Aa
trying to get diagnosed....hypo?
I am 51, weigh 251. This will sound nuts, which is how my drs make me feel. 1993 was a BAD year! Both my parents became very sick (mom stroke, dad's kidneys failed) My dad passed away, mom is still here. Teen kids, college sr., husband had affair, etc. Something changed. Before, no weight issue, only real health problem was excezma. Now: In spite of diet of about 1100 cal. a day I gain about a pound a month. My eyebrows are about half gone. Joining it is my sex life. My hair is brittle and breaks off, nails are in awful shape, high cholesterol (on creastor) and I am living is a "brain fog" that keeps me from remembering things I have done 1000 times. I am exhausted ALL the time. Doing nothing makes me tired. I am anemic, have digestive problems (both gall bladder/appen. gone in 2 years)(on prilosec) fibroids, low iron, headaches, numbness on the left side of face, neck pain, DIZZINESS....and the list goes on and on. I have been to dr. everyone guesses thyroid, runs test, and TSH comes in normal so they say no. Been to rhuematologist, nuerologist, ENT, and cardiologist. Had carotid artery scan (ok), ENG (borderline), MRI (ok) that list goes on. My dizziness is getting worse and each time, added to dizzy, I feel a real threat something is wrong and getting worse. I am getting very depressed that after YEARS of drs no one seems to know what is going on. Could this by my thyroid..even if TSH is in range? ANY SUGGESTIONS? Clues? Ideas? I'm getting desperate! Thanks.
A related discussion, Back for more....hand cramping/still tingling/dizzy was started.
Just my two cents:
Iron alone may not correct your anemia -- minerals work together, and from what I understand, iron needs zinc, small amounts of b vitamins, copper, and vitamin E and C to actually increase iron levels. I believe that the amino acid lysine helps increase iron levels (if your ferritin is low of course).
Also, many prepackaged foods (if not all of them) are polluted with chemicals that may make the iron unavailable. Try to eat "clean" -- using real food that you cook yourself.
ithyroid.com was recommended as a good website -- I would also suggest www.acu-cell.com. It's an excellent resource for vitamin and mineral interactions.
Another possibility is that some little bugger or buggers are using the iron you're taking. You might want do some stool testing for parasites.
Hope this is helpful.
Dan
Iron alone may not correct your anemia -- minerals work together, and from what I understand, iron needs zinc, small amounts of b vitamins, copper, and vitamin E and C to actually increase iron levels. I believe that the amino acid lysine helps increase iron levels (if your ferritin is low of course).
Also, many prepackaged foods (if not all of them) are polluted with chemicals that may make the iron unavailable. Try to eat "clean" -- using real food that you cook yourself.
ithyroid.com was recommended as a good website -- I would also suggest www.acu-cell.com. It's an excellent resource for vitamin and mineral interactions.
Another possibility is that some little bugger or buggers are using the iron you're taking. You might want do some stool testing for parasites.
Hope this is helpful.
Dan
Were you diagnosed anemic and is that why you are taking extra iron? If it's been awhile since you had ferritin checked, maybe that should be done soon. Improper iron storage can cause iron to accumulate while remaining unused, which is as bad as very low iron.
A body "trusts" everything put in it is good. When betrayed, it lets us know but we don't always recognize the signs, especially with reference to pollutants, added hormones and non-organically raised foods. There are typically primary and secondary causes underlying hormone related symptoms. Combined or separate, varying factors contribute to estrogen dominance and can cause or perpetuate chain reactions that are difficult to unravel
http://www.drlam.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/Estrogen_Dominance.cfm
If you've been told you're taking sufficient iron but ferritin still tests low, I'd look for and test causes to explain why low iron persists. Vitamin C and other organic malic acids naturally enhance proper iron absorption. After talking to your doctor and if you need it, look for powdered Vitamin C because it can be fractionated most easily to determine your individual therapeutic dose and adapted at will. More when sick or stressed, less when things are going smoothly, etc. This will help adrenals as well because they store a great deal of Vitamin C. Adding 2 parts Vitamin C and 1 part aluminum-free baking soda will counteract acidity without diminishing the effect of Vitamin C. Great with half a glass of apple juice too - gives a nice fizz. Vitamin C also has a half life of about 30 minutes, so it shouldn't be mixed until it will be used. Gotta love all those adds that say "Vitamin C added", as if they mean anything more than added acid which most of us don't need. A 1/4 teaspoon of Vitamin C added to a green drink and/or spirulina will enhance assimilation of all those nutrients as well.
Can't do everything at once of course, but gradually I learned my body's shortcomings and how to "force fed" it at the cellular level. A few things still need crutches, but it's going well. I also learned to ignore taste and bitterness because taking most supplements sublingually was more beneficial. I found out through urine and stool tests that a great deal of nutrients were being lost; literally, wasted money and effort.
Taurine helped with that and I still take it, though less now. Normally our bodies make plenty of taurine, but when the digestive tract goes awry, taurine can be deficient. That would be another thing to test for at the next doctor's visit. Taurine is a "nutrient traffic director". If IT'S lost, you can imagine nutrients not making it to their intended destinations.
On sodas, all I can say is every soda consumed is a kick in the butt to hard earned progress. Diet sodas and all diet drinks are equally bad and worse for people with sensitive kidneys, liver and other organs because they are interdependent. When one hormone producing organ is affected, all others attempt to absorb impact and that strain ripples throughout the body. If they are already strained, it's a setup for more or intensified problems.
Sugar was a real hard one for us. Husband was diabetic until we adjusted his diet drastically. He was a hard case to be sure. Now we use xylitol that's certified non-GMO. It's not a good rising agent, but we gave up baked grain anything back then because husband's blood sugar was 531. It's expensive, but so were our medical bills then and we use so much less sweetener now that cost became a moot point. Xylitol also digests slow like a vegetable carb because that's what it is. No insulin spike!
To remain unbiased, there's this
http://www.xylitolforyou.com/index.html and this
http://www.xylitolworks.com on xylitol.
I haven't found the bottom line about differences between corn and birch, but as long as it's non-GMO and processing doesn't pollute the environment I'm a happy camper.
Avoid drinking large glasses of fruit juice as well. That can cause insulin spikes, which contributes to estrogen dominance. That much sugar isn't meant to be consumed without the rest of the fruit for balance. Lots of data on that, but I'm trying to keep this short because this post is way too long.
Coffee, depending on your cortisol rhythm, is probably ok in the morning but not after noon or for evenings. Try using xylitol with it though. Husband says there's no difference and now his whole office uses it. They get a buzz from the coffee but no low from sugar. Caffeine should be minimized though because it's a diuretic that ultimately causes water retention and dehydration. Dehydration is a big issue with all organs and at the cellular level. I actually drink salted water before and during work hours because of the stressful environment. Work is harder to change, but it will.
On trans fats, directly from Kraft (and I encourage skepticism):
http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?m=contact_us/contact_us&q=transfat
"0 grams of trans fat as defined by the FDA: Where a product contains less than 0.5 gram (less than
A body "trusts" everything put in it is good. When betrayed, it lets us know but we don't always recognize the signs, especially with reference to pollutants, added hormones and non-organically raised foods. There are typically primary and secondary causes underlying hormone related symptoms. Combined or separate, varying factors contribute to estrogen dominance and can cause or perpetuate chain reactions that are difficult to unravel
http://www.drlam.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/Estrogen_Dominance.cfm
If you've been told you're taking sufficient iron but ferritin still tests low, I'd look for and test causes to explain why low iron persists. Vitamin C and other organic malic acids naturally enhance proper iron absorption. After talking to your doctor and if you need it, look for powdered Vitamin C because it can be fractionated most easily to determine your individual therapeutic dose and adapted at will. More when sick or stressed, less when things are going smoothly, etc. This will help adrenals as well because they store a great deal of Vitamin C. Adding 2 parts Vitamin C and 1 part aluminum-free baking soda will counteract acidity without diminishing the effect of Vitamin C. Great with half a glass of apple juice too - gives a nice fizz. Vitamin C also has a half life of about 30 minutes, so it shouldn't be mixed until it will be used. Gotta love all those adds that say "Vitamin C added", as if they mean anything more than added acid which most of us don't need. A 1/4 teaspoon of Vitamin C added to a green drink and/or spirulina will enhance assimilation of all those nutrients as well.
Can't do everything at once of course, but gradually I learned my body's shortcomings and how to "force fed" it at the cellular level. A few things still need crutches, but it's going well. I also learned to ignore taste and bitterness because taking most supplements sublingually was more beneficial. I found out through urine and stool tests that a great deal of nutrients were being lost; literally, wasted money and effort.
Taurine helped with that and I still take it, though less now. Normally our bodies make plenty of taurine, but when the digestive tract goes awry, taurine can be deficient. That would be another thing to test for at the next doctor's visit. Taurine is a "nutrient traffic director". If IT'S lost, you can imagine nutrients not making it to their intended destinations.
On sodas, all I can say is every soda consumed is a kick in the butt to hard earned progress. Diet sodas and all diet drinks are equally bad and worse for people with sensitive kidneys, liver and other organs because they are interdependent. When one hormone producing organ is affected, all others attempt to absorb impact and that strain ripples throughout the body. If they are already strained, it's a setup for more or intensified problems.
Sugar was a real hard one for us. Husband was diabetic until we adjusted his diet drastically. He was a hard case to be sure. Now we use xylitol that's certified non-GMO. It's not a good rising agent, but we gave up baked grain anything back then because husband's blood sugar was 531. It's expensive, but so were our medical bills then and we use so much less sweetener now that cost became a moot point. Xylitol also digests slow like a vegetable carb because that's what it is. No insulin spike!
To remain unbiased, there's this
http://www.xylitolforyou.com/index.html and this
http://www.xylitolworks.com on xylitol.
I haven't found the bottom line about differences between corn and birch, but as long as it's non-GMO and processing doesn't pollute the environment I'm a happy camper.
Avoid drinking large glasses of fruit juice as well. That can cause insulin spikes, which contributes to estrogen dominance. That much sugar isn't meant to be consumed without the rest of the fruit for balance. Lots of data on that, but I'm trying to keep this short because this post is way too long.
Coffee, depending on your cortisol rhythm, is probably ok in the morning but not after noon or for evenings. Try using xylitol with it though. Husband says there's no difference and now his whole office uses it. They get a buzz from the coffee but no low from sugar. Caffeine should be minimized though because it's a diuretic that ultimately causes water retention and dehydration. Dehydration is a big issue with all organs and at the cellular level. I actually drink salted water before and during work hours because of the stressful environment. Work is harder to change, but it will.
On trans fats, directly from Kraft (and I encourage skepticism):
http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?m=contact_us/contact_us&q=transfat
"0 grams of trans fat as defined by the FDA: Where a product contains less than 0.5 gram (less than
Well you just made me fall off my chair. You sure had me convinced that you were at least already a med student if not a dr. Good luck to you! I think that you are more than headed toward something that will be rewarding to you! Hummm, 51 ould only mean 57...
Anyway, thanks again. I'm going to print this off and read because there is a LOT here.
I don't drink enough sodas in a year to worry about...like maybe 35 a YEAR, if that. Coffee at night...guilty. Jello, only sugar/fat free. Even the cool whip on top is fat free.
I'm taking iron because I was diagnosed anemic. However, my dr asked what I take and I told him ferrous sequel when needed (there are days that get real bad and it saves me) He brought me a sample and told me to try them instead. (No noticable difference and more expensive) NEVER told me how much to take, how often to take, anything. The more I come to this board, the more I know I made a good decision in making my mission to find a new dr. At the rate I was going, I would have continued my multiple vit. with him and added ferrous sequel and NEVER gotten better. He would never even question what was done before, how I felt, any impovement. Funny what they say about hindsight being 20-20.
Oh well, please post the site, I'd be interested! Good luck in school. (By the way, I am a teacher! So if you ever need anyone to NAG at you to get your homework done...)
Anyway, thanks again. I'm going to print this off and read because there is a LOT here.
I don't drink enough sodas in a year to worry about...like maybe 35 a YEAR, if that. Coffee at night...guilty. Jello, only sugar/fat free. Even the cool whip on top is fat free.
I'm taking iron because I was diagnosed anemic. However, my dr asked what I take and I told him ferrous sequel when needed (there are days that get real bad and it saves me) He brought me a sample and told me to try them instead. (No noticable difference and more expensive) NEVER told me how much to take, how often to take, anything. The more I come to this board, the more I know I made a good decision in making my mission to find a new dr. At the rate I was going, I would have continued my multiple vit. with him and added ferrous sequel and NEVER gotten better. He would never even question what was done before, how I felt, any impovement. Funny what they say about hindsight being 20-20.
Oh well, please post the site, I'd be interested! Good luck in school. (By the way, I am a teacher! So if you ever need anyone to NAG at you to get your homework done...)
Hi. Again thanks to all that have responded. I have had so many people tell me that part of the problem could be my low iron. Hoping to help I have way upped what I am taking to the 325mg a day for 6 months in hope to get my iron up. If being iron deficient anemic is adding to the problem, I can work on that.
I already drink about 1 soda a week and less alcohol than that. My biggest love is AM coffee. OUtside of that, I am trying to carry water with me everywhere I go! As long as it is handy, I will drink it. Arizona summers make it easy to drink lots of water anyway.
I have REALLY been watching what I am eating. I'm trying to cut out anything that is not good for me. My biggest splurge right now is jello with cool-whip. I'm holding what I eat to 1100 calories a day and logging every bite. I walk lots.
I will check out the websites again. you have had some great ideas. I don't plan on giving up at all. It is just a matter of finding someone that is responsive.
& if I find a good endo I will post it everywhere! At this point I would drive about anywhere and I think others are about the same! If I wasn't 51 I'd go back to school and become one myself!There is obviously a need!
Thanks again.
I already drink about 1 soda a week and less alcohol than that. My biggest love is AM coffee. OUtside of that, I am trying to carry water with me everywhere I go! As long as it is handy, I will drink it. Arizona summers make it easy to drink lots of water anyway.
I have REALLY been watching what I am eating. I'm trying to cut out anything that is not good for me. My biggest splurge right now is jello with cool-whip. I'm holding what I eat to 1100 calories a day and logging every bite. I walk lots.
I will check out the websites again. you have had some great ideas. I don't plan on giving up at all. It is just a matter of finding someone that is responsive.
& if I find a good endo I will post it everywhere! At this point I would drive about anywhere and I think others are about the same! If I wasn't 51 I'd go back to school and become one myself!There is obviously a need!
Thanks again.
Nancy I am hyperthyroid and I get dizzy alot . It is vertigo. I saw a article on the internet about dizziness . It said to try claritan d . I did and I am amazed it went away after using it a few days. Sounds like you have thyroid problem. dont delay get to a endoconologist.
For Nancy,
Nancy, if you find a good endocrinologist in the Phoenix area, I'd love to know his or her name. I live in Carefree.
Kristen
***@****
Nancy, if you find a good endocrinologist in the Phoenix area, I'd love to know his or her name. I live in Carefree.
Kristen
***@****
WOw, thanks for the time you took with this thread. I will look into the websites, etc. Not in Chicago, however, I'm outside Phoenix, AZ. I have a list of drs that I got off a site where they were referred by other people and have an appointment with one of them in a few weeks..wish it was sooner. I am trying to work within my insurance if possible and this dr. fits that. However, I have 2 drs that are not on my insurance on my list that fit some of what you suggested.
I have to find a dr that I believe is working for me and listening to me and if I have to work A to Z on my list to find that person (actually I have them sorted by what I read about them) than that is what I will do.
I got the results back from my saliva testing and they are showing normal thyroid, too. That really has me confused. Why do I have SO many symptoms for something that testing is just telling me over and over again, does not exist.
Geez, would be nice to just have something like the measels where there is no question WHY you have it, what is going on, or why it won't go away!
Thanks again.
Nancy
I have to find a dr that I believe is working for me and listening to me and if I have to work A to Z on my list to find that person (actually I have them sorted by what I read about them) than that is what I will do.
I got the results back from my saliva testing and they are showing normal thyroid, too. That really has me confused. Why do I have SO many symptoms for something that testing is just telling me over and over again, does not exist.
Geez, would be nice to just have something like the measels where there is no question WHY you have it, what is going on, or why it won't go away!
Thanks again.
Nancy
[quote]I got the results back from my saliva testing and they are showing normal thyroid, too. That really has me confused. Why do I have SO many symptoms for something that testing is just telling me over and over again, does not exist.[/quote]
Were free T3 and free T4 tested? If so, ranges may be skewed. They can be different from one lab to the next. Check the www.stopthethyroidmadness.com site for test result interpretations. It's explained there in easy to understand details.
Also, if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, lab results are almost worthless because you can swing from hyper to hypo or hyop to hyper quickly. Today's test results might not mean anything by tomorrow or next week. That's when adrenal gland attention may be needed, so attacks on the thyroid tissue can be minimized or halted. After adrenals are rested and hopefully healed, then thyroid dysfunction can be more accurately assessed and therapeutic dosages of T3 and/or T4 can be worked toward.
Be cautious of advice to increase or decrease thyroid meds by months at a time. Shorter times (2-3 weeks) for increases at low doses are optimal, while slightly longer times (4-6 weeks) are appropriate as higher doses are reached. Taking a low dose for a long time causes desensitizing and though it may seem to help briefly, symptoms will return with a vengeance. Thyroid or cortisol dumps can occur that have the same and sometimes stronger effect. You'll want to learn to monitor your own symptoms and how to dose yourself. This is truly one of those things where realistically educated doctors can only guide us. We have to take responsibility for monitoring our individual thyroid symptoms because they are about as unique as fingerprints. No doctor can be blamed for not having all the answers or being unable to predict unpredictable thyroid dysfunction.
Diet can be a big help too, and that we do have total control over so far. Do not avoid healthy fats - that makes your body want to store them for the future because it is being robbed now. While you're waiting and learning more about all this, begin cutting out added sugars and trans fats (see www.bantransfats.com). Systematically switch sodas and alchohols for water. Difficulty with drinking "enough" water every day can be dealt with by drinking more at a time. 2 cups instead of 1 cup, etc. Minimize or cut dairy products and meats that contain hormones because they directly contribute to making you feel worse even if everything else is being done right. Eat organic foods if you can and because even organic foods can be grown in deficient soil, take a good whole food multi-vitamin, or a good multi-vitamin with meals.
These few things combine to have a major impact in the most positive ways. You'll be pleasantly surpised at how taking charge of your health lends confidence and permanent ability to do more and better. There are always better days than others and being ill can be overwhelming, but overcoming it is to empower yourself. You didn't get this far by being a wimp ;.)
Were free T3 and free T4 tested? If so, ranges may be skewed. They can be different from one lab to the next. Check the www.stopthethyroidmadness.com site for test result interpretations. It's explained there in easy to understand details.
Also, if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, lab results are almost worthless because you can swing from hyper to hypo or hyop to hyper quickly. Today's test results might not mean anything by tomorrow or next week. That's when adrenal gland attention may be needed, so attacks on the thyroid tissue can be minimized or halted. After adrenals are rested and hopefully healed, then thyroid dysfunction can be more accurately assessed and therapeutic dosages of T3 and/or T4 can be worked toward.
Be cautious of advice to increase or decrease thyroid meds by months at a time. Shorter times (2-3 weeks) for increases at low doses are optimal, while slightly longer times (4-6 weeks) are appropriate as higher doses are reached. Taking a low dose for a long time causes desensitizing and though it may seem to help briefly, symptoms will return with a vengeance. Thyroid or cortisol dumps can occur that have the same and sometimes stronger effect. You'll want to learn to monitor your own symptoms and how to dose yourself. This is truly one of those things where realistically educated doctors can only guide us. We have to take responsibility for monitoring our individual thyroid symptoms because they are about as unique as fingerprints. No doctor can be blamed for not having all the answers or being unable to predict unpredictable thyroid dysfunction.
Diet can be a big help too, and that we do have total control over so far. Do not avoid healthy fats - that makes your body want to store them for the future because it is being robbed now. While you're waiting and learning more about all this, begin cutting out added sugars and trans fats (see www.bantransfats.com). Systematically switch sodas and alchohols for water. Difficulty with drinking "enough" water every day can be dealt with by drinking more at a time. 2 cups instead of 1 cup, etc. Minimize or cut dairy products and meats that contain hormones because they directly contribute to making you feel worse even if everything else is being done right. Eat organic foods if you can and because even organic foods can be grown in deficient soil, take a good whole food multi-vitamin, or a good multi-vitamin with meals.
These few things combine to have a major impact in the most positive ways. You'll be pleasantly surpised at how taking charge of your health lends confidence and permanent ability to do more and better. There are always better days than others and being ill can be overwhelming, but overcoming it is to empower yourself. You didn't get this far by being a wimp ;.)
TSH
Free T4 (note the word
Free T4 (note the word
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is probably not the thyroid -- but to test further, consider thyroid antibodies -- if TSH >3 and antibodies positive, I would likely treat.
You have low iron but are of menopausal age -- so if you are not menstruating, where is the iron going? It's either not being absorbed (check into celiac sprue -- blood test for anti-endomysial & anti-gliadin antibodies) OR it's being lost (do colonoscopy).
The dizziness --- if this is on prolonged standing, consider a tilt table test to evaluate vasodepressor syncope. If it is simply with changing from seated to standing positition then keep hydrated and consider florinef (would also work in many cases of vasodepressor syncope).
The weight gain & high cholesterol may point towards pre-diabetes (insulin resistance syndrome) -- low HDL (good cholesterol), high triglycerides, high BP, glucose intolerance and abdominal weight gain.
You have low iron but are of menopausal age -- so if you are not menstruating, where is the iron going? It's either not being absorbed (check into celiac sprue -- blood test for anti-endomysial & anti-gliadin antibodies) OR it's being lost (do colonoscopy).
The dizziness --- if this is on prolonged standing, consider a tilt table test to evaluate vasodepressor syncope. If it is simply with changing from seated to standing positition then keep hydrated and consider florinef (would also work in many cases of vasodepressor syncope).
The weight gain & high cholesterol may point towards pre-diabetes (insulin resistance syndrome) -- low HDL (good cholesterol), high triglycerides, high BP, glucose intolerance and abdominal weight gain.
Like you my thyroid was normal and they thought I was crazy even though I had a strong family history - have them test your thyroid antibodies - that's how they found mine which were way out of range!!
If you haven't already, please check out the site http://www.thyroid-info.com/. You may be able to find a doctor in your area who specializes in thyroid.
Thank you both. Thyroid antibodies? What is this?
Each dr. has tested my TSH, most test T4 (thyroxine)& T3
Uptake. One tested T7 Index, one the T4 said Fre Non-Dialysis, and below that intact PTH.
Scores from most recent test back
TSH 1.88 3.1 2.14 2.52
T3 29.3
T4 8.6 (Thyroxine)
T7 2.5
T4 1.6 (Free)
PTH 28
All tests were done fasting.
Each dr. has tested my TSH, most test T4 (thyroxine)& T3
Uptake. One tested T7 Index, one the T4 said Fre Non-Dialysis, and below that intact PTH.
Scores from most recent test back
TSH 1.88 3.1 2.14 2.52
T3 29.3
T4 8.6 (Thyroxine)
T7 2.5
T4 1.6 (Free)
PTH 28
All tests were done fasting.
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