Hypothyroidism Help

[4cruisin]

If you are diagnosed with mild hypothyroidism, can a change in lifestyle such as increased activity and better eating habits be enough to bring tsh levels into normal range or must you take medication? Anyone have any experience with this?

Also, if the tsh level is 4.4, is that severe enough to be on 25mg of levoxyl?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Nancy

 

[Kristi1357]

You must take the medication. Basically, my understanding is that your thyroid isn't producing enough the hormone that your body needs. So, you need to supplement it. I began on the 25mcg dose many years ago. At that time, my doc told me I'd only get worse over the years. They were right, I am now on 75mcg of levoxyl.

Not really sure how your tsh level compares to the dose, but I just know when mine has been out of the normal range - that's when they up my dose.

HTH
Kristi

 

[LindaR]

I have hypothyroidism. There is plenty of info out there (library, bookstore, websites, doctor's office).

I know that I will have to take medication for the rest of my life. There are not any "natural" cures for this. You body is no longer producing (or not producing enough) thyroid hormone. If your doctor says you need medication, you need to take it.

That being said, there are things you can do to help yourself. You didn't state your age, so I will tell you things from a 42 year old who is in menopause. There are ALOT of similar symptoms between your hormones being out of whack and thyroid problems. When I am not feeling right, I get them both checked out cause sometimes I need more progesterone and sometimes my thyroid meds need adjusted.

Certain foods interfere with the absorbtion of your thyroid medication. Soy products are some of them. Taking calcium can interfere (shouldn't take it within 4 hours of thyroid meds) with the absorbtion.

I really suggest that you talk to your doctor, go to the bookstore or library and read all you can about this.

 

[piratesmate]

I've never heard of any lifestyle changes that may eliminate the need to take the meds. However, as already stated there are a number of things that can interfere with them. Broccoli/cauliflower/cabbage all interfere. Also,you need to take the meds 30 - 60 min before eating.

I forget what the TSH numbers are supposed to be, but mine was like 4x or 5x higher than it should be & they started me on 100mcg.

 

[Christine]

No, you need the meds. And, fortunately, if the dosage is right you won't have any side effects except to feel better!

 

[thatchicktrish]

I too have hypothyroidism and I'm going to have to agree with everyone else in this thread about the medication being necessary. Just make sure you get your levels checked often, I'm sure your doctor will want your bloodwork done once a few times more than usual since you were just diagnosed.

I was born with hypothyroidism so I've been on levoxyl since 2 weeks old and I know I will have to take it for the rest of my life. It really isn't a bother to me at all, I take it first thing in the morning and don't have to worry about it again. I don't know what my current level is but I am taking .15mg of levoxyl. I usually can tell when my levels have changed, I get very tired and feel run down, I experience headaches and just feel very blah. My doc has my bloodwork done once a year (more if I feel blah) and he will change my prescription accordingly.

on www.about.com there is a whole section on hypothyroidism, I'm sorry I can't direct link, my IE is having issues today.

 

[NancyIL]

I have taken a very small dose (50 mcg) of thyroid since 1995. In September 2003 I started the Atkins diet and lost 25 pounds in a couple of months. I also got serious about exercising. My thyroid medication ran out in early December, and I waited until late January to have bloodwork done to check thyroid, as well as cholesterol/triglycerides. (I was curious to see how eating fewer carbs would affect my cholesterol, and especially my triglycerides.) Well, lo and behold - my thyroid was normal (and my triglycerides were WAY down!!), so I'm off medication. I'll have my blood checked again in July, and I'm hoping for my thyroid to still work normally.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I'm the same as above.

I lost about 40 lbs. and now my TSH and Uptake 4 are normal. I no longer need meds!

It's a great thing!

 

[4cruisin]

Thanks to all of you. I am trying to grasp this since it is so new. I am usually very proactive finding info on the internet, but I am concerned about having to take another med for the rest of my life since I am only 43 yo. ( I already take oral asthma meds) I do have a lot of the sypmtoms of thyroid disease but I always explained it away. Getting older so I am more tired, not being careful with my diet so I am very overweight, my feet are always freezing but I live in MA and it is winter etc.

I will start taking the levoxyl tonight. Are there any reactions I need to watch out for? I hate to sound needy but I am scared. The dr told me to go for follow up blood work in 3 months...should I go sooner to check the levels? I managed to ask my np some questions when she called yesterday with the blood results but she must deal with this frequently and had the attitude that it was not a big deal, just take the meds and you'll be fine.

Thanks for answering so quickly, I knew people here would be helpful.

Nancy

 

[mom2boys]

I can understand your apprehansion but you will feel better. Did you discuss your conserns with your doctor? There are no side affects to thyriod meds. I have been on them for almost 25 yrs. The worst part is remembering to take it everyday.

 

[Christine]

I have been taking thyroid hormone for almost 10 years--ever since I had mine removed due to cancer. I take .137 which is WAY higher than what you are taking.

There really are no side effects to taking thyroid hormone unless you are taking to much. Remember, this is not really a drug (like antibiotics or antidepressents), it is a hormone that you are replacing. Yes, it is synthetic, but your body recognizes it as the same one that you make on your own.

Three months is about right for checking your thyroid levels. It takes a very long time to establish thyroid hormone in the body. It should be done no sooner than 8 weeks. The only thing I will say is that if you are at 8 weeks and you feel hot all the time, shaky, and can't sleep you might want to go in and be checked earlier. That would mean that the dosage is too high. But at .25, I doubt that will be a problem.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

ive been taking synthroid since i was 8 and had my thyroid removed because of a tumor..im now 19 and still have to take it every day..i know i will have to take it for the rest of my life, but like another poster said its really not a big deal..i guess because ive done it for soo long..but also, i have to get blood checked every month or so because my levels go crazy...u can usually tell when the levels are wacky though!

good luck!

 

[Bichon Barb]

I've been on thyroid medicine since 1996--after the birth of my second child. I think when mine was discovered, my T4 was very low and my TSH was in the 90's. LOL. It was the highest number the doctor has ever seen. My brain was telling my thyroid to get moving, but my thyroid wasn't having it.

I started on 88 mcg, and I am now up to 100 mcg. I have an appt on Thursday to have my numbers checked. I haven't done so in a while.

No side effects. No special orders. I take my pill on an empty stomach.

 

[piratesmate]

I don't know about anyone else, but in addition to the "hot all the time, shaky, and can't sleep" I also get heart palpitations when my dosage is too high. Of course, I have all those things right now except the palpitations - but it's called menopause.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have taken a synthroid pill for about 15 years now, guess I always will. I used to get uncontrolled chills/shivering, needed to take HOT showers and drink hot water to warm up. An RN freind of ours (since deceased from breast cancer at a young age 42 ) told me to get checked or some night I would go to sleep, go into an hyperthermic coma and not wake up. Saw my doc in a couple days and he said she was right. I never think of it, just one of several pills each morning to keep the old guy going here.

 

[mbb]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
... I used to get uncontrolled chills/shivering, needed to take HOT showers and drink hot water to warm up.

I just had blood work for my thyroid done last Friday, and am now just waiting to see what the results are...

I just happened to mention these same things to my family doctor when I had the kids in...I figured it was just "bad circulation" or some such thing...

Is this a common thing?...because I could have that hot shower a couple of times a day...plus the nap from 1-4:30pm (If I could!!)
plus still being able to sleep at night...

I'm guessing it's a good thing I had the blood work done...

 

[tw1nsmom]

Just a suggestion. It may be easier to take your synthroid first thing in the morning. Many different foods can block the absorption of synthroid. I think your not supposed to eat for four hours before taking it or 1/2 hour after taking it. I get up and immediately take it and by the time I get ready and get the coffe going the 1/2 hour has passed and I can eat breakfast without worrying what kind of food I can or cannot have.

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

I too am stricken with a hypo thyroid as well , found out when I was 24, 33 now.

A few years ago my obgyn found a lump on my thyroid, went throught the whole cancer scare stuff and whatnot . (nightmare)

You see I was convinced that I was fine without my meds and it caused this growth and inflamation of my thryroid.

Don't put yourslf through it, all of my physicians (and I have seen all the specialist) say there is NO cure for this and those that have managed to regulate through diet and exercise were questionably diagnoised. (please no flames just repeating my dr's.)

My signs that my thyroid is off:

My hair falls out (altho I have a ton and no one notices)
I have a quick temper
I can't sleep
I'm cold all the time
I gain weight really fast
My face looks puffy and a lil yellow
and my hair loses it's shine
I'm hungry all the time

My ENTIRE family has this disease starting with my grandfather and all of his decendents. NONE of us have the same signs when we are not level.

As you can prolly guess I'm a much better person when I'm level. My advice is take the meds get level and realize how much better you feel.

Do to the inflamation I've been rediagnoised with the title Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease)

which is basically the same except that mine is swollen all the time (not to where you could tell by looking).

So as the other have stated I encourage you to take the meds and get to know your signals so you can know when to get your levels checked.

hope this helps!

 

[4cruisin]

Thank you so much for being so supportive. I was really stressing myself out about this but I'm realizing that I am fortunate it is a treatable condition and not life threatening. Time to get over the pity party!! I have so many of the symptoms but never put them together so I guess once the levoxyl kicks in, I should feel like a new woman.

I'm sure I will be back with other questions. All of you are the greatest. It's so nice to know I have friends out there that I can count on.

Nancy

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

One more word of advice.......

Getting level is sort of a tricky proposition so don't get discouraged if they have to play around with the dosage, they will get it.

Secondly, there is a small group that does not respond to levoxyl mainly because it is the "generic” form of synthroid and it is made in many different places. So it is harder to regulate and test the chemical compound to be exactly right for your need. There has been much debate on weather or not it's "just as good" and I've found for me it is not. I could not get level and more importantly stay level on levoxyl.

If your insurance would allow I'd recommend synthroid only because it is able to be more accurate when produced because it is all done by one company.

I also know as I write this others will disagree and say it's great, I've taken it for years with no problems, go with the generic.

I tried to get level and maintain it for a little over a year with no luck, switched to synthroid and voila level first time and have remained so for a year and a half.

So if you do try it and find that you are not able to maintain a good level ask your dr. for synthroid.

PS I’m not a drug rep and do not get paid to indorse this product I just trust their quality control more than levoxyl.