Hypothyroid ADBBers roll call

[2big4mysize]

it depends on what made your hypo but for the majority of the folk the answer is no. We have to take our meds for life and will need additional medication changes as we age and our thyroids function decreases.

[Becky Sue]

I have taken thyroid meds for so long I can't remember how many years.
Hypo, definately.

I take Levothyroxin tab 150 MCG , one a day!

My temperature is alway low, 96.5 to 97.0 is what my temp usually runs.

I had some tests run at the end of the year. Here is what my TSH was 1.21, saying normal is .34 - 5.60. Looks like I am in the lower side of normal.

This has got to be part of my slow losing of weight on this journey to get healthier.

Becky Sue
I am still taking it easy after my fall.

[lisaaw]

So Becky........does the test results showing you are on the low side of normal mean your medication needs to be increased?

Low body temperature is another indication of a thyroid problem? I've had a sub normal body temperature for a long time. The allergy doctor I used to have said this was a common thing among most of his patients that had a vast array of allergies such as myself.

Lisa

[Lori41]

Hello All!

I have just joined this group and now have found this forum - GREAT!

I am Hashimoto's low thyroid, synthroid .150, diagnosed in 1997 but I'm sure I had it for about 4 years before that.

I have lost weight before (45 pounds on Atkins) but gain about 20 back with a new marriage and kid friendly eating.

I have read Mary's book and there is quite a lot in there about losing weight. She stresses that it's harder for people with low thyroid but she gives some great natural supplements that may help (calcium, etc.).

Lori

[FedUpWithFat]

Hypothyroid here. I've been on generic synthroid for about four years. I also have fibromyalgia and hypertension (high blood pressure).

[2big4mysize]

welcome to ADBB
remember as long as your meds are in the correct range your hypothyroid will not negatively effect your weight loss any more then a normal persons does. you just need to have a good doc who will test you and titrate your dose to you and not a book level cause even if you are in the normal range if you have symptoms then it isn't normal for you!

HAppy low carbing.

[abbysophia]

I'm hypo- Hashimotos as well. After my second child (Dec 2002) I felt quite tired. I finally went to the Dr.s, they tested my TSH and it was at 120. I have been taking Synthroid .125 since then and have felt better. Although the brain fog has gotten better but never disappeared.
Has anyone else had similiar experience after being diagnosed and on treatment? :confused

[2big4mysize]

has your doc ben rechecking your dose and done a full thyroid panel on you? many folk need yrs to get al the levels right and as the ENDOCRINE SOCIETY said if yiou still have symptoms even if you are in the normal range it isn't a normal levle for you!

[Lori41]

It's pretty well known that you never get back to 100% as you were before hypo. But 2big was right, you should get close. My meds are as high as they can go (tsh kept between .5 and 1) and I still have brain fog, that hasn't gone away. I even tried armour thyroid and t3 supplement (with t4) without getting rid of all the tiredness and brain fog.

This is a great starting place to learn about hypothyroidism:

https://www.thyroid.about.com

While I find this site GREAT for learning, keep in mind that it isn't run by a dr. so some things you just have to test yourself. I have used it for years to look up symptoms, test levels, etc.

[lisaaw]

I went to the doctor last week and had a bunch of blood work done, including a thyroid test. TSH and FreeT 4 was normal. In a way I'm relieved to know that I'm not hypo but that still leaves me in a dilema as to what could be causing so many of my low thyroid-like symptoms. All of the other tests (lipid profile, liver, CBC, etc.) came back fine and the doctor said she didn't have any answers for me, other than my symptoms may be from the hysterectomy I had 10 years ago and the drop in hormonal levels. (I've never taken HRT because of a history of deep vein thrombosis).

A friend of mine has been seeing a doctor for several months because of fatigue, muscle and joint pain. Several medications have been tried so far and she's not benefited from any of them and just this past week, her doctor decided to prescribe thyroid medication to see if that would alleviate her pain.

Now, does this make sense? Or did any of you experience muscle and join pain before you were diagnosed? Is there any danger in taking thyroid medication if you're not hypo? My friend's thyroid test came back normal and she just recently lost 30 lbs. easily through cutting back on her calories. She's never had a problem losing weight and prefers to be on the skinny side. Wouldn't this definitely indicate she's not hypo?

[2big4mysize]

sometimes your blood thyroid can be normal but your celular levles not be which is why the complete thyroid panel is used T4,T3, and free T4 and free T3 levles indicate different treatments.
yrs ago a low does of Armour was used for regulating ladies periods even so the effects of thyroid meds far reaching.

You can ask your doc for more indepth testing or to see an endocrinologist. Ususally I don't know what is causing your symptoms leads to other docs or tests.

[abbysophia]

The last time I had the full workup completed was about a year ago. My doctor claimed that is was within the normal range but my antibodies were fairly high. Not high enough to be concerned though. That confused me a bit since I'm not sure what having antibodies at all means. He never specified where my TSH level is now- just that is was acceptable.
It is a little frustrating though. I forget things quit a bit, sometimes I can't understand what people are saying to me and forget my own thoughts mid story. It can be quite embarrassing. Someone mentioned that cytomel used in combo with synthroid may help. Unfortunately, cytomel is no longer available in Canada (as per my pharmacist). Has anyone using cytomel experienced a substantial difference than with synthroid alone?

[Lori41]

Antibodies are Hashimoto's antibodies which attack your thyroid and eventually, within two years, kill your thyroid. You can read about Hashimoto's at the www.thyroid.about.com web site. Was your doctor an endocrynologist? Internal and family drs LOVE to treat the thyroid, I don't know why, but they don't know everything and often, mislead you which costs years in treatment (I know, it cost me 4 years).

Also, you need to know what your TSH level tested at. "Until November 2002, doctors had relied on a normal TSH level ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 to diagnose and treat patients with a thyroid disorder who tested outside the boundaries of that range5 . Now AACE encourages doctors to consider treatment for patients who test outside the boundaries of a narrower margin based on a target TSH level of 0.3 to 3.04. " http://thyroid.about.com/gi/dynamic/...03%2Fpress.php The TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, it goes up if you don't have enough thyroid in your system. Therefore, if you test near the 3 level you have low thyroid. There are some labs that haven't changed over their systems to the new range so when your dr gets the results it states normal, even if you are at 3.5. When I'm at 2 I'm almost comatose; hair falls out, sleeping all the time, depressed (majorly), constipated, dry, dry skin, etc. Most internal and family drs won't treat you if you are within the range, even though it is widely known that patients may be hypothyroid at these levels. Again, see the web site.

Also, let me tell you from experience you have to FIGHT your drs to get thyroid medicine even if your symptoms are many. They will give out every anxiety, depression, muscle relaxer to you in-a-minute without blinking an eye, but to get thyroid medicine, or to get it raised, you have to argue and be SMART about your condition and more knowledged then him/her (unless it's an endo - get a young one - not a stuck-in-his ways older dr.). My mom and many of my friends (all work on computers ??, myself and my grandmother all have low-thyroid.

Call your dr and ask what your levels are AND what the lab levels of "normal" are; write them down and then go to the website to find out where you stand. They will not like you calling, maybe the first time but when you ask for your levels they will get defensive, be prepared and don't let it bother you.

The most common symptoms of low thyroid or hypothyroidism are:
* Fatigue and weakness
* Low basal temperature ( cold intolerance)
* Dry and coarse skin
* Hair loss
* Cold hands and feet
* Weight gain
* Insomnia
* Contipation
* Depression
* Poor memory, forgetfulness, dementia
* Nervousness and tremors
* Immune system problems
* Heavy menstrual periods

[abbysophia]

Thanks for the advice...I think I have to have a chat with my Dr. :yes

[purplemoonstar]

I have Hashimoto's also. It is a pain in the *** but I have learned to cope. I am curious how old were you when you were dignosed? I was 21 and all my Drs made a big deal about I was very young to have it.