My ND put me on two herbal supplements, Thyrocare and Adaptogen. I felt a ton better when taking it and had a lot more energy. I ran out and haven't gotten more and the fatigue is back. I can't get myself to the gym and I cannot tell what came first: too tired because I'm not working out or too tired to work out

 

This is a very complex condition that MOST doctors do not fully understand. I would try to get in with a naturopathic doctor who specializes in thyroid as well as see your western doc. Medicine is integrating and if your MD doesn't want to get on the band wagon, they will be left far behind. Insurances are covering complementary and alternative medicine more and more these days so check with yours. JaimeLynne, if you are spending that much out of pocket, you should just buy insurance and then act like it is the first time you're getting diagnosed. That is a ton of $$$$!!

 

Good luck, I know how you all feel!!

 

p.s.- have your iron and vitamin d levels checked too!

[JaimeLynne]

Well, I went to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia among other things. The doctor was really great - SUPER knowledgeable about so many things, but especially pharmaceuticals since he was a pharmacist before he went to med. school. Very nice, EXTREMELY thorough (he spent 2.5 hrs talking/listening/examining/explaining things to me!) and definitely affordable!!! (4 lab tests + 2.5 hr consultation with him was only $215!!!) His name is Dr. John Launius, and he is located out of Lewisville TX (near Dallas) in case anyone is interested.

 

I have been prescribed Armour for the Hypothyroidism. He started me off at what I think is a high dosage (90 mg). For the Fibromyalgia he prescribed me something called Zanaflex /Tizanidine (a muscle relaxer also used to treat pain). I took them both last night around 11pm and the muscle relaxer made me konk out. I woke up around 2:45 am "wide awake". I think this is because (as I later read ) you are supposed to take the Armour in the morning. I have had some side effects (stomach related) from the Armour which signifies that I may be on too high of a starting dosage. I emailed the doc and should find out soon if they will reduce the dosage.

 

I'll try and post my progress on Armour for those of you who are considering taking the drug...

[*Lo*]

I am so sorry to read that you are having a difficult time. I thought I might have a thyroid problem because I am seriously always exhausted, it doesn't matter how much sleep I get. But really that is the only symptom.

 

I only considered having my thyroid stuff checked because my mom had thyroid cancer. I cannot stress enough that if you have a lump or something that is not right, PLEASE go get it checked out. My mom's was visible, and she was having problems like you have mentioned, being tired, not eating anything hardly and gaining weight, and several other issues where she felt like crap all the time. She had almost just become used to feeling that way.

 

She had a biopsy done and they said everything was fine. She didn't need to have it removed. She decided to have it removed anyway because it was causing the hoarse voice and painful sore throat and also it was painful. After she had the surgery, they did tests on the lump and turns out it was cancerous. Even though they had previously said it was fine. So because she felt that something was just wrong and made the decision to have half of her thyroid removed, it turns out it was the right choice.

 

She has constant monitoring now every 3 months but it looks like she will be fine.

 

Not saying all of you that are experiencing thyroid problems have cancer, it is actually a fairly rare occurance, but if you think something is not right and you felt a lump or can see one, don't ignore it. Get second opinions.

 

Sorry for my rambling!! I just worry so much about this. And I want everyone to be healthy!

[JaimeLynne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossip girl Sorry for my rambling!! I just worry so much about this. And I want everyone to be healthy!

lol Lori, you remind me of myself - I tend to worry about these things a lot too and just want to spread the knowledge!

Thanks for the kind words.

Also, I'm sure you know this - but if you ever do decide to have your thyroid tested (if you haven't already) make sure they test not only your TSH but also your Free T3 and Free T4.

[LadyCheese]

This is a realy good thread...! I'm sorry to hear a few of you are dealing with all this. It motivates me to go to the Dr and get some bloodwork done. Last year my bloodwork showed my thyroid levels were elevated and was referred to a endocronologist. She suggested that the birth control may be to blame for the elevated levels. She had me stop the birth control and retest and levels seemed normal. She also tested me for thyroid-specific gene and said it was negative and basically sent me on my un-merry way. Lately I've been feeling extremely exhausted and lethargic, the weight has been very, very slow to come off and I'm wondering if it could be thyroid related. My mom has been on synthroid since she was 19 yrs old. I seriously need to get tested again!