Hypothyroidism

Last year I was diagnosed with this. When first diagnosed with it I guess I didn't understand the severity of my situation. When it was explained to me I was 2 points past what is considered normal. I figured 2 points.. Meh..no big deal.  (It was actually a 6.5...) So I started taking synthroid. Hated taking this because you have to take it on an empty stomach. When was my stomach ever empty at that time?? I ended up losing 40lbs last year (gained 10 back). I quit the meds w/o informing my doctor. This year, I'm more stable in respect to insurance and my job.  I went back to see the doctor a couple weeks ago and he checked my TSH level again. This time it was a 4.08. I seem to be more concerned with my health this year so when I visited him again last week I asked him more about it.  He said that most people who are considered to be fit or slightly overweight have a TSH level of 1 - 2.  This shocked me. I had no idea it was so serious!  He said that it was the reason I have difficult losing weight. I said, "But I don't really have difficulty losing weight. I lost 40 lbs last year and I've already lost almost 5 lbs since I saw you a week ago..."  He then said he didn't know how I had lost the weight and that I should be able to lose at all.  So what's the deal with hypothyroidism?  Does it or does it not hinder your weightloss? I tell you that since I've been back on synthroid I have a LOT more energy. Found out that is a symptom of hypothyroidism along with depression and other things.  Wow, who knew?   If I can get my levels back down to norm does that mean I'll begin to lose weight more easily??

Symptoms of hypothyroidism usually appear slowly over months or years. Symptoms and signs may include:

• Coarse and thinning hair.
• Dry skin.
• Brittle nails.
• A yellowish tint to the skin.
• Slow body movements.
• Cold skin.
• Inability to tolerate cold.
• Feeling tired, sluggish, or weak.
• Memory problems, depression, or difficulty concentrating.
• Constipation.
• Heavy or irregular menstrual periods that may last longer than 5 to 7 day

I have thinning hair, dry skin (eczema), fatigue, memory problems and sometimes constipation. Whoa, sure would be nice to grow some hair back!  What also surprised me is the whole memory problems. I find that I forget stuff so easily now whereas in my teens I rarely forgot a thing.  Sometimes I have trouble remembering what I ate or did the previous day. I always blamed it on the pot I smoked back in the day but perhaps my thyroid issues are to blame.

I had many of the symptoms, thought for sure I had it, but thyroid was considered normal. Still, I'm intending on a consult with an endo just to be sure.  Such a slow loser....  Or just impatient?

Did your doctor do a T4 and a TSH test? Mine only did the TSH test and found my levels too high. I hear that if the TSH shows normal (1-2) they will sometimes do a T4 test if there are symptoms that seem like the disease.  Either way the endo will probably do the T4s and tell you for sure.

I'll doublecheck, but I believe so.  I went into the doc requesting a litany of tests, having read a lot about thyroid and how limited the tests and understanding of the condition can be.  My results were like 2?  Again, off the top of my head....

Have you done any research on the treatment of the disease?  I'm reading a whole mess of stuff on the net saying Synthroid makes people gain weight and it's not effective against hypothyroidism.  They claim the pig extracts are better. (Armour)  Why does everything in life have to be so damn controversial??? To have WLS or to lose weight naturally.. To have the RNY or opt for the DS.. To lo-carb or to balance carbs and protein... Now.... to take synthroid or to take pig hormones.. BAH!  I wish these science people would just lay the facts in front of me and throw out their GD opinions and tell me which is better.

More info I found interesting:

Normal Results    Return to top

Normal values are from 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L for those with no symptoms of abnormal thyroid function. However, those without signs or symptoms of an underactive thyroid who have a TSH value over 2.0 mIU/L but normal T4 levels may develop hypothyroidism sometime in the future. This is called subclinical hypothyroidism (mildly underactive thyroid) or early-stage hypothyroidism. Anyone with a TSH value above this level should be followed very closely by a doctor.

If you are being treated for a thyroid disorder, your TSH level should be between 0.5 and 2.0 mIU/L.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

More intriguing info.  I think it's saying that a high protein diet may be necessary for weight-loss to occur in one who has hypthyroidism. "Besides hereditary factors, it may be that chronic low protein consumption over a prolonged period could be a contributing cause of hypothyroidism. This is to be considered in the light of the various high protein diets such as the Zone diet that seems to be efficacious especially for some to control weight." http://www.planetherbs.com/articles/hypothyroid.html

Knew that.  THere's a strong indication that many more people have thyroid problems than the current standard of tests suggests.  For years it was "only a small % of the population has it".  Within the last few years it's been suggested that 1/3-1/2 of all obese folks have it and that our current testing misses them.  (That's why I went in after much research requesting a litany of tests.) This is one of the reasons behind the statement I've made repeatedly about the importance of higher protein and low carb and that it's most efficacious in the obese population.

I've done a LOT of reading this disease today and I'm pretty sure that a lot of the things that are ailing me are because of this condition.  I have another doctors appointment on Thursday. I plan to talk to him about my T3 and T4 levels. I have another screening scheduled for February 28th. I think he's only been testing for TSH. I will ask him do all the tests. My fatigue has gotten much better since taking the medication and my appetite also seems to have decreased. Additionally I've noticed my excema is looking better.  I'm curious to see what my levels will be in a month. I wonder if my body is producing enough T3.  I'm kind of excited about all this.  I mean.. it sucks that I'll have to take hormones the rest of my life but at least I have somewhat of a reason for a lot of my symptoms I've been having, including obesity.