Hypothyroidism

CSARdiver

I volunteer at a free clinic and noticed an unusual trend lately. We now have vacationers from overseas visiting our clinic as they cannot get treatment in the established bureaucracies such as the NHS. Medical tourism appears to be crossing all traditional lines. Not sure if this is a consideration, but if one has the means...

There's a great deal of evidence that suggest that specific groups are at higher risk to thyroid disorder - most notably high endurance athletes and people who are overweight. The theory is that this is putting tremendous stress on the thyroid (and all glands for that matter...) gland to maintain proper levels of hormone in a system and simply cannot keep up.

Good news is that this is easily treatable, but you need to keep your weight in check. It is impossible to maintain hormonal balance when you are overweight. Again - good news as weight is an output of your behavior.

snickerscharlie

Fuzzipeg wrote: »

The principal problem for me was having allocated doctors who would not actually engage with me regarding my health; so much comes under the heading of "get on and live with these issues". We have 10 minutes at an appointment to get all our points across.

I was once told I had an enlarged liver, the advice was not to eat so much. I was not over eating, I did visit the nurse allocated to direct diet and knew more than she. Many years later I was tested for liver function, the results showed no damage, but my symptoms were indicative of poor toxin elimination. Several specialists have come out and said the tests for liver function only show well established damage.

Thank you, aresvalllis for your consideration. I had considered PCOS could have been one of my issues but it was never picked up. Extended painful cycles disregarded as completely normal. I was even told, "what do you expect, you are a woman,...…… again live with it". Came down to those damnable boxes again and what NICE the body which decides what treatments can be available because they are cost effective decides.

I have while writing this, read up on the potential issues associated with PCOS, do not go way with the surgical removal of the female organs. There are many tests which are not done here, it is as if, no consideration is given to the preventative strategies available to reduce uterine and breast cancers, any cancers, we have to open our own eyes and see for ourselves. For example too high sugars, not only added ones in the diet can create anaerobic cell conditions which is nurturing of cell mutation and the onset of cancers. Its in the scientific evidence but not in General Practice, yet.

Here, we can go private. If you have the money or the insurances you can get to private hospitals. There are some private doctors, there is no gaurenttee they will be any more responsive than those in the NHS itself. Many of the endo's who do private work also work in the NHS. Those who spoke out loudest for better ways to address endocrine problems are were disparaged volubly by the medical profession and in the press. I fear the baby is out with the bath water now we have a two tiered system, like it or not for those who can afford to pay and those who lived normal lives with few savings. To generalise the system is not fleet of foot enought to keep up with modern develepoments in health. Some departments are only now realising the female system will react differently to medications tried successfully on the male form. We are one species but the female is not weaker nor less complicated than the male.

I want anyone who suspects thyroid/endocrine issues in themselves, particularly those who are rebuffed time and time again, to take their lives into their own hands, read as much as they can follow reputable science as it relates to them and go for it. We have first hand knowledge of our own bodies, we are capable of objectivity as well as subjective. Its not just in the NHS where there are short comings, short comings can be international.

To the bolded:

Curious as to what 'toxins' you've apparently been ingesting that your liver hasn't been eliminating?

FibroHiker

I am diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I lost approximately 60 lbs. over 18 months a few years BEFORE I was diagnosed. That weight was what was remaining after my pregnancies.

I've been on thyroid medication since 2010. During that time I have:

1. maintained low weight levels for long periods of time
2. Gained weight
3. Struggled with losing weight again.

In my experience what I ate and drank and my activity levels made all the difference. Yes, when you're tired you don't want to exercise. And when you're tired you don't want to cook. However, if I was able to lose 60 lbs. while hypothyroid but not knowing it, then there's more to the weight loss story than just hormone levels.

stevephi01

aidydh wrote: »

there's more to the weight loss story than just hormone levels.

In principle I agree, I think here were are focusing on thyroid hormones (t3 and t4), there are many other factors which affect these two and others. I'm sure I've already said this, what I believed to be thyroid related wasn't entirely, I had other imbalances, once they got addressed I'm far closer to your experiences.

In some cases, it is a need to looking elsewhere as well.

CSARdiver

Hormones play a part in metabolism, but relatively minor comparatively.

Thinking of your body as a room and the metabolism as the furnace and thyroid as the thermostat: Your furnace is designed to support your optimal weight. For comparative purposes let's say that weight is equivalent to a 100 sq ft. room. Patient A become overweight, so the comparison now is that the same furnace must support the temperature regulation of a 150 sq ft. room. Of course it cannot, which will overwork the furnace, eventually overstressing this to the point of malfunction. Luckily humans have adapted remarkably well and our bodies can withstand tremendous amounts of stressors.

It becomes a "which came first - chicken or egg?" debate....but it's all relatively meaningless when the solution is the same - weight management. Your thyroid & pituitary gland cannot support any manner of hormone balance if you are overweight. This leads to a terminal cascade of all manner of bad health effects...the thyroid is one of the first to go and luckily the most treatable. More critical organs are further down this cascade and largely terminal.

Supplementing with a hormone will do nothing if you don't address the issue of weight management and establish a caloric deficit.

lantana411

I was on the same dose of generic Synthroid for 25 years, ever since I miscarried and the doc suggested I have my thyroid checked. Then the dose stopped working - I was dieting and packing on the pounds like mad. I went to an endocrinologist for a year, changing dose every 6-8 weeks. Eventually I gave up dieting because I was gaining weight no matter what. So the doctor got the dose right after a year and I spent another year gaining weight. Eventually I stopped eating like crazy and the weight came off. Once I was on the right dose, my hypothyroidism didn't inhibit weight loss. It's like any other disease, when it's under control the person doesn't suffer it's symptoms.

lantana411

BTW I wound up being prescribed Synthroid and not the generic.

Fuzzipeg

Snickerscharlie, Thank you for your question. The toxins I have problems with are the same as any of you ingest as a matter of course. I have never used what are laughingly called "recreational drugs".

Chemicals and toxins found in foods like, Salicylate-plant protection from moulds and mildews, oxalates, general phenols, antibiotics/medications, the usual additives to foods, to news print, paint - the standard household decorative varieties, polishes, finishes on fabrics-floors-carpets, household cleaners, person hygene things, general fumes in the atmosphere from traffic, at a level much lower than the general population, for one reason or another, genetic, endocrinological, unidentified too concentrated contact, whatever. I have become, as my dientist referrs to me, " one of the canaries in the coal mine". Some one who is an outlier to the general population who is showing society there are great issues with the environmental conditions we force ourselves to live in. I fortunately live in a less populated area. Even so I have been unable to go into my garden when neighbours have their laundry out drying because of the perfumes in their laundry products. I can also have trouble on a hot day after light rain when the ground gives off smells I can detect but others do not.

I'm doing better at long last, though his morning, attending an appointment, I smelt the local shopping centre much more strongly than recently. It had rained slightly over night, its been warm too, the place was closed up without powerful air extraction. I have gone from having my shopping done for me to being able to do some for myself. I avoid shops like "Body Shop", "lush" and others which can be detected many yards away.

I have to have my own transport. I use an "in car" air purifier too while traveling. Its no fun, when you have not eaten to develop hiccups, feel sick, go dizzy become distressed and more, because of things outside my own control. No nights out. Family celebrations happen from behind a thick mask which removes micro particles.

I have even been made to heave by cultivated geraniums. The ones with the smelly leaves. While driving, before I rounded a corner to be confronted by a roundabout covered in the things. It even happened in childhood in a room where the teacher had her pride and joys on the classroom window sill and would take the dead leaves and flowers off, while dictating our weekly spellings, I could spell most other times but not with those things off gassing!!! Most disorientating, and disempowering.

I developed much of my understanding from a Regional Professor in immunology, who I got to see by seeing a none allocated doctor saying, Allergy UK said, people like me may find relief going this root. (I follow scientific papers, university/ teaching hospitals etc, modern science). I was also told, I and others like me have symptoms, which are at the forefront of present understanding. Regrettably the local endocrinologist does not consider dietary salicylate levels to be high enough to cause issues, moulds, mildews, food additives natural plant substances, can and do cause problems or at very least contribute to chronic illness.

Just saying. Please be thankful all the time these things have no effect on yourselves. This is not a good way of life.