No Thyroid - need HELP

[nurse_blondie]

DOCTOR,
I had a total thyroidectomy at age 2 from a large goiter.  Both, my mother and MGM both had partials due to thyroid cancer.  

I am 29 y/o now.  My whole life I have experienced the usual hypo symptoms:  extreme temp issues, weight fluctuations - always within 10 lbs, extreme fatigue, depression, migraines, etc.  I have been on 125mcg Synthroid since age 2.  

After much begging, my internist changed me to Armour 90mg.  I have been on the Armour about 3 months now and have my first appt with an endo 12/07 - Dr. Shari Fox.  I am 5'6", 135 lbs currently.  I eat right and have a trainer, so health is NOT my issue.

I have been on, I believe, EVERY, anti-depressant, for depression when I have nothing to be depressed about!  My internest last Dec, sent me to a psychiatrist for what he thought was SAD, but I came out of there with a possible dx of BIPOLAR or adult ADD.  The Lamictal he put me on made me think suicidal thoughts (I can't make this stuff up).    #1 - How could a person go their entire life and never be diagnosed with such things and  #2 - Why would someone put a hypo patient on Adderall for ADD - (I refused that one)

My labs (TSH, T3 and 4 were all WNL 3 mo ago)  I have not been rechecked since starting Armour.  .  Now, I'm hearing from others in the area, Dr. Fox only relies on TSH and this of course, worries me.  I've heard this my entire life!!!  I've heard great things about Dr. Vivian Rodguez in Houston, but I do not believe she is taking new patients.

My question:  I'm not sure you can recommend, but I want a doctor that will LISTEN to my complaints.  My main complaint is severe fatigue.  The Armour hasn't seemed to make ANY difference.

Also, can you relay to me why the majority of the medical community swear by Synthroid only - especially for a patient without a Thyroid.  To me, I would not have the conversion of T4 to T3 without a thyroid.

Please help, I'm desperate!
DeAnna

[danishcat]

It seems like you are doing all the right things, without getting much results. I am sorry to hear you are going through such a battle!  :-~

I had a TT from cancer aprox 2 years ago. Like yourself, I have struggled and been quite frustrated with some similar problems since my surgery.I did not tolerate additional prescription drugs (including Cytomel) outside of Synthroid. With a lot of trial and error what works best for me is a combination of regular exercise, taking a liquid form of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D (which is absorbed best), and using Greens Plus (a green powder loaded with vitamins and nutrients) mixed in water daily. I have gotten quick relief using the greens. Keep in mind, we are all individuals: what works for me may not work for you. Unfortunately, we have to keep plugging away at it!  Argggg...

This combination has alleviated a lot of my fatigue and other symptoms (like severe intolerance to cold). I still have a few challenges here and there, but am much better.  

My research has also found that Thyroid medications often lower iron levels in the blood--which can cause fatigue and other ailments. I am going to try the Floridex (sp?) brand which is a liquid form of iron that is best absorbed into the body. Here we go again with trial and error! ha ha!

Have you tried natural anti-depressants such as 5-HTP, St. John's Wort, or saME? St. John's Wort can take time to work, 5-HTP varies from person to person, and most people that take saME get results very quickly--within a few days. All have few side effects. Different people respond to different dosages; however, unlike St. John's Wort and 5-HTP, saME is expensive (but very effective) and is not recommended for people with Bi-polar disorder (increases mania?).

As always, it is best to consult a Naturopathic Physician working in conjunction with your Doctors if you persue this route.

Recommended Readings:

1.The Thyroid Diet by Mary J. Shomon
2. Living Well with Hypothyroidism by Mary J. Shomon
3. 5-HTP The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity, and Insomnia  
    by Michael Murray, N.D.
4. Dealing with Depression Naturally by Syd Baumel (This is Superb reading
    as it is backed by research)


I hope this helps? Be gentle and kind to yourself.

Take care,

Cat

[helpthyroid]

I've read that for some people, antidepressants cause hypothyroidism.
So, my thinking is that if you already have low throid symptoms, these
meds can make you even more hypo.  Something similar to you have
happened to me.  I don't take any drugs now...not even vitamin supplements!

[nurse_blondie]

TKS - I think that's basically what my doctor says.  Hence the referral to Fox.  I do not think Syntroid should be the drug of choice for someone with no thyroid b/c doctor's disregard complaints for many years.  

I appreciate the comment on depressants.  He's thinking SAD since it only comes on Nov or Dec.  Guess we shall see.  I'm liking the Armour but just think the 90mg is too low right now since I still have very bad fatigue.  Hopefully, Fox will do the combo tx.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

While your symptoms may be from sub-optimal thyroid treatment, there are other causes of these very same "hypo" symptoms that must be considered.  There are many people who have both a thyroid disorder and a separate, legitimate mental health diagnosis or other illnesses such as rheumatologic disease or even another endocrine problem besides thyroid.  Often patients will short-change the evaluation into these possibilities by thinking once they have a thyroid problem everything else they feel is thyroid-related.  While this may not apply to you, it is important to keep this in mind.

The TSH remains the single best current test to assess thyroid hormone status and it would be against the standard of care to not pay attention to the TSH.  

T4 to T3 conversion occurs outside the thyroid -- the thyroid is not needed for this and studies looking at pre and post thyroidectomy patients have documented that T3 levels do not change in patients from when they had their thyroid to when they have no thyroid and are only on T4 medication.

Some people appear to do better with T4/T3 combination such as armour or adding cytomel to T4 -- I usually will dose this in am and 2pm as this seems to help.  If the armour is not making any difference, it may be time to look past the thyroid.