Hypothyroid Hassles

[<3.Nikki.<3]

I was treated for thyroid problems but it turned out I had Wilson's disease.

My boyfriend however, had thyroid cancer and nodules on his thyroid. He had it removed and all has been well.. luckily it's the more treatable kind. Apparently his grandmother has lived most of her life without her thyroid because she had Thyroid cancer at my boyfriend's age... but I think if he had opted to keep it in he would have been much more miserable. He felt like he was dying and it was almost an instant improvement when he had the thyroid removed.

[Zephra]

I knew I would find a hypo post in here somewhere. I have been hypo for at least 8 years now though I suspect I may have been that way a lot longer. I have a great doctor and we are slowly tweaking my meds but still I have problems. I just had her check my hormone levels and my adrenals because I just have a feeling there is something more going on with me.

I am trying to lose at least 75 pounds and I know that being hypo is going to make it that much harder. I want to mention some things about taking meds and eating that some of you may not know.

-Avoid soy. It can make things worse.
-Take meds first thing in the morning and don't eat for at least 30 minutes. Longer if you can.
-Avoid goitrogenic foods.The following foods are considered goitrogenic: cabbage, broccoli, turnips, rutabaga, mustard greens, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, peaches, pears, strawberries, and radishes cauliflower, millet, and African cassava. You can eat most if they are cooked. Raw broccoli knocks me out the next day.
-When you have lab work done (and you should be doing it regularly) make sure you have TSH and your free T3 and free T4 levels done.
-Keep records of your labs.
-Make sure your doctor follows the new lab range for TSH:

....Until recently, the standard was that the normal range for TSH at most laboratories has fallen in the 0.5 to 5.0 range, with hyperthyroidism being below .5, and hypothyroidism above 5.0.

The new guidelines, however, the range for acceptable thyroid function, and thyroid treatment should be considered for patients who test between the target TSH levels of 0.3 to 3.0, a far narrower range.

-Most people feel better with their TSH around 1 or 2.

-If your doctor treats only by numbers and does not take into consideration your symptoms...RUN and get someone who will listen to you.

-keep a symptom diary if you are having issues (this is great if you have brain fog like me).

Educate yourself.

http://thyroidhost.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=Talk

This is a great forum I belong to. You can get some wonderful information from others who have thyroid issues too.

I hope I did not come off too preachy but I have really struggled for a long time and I hate to know that anyone else is suffering with thyroid issues too. It really disrupted my life for a long time.

[OldGreyBob]

-Avoid soy. It can make things worse.
-Take meds first thing in the morning and don't eat for at least 30 minutes. Longer if you can.

My meds for thyroid became easier to manage when I started to wait an hour or hour and a half before eating breakfast. Also my physician stated I must wait a minimum of 4 hours before taking vitamins and mineral suppliments - they bind to the meds.

He also recommend that I avoid most soy products for unless the soy product is extremely processed, the soy product contains too many near hormones that interfer with my meds.

Be careful with the med level and weight loss. When I lost ~60 pounds (~25% of my body weight) my med level went from 225 micrograms to 175 micrograms and my physician has me on an every 3 month recheck of levels. (It takes from 8 to 12 weeks for a change in med level to stablize.)

[Zephra]

I forgot about those...brain fog!

[2muchbackend]

very helpful information thanks!

[lollymom1]

Many years ago I was hyperthy and then I had half of the gland removed and became hypo. I take synthroid plus antidepressants. I'm wondering if this will be a barrier in losing weight. My thyroid supplement is quite small and my dr. is a gp but very well versed in the endo field. I have started ph 1 just a few days ago so I'm hoping that the multiple meds won't interfere with weight loss. Absolutely my blood chemistry is going to improve but I would surely love to drop back to my normal weight. Any suggestions? (I've just started to do my Pilates again---boy did I realize how out of shape I am).

[lollymom1]

Many years ago I was hyperthy-the took half of the gland out and I became hypo so I take thryroid replacement daily-very low dosages. My dr. is internist but very well versed in endo. Since last Wed. I've been trying to follow this program rigorously. Lots and lots of veggies, meat, lots of fiber, and enough water to launch a boat in the bay. I would appreciate any advice. Please feel free to PM. lollymom1

[Zephra]

I don't have much advice as I am not sure what issues you are having but I do have to say keep on with what you are doing. I feel a little more energetic every day since eating better. I am losing weight for the first time in a long time and I am happy.

Thyroids are a bigger issue then a lot of doctors make them to be. It is more then "just take a pill and you will be fine". I have chatted with many people who were treated but still had problems. It can take months or more to find the perfect medication combo. Please...if noting else, educate yourself by reading everything you can. That way when you go to see your doctor you can do more then just listen and do what he tells you to, you can be an active participant in your treatment.

I am happy to chat with you anytime. Zephra 99 at yahoo dot com (e mail address)

[lollymom1]

Thanks so much Zephra. This is actually the first response that I received about a particular problem. As I said my dosages are small-.150 and .125. But I also take antidepressants and a seizure medication. All meds are supposed to be weight neutral. I've been doing this for just about a week, maybe a day less. No difference noted in fit of my jeans. I don't know , what do you think? I can tell you that I'm eating the right stuff and do not feel hungry at all. If you don't mind, I will e-mail you. (Mine is lolly-mom@comcast.net) Thanks again.

[Zephra]

It is harder for those of us with thyroid issues to lose weight. Don't get too impatient (though you don't sound too impatient) because even if you don't lose a pound, you are eating healthier and that is most important.

On a side note, depression is linked to hypothyroidism.

[Bekkoula]

Very informative thread - could this be pinned?

[frustratedieter]

Interesting post! I too am hypothyroid and have been on Armour Thyroid (a natural RX) for approximately 6 years. My dosages kept raising til I am at 150 mg. daily. I'm also insulin resistant...which along with the thyroid makes losing weight extremely difficult. I've been on SB now for about 8 weeks and have lost 9lbs (that I know of). I weigh in again tomorrow so hopefully will have more loss! Exercise is really "key" along with the plan. I currently get in about 3 days of exercise per week. I know I need to ramp it up a bit as when I did this last summer the weight loss was more evident. But in the meantime I broke my ankle pretty severely and in the past 5 months have been working my length of exercise times upward. Right now I can walk outside with some discomfort for no longer than 35 or 40 minutes. But at the gym, I can do 30 to 40 minutes on the treadmill and 15 on the elliptical. The bike would be the same as walking. I've been told that my recovery will take a year minimum and up to two years maximum. So have that to contend with as well.
I just read online that treatment of the thyroid is "key" to lowering cholestrol as thyroid issues can affect that. How well I know this too. However my cholestrol (as of 2 1/2 mo. ago) still isn't where it needs to be. I'm on a statin for that. What comes first with all this "the chicken or the egg"?? Not sure. All I know is how extremely frustrating it all is.

[Bekkoula]

...I'm also insulin resistant...which along with the thyroid makes losing weight extremely difficult. I've been on SB now for about 8 weeks and have lost 9lbs (that I know of). .... Right now I can walk outside with some discomfort for no longer than 35 or 40 minutes. ... All I know is how extremely frustrating it all is.

So it is possible to loose weight with a disfunctional thyroid gland. I should have known that, because as long as I was working with the health-care nutritionist I did loose weight but slooooow.... so, I have decided to take up my courage and give it another try - that is the next 10 lb's to get rid of. It would be a dream to do that fast but let's be realistic, at the moment that I leave out the sweets again (ahm!) I am at the "has lost the water" point. So from next week on, we will see...

[frustratedieter]

I was told it's NOT impossible to lose weight (both with the thyroid and insulin resistance) but would be more difficult. My endocronologist says exercise is the most important. Now that it is Spring here in the midwest I'm finding it still difficult to work that part into my daily schedules. Though I do manage to get 3X-weekly in so that's better than a "kick in the head" and I'm further along with that than I was when I was sedentary.
Thyroid issues AREN'T something to fool though so it's important to keep on top of your levels and to see your practitioner on a regular basis!

[Bekkoula]

I'll have to see my doctor in the next couple of weeks. For the last year or so, he has told me that my values are balanced but the nutritionist I went to did not relate to the foods that I am supposed to avoid. Obviously she did not know too much about it.
I also did sports 3 times a week but got extremely lazy in the winter.