topic Re: Low Thyroid in Wellness

Low Thyroid

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:37:42 GMT

My friend who has been just exhausted lately, was diagnosed with low thyroid, her doctor put her on meds.

Is there a difference between low thyroid and thyroid disease?

We were talking about it today and the question came up. The specialist appointment she has is not until mid January so I thought I would ask here...we were just curious as to the difference.

thanks

Re: Low Thyroid

Icegoddess — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:52:39 GMT

Thyroid Disease would encompass all problems with the thyroid, low thyroid aka hypothyroidism, high thyroid aka hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's Disease, etc.

I have hypothyroidism and have never seen a specialist for it although many do. From being on a Facebook group about my disease, it seems that seeing a specialist is about 50/50 whether it helps. I just take my medcation and it's fine, but many will argue you need to be on this medcation or that medication. It takes awhile for the medication to work.

BTW, hope your friend's doctor also checked her Vit. D level. That was my problem when I complained about being exhausted.

Re: Low Thyroid

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:57:18 GMT

@Icegoddess Thank you so much..the doctor thinks her low thyroid issue came from a medication she is taking for a heart issue she recently had.

At first she thought her exhaustion came from several personal setbacks...housing, job, then the heart issue.

I urged her to go to the doctor and they ran and EKG and also blood tests..that is where they found the issue with the thyroid.

I am so glad she went to the doctor...she is pretty stubborn and I was surprised she took my advice.

She will admit she is depressed over the personal issues but the exhaustion was just overwhelming...so much not to ignore.

Re: Low Thyroid

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:58:43 GMT

@Icegoddess ...grr, I could not edit.

I will ask her about the Vitamin D level.

Re: Low Thyroid

Icegoddess — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 21:01:28 GMT

If you look up hypothyroid symptoms, there is a plethoria of them. Exhaustion is a biggie, but I never had that. Dr. thought I had a heart problem because I was having breathing problems and chest pressure. Tell her not to give up on the meds; it takes weeks for them to work. I'm sure her specialist will check her levels and may need to tweak it. Many need to have it checked every 6 months or so, but I'm really stable, so only get mine checked once a year now.

Re: Low Thyroid

millieshops — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 21:22:56 GMT

@Mom2Dogs I actually had my thyroid surgically removed because of disease. When the diagnosis was disfunction, that was treated with meds.

Re: Low Thyroid

Boomernichols — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 21:24:30 GMT

@Mom2Dogs Thyroid issues are rampant in my family, even thyroid cancer. I had a biopsy done as requested by my dr and it was discovered I had a multi-nodular goiter, hashimoros, low thyroid and a vitamin d level of 11. Your vita d should be between 25 and 60 he said. I currently take thyroid meds and vit d. Tell her to be patient as itt will take a while to start to feel like a member of the human race again.

Re: Low Thyroid

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 21:26:20 GMT

She keeps saying I want to feel 'normal' again...she is just wiped out.

Re: Low Thyroid

jlkz — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 21:27:58 GMT

Just a reminder: don't drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit with thyroid meds.

Also, if the doctor prescribes Synthroid thyroid medication, don't let them substitute a cheaper medication. There is a difference and it isn't the price. ( Doctor should specify no substitutions on Rx. )

Re: Low Thyroid

Frenchlop — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 21:51:50 GMT

When I get bloodwork, my doctors always want to check my thyroid. It always comes back normal. I had a psychiatrist years ago who thought bloodwork to test thyroid wasn't accurate.

Re: Low Thyroid

kaiwahini — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 02:56:14 GMT

I have Hashimoto's and low thyroid. It took me 10 years, even with Hashi's and a goiter, for me to get a Dr. to give me extra thyroid. I eventually had it removed and they found cancer in it (not detected in an ultrasound weeks before surgery).

The Dr. I finally found who helped me through this journey also insists that I do not take a generic to Synthroid. He says there's a difference. However, he does not think grapefruit has an effect on the meds.

There is a balance to getting to the right level on your meds. I take one dose for 6 days and a higher dose 1 day. This keeps my numbers at a level I feel good at and that he is confident will keep my cancer from recurring. People with hypothyroid are at a much higher risk of thyroid cancer than those with hyperthyroid.

Re: Low Thyroid

Robertak — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 03:09:22 GMT

I was diagnosed with hypothyroid/Hashimotos in my mid-20s, it is an auto-immune disease, the dr said I had a virus and it attacked my thryoid. I can go years with good thyroid levels, but I think when the drugstore gets a new generic supplier my levels go all whacky again (headache, tired, other symptoms) I just went thru this again, had labs every month the last 4 months as they adjusted the dosage. Her specialist should be able to explain more to her. I started with a specialist/endocrinologist for years at first but now my family doctor manages it. Then they will test her levels yearly, or if she starts feeling lousy again and adjust the dosage if needed.

Re: Low Thyroid

Scooby Doo — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 05:46:46 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
She keeps saying I want to feel 'normal' again...she is just wiped out.

She could also be iron deficient.

Many physicians don't ask for a vit D test because insurance doesn't want to pay for it. I've always had to ask to have it done. The first time I had it tested my health insurance company would not pay for it. The test came back low. Now when I have it done they will pay for it because it is considered a follow up.

It's not uncommon for us seniors to have low vit D and it wouldn't hurt to start taking a supplement. I've found the liquid vit D or the one that is dissolvable under the tongue is best. They don't give me the gas issues that the tablet will.

Re: Low Thyroid

chrystaltree — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 16:58:10 GMT

She should wait until she sees the endocrinologist. There's no point in talking to people who can only upset her. Hypothyroid or low thyroid would be thyroid disease but that doesn't mean anything until they diagnose WHY.

Re: Low Thyroid

CatsyCline — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 18:22:17 GMT

Good that your friend will see an endo. some primary care doctors only test for TSH unless they are thorough or you request the full panel. i have to periodically nag my dr. to test for T3, T4, etc.

i would fall asleep anywhere or drink gallons of coffee to stay awake before i started on my medication. always felt freezing. could not take branded Synthroid (levothyroxine). gave me headaches. some Levo generics made me lose my hair. its wierd. i still feel cold. i need a scarf on my neck in winter.

i've been on a very low dose (37.5 mcg) for 20 yrs. now may review my meds with my PCP next month.

Re: Low Thyroid

tsavorite — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 01:04:19 GMT

I also have Hypo Thyroid disease....my gyno back in the day ran the correct tests which are not just TSH. My antibodies tests were done and confirmed I have Hashimoto's which is autoimmune. They say most with hypo have this kind but the doctor needs to run the labs to find out.

I can only take synthroid brand as I tried to switch to the generic which is so cheap and oh boy the horrible symptoms came on in about 10days or so. By the 4 week mark I had such horrible brain fog....like I was on drugs! As soon as I went back on the brand in about 2 to 3wks it started to clear up. I make sure I get the brand and yep my insurance won't even cover it at all! Oh well nothing I can do about that.

From what I have been able to determine on this is that the generic source is from China. Abbive makes Synthroid and it's active ingredient is NOT sourced from China. I know I do not have reactions to the other inactive ingredients in either form as I take supplements that have these things in them also and have no issues. So it must be the source of the active ingredient.

I have my Primary Care manage mine as the Endo would have left me feeling still hypo as my TSH was in the magic range. The range by the way was as high as 5 so until you went over that no increase. Most doctors will leave you feeling still hypo with a TSH that high. The OP's friend may need to see several doctors to get to a dose that actually relieves symptoms.

I read as much as I could online to understand what I had been diagnosed with and much more.