Hypothyroidism

sashaannbrown

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was 12 and I haven't been on medication for a couple years because I felt worse while I was taking the pills. When I was a kid i was always tired and slept most of the day but I don't feel that way today at all but I went to get tested my results were bad. I was wondering if anybody else also has this, what they did to level it out without using pills if possible.

Rowan09

From what I know I think you always need medication of some kind... if left untreated certain thyroid disorders can cause other medical problems. I believe there are different kinds of medications though so maybe talk to your doctor about trying a different one?

CSARdiver

There is no debate on this. You cannot fix thyroid issues with diet. This can only be addressed with medicine.

What are you taking and what dosage are you on?

What are the latest results of your full thyroid panel - TSH, fT3, fT4, rT3?

deannalfisher

if you feel worse taking the pills, then its highly likely your dosage wasn't right...it can take time to get everything squared away

kmk1447

I just got blood work taken for this too. Can you tell me your symptoms? I am 27 and have a really hard time losing weight even though I am rather active and dieting.
My hair hardly grows or breaks easily. I am usually tired and a bit depressed as of late.
Still awaiting test results!

ccsernica

I was asymptomatic when diagnosed, but I take the pills anyway. They made no noticeable difference, but I haven't experimented with going off them, so these days who knows?

GottaBurnEmAll

CSARdiver wrote: »

There is no debate on this. You cannot fix thyroid issues with diet. This can only be addressed with medicine.

What are you taking and what dosage are you on?

What are the latest results of your full thyroid panel - TSH, fT3, fT4, rT3?

This. You can't fix this without medicine, and avoiding the medicine isn't the answer.

It takes time to find the correct dosage. You probably didn't feel well because you hadn't found the proper dosage yet. It wasn't the medication making you feel sick, OP.

Afura

I take pills to level out my hypothyroidism because my thyroid doesn't make enough to sustain my body so I have to supplement it and there is nothing in the world I can eat besides a pill that can create what I need. In fact, I have to watch the things I eat because food interferes with thyroid medication. Things like soy proteins (not lecithin) which means I can't have things like a lot of Chinese foods, or soups, some breads, ice creams...

Well ok, I don't have a thyroid at all, so you know if anyone wants it, it's people like me cause I hate waking up to take pills and wait an hour to eat. It's not mandatory.

Edit: Make sure your doctor checks your TSH, T3 and T4, they both need to be in balance and most times they only check the T3

AnnPT77

I don't like to take unnecessary drugs. But I take the levothyroxine. For me, this is just facing facts: I don't do well with low thyroid levels (stiff joints, especially in the morning; sluggishness). I've not found an effective alternative. So I take this drug.

andeey

Try to find an Endocrinologist to help you. Your GP might just take basic blood tests and not all that you need. If you are Hashimoto's hypothyroid, you have a possibility of getting goiters on your thyroid, which will appear as a "bulge" in your neck. Ensure you have neck palpitating done by your GP (your Endo will for sure) to check for that. Also, your symptoms can go from hypo to hyper if you actually have Hashimoto's. Overall, you should really go to a specialist. Ask for T3, T4, TSH at a minimum. Some will recommend reverse T3. Also, be sure you find a doctor who will listen to you about your symptoms, not just your lab results. You can be "in range" but still feel like crap. Keep an Excel spreadsheet with your current dose, what your blood tests were, and how you're feeling (1-10 or something) with some space for comments you can add text. Fill it out daily. When you get new blood work, add in the new dose, the blood results, etc. Keep going until you're hitting a good number (7? 8?).

Also, be sure to read up on proper dosing. As someone above alluded to, you need to take the medicine on an empty stomach, and don't take calcium, iron, etc. within a four hour range of the dose. Most people will set alarms to take the pill early morning, then go back to sleep and then when you wake up, you can eat/drink like normal. Also, soy and walnuts and a few other foods have poor interactions with thyroid function, so you can read up on that as well. Be mindful of the manufacturer and whether you are given brand names or synthetics. They do make a difference for people because the fillers are different.

I'm happy to answer any questions you have if you want to PM me. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's and was on various doses until I started developing nodules (goiter) and ended up having a full Thyroidectomy. I'm 100% dependent on medicine and it took me at least 18 months of different doses, brands, etc. to find the right amount for me. I'm feeling good now.

Good luck. It's a long road, but you CAN feel normal again.

crackpotbaby

Without treatment (pills; synthetic thyroid hormone replacement) depending on the extent of your hypothyroidism you risk cognitive impairment, heart issues, goitre and in very rare cases total shut down of metabolism resulting in coma.

Here is a link to some basic info on complications associated with not treating hypothyroidism.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.endocrineweb.com/amp/1265?client=safari

..................

You need to see your doctor.

leahcollett1

took me nearly a year to get my dosage right, once my levels were optimal for me, then did i see the benefits, tiredness has gone, and im still working on the weight loss.

Dental1972

I've been on levothy

nvmomketo

CSARdiver wrote: »

There is no debate on this. You cannot fix thyroid issues with diet. This can only be addressed with medicine.

What are you taking and what dosage are you on?

What are the latest results of your full thyroid panel - TSH, fT3, fT4, rT3?

I agree. Some diets may quiet (slow) an autoimmune attack on the body. For a while. It can't fix it though.

Work to get the right dosage of meds. If you still don't feel right then try different meds, like something with a T3 (ie. Armor).

cross2bear

You must take meds - it may take several tries to get it right. There are literally hundreds of symptoms of hypothyroidism that you can overlook, but with the proper meds, they will be alleviated. Things like feeling cold, losing hair, feeling tired, weak fingernails, dry skin - many that seem minor and not worth bothering about, but attributed to something else, but are, in fact, because of your thyroid. Please seek medical help, the sooner the better, and the sooner you ill be on your way to feeling better.

fittocycle

Try to get a copy of your lab results. It'll help you track your thyroid levels and watch for any trends. My doctor didn't diagnose me until I pointed out that although I was at the high end of the normal range, my levels had been steadily trending upward for years.

Also, it could be that you are anemic. If your thyroid levels are normal, ask to have your hemoglobin and ferritin levels tested. Ferritin are your iron reserves and it's possible to have normal hemoglobin and low ferritin, thus being anemic.