Anyone with Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?

2

Replies

  • RunMyOregonBunsOff
    RunMyOregonBunsOff Posts: 862 Member
    I have hypo and just got put on Cytomel as well as my Synthroid. I am starting to feel better already and I'm so hoping that this will keep me normal!
  • linz1125
    linz1125 Posts: 441 Member
    When I was 19 I was diagnosed with hashi motos hypothyroid. I was not able to regulate it, so I had it surgically removed after much fighting with my doctor (I wanted it out, he thought it should stay in). I finally said screw you I'm taking it out, and I'm glad I did! It ended up being 4x it's normal size and cancerous. Luckily since it was removed I didn't have to go through chemo/radiation. Every situation is different. If you don't feel your dosage/treatment is right, don't rely on what the doc is saying. Ask for your numbers every blood test and log how you are feeling - if it's not enough, too much, etc. that way you know your numbers and take charge of your treatment.

    Thyroids can be tricky - but stay on top of your numbers and stay involved in your treatment.

    This is part of the reason I have not looked for treatment. I would like it to be taken out as it swells and causes me pain any time I have just a slight bit of soy. Summers are horrible as it tends to act up in the heat. The doctors here say that because it is an autoimmune issue they will not remove it.

    So sorry just seeing this.

    Does it swell up and restrict breathing? If so, they may be able to take it out then. I had to tell my doctors this so they would finally take it out.
    Soy is notorious for effecting the thyroid...I try to stay away from it.
  • DanceForever904
    DanceForever904 Posts: 611 Member
    i have had hypothyroidism for almost 4 years now and gained a bunch of weight cause of it but now ive lost 72 pounds in about 14 months. you can do it!!!
  • freedomlady
    freedomlady Posts: 28 Member
    I was diagnosed with hashimoto's 20 years ago. No biggie. Ive been on thyroid meds since and I feel great. It is an easy fix once they figure how much meds to give you. Then I get my blood tested once a year to see if the same dose is working. My mom also has it. same thing... they just gave her a pill to take every day and wha-la! all fixed. I think Hashimotos is the same as Hypothyroid. they just don't always use the term hashimotos.

    My sister has the opposite. Hyperthyroid. That is not good, or at least not for her. They used radiation to kill off some of her thyroid to make her hypothyroid, then gave her the same medication I take. Poor girl, it has been a lot harder on her than my hypothyroid. So I feel lucky to have something so easily fixable.
  • PS2CR
    PS2CR Posts: 98 Member
    I was diagnosed with hashimoto's 20 years ago. No biggie. Ive been on thyroid meds since and I feel great. It is an easy fix once they figure how much meds to give you. Then I get my blood tested once a year to see if the same dose is working. My mom also has it. same thing... they just gave her a pill to take every day and wha-la! all fixed. I think Hashimotos is the same as Hypothyroid. they just don't always use the term hashimotos.

    My sister has the opposite. Hyperthyroid. That is not good, or at least not for her. They used radiation to kill off some of her thyroid to make her hypothyroid, then gave her the same medication I take. Poor girl, it has been a lot harder on her than my hypothyroid. So I feel lucky to have something so easily fixable.

    "Hashimoto's disease is a disease, and hypothyroidism is a condition. Hypothyroidism is most commonly caused by Hashimoto's disease, but the two terms are not interchangeable. Here is more information to help understand the difference..."

    (See excellent 2-page discussion at this link: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidism/a/hashivshypo.htm )
  • EricaLynn813
    EricaLynn813 Posts: 35 Member
    wow I also have hypothyroidism and I have never heard of Hashimoto but from what I have read I have a lot of those symptoms which makes me wonder if I honestly have fibromalgia. I go back to the Dr. next month and I am going to be sure and ask about this thank you all for posting.
  • Restybaby2012
    Restybaby2012 Posts: 568 Member
    I was dx with thyroid trouble years ago and put on massive doses of synthroid. As long as I take it (400mcg) every day and keep it tested I do ok. What has happened ....even with being treated is I have an EXTREME intolerance to heat of any kind. Now when I say intolerance to heat..........Im not kidding. I live in south central Wisconsin where the winters can get 20 below with wind chills making it 30-40 below. We get lots of wind and lots if snow. Our winters are just as stoopid and FUBARD as our summer has been (EXTREME prolonged heat) ....but I digress. I havent had the heat on in my apartment for 2 years---literally. During the winter months I keep the bedroom window open and a fan on. My poor fiance' says even the polar bears wont come play cuz its too cold. The summer months are hell on me because of this intolerance. Ive seen every specialist there is for this and no one can explain it.

    10 years ago I went on a walking diet kick and lost over 100 pounds in a heart beat.HA!! They cant explain that either. However..........after fracturing my neck and having both knees replaced AND a failed back surgery, the weight came back. Im hoping now to slowly get the weight off by choosing a better lifestyle rather than dieting. THATs been a problem for me all along---dieting.

    Anyway.......it is possible to lose weight with thyroid issues but it is harder. My issue is the "other things" thyroid problems caused for me.

    I wish you great success with treatment
  • underthecherrytree
    underthecherrytree Posts: 532 Member
    Me! I was diagnosed 3 years ago. My mother and grandma also have it.
  • any of you that have hashimotos,have you heard of gluten making it worse?
  • 2youngatheart
    2youngatheart Posts: 338 Member
    :flowerforyou: bumpinkg...wish you well
  • drexlady
    drexlady Posts: 1 Member
    I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in July of this year. Prior to that I was diagnosed in February with Gerd. I have read a lot on Hashimotos. It looks like almost everyone with Hashimotos is also gluten intolerant. My doctor wanted to wait and see what happens and just test my thyroid every 6 months. He also wanted to leave me on Nexium. I found an article saying I should find a doctor that is integrative. I researched doctors and finally found an integrative doctor. An integrative doctor looks at the body as a whole. My doctor has ran a lot of tests. He went ahead and started me on Repairvite to repair my digestive system. I am on a very strict diet and I can not have gluten,dairy, or soy. I can have low carb fruits with no added sugar. Actually there is not a lot that I can have on the initial phase of this diet. I have lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks. So far I am feeling a whole lot better than I have in quite some time. I am sleeping better at night. I am not having as much esophagus problems as I was having. I go back to my doctor next Wednesday. I am hoping he will have my tests back and i will find out what I am actually allergic too as well as other results from my tests..
  • happycauseIride
    happycauseIride Posts: 536 Member
    Bumping to keep. I am hypo thoyroid form about 6 years. I take 125 mcg of generic synthroid and have my levels checked every 3 months. Im still only seing my general doc, but she is great about treating me based on how I feel, not what my levels are.
  • ggeise14
    ggeise14 Posts: 387 Member
    bump for later
  • I was recently diagnosed this past August with hashimoto' disease and I've had it for most of my life,but the doctor's usually only go by their tests for it and not the symptoms itself.All my life the symptoms have shown up.when I was a baby I was always sleeping,I didn't wake up normally like other babies usually do,then as I grew up into a teenager I had a goitre and at 8 had high cholesterol and weight issues even when I was as active as other kids and ate the same things then as I got older I had panic attacks,depression,my muscles started to get weaker and I knew myself this wasn't normal but the doctor's didn't take all these into account and I wasn't diagnosed until I was 21 and it was because my T4 levels were low,they didn't go by the thyroid antibodies which were elevated my vitamin D levels are usually low if I don't take supplements(a usual problem with hashimoto's disease) and nothing struck a common tie or something and now i'm on 3 meds instead of 1 if they could've diagnosed sooner.i'm on synthroid for the thyroid hormone,a beta blocker for high blood pressure and trilipix for high cholesterol.Never stop trying to find an answer to this kind of problem 'cause most doctor's aren't trained in the field of the thyoid problems/endocrine system i've read.just remember to exercise 30 minutes for 5 days a week at the minimum and eat healthy foods(but be careful of goitrogen foods like cruciferous food like broccoli,cauliflower along with kale,spinach,mustard greens and soy products 'cause they suppress the body's ability to absorb the synthroid)
  • aviduser
    aviduser Posts: 208 Member
    I was dx with thyroid trouble years ago and put on massive doses of synthroid. As long as I take it (400mcg) every day and keep it tested I do ok. What has happened ....even with being treated is I have an EXTREME intolerance to heat of any kind. Now when I say intolerance to heat..........Im not kidding. I live in south central Wisconsin where the winters can get 20 below with wind chills making it 30-40 below. We get lots of wind and lots if snow. Our winters are just as stoopid and FUBARD as our summer has been (EXTREME prolonged heat) ....but I digress. I havent had the heat on in my apartment for 2 years---literally. During the winter months I keep the bedroom window open and a fan on. My poor fiance' says even the polar bears wont come play cuz its too cold. The summer months are hell on me because of this intolerance. Ive seen every specialist there is for this and no one can explain it.

    10 years ago I went on a walking diet kick and lost over 100 pounds in a heart beat.HA!! They cant explain that either. However..........after fracturing my neck and having both knees replaced AND a failed back surgery, the weight came back. Im hoping now to slowly get the weight off by choosing a better lifestyle rather than dieting. THATs been a problem for me all along---dieting.

    Anyway.......it is possible to lose weight with thyroid issues but it is harder. My issue is the "other things" thyroid problems caused for me.

    I wish you great success with treatment


    Was searching around and came across this post. Not a doctor, but it seems that you might be taking too much T4 which is making you hyperthyroid. You might want to check that out.
  • DebraYvonne
    DebraYvonne Posts: 632 Member
    Diagnosed with hashimoto's about 10 years ago. My tsh hovered 5-7, and it's been less than 1 for the last 8 years. Strangely, I felt absolutely no difference between a tsh of 5 and 1. Also, basal temperature has remained at 97.0. It really doesn't interfere with my life, and I don't think about it other than to take and refill the levothyroxine.

    I am pretty much like this other than the same levels. I was diagnosed 17 yrs about and hormonal bumps at 40 and 45 adjusted meds and I am mostly asymptomatic or just fine! I have another autoimmune disease and my daughter has lupus and another one as well. You need the endo dr. Very helpful.
  • islandmonkey
    islandmonkey Posts: 546 Member
    I was dx with thyroid trouble years ago and put on massive doses of synthroid. As long as I take it (400mcg) every day and keep it tested I do ok. What has happened ....even with being treated is I have an EXTREME intolerance to heat of any kind. Now when I say intolerance to heat..........Im not kidding. I live in south central Wisconsin where the winters can get 20 below with wind chills making it 30-40 below. We get lots of wind and lots if snow. Our winters are just as stoopid and FUBARD as our summer has been (EXTREME prolonged heat) ....but I digress. I havent had the heat on in my apartment for 2 years---literally. During the winter months I keep the bedroom window open and a fan on. My poor fiance' says even the polar bears wont come play cuz its too cold. The summer months are hell on me because of this intolerance. Ive seen every specialist there is for this and no one can explain it.

    10 years ago I went on a walking diet kick and lost over 100 pounds in a heart beat.HA!! They cant explain that either. However..........after fracturing my neck and having both knees replaced AND a failed back surgery, the weight came back. Im hoping now to slowly get the weight off by choosing a better lifestyle rather than dieting. THATs been a problem for me all along---dieting.

    Anyway.......it is possible to lose weight with thyroid issues but it is harder. My issue is the "other things" thyroid problems caused for me.

    I wish you great success with treatment


    Was searching around and came across this post. Not a doctor, but it seems that you might be taking too much T4 which is making you hyperthyroid. You might want to check that out.

    Good god....400 mcgs????!!!??? I agree that you are overmedicated! I have NO thyroid and I'm on 150 mcgs....????
  • mnmkula
    mnmkula Posts: 2
    From reading on here, seems like I might be the only male! I am 40 yr old, diagnosed with Hashimoto's almost two years ago and the first year and half was a wild ride pretty much, trying to get the doses right. I'm now on 112 levothyrox. and 10 mcg of liothironine (generic Cytomel for T3). Every sunday I do a 125 levo and this has/had my numbers pretty much perfect. The problem was....

    Even though my numbers were perfect, I was still a yo-yo ride of symptoms and issues. Doctors all said it should level out, and managing the hypo. wasnt a day to day thing, should be fairly stable. Then....

    Back in february we baked a cake for my son's birthday-- remember it, because all day I felt good, then by afternoon was a wreck: exhausted, down mood, etc... Only thing was that stupid cake. At first I thought it might have been blood sugar, but then a day or two after, realized we had used a crisco shortening in the frosting (yes, I know, bad in a lot of ways).... and as vegetable oil, high percentage of soy oil. From there, I started paying attention to the days I felt like hell, and for every single day/night, I found a food I'd eaten that had a good bit of soy/soy oil. And so....

    Back on April 15, had another horrible day, realized the hummus I bought used soy as the main oil... and that was enough. So I cut out the soy-- be careful, it is EVERYWHERE!!!!-- and in less than a month lost 6-9 pounds, but more importantly, my mood stabilized, aches and pains gone, energy levels up... felt GREAT every day without fail for the first time in a long time. Now, I am not a doctor, and one thing I realize is that when you throw out the soy, it is a wide net and you throw out a lot of other crappy processed foods too, so could be multiple factors at work, but my money is on soy. Here's why: after being so vigilant, last weekend, we went out of town, ate a pizza and bingo-- that evening/next morning, it was back to the old feeling. Crabbiness, lethargy, etc... Pizza? Well, it was pesto sauce and in retro spec, not olive oil based.... yep, soy. Has taken me two days to get balance back, and that's why I decided to post here.

    I really, really recommend at least trying to cut the soy out if anything I've written sounds like you. But you literally have to scour every label. I have found soy in just about EVERY liquid product on the store shelves (forget anything mayo based too, of course!) and in everything from chocolate to some brands of bread crumbs!!

    I am excited to be back home, knowing exactly what I am putting in my body, and no I haven't cut gluten or anything like that. Just the soy and I feel it like you can't believe. Hope maybe this post will help someone. MY wife says I am a walking public service announcement for hypothyroidism, but if there's one person we can help... that' s a huge thing.

    In general, my top recommendations for anyone with or suspecting hypothyroidism:
    #1--- You HAVE to see an Endocrinologist. I had a good family practice dr. tell me my tsh of 3.0 was still normal (even though I had to wear a sweatshirt to bed b/c I was cold and I'd literally cry at the drop of a hat) I won't talk specifics on the TSH range my doctor wants me to have because that's a patient specific question for your doctor, but it is well below the national "recommendations" that many primary care docs use.
    #2--If you are being treated but then find the symptoms get worse, it is NOT the meds, as some people post-- your body has adjusted as your metabolism sped up, and you need to up the dose until you hit that balance point. I went from 75, to 88, to 100, to 112, to 125, then back down to 112.
    #3--If your doc says you should feel fine and you don't... find a new doctor, don't trust the internet. I have read a ton of mis information that has scared the heck out of me! (hope my post here, doesnt seem like misinformation to anyone out there!)
    #4-- My new one: if your numbers are "right" and yet you have a yo yo ride of good days and bad, look to diet-- and for me, top on the list to check would be soy. Figuring this out has been as life changing for me as getting the dosage right was if you can believe that!

    Good luck with your journey with this! I keep thinking they need local thyroid support groups like AA or something like that!
  • mnmkula
    mnmkula Posts: 2
    oh, so just in case my last post wasn't long enough.. forgot to mention one important thing I learned: The soy-hypothyroid thing is a double whammy. Not only does soy obviously impact the thyroid directly as is well documented, I've seen studies (and the drug recommendations themselves) that show that soy impacts the absorption/effectiveness of levothyroxine and thyroid hormone meds themselves.
  • kcahill1006
    kcahill1006 Posts: 6 Member
    I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in July of this year. Prior to that I was diagnosed in February with Gerd. I have read a lot on Hashimotos. It looks like almost everyone with Hashimotos is also gluten intolerant. My doctor wanted to wait and see what happens and just test my thyroid every 6 months. He also wanted to leave me on Nexium. I found an article saying I should find a doctor that is integrative. I researched doctors and finally found an integrative doctor. An integrative doctor looks at the body as a whole. My doctor has ran a lot of tests. He went ahead and started me on Repairvite to repair my digestive system. I am on a very strict diet and I can not have gluten,dairy, or soy. I can have low carb fruits with no added sugar. Actually there is not a lot that I can have on the initial phase of this diet. I have lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks. So far I am feeling a whole lot better than I have in quite some time. I am sleeping better at night. I am not having as much esophagus problems as I was having. I go back to my doctor next Wednesday. I am hoping he will have my tests back and i will find out what I am actually allergic too as well as other results from my tests..

    I've had issues with my digestive system that they initially thought was GERD, but after doing a pH probe determined it wasn't GERD but "sensitive esophagus" which has still left me on omeprazole as well as Lyrica for the pain management aspect. How long have you been seeing an integrated doctor?
  • kcahill1006
    kcahill1006 Posts: 6 Member
    I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in July of this year. Prior to that I was diagnosed in February with Gerd. I have read a lot on Hashimotos. It looks like almost everyone with Hashimotos is also gluten intolerant. My doctor wanted to wait and see what happens and just test my thyroid every 6 months. He also wanted to leave me on Nexium. I found an article saying I should find a doctor that is integrative. I researched doctors and finally found an integrative doctor. An integrative doctor looks at the body as a whole. My doctor has ran a lot of tests. He went ahead and started me on Repairvite to repair my digestive system. I am on a very strict diet and I can not have gluten,dairy, or soy. I can have low carb fruits with no added sugar. Actually there is not a lot that I can have on the initial phase of this diet. I have lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks. So far I am feeling a whole lot better than I have in quite some time. I am sleeping better at night. I am not having as much esophagus problems as I was having. I go back to my doctor next Wednesday. I am hoping he will have my tests back and i will find out what I am actually allergic too as well as other results from my tests..

    I've had issues with my digestive system that they initially thought was GERD, but after doing a pH probe determined it wasn't GERD but "sensitive esophagus" which has still left me on omeprazole as well as Lyrica for the pain management aspect. How long have you been seeing an integrated doctor?

    I have been seeing a new GI doc and diagnosed me with gastroparesis...not a very great diagnosis but at least they're starting to figure it out! The GI also sent me to an endocrinologist who has taken me off my 150gr dosage of Armour and put me on Synthroid...we'll see how I end up feeling!
  • I have been researching this disease for one my moms has gone untreated for 35 years because her TSH level has always come back normal. Then when she insisted that they do a full panel testing they found her anti-bodies to be on lower side of the high range but the doctors never did anything. Now my mothers thyroid gland is enormously huge and is wrapped around her windpipe and food tube (I could not for the life of me spell the right word) :) around her spine and under her collar bone. She cannot even turn her head to the left anymore. So now there is no medication to help her. And we have to see a cardiologist to get clearance to have her surgery done.
    And my second reason is because I have mulitple symptoms of this hashimoto's disease. One thing I read yesterday and did not know is that soy is not good for you at all it is very detrimental to the thyroid gland. And if you read your vitamin or supplement labels most actually almost all contain soy. I'm no doctor but after reading that you can guarantee that I will change my dietary supplements. I already am high risk for this disease why give it a better chance to take over. And I thought I was doing great with my eating. Realty check my I take was high carbs mostly and it should actually be high protein to help rebuild my immune system.
    My recommendation for anyone who suffers with this disease is research it and then figure out what is going to work good for you. I'm seeing my Dr soon to have my antibodies checked along with my T3 & T4 levels. Better to be safe than sorry. Leaving this disease untreated also opens up multiple doors to you having other diseases get this one under control and it can change your life.
  • calliekitten9
    calliekitten9 Posts: 148 Member
    I have it....been on Synthroid for a while now.
  • runzalot81
    runzalot81 Posts: 782 Member
    I was diagnosed with both in 1998. I started working on my fitness in 2003, lost 35 lbs, and have been maintaining fitness and healthy weight for 10 years. I eat everything except soy.

    I joined MFP last year because 10 lbs slowly crept on over three years, since I started half marathoning. Turns out, I wasn't eating enough to support distance running. Since I joined here, I lost the vanity weight and discovered heavy weightlifting :drinker:
  • I'm seeing an endocrinologist now. I was diagnosed when I was 10, but it had been playing up since I was 4. It was finally stabilised at 17, and then I got pregnant and hasn't settled since. Now 4 years after I had my child I'm still in. "thyroid hell". It's so much harder to lose weight!
    I had been out the uk for many years and only came back last year. Hopefully the endocrinologist will sort this out!

    Feel free to add me if u want support. I know how hard it can be :(
  • samhradh
    samhradh Posts: 297 Member
    need to read later
  • RoseTears143
    RoseTears143 Posts: 1,121 Member
    Hello all - I just wanted to invite you guys to join a group I created for those with Hashi's to get together and network and all that good stuff on MFP. Those with hypothyroidism are welcome as well ^_^ http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/16887-butterfly-chasers
  • legacysh
    legacysh Posts: 464
    Wow, this is an amazing thread. i was diagnosed with Hashimoto's over 10 years ago although my T3 and T4 and TSH were in normal range, my titers were not. I have an enlarged thyroid and every Dr I ever saw thought I had thyroid issues but i never tested positive. once they finally diagnosed me they also noticed a spot on my thyroid and I now take Levoxyl to keep that growth at bay. I get an ultra-sound every so many years to make sure it hasn't grown larger.

    I recently did a gluten challenge, but did not find i was sensitive. I didn't even realize there was a connection for thyroid and gluten, I did it for allergies. I have struggled with my weight my whole life, but I try to maintain my loss and am in the process of losing 20 pounds I gained after a knee surgery and starting a new med.

    Thanks for all the helpful info, i didn't realize that Dr.s attributed depression to Thyroid as well. My greatest symptoms were hair loss, body temperature issues, weight issues and husky voice.
  • I have unspecified hypo, and based on some weird (and horrid) symptoms I went undiagnosed about 10 years. I've been on meds about 2 1/2 years now and its life changing. The hormones make an ENORMOUS difference. It gets better, and identifying the problem is the first step to getting effective treatment :)

    I wish you the best of luck. Make sure you have a good doctor/good endo (both not either/or), and stay positive.
  • mab33
    mab33 Posts: 242 Member
    Hi all, my endocrinologist just diagnosed me with Hashimoto's. It's amazing to think that my body is attacking itself and causing hypothyroidism. He also gave me a very restrictive diet. Basically all I am allowed to eat is fruit, most veggies (no dark leafy greens) and lean protein (no fish). I'm supposed to avoid all grain and soy (all legumes), potatoes and rice, eggs and dairy.

    It's rough! Supposed to start meds next week.
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