kcvance Member

I simply MUST co-sign on this. First, I must say that I'm jealous that editorgrrl was not only diagnosed fairly early on (from what I can gather from her previous responses on this board), but seems to have an omnipotent endocrinologist who magically was able to give her great treatment THAT WORKS FOR HER straight off the…

OMG - This is me since I was 23! I have been at varying weights and thyroid medications, and different doses too in the last 15 years. But I wake up like clockwork between 2 and 2:15 every morning because I am burning up (and I need to pee). I am still hot when I get up to go to the gym at 4 a.m., but I am freezing when I…

Me too! I am currently on Armour and I feel fantastic. I am in maintenance (still exercising and tracking calories to keep my weight in check, and to combat other health problems), and I'm proof that you can lose weight ***when your thyroid treatment is optimized***. I struggled for years on synthroid, gaining weight…

Neither graves disease or hashimoto's is curable or even controllable through diet changes or exercise, though changes to diet may help with some of the *symptoms*, and some people do feel better on a gluten-free diet (it didn't work for me, personally, but I won't discount anyone else's experiences). I would recommend…

Two great, great resources for me have been: http://thyroid.about.com/ http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ I read Mary Shomon's book 12+ years ago and I believe that it literally saved my life. No matter what your doctor tells you, treatment for Hashi's is NOT a one-size-fits-all deal. What works for one person…

Very inspirational! I'm always a bit jealous of the people who did well on Synthroid (it did NOT help me).

She has me on 10,000 IU of D3 each morning. *DISCLAIMER* my Vitamin D levels were the "lowest anyone at her practice had ever seen", which was 10 ng/dL. I have had skin cancer (squamous) and I'm super pale/ on the red-haired spectrum, so I cannot go outside too much. I also sit at a desk inside all day. I'm not sure how…

Vitamin D is especially important for you (you are on a very low dose of the synthetic hormone, and need vitamin D for proper conversion of synthetic T4 to the useful thyroid hormones T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin). I also had low vitamin B levels and take a sublingual supplement in the morning (it doesn't taste great) along…

I was always told wait one hour after taking to eat anything, and don't take any afternoon doses for two hours after eating. I guess your stomach should be as empty as possible. I take mine first thing in the morning with my liquid vitamin d, and then head off to the gym. I don't eat for at least 2 hours after taking my…

Hi there, My macros are set to 35% protein, 35% carbs, 30% fat. I try to keep my protein and carbs approximately even - I have read a number of posts on MFP and can speak from personal experience that many hypo folks have difficulty regulating blood sugar correctly, or are hit particularly hard by carb crashes (they make…

I am also on Armour + cytomel - my doctor added it because my Reverse T3 levels are high, and I needed a little boost in my free T3 numbers. It has helped quite a bit with my energy levels in the afternoon (I take a second dose of my thyroid meds around 2 or 3 PM). I agree with editorgrrl - because it's an autoimmune…

Add me - have had hashi's for ~20 years.

I am at maintenance and eat LOW calories also - I am short (5'3"), thin, and old, and add hashimoto's in, and I just don't get to eat much, unfortunately. Online calculators put my BMR up around 1350, but there is just no freakin' way that is right - I gain at that level, and after a recent medication adjustment (back down…

I was also told I was "fine" and/or "crazy" for several years. I have a strong family history, and had all the symptoms, but was told my own WebMD diagnosis was not possible (I was of course correct). I gained weight eating less than 500 calories TOTAL a day and exercising like a maniac. Your doctor is likely only reading…

^^THIS I had an awful initial experience on Armour due to (1) A dose that was too low (I think the Synthroid to NDT conversion charts are WAY OFF) (2) low iron, vitamin d, and B vitamins. Once I got those two issues fixed, and was being regulated by symptoms and Free T3 only, I feel great. Very helpful information:…

I wish I could share her (or the office, rather) with everyone. I have been to 7 different endocrinologists in the Phoenix area and they've all been WORTHLESS TSH-worshipping idiots. Have you searched through the Dr. list on Mary Shomon's site? It's how I found my doctor (and she takes my insurance!!!).…

I still have my thyroid, and have hashimoto's. My current/magic levels: TSH: 0.047 (anytime my thyroid tries to work my immune system flips out) Free T4: 1.07 (want this above 1) Free T3: 5.4 (the lab range your doctor is using is wonky - my doctor uses 3.5 to 5.5) I feel WONDERFUL. I have been in maintenance for more than…

I had a TERRIBLE initial experience on Armour, because of low vitamin levels and a dose that was WAY TOO LOW (the conversion chart is off, I think). This was super helpful information for me: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ndt-doesnt-work-for-me/ My doctor is continually having to tinker with my dose, but I have…

OP, I was in a similar situation to you and was also told by my doctor that it couldn't possibly be my thyroid, as I was taking levothyroxine and my TSH was at 3 (no actual thyroid hormones were measured during my initial treatment). I still had ALL the symptoms of hypothyroidism, and was so, so, miserable. Please visit…

I gained weight and my symptoms got worse on T4-only. T3 (cytomel) or Armour/Naturethroid was the only way for me to get my life back. So sorry they only prescribe T4 - what a load of crap. :-(

Oh, sweetie - you will get there! The biggest thing is having a doctor who is willing to work with you on SYMPTOMS, not just on lab numbers. Keep tinkering with your dose, get your Iron, Vitamin D, and B Vitamins optimized, and you will eventually find what works for you (I still have my thyroid but it has little to no…

This was actually pretty close for me - 1245 per day to maintain. I am eating 1300-ish (net) each day and seem to be maintaining - I work out hard, though, and eat back EVERY SINGLE exercise calorie (tracked through an HRM and with a fitbit).

Lowered calories (but I was eating a boatload), and also the carbs. I don't eat low carb, per se, just much fewer carbs than I used to. Quite a few of us have blood sugar and insulin resistance issues, and getting those dialed back definitely helped me feel better. Keep in mind though, that even with optimal treatment,…

I would agree - your free T3 should be higher (5-ish)... Your doctor is using an outdated TSH lab range (should be 0.3 to 3). Anything higher than 3 is hypothyroid, most patients feel good at a TSH of 1-ish, sometimes a little lower. I shudder to think the doctor is letting patients get to a 7 before treating (I hate life…

^^THIS. If you are still having all the symptoms of hypothyroidism AND are gaining weight despite exercise and tracking intake, then there is absolutely no way you are being correctly treated by your doctor. I gained weight on less than 500 calories a day and vigorous exercise. I would even suggest skipping the…

The sore muscles and the fatigue/exhaustion sure sound like me before my diagnosis of hashimoto's (underactive thyroid). But the odd hair growth definitely sounds like PCOS. If you have PCOS, you are very likely/nearly guaranteed to also have low/underactive thyroid. I would ask for a workup on both.

I am 5'3" and change - before I first lost weight years ago (was at 160 pounds) I was S/XS on top and 12/14 on bottom (very disproportionate!). Now I'm still a S/XS on top but a 2 on bottom (105-ish pounds). I'm much happier being more evenly proportioned.

I am on 120 mg of Armour with a 10 mcg cytomel supplement in the afternoon (I lose all energy around 2 p.m.) My T3 levels are "ok", or sometimes just a titch low, but I am having a Reverse T3 issue going on.

I think this chart is completely off. I was on 75 mcg synthroid/20 mcg cytomel, which would have put me at 3/4 grain of Naturethroid or Armour. I felt "ok" on this dose of synthetics, but when my doctor switched me over using this conversion chart I was MISERABLE (even with correct Vitamin D, B12, and iron levels). All my…

I am hypothyroid and can attest that low(er) carbs and higher protein helps with weight loss and crazy blood sugar crashes, as a lot of us seem to also trend a bit hypoglycemic.