Does anyone here have either Hypo or Hyper Thyroid Dysfunction?

[Johnnny]

Just keep yourself healthy.

 

[Sandra]

Got my test results back...TSH 2.1 uIU/mL. Gonna meet with my dr on the 1st to discuss the results. HDL came back low though...36mg/dL and ALT high at 38U/L. I think she will be pleased with my HGBA1C..its 5.4%. I dropped it down from 7% woohooo.

 

[Johnnny]

Sandra so you don't know if your thyroid is too low or too high?
That will determine your treatment, if there's a problem of course.
I hope everything turns out okay for you.

 

[Sandra]

Unfortunatly at this point i dont know because I dont have my prior test results with me. I knew i should have saved them....I have an appointment to see my dr on the 1st so we shall see what she says....

 

[Dale Mabry]

Did they do TRH stimulation?

If not then you are right in the middle of the reference range.

 

[Johnnny]

Sandra I hate waiting to see doctors especially if something's wrong. To me, the time you're waiting to see the doctor, you could've already started treatment & correcting the problem.

But I hope everything works out. I'm having what's now a monthly TSH test tomorrow. They slightly lowered my synthroid dosage from .10mg a day down to .88mg a day.

 

[Sandra]

Originally posted by Dale Mabry
Did they do TRH stimulation?

If not then you are right in the middle of the reference range.

TRH stimulation is that done by a specialist? I dont think i had that done...was just a simple lab test. What kind of info can you give me...I meet with my primary care dr on the 1st and ive got questions i want to ask her. she is more of a diabetic specialist but ill get her to refer me to other specialist if need be.

 

[Sandra]

Originally posted by Johnnny
Sandra I hate waiting to see doctors especially if something's wrong. To me, the time you're waiting to see the doctor, you could've already started treatment & correcting the problem.

But I hope everything works out. I'm having what's now a monthly TSH test tomorrow. They slightly lowered my synthroid dosage from .10mg a day down to .88mg a day.

yeah i understand what you mean...wasting...but i dont want to self medicate if i dont know a damn about what im doing either....guess ill start reading up more on it.

 

[bandaidwoman]

Regarding the TRH test..... historically, the TRH test was important in defining subtle degrees of hypo- and hyperthyroidism. Now that we have the high sensitivity TSH measurements and redefined robust assays for FT3 and FT4 the role of the TRH test is limited and rarely used these days. If your TSH is less than 3 and the Free T4,T3 etc. are at an adequate range, you won't need the TRH test.

By the way Sandra, I am most impressed by your HgA1C!

 

[Johnnny]

Sandra I never meant to self medicate by saying you could've started the treament already if there was a problem.

What I meant was, I should've been clearer that these stupid doctors make you wait around anywhere from 2-4 weeks to get a bloody appointment. If there's a problem, the secretary should've given you an appointment right away to see the doctor so he or she can start proper treatment instead of wasting time & letting the condition possibly get worse over the 2 or 4 weeks that you have to weight.

But yeah a simple blood test is enough for the most part. If there is a real problem & it is hard for them to determine the levels of your thyroid exactly, then the doctor will either send you to an endocrinologist or simply request a thyroid scan done by neuclear medicine. The scan is very accurate as it's lined directly over your thyroid gland & is hooked up to a computer that shows your thyroid gland & then they can determine your exact levels.

bandaidwoman you are right about the TRH test not being used as much & the TSH test being superior.

 

[Dale Mabry]

Oops, I should have been more clear, I wasn't recommending getting that done, I was wondering if they did it.

Well, you are in the normal reference range which is good. I s'pose an argument could be made that possibly you had a significantly different result before that was still in the normal reference range and you are just sensitive to changes.

Did they not test T3 and T4? IMO, the TSH test is of little value, it would be like answering the question how many bridges are in Florida by figuring out how many people have bought bridge supplies. Pretty worthless when you can just count the bridges, IMO.

 

[nopity]

Hey, whats up people. Well, I do have a Thyriod problem(Hyper). Had since 2000, and it WAS HELL. Lost 60 LBS. in 4 weeks, shaking, terrible leg cramps, sweating ( had to sleep with window open in the winter),very irritable, family still can't eat chips and crunchy food around me, even the smell of bubble gum pisses me off. I have been trying to get a work-out routine going, but STILL find it hard to get it done. It usually last about 4 days, and BAM, I get hit with the lazy bug. Was self medicating with the wacky, ALOT. I don't really know anything about the problem, except it SUCKS. I'm a mental bomb, I can't stand people, events, bare feet, hard soled shoes, secondary noise ( like the asses down stairs that can't hear their T.V.). I'm on .1mg now, but gaining alot of weight. You see, when I didn't take the meds, because it messed up my ability to pitch( slo-pitch softball), I maintained 210 lbs. for two years. My levels were 121, now they put me on the synthroid and i have a .12 count and feel like crap. My weight went up to 231 lbs. THIS MONTH. I now can't pitch, smoke more of both, lift two days a week, sometimes. I'm also on Zoloft. My doc says everything is right, but I dont think so. I really want to start my lifting, because I want to look good, but this med. is screwing me up. I really want to quit the crap, because I feel better with-out it, like a cycle would be cool. I think I might be changing to Hypo, again. UP_DOWN_UP_DOWN_UP_DOWN for the last 4 years. I HATE THIS STUFF VERY MUCH What to do

Thanks for the vent

 

[Johnnny]

nopity

Hey, whats up people. Well, I do have a Thyriod problem(Hyper). Had since 2000, and it WAS HELL. Lost 60 LBS. in 4 weeks, shaking, terrible leg cramps, sweating ( had to sleep with window open in the winter),very irritable, family still can't eat chips and crunchy food around me, even the smell of bubble gum pisses me off. I have been trying to get a work-out routine going, but STILL find it hard to get it done. It usually last about 4 days, and BAM, I get hit with the lazy bug. Was self medicating with the wacky, ALOT. I don't really know anything about the problem, except it SUCKS. I'm a mental bomb, I can't stand people, events, bare feet, hard soled shoes, secondary noise ( like the asses down stairs that can't hear their T.V.). I'm on .1mg now, but gaining alot of weight. You see, when I didn't take the meds, because it messed up my ability to pitch( slo-pitch softball), I maintained 210 lbs. for two years. My levels were 121, now they put me on the synthroid and i have a .12 count and feel like crap. My weight went up to 231 lbs. THIS MONTH. I now can't pitch, smoke more of both, lift two days a week, sometimes. I'm also on Zoloft. My doc says everything is right, but I dont think so. I really want to start my lifting, because I want to look good, but this med. is screwing me up. I really want to quit the crap, because I feel better with-out it, like a cycle would be cool. I think I might be changing to Hypo, again. UP_DOWN_UP_DOWN_UP_DOWN for the last 4 years. I HATE THIS STUFF VERY MUCH What to do

Thanks for the vent

Are you new here? Cause this thread has been around for more than a month. Anyway if you are new that's cool.

All the symptoms you listed at the start of your reply, I experienced. But damn, 60lbs in 4 weeks? That's alot, I did lose 30lbs in 3.5 week. I was around 225lbs with good muscle, descent condition & strength & went right down to around 200lbs but I had no strenght or anything. I'm 210lbs now with much better muscle development, strength & condition when we 1st discovered the problem in 2000 same as you.

I had to have AC in my car & at home as I would get horrible hot flashes & I eventually developed insomia & started taking over the counter sleep aids & was at a point of taking 4 or 5 at once just to sleep 7 or 8hrs plus another 5hrs during the day. I had muscle spasms & constantly sweating.

My doctor said Zoloft wasn't the best thing for ppl with thyroid dysfunction as you can gain even more body fat & it might cause some depression. I was on zoloft for anxiety which was probably somewhat caused by my at the time unkown hyper thyroid. I'm off Zoloft permanently & feel much better.

How come you can only lift twice a week? Did your doctor tell you this? Or do you just feel that way?

I had Iodine treatment with a big dose last August to shut my thyroid down. It took 6 months before I needed synthroid. I've been on them since January & they had to increase the dose 3 times now & right now this week had to lower my synthroid from .88mg to .75mg a day.

Hope everything gets better, take care.

 

[Minotaur]

Yes, I am hypothyroid. I am on Armour Thyroid. Everything seems fine now, though I went through hell over the past few years until I found an endo who knows what she's doing. I also have a testosterone and growth hormone deficiency, for which I take replacements. I have hypopituitarism, which means the pituitary doesn't do its job.

 

[Johnnny]

Minotaur

Yes, I am hypothyroid. I am on Armour Thyroid. Everything seems fine now, though I went through hell over the past few years until I found an endo who knows what she's doing. I also have a testosterone and growth hormone deficiency, for which I take replacements. I have hypopituitarism, which means the pituitary doesn't do its job.

You're not on synthroids? That's typically given to hypo thyroid patients. I'm only on it b/c I had iodine treatment last fall which shut down my thyroid so I basically became hypothyroid & then after 6 months went on synthroids.

But yeah you can go through hell with thyroid dysfunction.

How did you find out about your testosterone & growth hormone levels? For awhile that's what I thought the problem was until they found my hyper thyroid problem.

I mentioned the idea of low testosterone to my doctor & he didn't think it was the case as I was a healthy young male.

What are the symptons of testosterone/growth hormone level deficiency?

I can guess one them being obvious.

 

[hardasnails1973]

just hear insurance copies are not going to cover GH any more? is this true? I just started armour too at 30 mgs and dr will up it weekly according to how i feel. He is best dr I have been too..

 

[Minotaur]

Minotaur
You're not on synthroids? That's typically given to hypo thyroid patients.

...

How did you find out about your testosterone & growth hormone levels? For awhile that's what I thought the problem was until they found my hyper thyroid problem.

I mentioned the idea of low testosterone to my doctor & he didn't think it was the case as I was a healthy young male.

What are the symptons of testosterone/growth hormone level deficiency?

I can guess one them being obvious.

Synthroid, like Levoxyl, Unithroid and some others are synthetic T4. Armour is a natural T4 and T3 combination. It's just another type of thyroid hormone replacement. I'm doing better on it than I was on synthetics.

When I wasn't feeling any better even showing good thyroid blood tests, my endo ran some other tests which pointed to pituitary failure. My pituitary is not producing the hormone (LH) to stimulate the testes to produce testosterone. The same sort of logic applies to finding a GH deficiency.

Deficiencies in any of these hormones mimic each other (tiredness, mood swings, no sex drive, gaining fat, and so on... the list is endless). When you're treated for one, but the symptoms still exist, you start looking at the others, one by one, until you nail them all. That's how we got mine corrected.

 

[Minotaur]

just hear insurance copies are not going to cover GH any more? is this true? I just started armour too at 30 mgs and dr will up it weekly according to how i feel. He is best dr I have been too..

I havent heard that. Where did you hear it? My GH replacement is Humatrope from Lilly. Armour is pretty cheap, even without insurance. But Armour is thyroid replacement, not growth hormone.

I'll have to dig around. I can't afford Humatrope without my insurance covering it ($300/mo).

 

[Johnnny]

Minotaur

Deficiencies in any of these hormones mimic each other (tiredness, mood swings, no sex drive, gaining fat, and so on... the list is endless). When you're treated for one, but the symptoms still exist, you start looking at the others, one by one, until you nail them all. That's how we got mine corrected.

So do you mean these symptoms are for both low testosterone & low GH or just testosterone.

What if you're someone who has a huge sex drive, gets hard-ons about 5 times a day & 3-5 during the night would low testosterone or GH be a concern?

 

[hardasnails1973]

when do you start to feel the effects of armour thyroid? My conversion from t t4 to t-3 is not working efficently and is causing severe metabolsim shut down with inablility to process nutrients which is leading to major decrease in Gi molity AKA constipation

 

[Minotaur]

Minotaur


So do you mean these symptoms are for both low testosterone & low GH or just testosterone.

What if you're someone who has a huge sex drive, gets hard-ons about 5 times a day & 3-5 during the night would low testosterone or GH be a concern?

What I mean is that symptoms of low testosterone, underactive thyroid and low GH can overlap and mimic each other. They often go together, also, making it harder to get corrected. For example, your thyroid is underactive and you go on replacement (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Armour, whatever). Your next blood test shows OK, but you still feel like crap... tired, moody, no weight loss, etc. Well, then it's time to look at testosterone level, and so on. That's what happened with me. It was one thing after another that was wrong. We had to go after one thing at a time.

But if you feel good, your sex drive is normal or above, you get erections, have no problem in the sex department and blood test shows normal testosterone (s/b 600-700, not as low as 300 like some doctors say), then it's not a testosterone problem. It was probably only the thyroid. For a lot of people it's that simple. Others go through hell trying to get well.

Now, this is just a really brief and simple description based on what I've learned about it, going through all this.

Now, in my case, it turns out that even though I'm on testosterone replacement (Androgel), my testosterone is dropping, my blood sugar is climbing, and my triglycerides are through the roof. Turns out I may be insulin resistant now because my GH dose may be too high. GH can increase blood sugar and cause insulin resistance (a precursor to Type II diabetes). I think insulin resistance can affect testosterone also. My next blood test will reveal all this. I probably have to decrease my GH dose, then I should be in good shape.

So all this with this endocrine systems is tightly tied together. Mess with one system, and there is a cascade effect on other endocrine systems. It's really pretty fascinating, in a geekish sort of way. heh heh *snort* *snort*

 

[Minotaur]

when do you start to feel the effects of armour thyroid? My conversion from t t4 to t-3 is not working efficently and is causing severe metabolsim shut down with inablility to process nutrients which is leading to major decrease in Gi molity AKA constipation

For me it was pretty quick. T3 is very fast acting and very powerful (4x the effect of T4).

Some people do have conversion problems. Have you tried selenium? No more than 200mcg per day. Selenium helps in the conversion of T4 to T3. And stay away from soy! Don't even handle any soy products (OK, a little exaggeration about the handling ). Soy can interfere with thyroid hormones.

Are you on Armour, or still on a synthetic T4? Armour contains T3, Synthroid, Levolyl, Unithroid, et al do not. If you're on one of those, you could either try Armour or ask your doc to add Cytomel (synthetic T3) to your T4 regimen. Some docs balk at this. Mine, for example, would rather prescribe Armour than tinker with figuring dosages for a synthetic T4/T3 combo. You know, whatever. At least for me it works.

 

[Johnnny]

Minotaur

But if you feel good, your sex drive is normal or above, you get erections, have no problem in the sex department and blood test shows normal testosterone (s/b 600-700, not as low as 300 like some doctors say), then it's not a testosterone problem. It was probably only the thyroid. For a lot of people it's that simple. Others go through hell trying to get well.

I think it might be safe to say that I don't have a low testosterone level. My sex drive I think is above normal. I'm someone who wants sex & could do it
3-5 times a day if the time permitted & had a partner willing to do it that often. I also get about 8 hardons throughout the day & night combined.

My endocrinologist I believe if I heard him right said that your thyroid gland is also responsible for the aid of testosterone out put into the system. So if your thyroid isn't working right either will your testosterone. Everything is connected as you said.

I feel better whenever there is a need to change my synthroid dose. So for they've had to lower it now twice in 2 months. I'm do for another blood test in about 12 days. I wonder if they'll have to change it again? I just hope they can get the damn levels right soon.

I personally can't stand what a thyroid dysfunction whether hyper like what I've had or hypo does to someone's physique.

I'm on synthroid's now b/c they gave me iodine treatment last August to shut down my thyroid as I was hyper. I was on Tapazole for 3yrs & was doing okay, but the endocrinologist thought they'd be able to control my thyroid better giving me iodine. It took 6 months before I even needed synthroid. For 2 months my levels were normal with no drugs, but then my levels finally started to drop as it took 6 months for the full effect of the iodine to take place.

It was during this time that my physique took yet another major hit. My endocrinologist, she told me I was probably going to uncontrolably even with diet & training gain body fat. As when the full effect of the iodine takes place, you've basically become hypo thyroid as that is what someone is who as little or no thyroid hormone. That's where the synthroid's come in.

I'm moreless feeling okay now. Sometimes I get tired & find it hard to train or don't even feel like training. But I still push myself to go 4 days a week.

 

[hardasnails1973]

i am on armour 1 grain a day and monitoring my body temperature. today it was 96.5. here his my scenerio at which happened to me..

Lack of the brain chemical serotonin causes lethargy, depression and cravings for sugar. In addition to low serotonin levels, carbohydrate restrictive diets are also responsible for the shutdown of the powerful fat burning and metabolism boosting hormones T-4 and T-3. This scientific revelation was huge because metabolic shutdown in response to dieting, carbohydrate restriction and/or prolonged use of thermogenics, steroids and/or growth hormone all short-circuit thyroid hormone production and conversion. This negative feedback loop prevents YOU not only from loosing body fat, but will also result in the accumulation of new fat. Research unlocked an amazing auyvedic medicine called gugulsterone that

I am on selenium 200 mcgs a day, 180 mgs gugguls, 800 mcg iodine as well, 1000 mgs tyrosine,
I was in starvation mood for a long time and I think I may have an iron defeicenct as well. Is there any way to find out with out a blood test ?
I think this about converse it

 

[Johnnny]

hardasnails1973

This scientific revelation was huge because metabolic shutdown in response to dieting, carbohydrate restriction and/or prolonged use of thermogenics, steroids and/or growth hormone all short-circuit thyroid hormone production and conversion.

As you know my hyper thyroid was caused by use of the ephedrine/ephedra mixed with caffeine & aspirin the ECA stack & the thermogenic fatburners that include Ma Huang the herbal form of ephedrine or ephedra.

Ephedrine/ephedra & thermogenics as you know increase your T4 & T3 levels, well in some ppl even after the usage of the supplement is stopped, their thyroid levels remain very high. In the hyper state which is what happened to me. Even though I stopped using those supplements my levels never returned to an equalibrium.

Research unlocked an amazing auyvedic medicine called gugulsterone that

I've heard of gugulsterone before but forget it's purpose. Do all ppl with thyroid dysfunction require it?


Even though my levels are improving with my iodine treatment from last August & then my hormone was replace with the synthroids, I'm still having some problems losing some stubborn body fat mostly around the lower abs & a little bit on the sides even with my sprint training & proper diet.

Do you have any idea why? Although my conditioning is improving, it's not improving as fast I think it should be.

 

[Minotaur]

Minotaur

My endocrinologist I believe if I heard him right said that your thyroid gland is also responsible for the aid of testosterone out put into the system. So if your thyroid isn't working right either will your testosterone. Everything is connected as you said.

Right, but not everyone has the same symptoms or the same effects from thyroid disease. And it is a disease... a chronic disease that we can never cure, only learn to manage. No matter how 'perfect' the blood tests come out, and how well we feel, there is still an abnormality that must be managed.

The problem is that a healthy thyroid adjusts and responds to various conditions day to day (even hour to hour)... ours cannot. So when conditions change, we are still taking the same dose of hormone. It may be too little or too much yet we have no way of knowing.

 

[Minotaur]

i am on armour 1 grain a day and monitoring my body temperature. today it was 96.5. here his my scenerio at which happened to me..

Lack of the brain chemical serotonin causes lethargy, depression and cravings for sugar. In addition to low serotonin levels, carbohydrate restrictive diets are also responsible for the shutdown of the powerful fat burning and metabolism boosting hormones T-4 and T-3. This scientific revelation was huge because metabolic shutdown in response to dieting, carbohydrate restriction and/or prolonged use of thermogenics, steroids and/or growth hormone all short-circuit thyroid hormone production and conversion. This negative feedback loop prevents YOU not only from loosing body fat, but will also result in the accumulation of new fat. Research unlocked an amazing auyvedic medicine called gugulsterone that

I am on selenium 200 mcgs a day, 180 mgs gugguls, 800 mcg iodine as well, 1000 mgs tyrosine,
I was in starvation mood for a long time and I think I may have an iron defeicenct as well. Is there any way to find out with out a blood test ?
I think this about converse it

The only way to know iron level is with a blood test. Low iron (which goes along with hypothyroidism) is anemia. I had it a few years ago when I was at my worst.

Right now the only supps. I am taking are fish oil caps to lower my triglycerides (per my endo), glucosamine (which I'll probably find out causes pregnancy in men ), and a multivit. And of course my whey protein.

This past week I've been really bummed out and on a short fuse. Maybe from low carbing (two weeks into it). Yet last year when I did it, I was fine. Fortunately now it's passing and I'm feeling better and more upbeat.

 

[Johnnny]

Minotaur

The problem is that a healthy thyroid adjusts and responds to various conditions day to day (even hour to hour)... ours cannot. So when conditions change, we are still taking the same dose of hormone. It may be too little or too much yet we have no way of knowing.

That's the real bitch of a thyroid condition. My endocrinologist, she's had to change my synthroid dosages every month so far since this past January when I was first put on them.

The only thing I'm not sure about is whey protein as they all have tyrosine which works with the thyroid. I know this may sound crazy, but since I've been off my whey protein for a few weeks now, she's had to lower my synthroid twice & I find I'm getting in much better condition without losing too much weight while getting stronger. I'm just eating 6 times a day.

I too take salmon oil that contains Omega 3 & I also take flaxseed oil. Thyroid patients should also be taking a standard dosed capsule of calcium twice a day as well as drink 2-3 glasses of skim milk. I read & was told by my endo that sometimes your calcium levels get low. When I first found out about my hyper thyroid I fractured a small bone in my left hand very easily on something really stupid. That's when I lost 30lbs in 3-4 weeks. Since then I've been taking Jameison Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D that helps the body absorb the calcium better. I'm also taking Glucosamine & have been for about 4yrs.

The only way to know iron level is with a blood test. Low iron (which goes along with hypothyroidism) is anemia. I had it a few years ago when I was at my worst.

So would I be at risk of low iron since I had my big dose of iodine treatment? I eat lean red meat twice a day.

 

[Minotaur]

I don't know if the iodine treatment would affect iron. When your endo runs blood tests, she should ask for a CBC, which is a complete blood chemistry report. It's pretty standard.

Red meat=good!

 

[Little Wing]

My mom tried Glucosamine and almost instantly had double vision, got dizzy, n nauseous.... she is allergic to shellfish n didn't read the bottle. All the women on my moms side including me end up on thyroid medication for hypothyroidism. I take synthroid.