topic Re: Hypothyroidism in Wellness

Hypothyroidism

Sassycoco — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 04:16:11 GMT

Hello, I was just diagnosed this today after routine blood tests.
My Dr. thought it was just menopause. But you know when you feel "off" ....I've been really tired and weak .Just not feeling myself .

Anyone else, have this condition? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated 😊

Re: Hypothyroidism

Kachina624 — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 04:20:06 GMT

@Sassycoco You'll probably get medication and hopefully soon be good as new. Fingers crossed for you.

Re: Hypothyroidism

Sassycoco — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 04:32:08 GMT

@Kachina624

Thank you ! Yes ,I'm picking up Levothyroxine tomorrow!
I've been researching everything I can about this condition! I feel overwhelmed 😕
I appreciate your kindness...

Re: Hypothyroidism

Icegoddess — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 04:54:28 GMT

I've been on Levothyroxine for years. Your doctor should check your numbers again in a few months to make sure you're on the correct dosage. Some people have to go back every few months, but I've been stable for years and only get mine checked once a year at my Annual. Hopefully, the Levothyroxine works for you. I know some do better on Synthroid and some swear by Armour (pig's thyroid) and they all seem to think the one that works for them is the best. I say whatever works for you is the best.

Also, you might have your doctor check your vit. D. That's another one that can cause fatigue. I'm on maintenance prescription D now. I can't go off it without getting extreme fatigue. I think that may have something to do with the thyroid disease too.

Re: Hypothyroidism

Sassycoco — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:05:14 GMT

@Icegoddess

I will check about Vitamin D

Any side effects to the medication? If you don't mind ,sharing?
Thank you 😊

What I've read ,hairloss seems to be #1 ...Taking the med on an empty stomach and no coffee at least an hour after taking.

Re: Hypothyroidism

Icegoddess — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:20:27 GMT

I didn't have much in the way of side effects. I've always had fairly thin, baby fine hair. I do take Biotin for hair growth, but if you take Biotin or a hair growth supplement that contains it, you have to remember to stop taking it for a few days before any bloodwork as it can interfere with the results. I lost the tails to my eyebrows which is a common indicator of hypothyroidism, not a side effect of the medication. And, I have cold intolerance, but I've been cold natured my entire adult life.

I just take my med in the morning and go about my business.

Re: Hypothyroidism

coconut1818 — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:37:06 GMT

I have been on it for years. A few years back my nurse told me to be sure and take it with a full glass of water. I had never been told that before. After being on the same dosage for years, my last lab showed it was not in the normal range anymore. He adjusted the dosage and all is good now. Best of luck.

Re: Hypothyroidism

CritterKeeper — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:19:37 GMT

Many years ago I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I was very low. It was right after I had my first baby and everybody kept saying it was postpartum. I knew something was off. Plus it runs in my family. It took several tries to get my medication dose right. I had to have blood tests every couple of months until things leveled out. I have been on the same dose for several years now. I have bloodwork every year to check.

It may take some time but be patient. You will get to feeling much better soon.

Re: Hypothyroidism

sunsetbeach — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:10:48 GMT

I've been taking Synthroid for over 30 years. Don't worry about taking this medication for hypothryroidism, I have no side effects at all. I did find that I functioned better on the brand, as opposed to the generic. I take it about an hour before breakfast with a glass of water on an empty stomach. I get checked once a year with no issues.

Re: Hypothyroidism

BlueFinch — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 17:04:23 GMT

@Sassycoco You should be just fine. Hypothyroidism is a fairly common issue. It's important to take the medication as prescribed, but it's not complicated.

The key is to find the right dosage. My mom was on Levothyroxine for several decades and her TSH levels held constant. And, she cheated sometimes, not taking her pill on an empty stomach, but still, her levels barely fluctuated.

Then I was diagnosed and not as lucky. It took several follow-up visits and labs to find the right dose. I have 100mcg and 112mcg tablets, with the 100's four days a week and the 112's three days a week.

I hate that I have to have two different dose scripts, but it's what I have to do to keep my TSH number where I need it, to stay in the normal range and feel my best. Once a year labs is all I need for now. Hope it doesn't change.

After you work out the dosing that's best for you, you will relish feeling like your old self again. You'll also be joining a club with many members with hypothyroidism :-). You're far from alone. Good luck.

Re: Hypothyroidism

Q4u — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 22:10:41 GMT

Me too, was diagnosed a few years ago. On top of the symptoms you've described, I was also dizzy/ I can put up with most other things but dizzy? No... please fix it! The medication DID make it better! Good luck to you, you'll feel better in no time.

Re: Hypothyroidism

IMW — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 02:09:54 GMT

I've had it for 40 plus years. Once your dosage is figured out you will feel so much better!

Re: Hypothyroidism

LuvSoCal — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 02:27:07 GMT

After a routine blood test in my early 50s I was told that I had a hypothyroid condition. I was shocked because I had no symptoms! My energy level was fine and I didn't feel "off" in any way. Levothyroxine is the only medication I take daily (25mg). I feel the same as I did before taking it. I take it only because I've been told that I need to. Thyroid problems can affect other areas of our health.

Re: Hypothyroidism

1Professor — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:11:54 GMT

@Sassycoco @BlueFinch @LuvSoCal @Icegoddess + all

No one has mentioned the LEVEL of bood test results at which a doctor gave a prescription.

The research is not consistent, strangely.

A range of 4-6 on the test can be considered normal, not hypothyroidism, while some docs prescribe for anything at or over 6.

Other docs will only prescribe for blood test result over 10.

Many do NOT bother to ask if you were taking Biotin, though the published research, recent, is clear that it interfers with the testing agents and gives a skewed result. You might be taking major Biotin (example, Lessman) or it might just be included in another supplement at a lower level.

Re: Hypothyroidism

Icegoddess — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:28:41 GMT

@1Professor It's been so long ago, I don't even remember what my numbers were. My doctor only goes by TSH now, but did check the other numbers in the beginning, That seems to work for me. I used to track them, but then my Blackberry died and I lost it all so i quit bothering with it. But, I've also read that you need to know what is considered a normal range for the agency that does the bloodwork, not just go by what someone says since their bloodwork agency may have a different range.

Hypothyroidism has so many possibly symptoms. Mine weren't typical. My doctor, at first, thought I had a heart problem probably because I complained of feeling like I had encyclopedias on my chest at night, and that 36 BPM heart rate probably didn't help. My main complaint was oxygen starvation I think it's called. I often felt like I needed to take a deep breath, but I didn't feel like it helped when I did. I had no fatigue. He wanted to put me in the hospital right away and schedule a pacemaker, but the heart doctor he was sending me to said since I had been having those symptoms for awhile, just wait and let me come in the following day for some tests which I passed with flying colors.

Re: Hypothyroidism

1Professor — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 17:36:21 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
@1Professor It's been so long ago, I don't even remember what my numbers were. My doctor only goes by TSH now, but did check the other numbers in the beginning, That seems to work for me. I used to track them, but then my Blackberry died and I lost it all so i quit bothering with it. But, I've also read that you need to know what is considered a normal range for the agency that does the bloodwork, not just go by what someone says since their bloodwork agency may have a different range.

Hypothyroidism has so many possibly symptoms. Mine weren't typical. My doctor, at first, thought I had a heart problem probably because I complained of feeling like I had encyclopedias on my chest at night, and that 36 BPM heart rate probably didn't help. My main complaint was oxygen starvation I think it's called. I often felt like I needed to take a deep breath, but I didn't feel like it helped when I did. I had no fatigue. He wanted to put me in the hospital right away and schedule a pacemaker, but the heart doctor he was sending me to said since I had been having those symptoms for awhile, just wait and let me come in the following day for some tests which I passed with flying colors.

@Icegoddess [loved the "I was always cold" and your IceGoddess tag!

When someone in my family or close friends gets a sudden diagnosis, I go into research mode on their behalf.

Normal ranges for hypothyroidism are on line.

Personal physicians often miss.

I had one tell someone, without consulting an endocrinologist, here's your presc docription (did not take into account weight, height, heart conditions, essential to specialists). Specialists want to start low; personal physicians sometimes just grab a usual dose.

However, alert to all: If we get the privilege of growing OLD, we will each need more prescriptions. Our bodies STOP producing enough of various things.

Prescriptions interact with one another. Many interact and impair the effectiveness of hypothyroid meds. So, it's worth knowing the numbers, what the experts say (and they top doc/clinics are on line!).

Re: Hypothyroidism

Icegoddess — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 17:56:08 GMT

@1Professor I dress in layers when I skate. I actually preferred being a man for the A Christmas Carol Christmas shows we did since I could wear long pants although I did also have a long period dress but that was difficult to do anything fancy in.

I do get all my bloodwork results at my annual physical. For that, my blood goes to The Cleveland Clinic, and the normal ranges are included for all my results.

I've been on a Hypothyroidism support group on Facebook for years and one thing I have discovered is that no one drug or doctor is the best. I see people who think all they need is to get an endocrinologist instead of their family physician and all their problems will be solved. Usually that's not what happens. And, I have seen as many complaints about endocrinologists not listening or not treating effectively as I have family doctors. In fact, on a local Nextdoor group someone was asking about Hypothyroidism treatments recently and the consensus about endocrinologists was that none of the local ones were any good.

When I was first diagnosed, I did go down the rabbit hole of research, but after I lost all my data and since I was doing so well on the treatment I was getting, I've forgotten a lot of it. I also got into a tiff with a group that insisted that I MUST get tested for Hashimotos even though I was doing just fine. If I remember correctly, the treatment protocol is the same for both anyways, and they couldn't tell me why I needed that test, just that I must.

Re: Hypothyroidism

FiddleDeeDee — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 18:09:18 GMT

@Sassycoco Purchase the book "Thyroid for Dummies". You will learn FAR MORE then you'll ever learn from your doctor/specialist.

Also, most doctors go simply by the numbers on your bloodwork. Make sure you tell them despite the numbers being "fine" YOU DON"T FEEL FINE (if that is the case).

Take it an hour before any meal; don't take it with anything acidic. Doctors don't keep up with research and tend to rely on their pharmo reps to educate them on meds/research which is bias towards the company they work for.

Do your own research and push back when needed.

I've been on it since the birth of my first child (26 yeas ago). I've had a great doc and a few horrible ones with tragic results due to my hypothyroidism NOT being managed well by endocrinologists. Never again.

Re: Hypothyroidism

1Professor — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 18:14:01 GMT

@Icegoddess Still loving the "ice goddess" images . . .

Lots of useful information on diet and hypothyroidism.

Foods not to eat, tend to interfer with absorption of thyroid.

Food to eat, for example selenium-rich foods that help both the thyroid and immune systems.

Love the Brazil Nuts information!

Two nuts a day is more selenium than anyone can reasonably get elsewhere.

Re: Hypothyroidism

Icegoddess — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 20:09:01 GMT

@1Professor yes, I eat Brazil nuts daily. But, I also eat cabbage and radishes which are considered bad because they're crucifers. I don't eat either daily orl in large quantities, but I will continue to eat them.