hypothyroidism - obstacle or excuse?

shakybabe

Some doctors are arrogant and don't like been told by patients what you think you have... you have to be smarter than them!

They can't stop you going to casualty (ER dept) in an emergency... go to your ER dept and list all your symptoms of hypothyroidism (without saying thats what you think you have) tell them you are exhausted and can barely function.. let them run some blood tests to see whats wrong with you, if they are good doctors they should figure Hypothyroidism maybe be one of the causes of your symptoms.

If they test for that and it shows up and they then tell you that you have this and need synthroid, your doctor would have to prescribe it and you insurance would have to pay for it!

I have to find a new hospital anyway. The one near me is full of idiots. I'm not going to say which but I had a terrible ear infection once and went there. They gave me ear drops. It got worse. Went back, told them, gave me same meds. This went in three more times while I told them I was in pain and the meds weren't doing anything to help. They just nodded as they didn't listen and kept giving me the same ****. I finally went deaf and went to a specialist who fixed me up - and emptied my bank account. I still can't hear as well as I used to. But the point being that yes, I agree. Those of us without a medical degree are obviously too stupid to know our own bodies. So that's a good idea. Sad that it has to be done that way in this world.

I've been deaf since age 16.. as I wasn't born deaf I used to have good speech before the Ataxia started to affect my throat muscles, it always made me angry when people would speak through me than a friend who was born deaf and didn't have clear speech. Now my own speech is difficult for alot of people to understand and I'm a wheelchair user too I see alot of that 'attitude' coming my way! . I can't possibly know.. before they have figured it out etc! ... they see a wheelchair, a person wearing hearing aids with speech impossible for them to understand without me using an interpreter or communication aid so therefore I must also have learning difficulties! (I actually have a Honours degree and taught at a deaf school before developing Ataxia in my early thirties)

Vermilla

Check out this lady and her information. http://thyroid.about.com/bio/Mary-Shomon-350.htm

It's the best I've found to get information on the disease. She explains what it is, how to tell if you need meds, how to take your meds, what to eat, how to eat, etc. She is a great advocate for people pushing through to get the help you need when it comes to thyroid. She also has a nice newsletter that has suggestions for weight loss and why or why not things are working for you.

The number 1 reason for people with thyroid issues not losing weight is not eating enough. As if your thyroid is sluggish your metabolism is slow anyway and if you don't eat enough, you body goes into starvation mode and will hang on to everything it can. Just follow links until you find what you need. She shares a lot of great information and it's free.

Oh, thanks! I'll look into that.

@shakybabe - I know how you feel. I hate having to ask people to repeat themselves. I tell them it's because I can't hear well but then they just talk slow and use small words like I'm mentally unable to understand.

servilia

If your last test was a year ago you need to get tested again. Just because your levels didn't require medication then doesn't mean that stays the same forever. In my case my TSH was normal at one point and 2 months later it was 9! So please get retested.

candicejn

I'm also Hypothyroid, I finally got my meds to the right levels and I'm FINALLY able to lose weight. I am on Armour. I didn't notice ANY change on Synthroid/Levothyroxine. I needed the T3 element rather than just straight T4.

I didn't read the other responses, so forgive me if this is a repeat - but I had to find a doctor who would take how I FELT more into account than the numbers. She understands that I need to have my levels on the low end to feel/think right and have weight loss possible. I went through 3 docs (changing my PCP on my insurance each time) before I found my current doc and I am SO glad I did! She tests me every 6 months and adjusts my dose as necessary. I had other docs say "you're in the range, you're fine". Umm, nope, I'm not.

So don't give up - keep talking until someone listens!! Good luck!

lovelee79

I was tested and I have an under active thyroid. If you can't get on meds try the cheaper natural route perhaps. And if it doesn't work for you then no harm done, but worth a try:

Iodine is needed for proper Thyroid function.
You can buy liquid iodine from a health food store.
Kelp is rich in Iodine. I take Norwegian Kelp tablets.

Also, I recently heard that soy and soy based products should never be consumed if you have hypothyroidism. (There are a ton of foods you shouldn't eat, google it, and Jillian Michaels who also had hypothyroid says that.)

Best of luck to you

CassOfAllTrades

Thought I'd add my $.02. I have a family history of hypothyroidism. I was exhibiting every symptom in the book, but my levels were always coming back normal. I finally couldn't take it anymore and went in just sobbing, saying I could barely make it through the day because I was so tired, I couldn't lose weight, my hair was falling out in clumps, etc etc etc and could we just try the lowest dose of synthroid and see how it goes? She agreed that it did sound like hypothyroid and started me on meds that day. When my test results came in it was no shock- within normal range, and actually closer to HYPERthyroid than HYPOthryoid. After 6 weeks I went back in to get my levels checked and I was still normal, but closer to the middle (so taking MORE actually LOWERED my levels, go figure). Anyway, I have more energy, my hair shedding is under control and I am FINALLY losing weight. I would really try every avenue you can think of to get yourself on medication. No one should have to go through life being miserable when the fix is so easy.

TLCEsq

I have thyroid and adrenal problems. The normal TSH range varies depending on the lab but mine was tested as part of routine blood work early 2008 and was 1.2 which was fine. I started getting cold all the time, very fatigued, constipated, etc. When I had it tested later that year it had shot up to 4.3 and even though this was in the normal range, I insisted that I start taking a low dose of medication and instantly felt better. Year after year I have had to increase my meds because my TSH keeps going up. I am now on 150 mcg of Synthroid and hormone replacement for my adrenals, so hopefully everything will even out. I never trust a doctor to just sit there and tell me everything is fine without looking at the actual lab results myself. I have autoimmune conditions as well, and some doctors are so by the book that they treat based off test results, not symptoms. I finally found an awesome doctor I love who did the adrenal tests. I had asked my endocrinologist to do them two years ago and he didn't, but lo and behold I did have problems due to chronic stress. Thanks a lot, law school :-) i guess my point is, if you feel like crap you need to try to do something about it. Your health is too important.

To add: TSH is thyroid stimulating hormone secreted by your pituitary gland. The higher it is, the more hypothyroid you are. If you don't have high enough levels of thyroid hormones T3 and T4, your pituitary signals the thyroid to produce more by secreting TSH. The average normal range is 0.5 - 4.5 but I feel like crap whenever mine goes over 1.5 or so.

sewedo1

Thyroid issues do tend to be hereditary, but not every member of a family necessarily has the disease nor the same form of thyroid disorder. I've been taking synthetic thyroid replacement hormone for several years. Initially, my hormone levels from the blood test showed hyperthyroid and within a few months, I was hypo and now my levels are normal. If you trust your doctor, then you should feel confident that he/she is giving you the best advice based on your blood work. Taking thyroid medication is not a safe medication for the purpose of dieting as there are many bodily functions that can be adversely impacted if taking the hormone unnecesarily. Symptoms of untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease. Thyroid issues are just one element in increasing risk of obesity, but most of us with hypothyroidism have to work as hard (and from what I've seen here on MFP no harder than the average population) to maintain a healthy weight. With your family history, you should see your doctor for annual physicals and request the bloodwork to test for thyroid disorder each year. If possible, a doctor specializing in this type of disorder, Endocrinologist, will be your best option for treatment and advice. Good luck to you.

dippystick

Try to get a hold of a copy of feeling fat, fuzzy, or frazzled? by Dr Richard Shames, and Karilee Shames. It gives lots of ideas of things to try if you think you're out of whack with your thyroid, adrenal, and reproductive hormone balance. It seems to help those who fall in the normal range on blood tests but they still feel not quite right.

Perhaps your library has it. Hope you find something or a doctor who will help you get to where you feel better. Not every doctor goes by the same reasoning when it comes to hormonal things. Find one who will help you to feel better.

Vermilla

I was tested and I have an under active thyroid. If you can't get on meds try the cheaper natural route perhaps. And if it doesn't work for you then no harm done, but worth a try:

Iodine is needed for proper Thyroid function.
You can buy liquid iodine from a health food store.
Kelp is rich in Iodine. I take Norwegian Kelp tablets.

Also, I recently heard that soy and soy based products should never be consumed if you have hypothyroidism. (There are a ton of foods you shouldn't eat, google it, and Jillian Michaels who also had hypothyroid says that.)

Best of luck to you

Anybody know if the soy thing is true or not? I ask because, ironically, thyroid hormones aren't my only issue. So is estrogene. That is - I pretty much stopped producing it. They kept trying to put me on all these artificial hormones but since I'm a grown woman, I guess it's different than if you're still developing. Sadly, due to complications they're currently still attempting to skirt around, so there's no medication I can take for that either (that they've found, they're still looking). Are the two hormones related somehow? I ask because I was told in the meantime to eat lots of soy stuff (not by the doctor, but by a friend), which actually helped the situation.

servilia

I was tested and I have an under active thyroid. If you can't get on meds try the cheaper natural route perhaps. And if it doesn't work for you then no harm done, but worth a try:

Iodine is needed for proper Thyroid function.
You can buy liquid iodine from a health food store.
Kelp is rich in Iodine. I take Norwegian Kelp tablets.

Also, I recently heard that soy and soy based products should never be consumed if you have hypothyroidism. (There are a ton of foods you shouldn't eat, google it, and Jillian Michaels who also had hypothyroid says that.)

Best of luck to you

Anybody know if the soy thing is true or not? I ask because, ironically, thyroid hormones aren't my only issue. So is estrogene. That is - I pretty much stopped producing it. They kept trying to put me on all these artificial hormones but since I'm a grown woman, I guess it's different than if you're still developing. Sadly, due to complications they're currently still attempting to skirt around, so there's no medication I can take for that either (that they've found, they're still looking). Are the two hormones related somehow? I ask because I was told in the meantime to eat lots of soy stuff (not by the doctor, but by a friend), which actually helped the situation.

Yes soy and estrogen are related. Soy is a phytoestrogen, which means it in some way acts like estrogen in the body. A quick google search on soy and estrogen will give you plenty of reading material. The connection between soy and thyroid is more controversial. I haven't done enough research to tell you one way or the other so I recommend looking into this. I'm also interested in seeing people's responses to this.

lmelangley

Hmmm.... hard to say without your being on meds. All I can say is portion control, watch out for excess sugar and fat, and be patient. Good luck.

Vermilla

I was tested and I have an under active thyroid. If you can't get on meds try the cheaper natural route perhaps. And if it doesn't work for you then no harm done, but worth a try:

Iodine is needed for proper Thyroid function.
You can buy liquid iodine from a health food store.
Kelp is rich in Iodine. I take Norwegian Kelp tablets.

Also, I recently heard that soy and soy based products should never be consumed if you have hypothyroidism. (There are a ton of foods you shouldn't eat, google it, and Jillian Michaels who also had hypothyroid says that.)

Best of luck to you

Anybody know if the soy thing is true or not? I ask because, ironically, thyroid hormones aren't my only issue. So is estrogene. That is - I pretty much stopped producing it. They kept trying to put me on all these artificial hormones but since I'm a grown woman, I guess it's different than if you're still developing. Sadly, due to complications they're currently still attempting to skirt around, so there's no medication I can take for that either (that they've found, they're still looking). Are the two hormones related somehow? I ask because I was told in the meantime to eat lots of soy stuff (not by the doctor, but by a friend), which actually helped the situation.

Yes soy and estrogen are related. Soy is a phytoestrogen, which means it in some way acts like estrogen in the body. A quick google search on soy and estrogen will give you plenty of reading material. The connection between soy and thyroid is more controversial. I haven't done enough research to tell you one way or the other so I recommend looking into this. I'm also interested in seeing people's responses to this.

Yeah, I knew the link between estrogen and soy, but I didn't know one existed (maybe) between soy and thyroid and/or thyroid and other hormones like estrogen. I feel like I should be getting pen and paper and drawing a map....

servilia

I was tested and I have an under active thyroid. If you can't get on meds try the cheaper natural route perhaps. And if it doesn't work for you then no harm done, but worth a try:

Iodine is needed for proper Thyroid function.
You can buy liquid iodine from a health food store.
Kelp is rich in Iodine. I take Norwegian Kelp tablets.

Also, I recently heard that soy and soy based products should never be consumed if you have hypothyroidism. (There are a ton of foods you shouldn't eat, google it, and Jillian Michaels who also had hypothyroid says that.)

Best of luck to you

Anybody know if the soy thing is true or not? I ask because, ironically, thyroid hormones aren't my only issue. So is estrogene. That is - I pretty much stopped producing it. They kept trying to put me on all these artificial hormones but since I'm a grown woman, I guess it's different than if you're still developing. Sadly, due to complications they're currently still attempting to skirt around, so there's no medication I can take for that either (that they've found, they're still looking). Are the two hormones related somehow? I ask because I was told in the meantime to eat lots of soy stuff (not by the doctor, but by a friend), which actually helped the situation.

Yes soy and estrogen are related. Soy is a phytoestrogen, which means it in some way acts like estrogen in the body. A quick google search on soy and estrogen will give you plenty of reading material. The connection between soy and thyroid is more controversial. I haven't done enough research to tell you one way or the other so I recommend looking into this. I'm also interested in seeing people's responses to this.

Yeah, I knew the link between estrogen and soy, but I didn't know one existed (maybe) between soy and thyroid and/or thyroid and other hormones like estrogen. I feel like I should be getting pen and paper and drawing a map....

Honestly this is such a complex field that it would be best NOT to take medical advice from your friend. I understand the desire to gain information from here too, but honestly none of us are qualified to answer these questions although people might have personal experiences to share or might point you in the right direction for further research... Imbalances in thyroid and sex hormones can have important consequences so I really suggest you get a referral to an endocronologist. In the meantime if I learn anything I'll pass it on!

Vermilla

Yeah, I didn't plan on running out and grabbing medication and doping myself up or anything, but it's nice to know from people who either know or have personal experience with such things to give me advice or suggestions, allow me to have something to bring to the table when I see my doctor rather than going in utterly blind.

summalovaable

I was tested and I have an under active thyroid. If you can't get on meds try the cheaper natural route perhaps. And if it doesn't work for you then no harm done, but worth a try:

Iodine is needed for proper Thyroid function.
You can buy liquid iodine from a health food store.
Kelp is rich in Iodine. I take Norwegian Kelp tablets.

Also, I recently heard that soy and soy based products should never be consumed if you have hypothyroidism. (There are a ton of foods you shouldn't eat, google it, and Jillian Michaels who also had hypothyroid says that.)

Best of luck to you

Anybody know if the soy thing is true or not? I ask because, ironically, thyroid hormones aren't my only issue. So is estrogene. That is - I pretty much stopped producing it. They kept trying to put me on all these artificial hormones but since I'm a grown woman, I guess it's different than if you're still developing. Sadly, due to complications they're currently still attempting to skirt around, so there's no medication I can take for that either (that they've found, they're still looking). Are the two hormones related somehow? I ask because I was told in the meantime to eat lots of soy stuff (not by the doctor, but by a friend), which actually helped the situation.

I've been diagnosed with a thyroid condition since I was about 10 (symptoms started around 8 or 9) soy has ALWAYS been the number one food to avoid if you have thyroid problems/ are taking the medication for it. If you are CERTAIN you have a thyroid condition, I would highly recommend doing your own research on the subject, and bringing this research to your doctor before taking advice from a group of strangers. There is a fairly extensive list of foods that one with a thyroid condition should avoid and recommended foods to assist in the functioning of the thyroid.

You also may be noticing many of your symptoms simply from improper self diagnosis. I was CONVINCED that my doctor was going crazy for not upping my medication when I was displaying all the symptoms as before. And having grown up with the disease, I felt like I knew it all (clearly SO wrong). My hair was falling out in clumps, I was exhausted all the time, and I felt like I had gained 5 lbs in a week. I then remembered that my doctor recommended I take iron and b12 supplements (which I had forgotten to do for well over a month).. It might have all been in my head, but within the week I felt a million times better.

Vermilla

I know I don't know everything, but the last thing I want to do is go in blind again. The doctor before my current one nearly killed me because he was convinced that I was lying about everything and just wanted me out of the office. I don't think anybody should self-diagnose (unless maybe they're a doctor too), but I also think it's very important to speak to others who may have knowledge you don't or have experienced what you have so that you have a nice firm base to start on, rather than going in an office, having words flung at you, and then shoved back out no better than when you first went in.

I have actually known people who have attempted to self-diagnose and started up on herbal supplements or medications over the counter or even took prescription medications that belonged to somebody they knew. That should be blindingly obvious how dangerous that is, but as was mentioned earlier, and from my own experiences, it seems like a lot of medical professionals think that the general human population is just making things up and will do anything to get you to go away. I don't know - maybe a lot of people ARE just making things up!

Tangerine302

You will never know unless you go in and get your blood checked for any thyroid problems. I've been on Synthroid for over 17 years. You will know if your dose is not working and need to change strengths. For the most part it stays the same, but it will fluctuate sometimes. I have to go every so often to get checked so I can get my pills refilled, but also go in when I feel like my batteries have fallen out. It is a different kind of being tired. It is amazing what a pill a day can do for you. Like night and day. I would go make an appt. and let them know that it runs in your family and want to get yours checked.

lm4680

If you are hypothyroid it can be more difficult to keep weight off but not impossible, assuming you are at a therapeutic level with your medication. What is very difficult is getting providers to treat the symptoms and the way a person feels rather than treat or not treat based solely on your lab values! Just because you are considered 'in the normal range' doesn't mean you will feel normal. Hopefully your doc will take it all into consideration. Someone here suggested Mary Solomon http://thyroid.about.com/bio/Mary-Shomon-350.htm, she is well known and respected in the field. These are just my opinions and experiences.

iKristine

First why can't you get medicine for hypo? It's on the 4.00 list without insurance! Is there a technical reason for why?

Secondly there are foods that will negatively impact hypo potentially, BUT only if your on meds! Otherwise. No. There is no such thing as a hypo-allergy to food. Unless you consider processed food and junk food as an allergy... which I do! As for foods that will negatively impact if your on meds is coniferous veggies like brussels and broccoli.

You should know the answer to this right?

Do you feel your making excuses? Or do you know cause you wrote it down, did the fitness, monitored everything, figured you actual energy expenditure by going to a local university health and having the test done. They are less than 50.00 BTW.

With those tools in check, then there is no possible way you could not know what's up. Because you would have taken responsibility for it as best as possible. Hypo is not a reason why your overweight. It's a reason why you "feel" unable to handle the task of managing your weight. And only when you get your levels right (by going to a Dr and having them monitor you with meds) will you be able to tackle how you feel on a day to day basis.

Weight loss is a responsibility. And unless your ready to deal with that constructively. Then yes, it's an excuse.

Sorry if this is harsh. But I don't want to bull**** you. Hypo is no reason to be overweight if you don't want it to be.

*ps Any food in abundance, will negatively impact your health. This isn't limited to Hypo. Soy, corn both are abundant int he american diet. So unless your monitoring your processed foods then you could easily be in abundance.