Thyroid Struggle is Real
Replies
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A little over six months ago, I was admitted to the ICU after being diagnosed as being in the middle of a thyroid storm. Had a heart rate of 220. Lungs were full of fluid and I was in a-fib. Turns out for an unknown amount of time leading up to this event, I had hyperthyroidism. And all the awesome weight loss progress I had made was likely due to that. Not to my eating better and exercising. Total bummer.
Anyway, after 9 days in the hospital, I was released. A couple of months later, once my hormone levels and heart rate stabilized, they did surgery and removed my thyroid. And I've gained back a significant amount of weight. Very frustrated. The endocrinologist insisted gaining weight wouldn't happen. Then he was all concerned about my weight gain at my last check up. Honestly, I feel like a loser but not in the good way.3 -
I had total thyroidectomy in 1996--thought for several years that was why I couldn't lose weight. When I hit 220, I had to try something, Did low carb then and lost 40 pounds. Stayed there for a number of years, With monitoring calories (off and on over the last few years), I am now very close to 150. I had been lower than that (145) before getting both hips replaced.
It is possible to lose the weight-especially if meds are adjusted correctly.2 -
A little over six months ago, I was admitted to the ICU after being diagnosed as being in the middle of a thyroid storm. Had a heart rate of 220. Lungs were full of fluid and I was in a-fib. Turns out for an unknown amount of time leading up to this event, I had hyperthyroidism. And all the awesome weight loss progress I had made was likely due to that. Not to my eating better and exercising. Total bummer.
Anyway, after 9 days in the hospital, I was released. A couple of months later, once my hormone levels and heart rate stabilized, they did surgery and removed my thyroid. And I've gained back a significant amount of weight. Very frustrated. The endocrinologist insisted gaining weight wouldn't happen. Then he was all concerned about my weight gain at my last check up. Honestly, I feel like a loser but not in the good way.
You have been through the fire with your thyroid!!! Don't give up!!! Having a positive outlook helps so much!! Also find some goals outside of the scale!! I am shooting to run 3 miles in 30 mins running!! 5 miles in 30 mins on my mountain bike!! 90 mins yoga!!! Finish the 30 day fit challenge all the way through HARD2!! Almost done with medium 1!!! As soon as I just monitor the scale and started trying to hit other goals.....there it went!!! You can do this!!!! Sending love and strength!!!0 -
Diagnosed with hypothyroidism after having my second daughter. I sympathize with you all as I'm struggling as well. It's awful. My doctor put me on nature thyroid which helps but not all my symptoms have disappeared. Any specific diets you follow to make symptoms less severe?1
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I’m hypo and I have been on 25 mcg synthroid since 2013 and now my doctor (family physician) wants me to go off of it for 3 months and get my levels tested. I’m really worried about this but he’s not refilling my prescription. Am I gonna gain a bunch of weight? Should I decrease my intake? Has anyone been on synthroid and then stopped it?1
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I have been taken off synthroid a couple of times for testing for my thyroid cancer. Never heard of someone being taken off for three months, but could be completely different since I have no thyroid. I was off for 10 days or so and felt horrible (muscle aches, etc.) Maybe eat like you are and monitor for week or two before decreasing intake.3
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I have been taken off synthroid a couple of times for testing for my thyroid cancer. Never heard of someone being taken off for three months, but could be completely different since I have no thyroid. I was off for 10 days or so and felt horrible (muscle aches, etc.) Maybe eat like you are and monitor for week or two before decreasing intake.
Thanks for responding. He says since I'm done having kids my TSH doesn't need to be as low. This doesn't seem like a good enough reason to me. But I'm going to take meticulous notes about how I feel to show him.1 -
Anyone with thyroid issues shoulf try pure black seed oil. Do some research. Its helped a lot of people.4
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kimothyschma wrote: »I have been taken off synthroid a couple of times for testing for my thyroid cancer. Never heard of someone being taken off for three months, but could be completely different since I have no thyroid. I was off for 10 days or so and felt horrible (muscle aches, etc.) Maybe eat like you are and monitor for week or two before decreasing intake.
Thanks for responding. He says since I'm done having kids my TSH doesn't need to be as low. This doesn't seem like a good enough reason to me. But I'm going to take meticulous notes about how I feel to show him.
They need a clear picture of of what's going on in your thyroid! It takes that long time to flush the meds and get a natural reaction!! You may find you don't need em at all now!!! I felt better off the meds!! Keep notes and watch your body temp and weight daily!!! You will make it!!!0 -
Diagnosed with hypothyroidism after having my second daughter. I sympathize with you all as I'm struggling as well. It's awful. My doctor put me on nature thyroid which helps but not all my symptoms have disappeared. Any specific diets you follow to make symptoms less severe?
I have found low carbs low sugar high protein works for me!! Lots of salad and fresh spinach!! Eat iodized sea salt!! Use apples and peanut butter for energy!! Stay away from caffeine and carbonation!!!! Water water water water!!!! But every thyroid Struggle is different find what works for you and stick to it like glue!!!!1 -
AdaMaraNma wrote: »Anyone with thyroid issues shoulf try pure black seed oil. Do some research. Its helped a lot of people.
Examine .com is a great resource for the scientifically verifiable uses and efficacy of supplements. It doesn't even mention thyroid:
https://examine.com/supplements/nigella-sativa/
The only study I could find was a very small sample group with unclear parameters for success.
Thyroid issues are easy marks for scam artists because there is clearly so much we still don't understand about it. As others have mentioned, finding a doctor who will listen to you and willing to work with you is key, though not always easy!5 -
Levothyroxine only gives you T4
Armour Thyroid gives you T3 and T4, Armour Thyroid made a huge difference for me.
Levothyroxine left me with way to many symptoms, like couldn't function!
Now, I am working out 6 days a week.2 -
I've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism two years ago, still haven't found the right dosage of levothyroxine for me.
I am now working with a nutritionist, since doctors only care about medicines and never mention that food can make such a difference.
Since changing my diet I have felt so much better and full of energy! I am still trying to lose the pounds I've gained since being diagnosed, but at least I don't feel sluggish all the time anymore!
Feel free to add me
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I've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism two years ago, still haven't found the right dosage of levothyroxine for me.
I am now working with a nutritionist, since doctors only care about medicines and never mention that food can make such a difference.
Since changing my diet I have felt so much better and full of energy! I am still trying to lose the pounds I've gained since being diagnosed, but at least I don't feel sluggish all the time anymore!
Feel free to add me
Finding the right food helps soooooo much!!! The rest will fall into line!!!!0 -
I was on Synthroid for years with no positive effects for weight loss until my uncle, an Internist in another state, recommended I request a change in meds to Armour Thyroid. It is natural and straight (well, after processed by the pharmaceutical company) from the pig. It is about the same cost-wise as Synthroid, but has enabled me to lose over 100 lbs. The change to Armour also perked up my energy level like crazy! Hope this helps!3
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Hey y'all!!! Hope you are all feeling strong and hitting goals!!! I got a lil possible with my food intake now I'm up with salt and water bloat!! Gonna shake it off quick!!! Next goal 150!!!! Here we gooooooo0
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kimothyschma wrote: »I’m hypo and I have been on 25 mcg synthroid since 2013 and now my doctor (family physician) wants me to go off of it for 3 months and get my levels tested. I’m really worried about this but he’s not refilling my prescription. Am I gonna gain a bunch of weight? Should I decrease my intake? Has anyone been on synthroid and then stopped it?
what does your endocrinologist say? taking someone off thyroid meds can cause issues and just to test levels shouldn't be done without a REALLY good reason1 -
I was on Synthroid for years with no positive effects for weight loss until my uncle, an Internist in another state, recommended I request a change in meds to Armour Thyroid. It is natural and straight (well, after processed by the pharmaceutical company) from the pig. It is about the same cost-wise as Synthroid, but has enabled me to lose over 100 lbs. The change to Armour also perked up my energy level like crazy! Hope this helps!
you were likely having an issue converting T4 to T3 - levo is a straight T4 medication; armour is both T3/T40 -
deannalfisher wrote: »what does your endocrinologist say? taking someone off thyroid meds can cause issues and just to test levels shouldn't be done without a REALLY good reason
I don't have an endocrinologist.
Unfortunately, I have an issue with my insurance right now and I don't think I'm going to be able to go to one any time soon.
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I saw two different surgeons, two different endocrinologist, a gynocologys, several different primary care physician all of them looked at me like a test subject. Truth is .....thyroid Struggle is something that is under researched and over medicated! Everywhere I went they just threw new meds at me. Try this see what happens.....I don't think there are many Dr. Out there that know there *kitten* about thyroid!! Most of em looked at me nuts when I told em what I was dealing with!!! They took me on and off the meds for testing I was a damn guinea pig!!! Always get a second opinion!!! Thyroid Struggle is real!!! It's hard to find a Dr. Hard to find anything that truly helps for a long period of time!! Hard to feel like yourself!! Be patient and know your body!! I finally got mad and took over!! I know how I feel and what they were telling me was not helping!!!! My journey has been so frustrating. Food exercise and a good support system have been the catalyst to over coming my daily thyroid Struggle!!! Research learn all you can and go at it educated!!! My best advice!!!!0
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https://youtu.be/ft_DXwgUXB0
Watch this video!! This has so many good points!!!
The best things in life are on the other side of terror!!!! Ooooooo WISDOM YALL!!
I needed that this morning!!
Hope this video fires you up like it just did me!!!!!1 -
Hey y'all!!! How is your progress coming along??? I've been in a slump ready to climb up outta my hole I dug and start back at it hard!!!! Keep up the hard work!!!!1
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This is the first time I have come across this thread. I'm there with all of you.
Many people can not take levothyroxine without their symptoms becoming much worse. Levo is only synthetic iodine, so why not encourage people to use natural iodine? I was told by one of the doctors I have seen over the years, taking kelp or other iodine supplements was dangerous!
What they do not tell you, is, you need selenium and a raft of other vitamins and minerals to convert t4 to t3! Some of us loose the ability to make the conversion, others never had it. I'm in he UK and through the NHS we are only permitted Levo. I tried the pills and felt much worse. Years later I tried the liquid and developed digestive issues as soon as it was down my throat - I was offered tests for my digestive issues, when I knew it was the medication. I walked into the hands of a BANT registered nutritionist (UK only) and am thriving mostly.
Too often we are not tested for the antibodies which identify autoimmunity. the medical profession say it makes no difference but knowing which molecules are damaging our bodies is helpful so we can avoid them or take digestive enzymes to replace what we have lost through poor digestion/elimination/ and the raft of other problems the thyroid gland can cause.
I would strongly advise anyone who is able, track down a functional practitioner, they use the same tests, consider adrenal issues and much, much more. STTM, stop the thyroid madness, site/book holds list of doctors who have been helpful to others with thyroid issues. I think Hypothyroidmom also does. I've read many national Thyroid help sites and they all give similar good information.
Men are least likely to have thyroid issues. Sometimes this means they receive more responsive treatment to women. This in not a sexist comment it is well documented in the literature. When medications are or have been tested this is mostly on men, for years the female system was considered too idiosyncratic to provide good results! Recently it has been discovered women with cardiac issues are more likely to die because our symptoms are different and those who were given the standard treatment were more likely to die. I would not wish any thyroid condition on my worst enemy, with 300 possible symptoms its so difficult to be taken seriously.
Many of us would fare better with t3 support, thought it seems there can be issues with desiccated thyroid products because the ratio of t3 is too high so some may need to find more t4 to balance it.
there is a hyper and hypo group on here with some good information on its group page, its really quiet now but would welcome refreshing.
Best wishes to everyone.2 -
This is the first time I have come across this thread. I'm there with all of you.
Many people can not take levothyroxine without their symptoms becoming much worse. Levo is only synthetic iodine, so why not encourage people to use natural iodine? I was told by one of the doctors I have seen over the years, taking kelp or other iodine supplements was dangerous!
What they do not tell you, is, you need selenium and a raft of other vitamins and minerals to convert t4 to t3! Some of us loose the ability to make the conversion, others never had it. I'm in he UK and through the NHS we are only permitted Levo. I tried the pills and felt much worse. Years later I tried the liquid and developed digestive issues as soon as it was down my throat - I was offered tests for my digestive issues, when I knew it was the medication. I walked into the hands of a BANT registered nutritionist (UK only) and am thriving mostly.
Too often we are not tested for the antibodies which identify autoimmunity. the medical profession say it makes no difference but knowing which molecules are damaging our bodies is helpful so we can avoid them or take digestive enzymes to replace what we have lost through poor digestion/elimination/ and the raft of other problems the thyroid gland can cause.
I would strongly advise anyone who is able, track down a functional practitioner, they use the same tests, consider adrenal issues and much, much more. STTM, stop the thyroid madness, site/book holds list of doctors who have been helpful to others with thyroid issues. I think Hypothyroidmom also does. I've read many national Thyroid help sites and they all give similar good information.
Men are least likely to have thyroid issues. Sometimes this means they receive more responsive treatment to women. This in not a sexist comment it is well documented in the literature. When medications are or have been tested this is mostly on men, for years the female system was considered too idiosyncratic to provide good results! Recently it has been discovered women with cardiac issues are more likely to die because our symptoms are different and those who were given the standard treatment were more likely to die. I would not wish any thyroid condition on my worst enemy, with 300 possible symptoms its so difficult to be taken seriously.
Many of us would fare better with t3 support, thought it seems there can be issues with desiccated thyroid products because the ratio of t3 is too high so some may need to find more t4 to balance it.
there is a hyper and hypo group on here with some good information on its group page, its really quiet now but would welcome refreshing.
Best wishes to everyone.
Wow thank you for your wisdom!!! Love the thyroid educated!!! It is such a misunderstood and under studied organ!!!!0 -
Levo is only synthetic iodine, so why not encourage people to use natural iodine?
I'm no doctor just another sufferer but wanted to correct the above statment - Levothyroxine CONTAINS iodine but is not only iodine. It is synthetic T4. I believe this is why you can't just take iodine to correct the problem.5 -
I was diagnosed with Hypothyroid 3 years ago. Although my blood levels barely qualified the diagnosis, I had all the symptoms, many that at the time I didn't know was a symptom.
I went through 2 doctors before I found the one I now see, who is wonderful. She has made all the difference. I am still somewhat symptomatic but so much better. The other two were number followers and didn't attend to symptoms except to make me feel like a hypochondriac.
The first, a PA, started messing with my estrogen levels (I had a complete Hysterectomy almost 30 yrs ago) and made things worse. When I got insistent to go back to my years long successful med regime, he fired me! The second played the numbers game and kept referring me to a specialist who wouldn't take me because my hypo issues were standard and could be taken care of by this dr. She took me off my meds and had labs done 6wks later, that she never read, never had me back for a follow up, and forgot to have me start my Thyroid meds again. After 6 months and I had crashed back to day one, I started taking them myself and by 6 weeks I was starting to feel better and had found a new doctor.
My new doctor monitors my thyroid and listens to my symptoms, then discusses it all with me!
I am getting better, better energy, losing the daily fatigue, muscle aches, sleeping well and all of a sudden the weight started coming off at a pretty steady pace. Of course I have been dieting since Oct 18, but it was frustrating at first when the weight was stubbornly staying, as a lot of have experienced. My consistent weight loss began about 2 months ago.
This journey of poor doctor care, finding a good doctor, has been going on since 2016. My doctor agrees that messing with my hormones (estrogen) by a PA, then a doctor that took me off my thyroid med and forgot to put me back on, really messed up my endo-system. I have been seeing the good doctor for a year and am just now finally feeling functionally better.
As someone else mentioned, finding the right doctor makes all the difference in the world.1 -
I was diagnosed with Hypothyroid 3 years ago. Although my blood levels barely qualified the diagnosis, I had all the symptoms, many that at the time I didn't know was a symptom.
I went through 2 doctors before I found the one I now see, who is wonderful. She has made all the difference. I am still somewhat symptomatic but so much better. The other two were number followers and didn't attend to symptoms except to make me feel like a hypochondriac.
The first, a PA, started messing with my estrogen levels (I had a complete Hysterectomy almost 30 yrs ago) and made things worse. When I got insistent to go back to my years long successful med regime, he fired me! The second played the numbers game and kept referring me to a specialist who wouldn't take me because my hypo issues were standard and could be taken care of by this dr. She took me off my meds and had labs done 6wks later, that she never read, never had me back for a follow up, and forgot to have me start my Thyroid meds again. After 6 months and I had crashed back to day one, I started taking them myself and by 6 weeks I was starting to feel better and had found a new doctor.
My new doctor monitors my thyroid and listens to my symptoms, then discusses it all with me!
I am getting better, better energy, losing the daily fatigue, muscle aches, sleeping well and all of a sudden the weight started coming off at a pretty steady pace. Of course I have been dieting since Oct 18, but it was frustrating at first when the weight was stubbornly staying, as a lot of have experienced. My consistent weight loss began about 2 months ago.
This journey of poor doctor care, finding a good doctor, has been going on since 2016. My doctor agrees that messing with my hormones (estrogen) by a PA, then a doctor that took me off my thyroid med and forgot to put me back on, really messed up my endo-system. I have been seeing the good doctor for a year and am just now finally feeling functionally better.
As someone else mentioned, finding the right doctor makes all the difference in the world.
Woo woo success!! That's amazing!! Keep it up!!!!0 -
You lot are brilliant! Another Hypo with Hashimoto's here in the UK taking 150mcg Levo daily. I've lost 30 lbs now and it is a struggle! Had an endometrial ablation a couple of months ago to curb heavy bleeding which has changed my life - no longer needing to take iron tablets. Taking it one day at a time and I am determined not to go backwards!!
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You lot are brilliant! Another Hypo with Hashimoto's here in the UK taking 150mcg Levo daily. I've lost 30 lbs now and it is a struggle! Had an endometrial ablation a couple of months ago to curb heavy bleeding which has changed my life - no longer needing to take iron tablets. Taking it one day at a time and I am determined not to go backwards!!
Amen to that!!! We charge forward!!!!!!1 -
Hello!!!! Hope y'all are finding success in your journey!!! Always press forward!!!0
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