Sex, what's that?

One of the very first symptoms of hashis I had before I was diagnosed [more than a year later] was lack of libido. At the same time I lost the ability to actually creatively 'design' [my career] which led to me losing my job. Both have not recovered despite being on the correct levothyroxine dose for my results and it is distressing to say the least. Could lack of T3 have anything to do with low DHEA/dopamine/noradrenaline levels? [I live in uk and have been told cytomel is unavailable]. Would taking supplements that increase the above change my bloodwork or pose any other risks??


This discussion is related to Sex... what's that?.

[jax190]

hi i am also from the uk and i have been on levothyroxine for 3 years now im on a supressed dose so its quite high and yet i still have lots of the symptoms. my doctor eventually sent me to see and endo but i was unlucky as i got one that doesnt believe in t3 and wouldnt test me i also believe i need t3 but am having trouble getting it. from reading some answers on here previously and some web sites i have looked at taking selinium zinc and iodine can help convert t4 t0 t3 so at the moment i have just started that. there is also a web site where you can buy t3 or amour privately. i dont know if the lack of t3 would affect your test results there are others on here who will be able to answer that better. but for now i would go back to your doctor and see if he will refer you to an endo if you get a good one he will be able to help.  
good luck jackie

[scarlet37]

One thing I have done to increase my libido is drink and eat alot of fresh fruit. I make smoothies from fresh fruit and skim milk with nothing else added. This has worked wonders - and my husband is a happy camper...LOL

T3 levels can be affected by the amount of protein intake, so it is wise to make sure your is adequate. I'm not sure if there is correlation with dopamine or nadrenaline.

Best Wishes~

[peggy64]

where can you buy T3 online?

[stella5349]

Wait...!!!! before you get involved in self treatment - you need to really understand things.

I know it is totally frustrating in the UK finding somewhere or someone to really treat your condition - but there are places to go without taking self treatment into your own hands.

Frankly - this post started out regarding the lack of libido correct?  How much thyroid information do you really know about your self? more importantly - do you know your FREE T3 levels right now. ( T3 alone doesn't tell you anything )  How about your Reverse T3 - did you know these tests ARE REALLY the story about your condition.

Free T3 has to be monitored appropriately - or it can be fatal - re: stoke.  Basal body temp and cortisol have to be checked prior to T3 to make sure there is no underlying problem with other hormones.  If you do not have the appropriate knowledge - or support from someone who does know  - you could be dead.

Share with me your knowledge of your situation and what you know about yourself on your thyroid. I would like to know your situation.

Yes I am an Armour patient and involved in my own medical decisions - but I also have a doctor who trusts my decisions and knows I am not self treating for the wrong reasons. I also have reputable resources that I could go to if needed to get my Rx  IF NEEDED- but this took 6 long years and me to go through obsessive research before I understood the whole situation - AND I am still learning. AND going to doctors who understand Free T3.

Respectfully I didn't post a thread about libido and underlining T3 as the problem.

[stella5349]

Sorry one more thing.

You start pumping supplements - Cytomel - and/or Armour along with Levo - and not understand it........... you could go through the worst medically induced rollar coaster ride of your life... Trust me... I was there........... and back.... and there again.

NEVER will I put my body though that again. I wouldn't live though it another time.

[Ashy66]

Thanks!
My levels arejust inside 'normal' but not optimum! [free t3=4.1] Dont worry i defo wont be taking more drugs than the 75mg levo i am prescribed, but i heard an ayurvedic herb called guggul helps with converting T4 to T3, so i may try that!
Another one which sounds interesting is mucuna which works by increasing dopamine levels
[Also heard DHEA 5mg low dose may help but have also heard scare stories]
I go to an endo next month, so will ask about rev t3, which i asked GP for before, but they dont do it unless other levels are out of wack.
its wierd, even watching romantic films isnt as good for me as it once was, i have no tingle-factor!

[Karly122]

Hi.  Just wanted to comment about the low sex drive.  I, too, am still having a low sex drive (or should I say, NON-EXISTENT) while being on the supposedly "optimal" Synthroid dose.
So, my doctor checked my adrenal glands and my sex glands.  I have read more than once that in many cases when the thyroid is out of balance, the adrenals, or the sex glands can be out of balance also.  I would ask your endo to check these things before doing anything else.  In my case, my testosterone is a little low, so my doctor wants me to start DHEA.  He said it was the safest way to boost testosterone levels.  I have also heard horror stories like woman growing beards, however at very small doses, this will not happen. A good start is 5-10mg daily.  If you have any bad reactions, then this is not the solution and you simply stop taking it.  I would also like to warn you about self medicating with T3 (a very powerful hormone) and buying medicines online.  These are very risky things, and who knows what you'll actually get in the mail.  I have read that taking licorice root or ginseng can naturally boost your sex drive also, but please ask your doctor before taking any of these.  Good luck, and I know how frustrating it is not to have a sex drive.  For me, I feel like I am missing out.  I remember sex used to be fun! and exciting!  and just awesome!!  Now, I can barely get in the mood, and every time my husband touches me, I barely feel anything.  I pretend to be asleep because I don't even want him to initiate anything.  The only time I think about sex is when I am wondering why I don't have a sex drive!!  I plan to take the DHEA next month and hope for good results.  Take care-
Karly

[Ashy66]

Thanks Karly ...wacked out sex-glands is all very possible as my oestradiol and FSH test has come back high so =peri-menopausal. [HRT anyone?????]  The stress at work has also prob pushed my adrenals to the max Not being able to design has now morphed into total brain fog and short-term memory loss on even the easiest of tasks.....roll on endo appt [and am also going to see a naturopath for another view on things]

[Moosiegirl]

I know exactly what you're saying about sex, and I have Graves' disease. I used to actually be slightly over-sexed, which made my husband happy, but I have had no libido now for at least four months. I don't know what to advise you regarding getting your libido back, but, before I take any type of hormone (and DHEA IS a hormone), I would check with my doctor. I have short-term memory loss and brain fog, too, but I blame this partly on the Valium I am trying to taper off. I am so sorry that you've also forgotten what sex is. I wish things weren't this way!

MoosieGirl