Hypothyroidism-Do any of you have it?

[sarahspins]

Diabetes and thyroid are connected?

Autoimmune diabetes (type 1, which is less common) and Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's and Grave's) are more strongly related than T2 diabetes (the more common kind) is.. because by having one autoimmune disorder someone is at a higher risk of getting another (which also includes things like Lupus, RA, Celiac, Addison's, etc).

I have both diabetes (type 1) and a Hashimoto's.. I was diabetic before I ever had a thyroid problem though, but I wasn't surprised when I was diagnosed with Hashi's. I'm sort of expecting to add at least another one at some point in the future.. not that I want to, but it won't be a big shock.

[Chile Pepper]

I've been taking a low dose for just over a year. I was very skeptical at first, as my doctor said I have subclinical hypothyroidism. It sounded like she just wanted to put me on something. I was therefore pleasantly surprised when I hit the six week mark and--bam!--I felt really, really great for the first time in years. I was also able to lose weight remarkable easily (I had to work at it, but my body responded more than it had before). So, I'm a believer now. I forget a lot of things, but I never miss my morning tablet.

[Red Rock]

Since I posted, I since found out a lot more on this.

First of all I'm subclinical hyperthyroid and my doc is not giving me any treatment. I do not know if this is good or bad. I have another appt 2 months from now to check blood levels. My hair is beginning to fall out. I did a run/walk for a mile and quarter and was totally exhausted that afternoon and into the next day. I mentioned these things and the Medical Assistant (who is not the doc) said that it basically didn't matter, the doc was not going to treat anything until all of my levels dropped off. So I am very frustrated.

Red Rock

[Chile Pepper]

Since I posted, I since found out a lot more on this.

First of all I'm subclinical hyperthyroid and my doc is not giving me any treatment. I do not know if this is good or bad. I have another appt 2 months from now to check blood levels. My hair is beginning to fall out. I did a run/walk for a mile and quarter and was totally exhausted that afternoon and into the next day. I mentioned these things and the Medical Assistant (who is not the doc) said that it basically didn't matter, the doc was not going to treat anything until all of my levels dropped off. So I am very frustrated.

Red Rock

Oh, Red Rock, that is so frustrating! Do you know what your TSH level was? Mine was only 1.59 (the "acceptable" range is a very broad 0.35 to 4.94), but my doc insisted that it should be around 1.00. That's where it is now, and it really has made an incredible difference in my mood, energy level, hair and skin health, weight, and all sorts of things. Is your doc a man or a woman? Maybe women are more sensitive to this issue.

[Catrin]

Since I posted, I since found out a lot more on this.

First of all I'm subclinical hyperthyroid and my doc is not giving me any treatment. I do not know if this is good or bad. I have another appt 2 months from now to check blood levels. My hair is beginning to fall out. I did a run/walk for a mile and quarter and was totally exhausted that afternoon and into the next day. I mentioned these things and the Medical Assistant (who is not the doc) said that it basically didn't matter, the doc was not going to treat anything until all of my levels dropped off. So I am very frustrated.

Red Rock

Is this your primary care physician or an Endocrinologist? I have not HAD a thyroid since 1985 so I know what a bother all of this can be, but if you are seeing worrisome symptoms then perhaps it is time for a second opinion.

[Red Rock]

Hi All,

My TSH is 0.0, T4 is normal 0.74, and my T3 is low normal at 3.4. I would have been sent to an endo if the T3 was below 2.4. Yes, this is my male primary care doc. I have been doing searches on the net to try and figure out WHY they do or do not treat this. My DH and I have been talking about a possible second opion too. I explained this to my dad and he could not understand it either. If something is broken why not fix it? He was thinking in terms of machinery. Like if your transmission fails fix it so the rest of the engine works. It's not that hard to figure out. I do not think this is rocket science.

Red Rock

[jezbael]

Medical doctors are sometimes slow to change. Most won't even bother testing T3/T4 if TSH is not indicative. There is a lot of recent research out there that is showing that TSH labs alone miss hypothyroidism. It's more important to look at the t3 and t4 levels, as well as listen to the patient's symptoms.

In January, my naturopathic doctor listened to my history, symptoms, and family history of obesity and suggested we test my thyroid functioning (despite it being tested before and always came back "normal"). Indeed, my TSH was normal, but my T3 was low. I started taking a natural replacement and almost immediately noticed increased energy, mental clarity, mood and easier weight loss. Six months later, I feel like what I think other "normal" people feel like for the first time in my life.

Even if your T3 is "low normal", that doesn't mean that *you* are a person whose body can tolerate low normal. Clearly your symptoms are suggesting so.

I encourage a second opinion, and perhaps consider seeing a naturopathic doctor. They are usually more interested in treating the root of a problem, and increasing a person's health further than a doctor would. Doctors generally are interested in treating disease... ND's generally are interested in promoting health to its greatest degree.

[JennK13]

RedRocks,
Now that your hair is thinning, that's a sign it's not magically healing itself on it's own. Hairloss is classic hyperthyroidism, and happens to us hypo patients when we're over medicated. You're exhausted because your body is on overload 24/7 from all the thyroid hormone racing through your system.
We've "talked" offline about this. So sorry you're going through it. I'm working on adjusting to my new dosage as prescribed last week.
Take care