islandmonkey Member

You say that everyone's thyroid needs are different, yet say that they aren't special snowflakes? I feel like you just learned that phrase and liked it and wanted to use it - it wasn't very constructive in this situation. As well, the OP obviously IS talking to her doctor, has adjusted her diet for many things, etc.

What tests did your doctor run? Did they just test TSH, or did they test your free T3 and free T4? TSH is a pituitary hormone and yet is the first go-to test. As well, there's a lot of controversy about what the "normal range" should be. I personally wouldn't accept my TSH anywhere over 2.0, and would want it closer to…

^^^^ THIS!! So true that endo's usually just focus on diabetes and don't know much at all about proper thyroid management.

Have you been tested for TPO and TSI anitbodies? That would let you know if it's Hashi's. I agree with this, but just want to mention again that it's more than this for people with Hashi's - there's evidence that gluten riles up the thyroid antibodies, which makes thyroid conditions worse.

Many doctors won't talk about it because the synthetic T4 companies have wormed their way into being the default med. This is INCORRECT about it being harder to find in pharmacies - Walgreens carries it!!! Depends on your state but many people also find that it's cheaper. A lot of people feel "fine" on T4 meds. Those same…

Insomnia can be a symptom of both hypo and hyperthyroid (too much meds). I would ask your doctor to test your free T3 and free T4 levels and see where they are at. Your free T3 should be in the top 1/3 of the range your lab uses, and free T4 should be about mid-range. Since you're on a T4 only med I speculate that your…

Oh, and most GPs aren't very educated in thyroid management, which is why you likely have never heard this before. Most of them test TSH and then tell someone with a TSH of 3.5 that their thyroid is "normal" and dismiss their symptoms.

Since you have Type 1 diabetes, I suspect that your thyroid issues are likely also autoimmune - have you ever been tested for Hashimoto's? Have you had your antibodies tested recently? What tests is your doctor running? Are they just looking at TSH, or at your free T3 and free T4 results? TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a…

Ok, WOW. Your Vit D is CRAZY low - I know ladies that supplement with 10,000 IUI of D3 daily just to get those up. It's good to talk to your doctor so they know; or you could do 5000 IUI daily but it will move up a lot slower; the 4000 IUI likely won't be enough. Remember that you want it to optimal - so at least 60 - and…

That's great!! I think pretty much everyone should be on Vit D supplements, haha. :)

225 mcg is a crazy high dose. I don't have a thyroid anymore and was taking less than that! I think you need a new doctor, first and foremost. You also need a comprehensive thyroid panel that includes free T3 and free T4. T3 and T4 are your actual thyroid hormones. Your thyroid makes about 80% T4 and 20% T3, and converts…

Totally agree with this too - my Vit D wasn't even that low (41) but I'm taking 4000 IUI daily to get it up to at least 60. Iron (and ferritin, your iron stores), B12, selenium, iodine etc are all involved in either the production of thryoid hormone or in the process of converting T4 into T3. Reverse T3 is less of an issue…

Haha thanks - I've learned a lot in the last little while, mostly from people much smarter than me, and feel the need to "pass it on" -- I wish I had known this much when I was diagnosed 20 years ago! Did they mention that you have to eat gluten for a month straight, daily, before doing the test? A lot of people don't…

Ugh, sorry to hear of your troubles - I was hyper (graves) on/off for 20 years before my thyroidectomy this past fall. I also gained weight while hyper! I was very extreme at that point and basically eating sugar ALL day just to get enough calories and energy into me. I know the key for me, and many people with autoimmune…

That's probably because his patients who ended up getting armour left for a better doctor!! I've never heard of someone saying "I felt better on synthroid", and HAVE heard a lot of "I didn't feel normal again until I switched to a dessicated med"

I can pretty much guarantee that your free T4 was too high but your free T3 was too low. Were you getting the jitters, a racing heart, high BP? Ya, I got all that with T4-only meds, and it is definitely NOT like hyperthyroid (which I had for 20 years before my thyroidectomy). Go get your free T3 and free T4 tested. Your…

I had a thyroidectomy and wasn't on that high of a dose! Wow.... Ok, so a few things: 1. Does your doctor test free T3 and free T4, or just TSH? If just TSH, you MUST go get your free T3 and free T4 tested. TSH is a pituitary hormone; T3/T4 are actual thyroid hormones. 2. T3 does all the work in your body, and a deficit is…

^^^ THIS!

Low end of free T3 = HYPO! You optimally want your free T3 in the top 1/3 of the range.

Nope - tirosint is synthetic T4, which is NOT bioidentical to nature T4.

From other people in the UK posting here it doesn't seem like testing free T3 and free T4 is standard? Med options overall are: 1. synthetic T4 only 2. Synthetic T4 + synthetic T3 (in the US it's called Cytomel, not sure in the UK what it's called) 3. a natural dessicated med that contains both T3 and T4. In the US they…

Synthroid doesn't make you gain weight. It sounds to me like your thyroid isn't being properly managed. Does your doctor test free T3 and free T4, or just TSH? Have they tested you for Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease)? If they're just testing TSH you want it below 2.0, not just 'fine" or "normal", because they'll…

You should start taking pictures, and send your "success story" in to Mark's Daily Apple. :)

Just note that "within normal range" and "optimal" can be two different things. Most people feel hypo if their free T3 is at the bottom of the range - optimal would be having it in the top 1/3 of the range. A lot of people with Hashi's have great success going gluten free. I have graves (also autoimmune) and found that…

Ahhh...yes, the smoking does NOT help! :)

Ugh, it makes me so frustrated when they only test TSH, and when they just tell you "it's normal". Since most doctors use outdated ranges this leaves a lot of hypo people feeling like they are crazy! Please make sure your doctor also tests your free T3, especially if you are on a T4-only med like Synthroid or Levothyroxine.

Many people with Hashi's have reported huge relief in symptoms from going gluten-free, which the primal and paleo diets both are! Autoimmune diseases like to travel in packs, theoretically because one set of antibodies kind of riles up the other kind. The theory with going gluten-free is that calming down those antibodies…

With symptoms of fatigue and cold that extreme I can pretty much guarantee that your levels are way too low! 1. Labs: what is your doctor testing? Just TSH, or also free T3 and free T4? 2. Meds: what are you taking? If it's a synthetic T4-only med like Synthroid or Levothyroxine then it's especially important to get your…

It doesn't actually directly impact thyroid function - it impacts the ability of one thyroid hormone to be able to act on your cells. And it's actually a DEFICIT of Vit D that has the main (negative) impact. I do agree, as I mentioned above, that you should get your levels tested.

Many/most people who go through RAI get flare ups of TED (thyroid eye disease) aka Graves Ophthalmology. That's actually why I opted for surgery instead of RAI - because I already had eye involvement. To be honest, I wouldn't recommend that ANYone do RAI. I've heard from other people that it can be on and off for quite a…