This article is part of a special report on Thyroid Disorders. To see the other articles in this series, click here.
In the last post I explained that, for the vast majority of patients, hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease. This isn’t just an academic distinction. It’s the reason both conventional and alternative treatments are so often ineffective.
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In this post I’m going to show you why taking replacement thyroid hormones without addressing the underlying immune imbalance is doomed to fail.
On the surface it seems like a reasonable approach. Patient doesn’t have enough hormones? Give more hormones. Simple, right?
Not so much.
Once again the conventional approach falls short because it ignores the underlying cause of the problem. It’s like taking Advil when you’ve got a pebble stuck in your shoe. It might work for a little while, and might even be necessary to dull the pain. But you’d be a lot better off if you took the pebble out of your shoe. Right?
Let’s take a closer look at why thyroid hormones often don’t work, or stop working over time. The following diagram illustrates how autoimmunity affects thyroid metabolism (please note, “HPT” stands for “hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis”):
Immune dysregulation is another term for autoimmune disease. We still don’t know exactly what causes it, but most researchers agree it’s a mixture of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors such as iodine (excess), infection, pregnancy, diet and intestinal permeability.
In autoimmune disease the body attacks itself. It does this the same way it attacks foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses: with T-cells, B-cells, natural killer cells, and cytotoxic T cells. The immune response also involves proteins called cytokines, chemical messengers that pass messages between cells.
This self-attack by the immune system increases inflammation. And inflammation has a profound effect on all aspects of thyroid metabolism and physiology.
First, inflammation suppresses the HPT axis. (1) One study showed a single injection of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha reduced blood levels of TSH, T3, free T4, free T3 and TRH for 5 days. (2) This shows inflammation disrupts the production and regulatory mechanisms of thyroid hormones. Thyroid medication will increase the levels of T4 (and possibly T3), but it doesn’t address the other effects of HPT axis suppression.
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Second, inflammation decreases both the number and sensitivity of thyroid hormone receptors. (3) If there aren’t enough receptors, or they aren’t sensitive enough, it doesn’t matter how much thyroid medication we take. The cells won’t be able to use it. It’s like when my grandpa used to turn down his hearing aids while he was watching the football game. It didn’t matter how much my grandma yelled at him – he couldn’t hear a word she said.
Third, inflammation decreases the conversion of T4 to T3. (4) T4 is the inactive form of thyroid hormone. The body has to convert it to the active T3 form before it can be used. Most synthetic hormone medications on the market are T4. If you give a T4 medication (like Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, etc.) to someone with inflammation, it’s not going to work because they can’t convert the T4 to T3.
Patients who don’t convert T4 to T3 well do better on bio-identical hormones like Armour, because it contains both T4 and T3 (in a 4.22:1 ratio).
Inflammation disrupts thyroid metabolism in several other ways, but I think these three examples make the point.
Now let’s review.
The only way to do that is to address the problem at its root by regulating the immune system and decreasing inflammation. (For more on how to address underlying inflammation, check out this episode of Revolution Health Radio with Izabella Wentz.) Unfortunately, this is rarely done in either conventional or alternative treatment of thyroid disorders.
Before I sign off, I just want to make one thing clear. I’m not saying thyroid medication isn’t necessary or useful. In fact, I think it’s an important part of treating Hashimoto’s—especially when TSH is consistently elevated and T4 and T3 are consistently low. My point is thyroid medication is only one piece of the puzzle, and it won’t be effective on its own unless the autoimmunity and inflammation are addressed.
If thyroid medication is the fantasy magic bullet of conventional medicine, iodine is the equivalent in alternative medicine. In the next post I’m going to explain why supplemental iodine may cause more harm than good in Hashimoto’s patients.
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I had my thyroid removed 16 months ago. I see a n endocrinologist but I am not feeling better. My levels show normal but all the aches and pains in my legs and hips are driving me crazy. Not mention the leg cramps..and muscle issues now. I live in Ashland Ohio and I want to find another Dr who seems to listen to me better. Oh and don’t forget the 35lbs I gained 3 months after the surgery and diet and exercise doesn’t help at all .. Any suggestions?
Hi,
I’m 54 & last July 2015 my TSH began to climb. Was seeing my MD & Because of my symptoms they reduced my synthroid from 175 to 150.
Shoryly after that i ended up in ER with symptons of shakibg,sweating,hallucinations,nightmares,severe tremors. I was admitted for abnormal EKG. Ran a batteryof test & said my heart test were all negative. Dr said it’s your thyroid,do not take any more meds til u see andro endro Dr.
By the time i seen a Dt my TSH was 124, to be honest i still have not felt myself since tjis has all happened! I have concetns, yet i ferl no one is hearing me. My numbers are slowly going down, yet why? Why? Can’t i feel better yet? last week my dog was up to 175 micrograms. Yet still feel many of the symptoms, some have gotton better, yet i still feel far from where i did when this began. I live in Richmond, Michigan. Does anyone have ssuggestions?
Thank you
Deb,
All of Michigan residents were exposed to PBB (Flame retardant chemical) in the 70’s. If you or your parents were exposed to it you should go to the Emory PBB Research Registry and get the Information for Clinicians form to read and give to your doctor. PBB is stored in adipose fat tissue with a half life of 15 years. 60% of recently tested Michiganders still have elevated levels above the US population. PBB has endrocrine modifying properties and has been shown to mimic estrogen, to block androgen and interfere with thyroid function in animal models. I recently attended a conference on PBB in Alma, MI. I grew up in MI and have had thyroid and autoimmune disorders since I was 21. It is worth looking into if the time line fits you. I use a fir infrared sauna to detox, stopped eating gluten as it has the same molecular structure as your thyroid gland and can cause issues for people with thyroid disorders. I am trying everything I can to heal my gut and reduce inflammation in my body. Vitamin D, a good B-Complex (Thorne Research Stress B-Complex) Fermented Cod Liver Oil, to name a few. Selenium also. Hope this helps.
is there any docs in the midwest who can help me? been having problems now for 22 years, contintually getting worse. docs can’t seem to regulate thyroid, or figure out why i am not making hormones, side effects from hormones so they took me off. super low thyroid levels now despite me taking reccomended dose from labs….i live in Indy but would travel to the right person. please help.
Dr. Kadambi Fort Wayne Endocrinology
I have been dealing with Hashimotos for years!!! He totally gets it and does not treat Hashimotos and hypothoid as one in the same! He is not like the ‘by the book American doctors ‘ in other words, he looks at labs, but listens to how you feel. He does not treat everyone the same and understands that people are unique and function at various levels!
Dr. Brownstein is in Michigan. I don’t go to him, but my doctor learned from him, and my doctor has helped me a bunch with my thyroid issues. http://www.centerforholisticmedicine.com/
Thanks Katy!!!!
Bless you I was 34 when I had iodine raition on my thyroid good luck finding a doc that will listen to you I am not61 and have never found a doc that no much about the thyroid
This may be a little late for those of you in Boston looking for a doctor who understands thyroid problems. Dr. Kenneth Blanchard wrote the book on the subject and he is on Beacon St. in Newton. Check him out.
Advice Needed:
Thyroid surgically removed 2012 – Still trying to regulate me…
I have been on all the Thyroid MedsT3 & T4 (both Synthetic as well as Armour). I have tried different dosages also…. And still not regulated.
All the symptoms of HYPO However, looking at the TSH some would think I am hyper (which I certainly am not)… Since the surgery, TSH ranges: 0.01 & 0.02…
MY T3 & T4 vary depending on the medication & dosage I am on…. (goes to the lowest of the range to the highest).
My question is: With the med changes that bring the T3 & T4 up & down, why are the meds NOT bringing the TSH up & down as well?
What would cause the TSH to always be low (indicative of hyper). When I am not hyper. I can not get the TSH to budge either way not that I even want to, but maybe that is the problem, whatever is causing it to remain stuck so low.
Any advice is appreciated –
You should visit hashimotos sites on facebook, as with thyroid sexy. Post your labs and people whow know will explain exactly what is happening.
I had total throidectomy two years ago. I was so close to death at that time. Thierry have been thousands of us make a come back through healthy eating, and life style changes. You will get better, it just takes wrapping your head around it. Good luck.
Sorry to jump in here, but I’m new to this site. I’m being treated by my primary Physician (internal medicine). Trying to keep this short, so… Can any body please recommend a really great doctor (Thyroid), in either Santa Monica, Westwood or Los Angeles, CA. ? Many thanks to all.
Dr. Isabel Puri, MD, Torrance, Ca. http://www.gelbartandassociates.com/isabel-puri/
My primary Doctor, since replaced, sent me to cardiologist, he blamed thyroid. Doctor sent me to be evaluated by a psychiatrist before he would treat me. The psychiatrist, Dr.Puri, began to treat me for my thyroid, discovered Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune. She is a Godsend. She is open to all medications (even Canadian Erfa), and uses saliva testing as well as blood. I would have ended it all, if not for Dr. Puri. Rahil Bandukwala, endocrinologist, in Costa Mesa(?) is also good. Both of then moved north from San Diego County, where I am. I still see Dr. Puri every two months, when she travels to treat former patients in this area. A saint, she is.
I had a total thyroidectomy. Can’t regulate levels, low 0.04 then they drop medication they skyrocket to 10.04 then drop and they lower and lower. Prior thyroidectomy nodules grew large , tested negative to autoimmune disease and the larger they grew the more my body attacked foods. The allergic reaction was digestive not contact allergies. Started few foods (Soy, walnuts, etc…) then progressed to attack a lot of foods even strawberries and spinach. After thyroidectomy all food allergies disappeared. Doctors before and after said it couldn’t be. I think it was inflammation causing the attack and now after thyroidectomy it’s causing the absorption or use of the medication. Trying test change in diet for decreased inflammation might help? Any suggestions?
Sarah, I only share your issues in going fluctuating extremely in going up in my levels and then going down after medication adjustment every 3 months. This has been going on now for 3 years and my body cannot handle this any longer. I am so very frustrated and I do not understand what is going on as I have had hypothyroidism for 20 years. It’s causing me so much fatigue and other problems and once they increase it and I finally feel better then my labs come back and they say oh I’m at a .01 and I have way too much and then they decrease my synthroid and then 3 months later I too am at a level 10 and then they say oh you don’t have enough synthroid and they increase it… So frustrated.
Hi Shell,
I had radioactive iodine treatment (way back in 2002), and I’ve been on thyroid replacement since then. I was interested in your post because I tend to have very similar numbers.
I honestly don’t remember what they were before a few years ago (it was all happening in my teenage years, I wasn’t very aware or knowledgeable at the time), but for the past ~7 years I’ve had very low / undetectable TSH, alongside FT3 and FT4 in various parts of the normal ranges. Endocrinologists and some general practitioners think it means I’m over-medicated / hyper and try to reduce my dose. But like you, I still have hypo symptoms and they get worse on lower medication doses. So I pretty much only see doctors who accept the low TSH and are more concerned about FT3 and FT4.
I’ve read (from “Tired Thyroid” I think) that any external thyroid medication will prompt the body to respond with lower TSH. I don’t know what else to think about it :-/ The most helpful approach for me has been kind of ignoring it, along with my doctors.. The ones who don’t care what my TSH is doing. I still wonder though. Would be interested to know if you find anything else out.
Have you had antibodies checked? (Was your original condition autoimmune?) I’ve had mine checked periodically (as I was diagnosed originally with Graves’ disease), and they were somewhat elevated when I was taking dessicated thyroid. They don’t seem to be an issue for me on synthroid / cytomel combo. Just in case the antibodies play a role in TSH…
thryroid medicine does not work. t3 and t4 are okay tsh is too high. medicine is just not working. I am taking synthroid. Dr. will not think outside of box and help me. I have not had a good reading in years and years. Help please
Ask to be swiyched to Armour thyroid
when you say t3 and t4 are fine what do you men , free t3 can be in range and still not be no where close to where it needs to be . ft3 should be in upper part of range , and t4 should be at least middle of range . reverse t3 needs to be in middle of range.
Please help. I had my thyroid radiated back in 2012. Just starting having horrible pains in the center of my forehead every time I take the meds levothroxine and synthroid Feels like it’s going to blow off. Tried armor and it made my heart go crazy and blood pressure. I need help. Need to take meds. Tsh 75 and meds killing me. Any suggestions.
Did you try changes dosage of the Armour?
I have been working on my thyroid for 7 months now. The doctor didn’t believe me at first and put me on Zoloft. Then ran additional labs. She then put me on nature throid (48.75). That was raised after my next labs and then raised again after that to 1 grain. Testosterone was introduced to me after my first labs in cream form. I wasn’t showing results and by my third labs that was switched to troches. Then, I was also put on levothroxine. I had labs down a month ago and was told the testosterone isn’t working and I can do pellets (but insurance doesn’t cover these and they are costly). I still am dealing with all of my symptoms. I have an appointment scheduled for next week with an endocrinologist/ gastroenterologist. I also started a gluten free diet this week in hopes that will help. It’s very frustrating dealing with brain fog, infertility, fatigue, pain, weight gain, mood swings ALL OF THE TIME. I’m exhausted.
I went through all of what you are saying and it is very difficult to go through the mental fog and feeling low, tiredness etc.. The key thing is to identify that right dosage of thyroid medication for you. It took me about a year and half to identify mine after going through different tests and finally finding the right endocrinologist. Once you find your dose, the next key thing is to stick to the routine even when you feel all better.. But don’t give up. This phase will pass soon… All the best.
Crystal,
I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism 20 years ago-all this time being treated with synthetic drugs for it (synthroid and liothyronine) I have not felt “normal” in that whole 20 years. I’m a nurse and let me tell you how hard it was getting through nursing school with the brain fog a was experiencing. I just recently insisted my Dr change my medication to Armour Thyroid. The brain fog is gone! I still don’t have the energy I need so I started looking for more info on the Internet and came across this book, Thyroid Mind Power by Dr Rishard Shames. Blew my mind! Anyone dealing with this should read this book ASAP!
I actually live pretty close to where his practice is so I made an appointment with him and saw him Dec 22nd.
Do yourself a favor and get this book!
Be well,
Judy
Judy, what are your numbers? I have an older book by Shames that is probably now outdated. I’ve also been Hypo for over 20 years, but have always been on Armour and most recently Naturethroid. Am ready to stop all meds entirely. Interested in what Shames did and do you have positive results?
Judy,
I too , have the same story as you. I was wondering how long it took you to feel better in the natural thyroid, I am also a nurse and the brain fog is so difficult to manage. I just asked to switch to the natural thyroid. My tsh is 19
Wow…cannot believe the frustrations we all have with hypothyroid. My symptoms started with dizziness, then fatigue, brain fog, low bp, nausea. No one would listen to “me”. One doc thought I should have dizzy tests done. I have done so much research and found many answers on my own. My own doc totally dismissed my indicative numbers of my TSH, t4, antiboidies etc. 3 times she miss it. I finally Tolbert her I was going to see an endo. I have Hashimotos…no surprise. My symptoms has escalated prior to meds with numbness, tingling and coldness in extremeties. Endo doc immediately said I needed to go on meds. Started taking Tirosint, but too expensive. Switched to Unithroid. He believe in a me brand because of consistency of formula…makes sense. In addition, I believe my autoimmune is due to my digestion. I above had flux for years. I do not absorb B12 and was deficient. Also D levels were low. I now take methlcobolabin liquid or chewable B12 and try to sit in the sun daily for 15 minutes without any d sunblock. My dose of Unithroid is 25 mcg. Endo said to take around 5 in the morning…on an empty stomach with full glass of water. I go back to sleep and don’t eat until around 9 am. He said NOT to eat any foods that contain calcium within several hours of taking the med as it an interfere with it working properly. In addition, and prior to meds, I was eating so healthy…or so I thought. Things like broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, cabbage when eaten raw aggravate the condition. These veggies are called goitrogenic and should only be eaten cooked. Peanuts are included with these. I have cut out a a lot of foods like white flour, processed foods and anything that isn’t natural. I eat 5 or 6 smaller meals a day…have lost 15 lbs. and feel much better. I did have an issue with the increase of my med…went to 37.5 which caused my upper and lower eyelids to swell, itch and peel, but went back to the 25 mcg and feel better already. My only lingering symptom is occasional nausea. Still looking how to curb that and will report if I find an answer. Do not give up. If anyone can find and integrative or functional med doc, they are your best bets. If you have Hashimotos and do not find out and address the underlying autoimmune part of your health, I don’t think you will ever feel completely well. Good luck to all. Thanks for sharing your stories.
Hi, I am 52 years old, a personal trainer, and recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s with extreme adrenal fatigue. I’ve been placed on Armour and several supplements including Ashwaganda to help heal the adrenals. The symptoms leading up to this diagnosis were alarming to say the least. Like many of you, I have been health conscious for all of my adult life. Weight lifting, healthy eating, training clients….its my job! imagine my panic when not only did I start developing joint pain and a large cyst behind my knee, but the weight kept climbing no matter what I did! After reducing my caloric intake to less than 800 cal per day, and getting zero results, I decided I needed to find someone who knew more than my PCP regarding my thyroid. I found a women’s hormone center who ran the tests to make the eventual diagnosis I mentioned at the beginning. I’ve been told that until my adrenals heal, adding more thyroid medication will be pointless. How long for the adrenals to heal? Hard to say, but because of the extreme fatigue, it may take as long as two years. *sigh. I am determined to get my health back, so I will patiently persevere.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism shortly after my first child. After eating well, nursing and being active I put five more lbs on the weight I left the hospital post delivery 8 mos later.
It’s now been nearly 10 yrs and I can’t get my weight down. I’ve exercised hard core 3-5 times a week and I work full time. Nothing. Energy isn’t bad, brain fog comes and goes .
I’m thinking your comment on adrenal fatigue might be a clue as I have heard of this before. Not sure how to get tested though.
I am on synthroid 150mg and I’m only 35 yrs old. Rather high dose.
I want to get to a healthy weight . My feet hurt so much I just can’t get this weight off. Need to lose atleast 40-50 lbs on my petite frame of 5’2, 180-190lbs
I am in the same boat. I weigh the same as you but am 2″ shorter. I keep thinking that i am just being lazy and tired but reading everyone’s stories makes me realize it’s still my thyroid although it’s “regulated” dry skin and brain fog and oh so tired and fat…
Standard Process-Drenimin. Adrenal nutrition.
Many of you need your Adrenals checked, now! Adrenal glands effect the Thyroid if not taken care of also.
Read carefully about Adrenals effecting your Thyroids, not everyone but many.
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fendo.2015.00177/full
Hello! I am new to thyroid medication. I have been fatigued, depressed at times, zero motivation, mood swings, insomnia, and I have been about 15 lbs overweight. My TSH level is.93
Free T4 1.10 and Free T3 2.8 with a vitamin D levels of 26.
My dr prescribed me 48.75m of nature thyroid. I have been on it for 5 days and have gained 3 lbs. PLEASE HELP!
Brandi, Hi! I’m interested in hearing from you because I also recently began taking thyroid med. and today, desperately stumbled on this blog & noticed your post was recent. I know all too well your symptoms (for sure!) and will be happy to share with you my story, my results and experience so far, as well as current dosage (of Levothyroxin), age, weight, any changes, etc. Also…FYI, I’ve had 2 rounds of bloodwork done so far, the first was more an overall panel, the 2nd (based on the TSH and then being started on meds, was strictly a more “comprehensive” thyroid panel. (I seem for the most part, to be pretty healthy otherwise) Anyway, I’d be curious to hear about your situation, how long you’ve been taking the medication, and how you feel. I’m not sure I quite understood your TSH .93?? Which would actually be “low-end” unless that was a “.” (period/puctuation mark) followed by 93??? Did any of your bloodwork ever test for antibodies or TPO? Just wondering. Anyway, if you’d like, please mail me back. Ive never blogged or replied to anyone online before but seeing as you say you just started taking medication, maybe we might have some common info to exchange or can both relate to. What I recommend for now though, is quit weighing yourself, and dont freak out about numbers! The scale can be water weight, and all kinds of lies! I went up and down 7 pounds in less than a week, and back up. For now, I’d go off how your clothes fit, how you feel (ya know?) and maybe weigh yourself only once a week first thing in the AM. Otherwise you might drive yourself nuts for now. If I hear from you we can maybe discuss diet and supplements I’m starting too. Not like dieting for weight loss but just eating right and some things that are probably good advice for anyone. I used to be a professional athelete, so getting fat, feeling tired, not able to sleep well are things that are very foreign to me and yes, very depressing!!! And no one understanding me (like my idiot boyfriend) who often chalks this up to my just “getting older” or being “lazy” is much help either. LOL. Anyway, feel free to reach out. Best regards, J.
Hi, I have Hashimoto and I am on a Combined T4/T3 Therapy (75/10) Since I moved from just T4 to T4/T3 I am facing a strong cystic acne that has covered my whole neck and half of my face. Does anybody had these side effects when switching to combined therapy? Thank you so much.
I can’t say my acne is severe, but I’ve never had any problems with breakouts before. Now I have cystic pimples on the lower half of my face and on my scalp. I am taking nature throid and levothroxine.
I have hashimoto too, and I sometimes get pimples and more on my neck but this was way before my meds. (levoth). I would think that the hormones are still trying to find its way. they tell me it can take two years by the time it works, I have another year to go.
I have been taking 200 mcg of thyroid (various brands) for over 50 years. Then my GP said that the blood test showed that my thyroid was high. I told her that it didn’t matter because I had been taking it for so long and I felt fine. Of course her answer was to lower it. I began having sleep disorders. She suggested I have a sleep apnea test. I found another GP.
I went to an endocrinologist and he looked at the blood test and suggested I lower my thyroid even more. Even harder to sleep.
Two months ago, I went to this thyroid and diabetes disorder endo. I said I was going to gradually go back up to 200 mcg because I knew I’d feel better. When I said that, he told me that he couldn’t write me a prescription for that much because no one should be taking that amount. I waited for him to say, ‘Before talking about raising or lowering, let’s see what’s going on?’ But this thyroid specialist never did, just told me that the amount I was taking could lead to a heart attack.
So for almost two years every doctor I’ve seen has tried to lower my thyroid. I’ve gone back up to 200 mcg and I have no sleep apnea and gone is the lethargy and fuzzy thinking that less medication caused. But I have heart flutters that I never would have had if the doctors hadn’t tampered with my thyroid levels!
I don’t doubt that there is something wrong. But I shouldn’t have to endanger my life by taking so much thyroid. Does anyone have the answer?
Oh, by the way, I have epilepsy. Would this have anything to do with all this?
i was on .150 mcg of synthroid doc. lowered it to .137 then to
.125 then i got hit with sever hypo thyroid symptoms
(lowered it do to me losing weight)
then he upped it to .137 then tested me Tsh was .5
said blood test was good, still had sever hypo symptoms so
he upped it to .150 then to .176 now I’m starting to feel better but still have hypo thyroid symptoms. going from .150 to .176 did nothing. with every bump i felt better up to .150 then nothing?
so now at .176 knowing going to .200 will do nothing, blood test for full thyroid panel is set for Jan 1. my bp is 110/60 hr 56 temp. 97 cold hand cold feet cold intolerant, weight loss from 165 to 151 in 6 months. i have no hyper thyroid symptoms except weight loss.
I agree, I am going crazy with my Endo Dr. I was on levothyroxine 137 an doing great then they gave me a blood test my TSH L .350 to high lower med to .88 I thought I was dying so tired , fuzzy brain, extreme cold. then I talked him into a higher dose 100 but that made my TSH L to .046 , ready to go in to see him again and I am so afraid he will lower it again thinking I will have a stroke or heart attack, but even at 100 med I am still extreme cold , tired, brain fog, depression and cant go to sleep at night but during the day I fall asleep and way to tired to get up in the morning and feel good. What is the problem? how to fix it or who to go to
If they would just give me back my med at 137 I would feel fine and ready to do everything I use to
are there other tests on other glands that affect this, if you know something please write and I will do the same
Pamela, i too am going crazy, but also because i have a hard time understanding what some people are trying to explain with their meds, dosage, hi-lo etc. i think alot of people desribe their med dosage as .xyz (or “point” xyz) rathar than just saying 50mcg or 100mcg levothyroxin or ??? I also believe people are confusing terminology (or perhaps confusing other people) when they say “up or down”. heres what i can tell you, its gonna be no sure guarentee that even the right ammount of thyroid replacement or “perfect mix” is gonna relieve all of your “symptoms”, which are common and suck, and i suffer the same. if you have lost weight thats GREAT!!! taking meds, be it synthetic, Armour or whatever mix is never going to be the same (IMHO) as your thyroid doing its job, or not having auto immune related (Hasimoto’s hypothyroid) or whatever the reasons. These posts I find can often be over informative yet very vague. For example, an otherwise healthy person (like myself) must consider age, hormones, diet and unfortunately exercise, into the equation. I have no clue in reading these, if some of you are 25 or 45?? I never gained or lost more than 5 or 10 pound my entire life from the time I was 16 years old! I was thin, even a professional athlete who never excercised outside of my job in my 20’s. Well suddenly (now in my 40’s) gained 20lbs in a year, i’m tired, cold, insomnia, wake up every 45min-1hr at night, feel like crap, etc. Started levothyroxin and my follow up thyroid panel showed a slight decrease in TSH so far but who the heck knows. I’m planning to continue to follow as best as can a “paleo diet” which is not to hard for me because I enjoy eating “real food”. I’m super lazy though in the sense that after being blessed my entire life by never having to exercise and being a naturally athletic build, definitly does not make doing any type of choosing to exercise now come real easy. But I will say that I am a strong beliver in avoiding sugar, processed foods, fast food and crap that is sold in a box (or considered a type of “helper” lol.) This is a tougher “withdrawel” for some more than others I suppose but I’d be happy to offer you some simple advice on supplements and things i was doing (a simple am smoothie drink thing) well before i was diagnosed that noticably made me never crave sugar or junk and also gave me energy in the am (im not a big coffee drinker to begin with). Anyway, I too am curious to see if anyone replies back to me off this, you can get pretty lost reading all these various blogs and the things you can google up on thyroid. I’ll be quite clear and openly let anyone who’s interested know what I’m doing or offer any advice I might have as to any results, meds bloodwork and progress. I’d say for now, do NOT weigh yourself relentlessly, focus on diet, how you feel, how you feel in your clothes and knowing your body. Weigh yourself once a week max, in the AM and screw what the scale says! It could be water weight, if you are exercising, you might be losing inches and actually putting on a bit of muscle, which you NEED to burn fat! Don’t worry! You are not the only one who is less than thrilled about all this. I’m going to begin taking some supplements, sticking to a (whole) food (paleo) diet as much as possible (and affordable), low in carbs and sugar, etc. If something is working for me I’m happy to share and hope others will do the same. I must disclose that being an Italian girl, I do drink and LOVE my wine, & thats gonna be tough to cut those empty calories but “baby steps” as they say. I also dont believe in becoming some big “depresso” either on some restricted diet that you’re gonna quit after 2 weeks. BALANCE & MODERATION wins the battle. ie: in exchange for cake, i’ll have a glass of wine and just accept the fact that i should exercise and im not 20. I’ve had a pretty good run up till my 40’s and I’m ok with that, and the stupid meds are no miracle cure at any age so anything we can do outside of that can’t hurt, for health and longevity in general, right?? I’m not giving up just yet, I’m still determined to have a great ass in a bikini at 50!! Take it day to day and at the very least, we should try to make some support friends out here because I’m finding there is a definite lack of empathy from some (since we are not actually “sick”) but just getting “fatter or older or lazy” and it’s “part of life” SCREW THAT!!!
I am very interested in your paleo recipes and exercises ? Thanks!
Hello there, I wonder if you have had any fluctuations of facial fat/collagen since starting meds or herbal supps. I am not a fanatic but I do care about how I look. I was looking pretty good until I started going to doctors! I’ve had some kind of fatigue going on along with ear troubles. Had a bunch of tests done that said nothing wrong, but recently had them again and it said I have inflammation, low Vit D, among others. I was negative for Hashimoto tests, but told I have it, she gave me a Thyroflex test. I think that is wrong. I have tried NP Thyroid 60 mg & various adrenal supps, but the FB Thyroid Adrenal women said that if you do not treat these things in a certain way it can be counter productive. To make matters worse, my face since taking all of this is getting saggy! My eyes get puffy over the lids & saggy underneath & I have dark deep circles I never had before! I am heartsick! To not feel your best then look like this makes everything worse! I do not know if I have Hashimoto’s and do not know if I want to continue on this journey based on what other women are going through! I you would like to personal email with me to help rather than have everything out here for the world to see, please let me know. I don’t get cold, I get warm. I have my eyebrows but my lashes are thinning but I do use eye drops for dry eyes, so that could be it. I get fatigued but can keep going, and my throat is sore & sometimes tight. I have no medical insurance & no dental insurance. Since starting all of these supplements I now get dizzy in the morning. I sleep well, except when I took the NP Thyroid. I don’t know if I just leave it if that will be bad or what. I am so mad about this, I wish I had just left it alone.
You might want to check for lupus. I have the same problem. my mom has lupus, Im going to check on that next.
If u find out please let me know. I’m on 224 mcg of synthroid currently. It was reduced recently but i felt better when i was taking 300 mcg
If u find out please let me know. I’m on 224 mcg of synthroid currently. It was reduced recently but i felt better when i was taking 300 mcg. Also i gained 60 pounds in 3 months when i first started taking synthroid so i threw it away and my thyroid is now soooo big that my endocrinologist has used photos of it in his teachings at the local university. Im still lathargic, heart beat is all over the place at night, and wait will not go down no matter what i do.
Lori please go have a sleep study! I suffered for 5 years low thyroid and tried all different meds nothing worked even 4 grains erfa thyroid. Exhausted and gained 75 lbs…finally borrowed a fitbit and wore it to bed for a week. It showed I was waking up hundreds of times a night. Yet i didnt remember waking…Told my GP and she ordered a sleep test. Voila! Diagnosis was sleep apnea. 4 months later using cpap I became hyper thyroid so reduced ndt. After 2 more months hyper still, stopped meds and I’m no longer sick..cpap fixed everything, now I have energy again.
I was diagnosed with hypo thyroid two years ago, was prescribed levothyroxine, I got better better, then crashed. My Dr. tried T3 supplementation which made me more irritable and edgy so Dr. terminated. The Dr. then switched me to Armour because blood tests show low free T3 and I was symptomatic. The Armour makes me irritable, sleep more disprupted, I am gaining weight, can’t excercise because it wipes me out. I have had extensive dental work, multiple root canals, followed by multiple apicoectomies,extractions and now multiple implants. I also have blood glucose pre and post meal below 110 but my fasting glucose and premeal glucose is consistently higher than post meal both 1 hour and 2 hour. I am healthy on paper other than thyroid tests. I was previously a life long jogger, weight lifter, diet conscience and very healthy. However, I can’t get any energy, I have had swelling in feet and calves, sometimes bilateral. My sleep is very disrupted, two sleep tests reveal waking up multiple times per hour, sleep doctor was stumped and prescribed medicine for restless leg syndrome which did nothing for my sleep. I have nagging neck pain and tinitus. i have recently begun taking probiotic, gluten free diet, whole foods… but feel worse. Where do I go next? Biologic Dentist, Endocronologist, integrative doc? I live in the Central Texas Area and can easily get to Austin, Tx. Please any advice is greatly appreciated. I am at my wits end but won’t give up!
Hi,
Just reading the conversation, I also take synthroid for some of the same problems that are discussed. The only thing I have to offer is some reading material that I learned quite a bit from and I try my best to put into practice. One of my all time favorite books is called “Wheat Belly” by Dr. William Davis. It is an eye opener how the food we eat is grossly manipulated with hormones and GMO’s. I also enjoyed JJ Virgin’s book and blog the Virgin Diet. The diet is extreme, but it gives some good information of food and disease. Both books offer some insight, and I have learned to stay away from different foods such as wheat and soy. Wheat and soy (soy leightin) is in everything. All this stuff is manipulated by the food industry to make cheap food products. I am not perfect, but I find when I stay away from the foods that these books talk about I feel better and my waistline likes me much better. The best thing, you can read them for free at your public library. I just started Dr. Williams second book “Wheat Belly Total Health”
OMIGOSH I have exactly the same symptoms and background as you. No more energy for weight training,etc, and addition of “inflammation” of sinus membranes so much that thickening is shown in MRI, along with extreme tingling to waves of nerve pain in hands and feet after finally warm from a hot bath or laying on heating pad. The flip to nerve pain is the detractor of sleep, although I am addicted to 1mg of alprazolam to sleep now for years. Tried getting off that but the sinus pain was intolerable. Been to every AMA doctor possible with disappointing but predictable results. 4 Neurologists never once looked at my huge file of records I carry around, but merely tapped on knees and inside of elbow with their little hammer, collected the $330 they get for an 18 minute visit, and dismiss me. I have a collection of prescriptions for anti spasmodics, anti depressants, ad nauseum. Even the Endo I went to never tested me for anything, just canceled all prescriptions without talking to me or my primary and told me all my symptoms were “in my head”. Medical “care” in Amerika is deplorable and seems only amazing in the trauma/reconstructive arena.
Take a peek everybody….”it’s all in your head” and dig deeper. Might surprise you…In the name of Science what many of us allowed to be placed in our mouths. Some alarming endocrine disruptors. I am living proof…..after extensive study and research…..slowly having all toxins removed literally saved my life. It’s been a journey…..well worth it though. Graves D here….30 yrs ago…Thyroid zapped. This battle has been nearly mind blowing…one must become well educated or your likely doomed. Study and then study some more….you must. Listen closely to the whole mind body connection. We are in a class of our own with malfunctioning Thyroids…journal…look closely at all you allow in your diet, mouth/dental, body products,water, cleaning supplies, consumption……PPM(parts per million) add up quickly…….tons of endocrine disruptors wrecking additional havoc on our Thyroids and addrenal glands. Stress bites too. Take on your body as a science project…..find enjoyment in the study as opposed to grueling dread. This helps lighten the load…..of what you now must learn to live with. Bless each and every one of you. It’s tough…but you can do it…..if I did….anybody can. Just a simple little farm girl here.
Dr Kent Holtorf in Texas. Magnesium calms your body legs. Try Erfa Thyroid through Universal Drugstore. 1-800 number. Doctor s office can call in prescription or they will fax to Doctor
Amy Myers, MD is in Austin. If I lived there, I would go see her! Also, Ridha Arem is in Houston, and he’s supposed to be wonderful at balancing the thyroid hormones in the true human ration (not 4:1 like in animals). Good luck!
Dr.Chase Hayden has been a miracle for me !!! He is in Houston. He deals with everything from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. He treats Neurological, Chiropractic, Nutrition , and Supplementation!!!! He saved my life. Homopathic Dr. Hayden Institute on Jones Road in Houston Texas.
Hi, I have read through a few of the post when I searched for thyroid info. Some of the post contradict themselves, as one of those post before this one said that a T4 only medication is sometimes better for someone whose thyroid is autoimmune, and this one says that the natural is better. I have been hypothyroid for over 18 years, I was diagnosed at age 6. I have been on levoxl and then on synthyroid for prob 10+ years. I felt fine in school, besides always being tired. Over the past 4 years, my medication dosage has been changed numberous amount of time. I started having PVCs, depression, weight gain, hair loss, severe fatigue, and so on since have my son almost two year ago. I have been to four different Drs to prescribe me a NDT, they wouldn’t, so I demanded them to check my antibodies, which mine is autoimmune. No matter what I do, I can’t seem to shake the symptoms. Sometimes theyre so bad, I don’t want to move, talk, eat, anything! No one can be the mother their child deserves while feeling like this, I can’t run or play with him without feeling awful after. I’m at a complete loss of what to do, it is devastating, because I feel like I have hit rock bottom, I’m in my 20’s I shouldn’t feel like this at all, I’m so moody with my husband, he is so supportive of me and always says it is my thyroid when I feel like this, I get emotional when I think of it, It like I will feel this way for the rest of my life and I can’t imagine it getting any worse…. Any advice, tips, anything will help. I have an upcoming endo appt, so I would love to present to him some of my thoughts when I go. Thank you!
Sarah,
So sorry to hear you are feeling so miserable. My heart goes out to you. Being a mom is tough enough without health issues. I hope that you can be feeling better soon.
I was bedridden for five years and I had 4 kids to take care of. My thyroid issue was being treated, but my adrenals had not been addressed. In addition, I was diagnosed with severe ME/CFS, a neuro-endocrine immune disorder. I have since gotten a lot better thanks to a knowledgable Naturopathic physician and her willingness to help me follow Dr. Amy Yasko’s protocol. You may want to read one of her latest books: Feel Good Nutrigenomics. (Google her name for more info and lots of excellent free lectures and info on her web site. )
In the mean time, I hope that your endo will run T3, T4, and reverse T3 along with your TSH. TSH alone will not give a complete picture of your thyroid hormone status.
Since you have Hashimoto’s, and your thyroid med doesn’t seem to be doing enough, you may want to consider getting adrenal hormone levels checked. Often antibodies also attack the adrenals. If your adrenals are low enough you can even feel too tired to breathe. I am not exaggerating here. Being low on adrenal hormone also makes you more susceptible to illness.
In addition, if the adrenals were already weak and your thyroid hormones were increased without supporting the adrenals, the adrenals could be worn out.
Healthy fats can help both the thyroid and adrenals and also help to cut down on the inflammation that aggravates the autoimmune situation. Healthy fats such as Omega 3 and 6 and vitamin D are necessary building blocks the body uses in producing thyroid and adrenal hormones. Be sure to be getting enough of these.
Medication alone will not be able to help you feel your best.
Please be careful with your health. Try not to push yourself. When I was feeling like you are, and my first Dr. couldn’t find anything wrong, even though I told her how exhausted I was and that I believed I needed a wheelchair to get around, she just thought it was all in my head and so I tried to do normal things until I finally collapsed. If I had rested in the beginning I am sure I would not have been bedridden for 5 years. ME/CFS research bears that out.
Please be careful with your health and listen to your body. Your husband and child need you.
Hello, I read all your post, you’re the only one who gave me hope. I am a new mom, my son is amazingly healthy but 13 months ago I have been extremely tired, and experiencing inflammation, just today I seemed totally different because of this issue, it is so frustrating, I’m afraid. I need help and hope.
May I ask who your doctor was, Cheryl?
I was always a decent weight all my life then all the sudden packed on some weight. My Physician gave me a thyroid test and in 2009 I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. Over the years my doctor was unhelpful. I’d just hear your TSH is fine etc. Oddly enough I got Osteopenia, back issues on top of my already bad lower back. I was diagnosed with Bipolar, CKD, Cervical Arthritis, Mild Sleep Apnea, At times I had electrical shocks shooting through various parts of my body that stopped then I got sharp shooting pains in fingers, hands and lower arms. Got tested but oddly nothing showed. Then I also have thinning of my Left rotator cuff. Part of that shoulder area and top part of arm feels bruised to the touch(only). I’ve noticed recently sometimes I have partial loss of balance, Believe it or not this is only a partial list of my issues.
Over the years I’ve had the obvious Thyroid symptoms thinning hair, inability to lose weight, dry skin, if I file nails they literally peeled off until I bought expensive clear base coat, cold feet and hands, moody and more.
Since 2009 I was on Synthroid, I finally got fed up with the Thyroid issue and demanded to get referred to an Endocrinologist. When I went I had my notebook out. I stated that in the past I had Dr’s who didn’t seem to know much about the Thyroid or just didn’t care. I said I’m here for help. I told the Doctor that I do not need to be told the TSH is fine and then throw me pills. I said its not finding the cause. I said we need to find what’s causing my thyroid issue and address it, then I ask can you help? She stated first she would have some blood work done. Immediately I then found out I had a Theroxiperidase ab anitibody titre of 1,600 (when it’s suppose to be below 100). Positive for Hashimoto’s, but my medication wasn’t changed. I called the Doctor left message. On callback stated I wanted placed on Armour, then again the game starts once the Doctor says but your TSH is fine. I said well I researched this the Walter Reed Study states that most participants preferred Armour over Synthroid and some even lost weight (few 3-5 est). Case closed the doctor immediately responded ok I’ll contact the pharmacy.
My question is this now. I started with 1 grain (60mg) and did not have issues. In 2 weeks upped it 1/2 grain (30mg). Not immediately then but thereafter my left thigh is now vibrating from the inside. It’s not a spasm, I know what a vibration is, I don’t ever have a cell phone on my person so what could be the cause? neurological now. I’ve seen nothing in my research connecting it to Armour.
Would appreciate your feedback,
Brenda
I have Hashimoto’s and I want to comment on your statement “sharp shooting pains in fingers, hands and lower arms. Got tested but oddly nothing showed. Then I also have thinning of my Left rotator cuff. Part of that shoulder area and top part of arm feels bruised to the touch” because this sounds similar to the problems I had when I was vitamin D deficient in 2005, my thyroid medicine was probably too low (or because I was on Synthroid and was not converting T4 to T3 very well) and I am guessing my leaky gut issues were starting by then. When I was at my worst, my collar bones were very sensitive to touch, my biceps cramped up easily, my hands would cramp up. I had to take up to 15000iu of vitamin D a day when less did little, and my numbers came up slowly until I took gluten out of my diet because my doctor said the itchy rash on my arms that just never healed or went away might be due to wheat (this is called Dermatitis Herpetiformis and is celiac disease on the outside). Once the gluten was gone, my vitamin D levels finally came up. I switched to Armour thyroid at first until they changed their binder and their product no longer worked, limped along with a pharmacy’s compounded product from pig thyroid, then got Nature-throid when the company was able to ramp up their production and have stayed on it to this day.
In summary, I went off gluten, changed to Nature-throid and took lots of vitamin D to get my levels up.
I suggest you get your vitamin D levels checked and think about going gluten free, if you have not yet done so! I’m sorry I did not have time to read your whole post–I have a meeting I need to leave for, but I hope this helps!
Does anyone else here have tingling leg and feet symptoms, I have been on thyroid meds for almost three months now, and still my feet tingle, and in a hot bath they still feel cold.
I just increased levothyroxine fro 50 to 100. Now I feel like I have a heat rash all the time. It’s worse when I lay down. It feels like my face and torso are on fire. Sometimes there is a visible rash, other time not. Yet the skin burns like crazy
I had this we found from a stool test that I have a fungas in my leaky guy causing this issue
Tingling..yes! In feet and legs and sometimes hands and arms. I’m allergic to synthetic thyroid and Armour has changed my life. After years of extreme fatigue, tingling stiff muscles and no stamina, hair falling out and breaking off, imam up and around, less anxious, I even breathe better. But I had to go to member services to force the doctor to give it to me. My dosage is still way low because the doctor is blind to all but TSH… I have to force him to order the rest of the tests so I can watch them.
Yes Jan…cold feet even in a hot bath. Even sleeping on a heating pad. Warm only after hours of horizontal on heat or after a bath, the tingling turns into WAVES of nerve pain and moves to hands after a couple years. Now every so often, my face and whole arms are in it. I recently discovered that intense foot massage, using small round tools esp., to stimulate and move the crunchy things in my feet have helped with circulation and pain in general. “Take care of your feet” has a whole new meaning now. Hot baths with 4 cups of epsom salt, essential oils with massage and now I have a fave tool for foot points….a short fat screwdriver handle is bringing me more circ and more vertical time.
After 20 yrs I suddenly became allergic to synthroid and it’s generic, both of which I had no issues with in the past. We attempted Armour which made things much, much worse (severe Neuro symptoms) and finally settled on Tirosint over the course of 5 years. This seemed to help for about three months then all heck is breaking loose again. My levels are fine, both my new Doc’s have Hashi’s, they check everything. But my symptoms are back full force and terrible. It is setting my other autoimmune issues into overdrive and causing a new one making me unable to leave the house due to severe stomach issues. My insomnia is horrid. I DID NOT have any symptoms when I came off everything for 6 months and one Doc scared me into trying again. In fact with my RA, swelling had stopped, all my rashes were gone, I was exercising fully and had a normal life again. My TSH at the end of 6 mo was 14, but NO symptoms. I want my life back and don’t see the point of taking any medication for this. All in all I have worked with 12 Dr’s in 3 states. They are quite perplexed, but are not surprised I’m throwing in the towel on the meds. In fact my symptoms have made me not function so much they aren’t trying to talk me out of it. Should I even be concerned given I have no symptoms off the meds?
My tsh is 12.56 and my free t3uptake is 50.23. . I feel horrible . I can’t sleep sad mood changes weight lose and Gi symptoms . I was put on levithyroxine 50mcg daily . I had severe diarrhea. The doctor the levithyroxine. I’m now on tyrosint . Still feeling horrible … Help me please!!!!
When were you put on the levithyroxine ? It usually takes 2-3 weeks to start having it to work . Make sure you wait 1 hr before you eat when you take your thyroid medicine wait til 4 hrs to take something that has calcium in it . If you haven’t felt better within three weeks ask the dr to check your levels as I think with both your tsh and t3 being off as I would think you would be better off taking Armor thyroid meds
Hoping my comment will get some answers from someone. IT’s 3 AM and quite frankly I am so tired I don’t think I absorbed half of what was contained in this article. My question(s) is this: I was born “hypothyroid”, that is, when I was 2 weeks old, an MRI revealed that my Thyroid gland was completely and totally missing. I will add that when I was about 10 or so, my pediatrician found a strange lump on the back of my tongue and sent me to an oncologist who suggested that it may or may not have been my thyroid trying to grow back. It was never biopsied and I don’t even know if it’s still there. Anyway, I was placed on Synthroid, and at some point that was changed to Levothyroxine which I have taken for the past 20 years until around 6 or so months ago when I switched to Armour thyroid. I still have a lot of symptoms that point to hypothyroidism, but I also have PCOS and they share some symptoms. Bottom line, will taking Iodine benefit me? And if so, how do I find out how much to take and all those details? And also, can anyone on here provide me with ANY links/articles/etc. that I can read on treating someone with my condition as naturally as possible? I am 20 years old and was never taught to properly care for my body, but I am so desperate to learn, and to be in good health. Thank you so much and God bless you.
Acts 4:12
The lump on the base of your tongue is your thyroid. I have the same thing. They found mine when I was 10 yrs old. Your thyroid is a migrating gland. Meaning while you are a fetus it starts out on the tip of your tongue and then migrates to your throat where it belongs. Except mine stopped on the base of my tongue like I’m assuming yours did too. It’s hereditary, 2 of my nieces have it too. Even though it was misplaced I had a normal functioning thyroid for a long time then it turned into a hypothyroid. I had so many problems adjusting to meds until finally I started taking armour thyroid and it’s working great.
Good luck.