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Avatar universal

? is hashimotos doing this? Please help!!

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in mdi september, have been on Syntyroid 25 mcg and selenium 200 mcg and have to get retest done in 8 weeks-
My initial symptoms were heavy menstrual bleeding and ran the mill test for early menopause, fibroids- no abnormality- except thyroid as under
My labs were
TSH is 4.1, T4 6.2, T3 2.68, and Thyroid antibodies are >1000


Past few weeks I  have been feeling very tired, want to sleep right after waking up, feel inadeqaute sleep and lot of dizziness(have been drinking lot of water to prevent dehydartion), head feels like rocking forwards or backwards-as if you are on  a boat in water.

And to add it all lot of arms and leg pain,inability to lift groceries- which had been there even befor emy hashimotos daignosis- i blamed on deconditioning as I was not excersing.

I am a Ph.D  student, 40 years old, stellar academic record until no , now  I feel my concentration and memory are really getting poor (I had staright 4.0 gpa) now I am barely passing. and I can read through the books even magazines or light reading ans still not make any sense. My IQ wsa 140 now I can barely perform to 120.

1) Can this all be due to hashimotos?  or is it synthroid?

2) What can I do to be my normal self again- especially if i diligently take my replacements and follow levels ?

3) Will thyroid replacement reverse the way I am feeling, esp mentally?

I am very distressed at my mental situation, and excess sleepiness, wierd moods.
I am noticing lot of problems with concentration in driving too, and it is affecting my personal relations with my husband who believes I am pretending and my school where my collegues think I am not working hard or am simply stupid.

please help !! and thanks in advance.
12 Responses
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, about blueberries and hypothyroism was started.
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Avatar universal
I did receive your email and have just now responded with my email.  I do use garlic but lately had been lazy and using the frozen one from Costco. I shall start organic again. I usually make a thick paste and put it on my fish before baking. I drink a juice of at least 1/2 a lemon evryday- do you think I should take Ester-c. I know these are organic stuff, but I wish to keep away as much as processed stuff and switch as much to natural-I mean natural foods instead of pill.. like maybe- home made orange juice with one lime/lemon squeezed in it.
And the smoothie as you do for your daughter and mybe I may like whey. I have to motivate myself..one step at a time or I will crash..my husband is already afraid I am going mad with so many changes at home.
I have been drinking lemon juice first thing in the morning(this was even before Hashimotos- supposed to clean your kidney) after the synthroid. I have recently discovered from the forum that is not good.
As you and many others have mentioned there should be at least 6 hours difference between synthroid and other pills- I shall start taking these to work.
Thanks again.
P.S. I did recieve your email and have send you one from my email.
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Avatar universal
Wow!  I'm impressed-- You're good.  

Regd  bottled water- You're right, I've heard the same thing.  Maybe it depends on the kind of plastics used?  I know you don't want to freeze water in them or warm them.  I like your ideas though-- Let me know what you find out.  It may be like what's the lesser of 2 evils.  My kids will never carry around a glass of water and San Diego water can be pretty bad, so I'd need a really good filtering system.  If you have a well with little risk of a problem... that could be ideal.  

Whole Foods is supposed to be a really good store?  Maybe you could ask if there is someone you could talk to who is VERY informed and when will they be there...  Author Andrew Weil is very informed about health in general and vit's etc.  and Mary Shomon (at- "about.com") definitely knows Thyroid issues (you can sign up to receive free news letters).  Ester-C (with bioflavinoids) is an acid neutralized form of Vit C that is easier on your stomach and more easily absorbed (it is not a brand name).  Re: Acidophillus- Usually the live bacteria in a good quality acidophillus has to be refrigerated (some say they don't have to be--I don't know)--If you don't have help, look for a quality name with a reputation for all your products : Weider Nutrician, Natures Sunshine, Twin Labs, etc...I use a lot of GNC just because it's convenient for me - I'm always looking for something better.  Also, If you ever make smoothies with protein powder, you can try "rice protein" if you don't want whey rpotein.  And raw or almost raw garlic is really good for boosting your immune system.  Don't take calcium or tannins (found in tea) with a nonheme iron (from a plant source).  Take iron with vit C to help absorption.

Well, I don't know if it will work but I tried to send you my e-mail address in a message sent through My Profile @ my med help


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Avatar universal
Sure, I'd love to let you know how I feel. You can leave me your email.
I have started yoga tagetted at building immune system and also thyroid gland(takes me 5 minutes or so -but wil gradually increase my time), and am replacing my home supplies esp the refrigerator has undergoen a revolution.... I am due for my thyroid levels check in a week or so- I will change my pills and dose after the lab results.

Regd bottled water- I was reading that plastic bottles and containers can also cause autoimmune diseases. So I am looking for a good filter that I can install at home and carry my water in glass bottle. ANy thoughts??

I did not have luck as you did at local Vitamin store for supplements. The staff here(Wild Oats and 'Whole FOod" was pretty ignorant- so I will have to go with the reqd daily recommendations you have mentioned of Vit e, A and B complex. hmmmm .. there is one another store that I can check--Vitamin cottage..
Is ester C (vitamin C)?  Regd. acidophillus- does it have a dose and any organic brand will do??
Currently I am taking organic lemon juice once a day, apple cider vinegar(it helps with my allergies as I am now against vaccinations) one a day womens supplement, selenium 200 mcg, calcium one tablet a day, 1 glass of milk, one helping of organic yougurt. I am low on iron (due to heavy bleedings in past)so I have to take three tablets- but usually I end up taking two. My plate is full of pills...I excercise(brisk walk at least 20-25 minutes  5-6 days/week).
I shall keep in touch and hope my home and work can tolerate me till I can get back to my better self.

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Avatar universal
If you ever get the chance to let me know how you are doing in the future- in the next couple of months, I would love to hear from you.  If not, I'm sure you'll be feeling great  and also brilliant again.  Thank you for the compliments!  Wish I could leave you my e-mail address.
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Avatar universal
I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you.
This long message- I have printed out. I appreciate your effort inpeuting this down.
I do not have any..I mean any disease in my family- I am the first one to get an autoimune disease. I believe my sources have been viral(I have stopped taking flu vaccines now) and teeth fillings over the past 3-5 years.

As I have mentioned, getting a 4.0 GPA is the most natural thing in the whole family(no praises- but now I am the stupid one to my neices and nephews) but my parents and grandparents in 90's have felt they have given us all healthy genes- no one has any disease or even takes any supplement. My grandmother at 86  can still run faster than I do, and beat the DEXA scan of a 60 year old..really no kidding..but they live in small town and eat home made food everyday- mthey do not buy any canned food, have filters in the taps at home, use flouride free toothpaste, eat organic chicken- I thought they were over invested..but they are right and so are you.

.I have read so much about flu vaccine- it makes me wonder...I am the only one who has been getting these vaccines regularily and teeth filled(no one else had carries or bothers to take flu vaccines).
I had switched to organic greens and become a vegan in past 2 years, but nothing like you. I think it requires lot of dedication and effort to change habbits- which I must.
Once again I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your putting it out here and giving me hope that things might turn out favorably...
YOur daughter is lucky to have a caring mom like you.
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Avatar universal
I forgot one thing, Calcium should not be taken within 6 hours of Thyroid meds.  Aly doesn't take any vitamins within 6 hours of her meds-- She takes calcium at night with vit. C (aids in the absorption) and so we also try to wait on the obvious dairy products in the AM for the same reason.  And I've read vit C separate from Seleium too.
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Avatar universal
I know what it is like to not have the energy to take good care of yourself and to do all the necessary research (I was like this because of another illness a few years ago).  So I'll tell you, as a mother you have much more motivation.  I just try to think of anything that will help my daughter's immune system get stronger - this disease is from a weakened immune system and it is possible that it could go into remission in the future.  

I try to teach her to deal with stresses that we cannot prevent, do our best -- then "letting go of what we cannot control"-- Yoga and meditation would be really good for you, though I am not the best at slowing down long enough to take my own advice (I think she's like me).   Me personally, I would insist that my doctor perscribe Levoxyl and at least 50 mcg to start and get referred to an Endo immediately.  You will have to wait to see how it works, but our Endo started Aly on 37.5 mcg Levoxyl from first diagnosis (and most people would not even think she could have been sick- but I knew her)).  Aly weighs only 65 lbs and her blood tests were very similar to yours, so I find it hard to think that your doctor would have a problem with starting a higher dose if you knew the side effects of too much to watch out for.  

They say that this can run in families (not ours), and comes from exposures; triggers can possibly be bacterial infection or viral, or possibly thyroid disruptive meds ie: Prednisone - steroids (tho sometimes necessary to take).  What kind of exposures have you experienced and are you vulnerable to?  Metal poisoning - maybe in drinking water. Too much chlorine and flouride possibly.  Some people say mercury imalgum in tooth fillings.  

I have a bottled water delivered here from a good mountain source (Palomar Mtn) - not just a filtered water and definitely not unfiltered city water.  I always buy cases and carry around extra single water bottles - Crystal Gyser from up by Mammoth Mtn, CA.  Drink lots and lots of water- and No flouride toothpaste.  I shop at a good health food store with lots of organic foods - "Jimbos". (although even Vons now carries "organics").  They even carry vitamins and protein powder.  

She takes her Levoxyl first thing, waits at least an hour to eat.  I make an organic smoothie (Organic Orange juice, bananas, plain org. yogurt, protein powder (Not  soy-- Yes Whey!), ground flax seed, and organic frozen fruits-- usually blueberries (high in anti-oxidents - imp.) etc.  She has a good multi vitamin - ask someone who works at health food store in vitamin section for help organizing vitamins (I take "Women's Ultra Mega" from GNC- it's high in B complex and in the following, which you esp.need - Vit E 400-800 IU as d-alpha tocopheral, Beta Carotene 25,000 IU) and ester-C 250mg to 500 mg after lunch and after dinner-(must separate 4 hrs. from meds).  She is small so 100 mcg to 200 mcg Selenium- up to 300 mcg for you-(I read to separate from vit C intake? Selenium is imp.), acidophylus before dinner (on empty stomach), (other vits on full stomach).  I actually give her a little calcium and encourage her to eat dairy because these meds can cause bone loss eventually.   We now eat lots of safe ocean fish (not farm raised) - Alaskan Salmon, Halibut, (expensive now because going out of season), and Tilapia.  Only (labeled USDA Organic) organic beef (no hormones, antibiotics nor pesticide exposure), organic poultry almost exclusively (they aren't fed hormones anyway- but still prefer organic) sometimes "natural" is enough and organic eggs.  Lots of fresh organic veges and fruits (who needs all the pesticides), flax seed is really good for balancing out all hormones, raw almonds, NO SOY (Isoflavone--phyto-estrogen) This is hard to do after you see that soy is in just about everything, but you will find what you need once you read labels and just change your shopping habits.  Soy is a Thyroid depressant and it also can interfere with the absorption of thyroid medication.  We eat way too much of it, and some scientists believe that can cause thyroid diseases.  Also, no "high fructose corn syrup", no "partially hydrogenated oils",  no apartame nor nutra-sweet and no processed foods. (all this as much as we can- if she's at friend's or we're out to dinner -just do best)  Some people say p-nut butter is bad,  olive oil and avocados are always GOOD for essential oils, some say canola oil is bad but we're running out of oils here.  Cook the goitrogens well if you eat them...broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, radishes, turnups.  Maiitake mushrooms are supposed to be relly good.  

It's really not that difficult once you get in these habits ; Now I don't have to really think about it and I have found stores where I really like to shop.  Your whole family must support you-- Most of the food tastes much better to everyone, even my children.  I know that you'll feel great again once you figure it all out and balance it all.  I once wondered if I would ever feel normal again and it was really scarey, but it's just time AND you taking an active role in taking care of yourself.  I really hope this helps and I wish you the best.  Let me know if there is anything else.  Looks like I wrote a book here.
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318240 tn?1204234523
BACKGROUND:
Currently being treated for Hypothyroidism at 150 mcg of levoxyl.  Levels have recently fallen below 1 (finally), but goiter is getting larger.  Have had biopsi in 2003, nodules are benign.  ENT just ordered another ultrasound and antibody bloodwork - goiter is larger, blah, blah blah and antibodies are at 524.

QUESTION: So this is most likely Hashimotos, which runs in my family, but is that treated differently than being Hypothyroid?  With a TSH of .6, I feel like I should be noticing a marked change, an increase in energy, but rather the opposite - plus an unsightly goiter - ugh, it even sounds ugly.  Catscan has been ordered to identify more - how many tests are necessary and what is the end result we should be aiming for?  

Thank you,
Frusterated
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Avatar universal
Hello Alysmum, I highly appreciate your comments. Please do not apologise. I amso desperate I am ready to take any resonable advice and you are giving me hope....you have no idea what I feel like everyday.. I think I should find a good endo soon.

This is my first few weeks of diagnosis and my PCP has still  not checked my thyroid levels yet- she asked me to wait 6-8 weeks before readjusting the medicine. I am sure once she finds low level- she would recommend going up on the dose of synthroid.

What kind of good water, viatmins and organic food are you providing your daughter??- if you do not mind my asking the same. I have read in the forum that people with hypothyroidism need 'stronger vitamins'- I have not discovered what 'strong vitamins' are ?. I am taking 'one a day for women'  supplement.
I will appreciate your input on my above question.

thank you in anticipation
Helpful - 0
97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This may be the hypothyroidism/hashimoto's.  Would work with your doctor to target a TSH of around 1.0 -- this helps many, but not all, patients with this type of history.

Some people do better with different brands -- if the symptoms got worse with synthroid, try levoxyl for example.  Usually I ask patients to give it at least 4 weeks before we make any change (dose or brand)
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Avatar universal
I hope you don't mind me commenting-- I know you are asking the doctor.  My 10 year old daughter was diagnosed with Hashimotos Hypothyroidism just over a year ago.  She was suffering from almost all of these symptoms and even more in a terrible way.  She now takes 50 mcg Synthroid (Levoxyl) and also Selenium and she now has had such an extreme turn around.  (Lots of good water, vitamins, and organic food too)  Everything has improved so immensely - her energy, her concentration, her enthusiasm, her grades, I guarantee you her IQ too, her limb pains are gone, her depression is gone, her love of life is back-- her joy, her skin pigment and texture, her hair is soft and shiney again, she is just herself again and is very consistantly happy energetic and healthy! She is an athlete and a brilliant little girl who could not even get motivated to do any of her favorite things until I found what was wrong.  She seems best when her TSH is just above 1.0 (though everyone is different).   You are taking such a small amount of Synthroid, and I heard (though I don't know if it's true) that Levoxyl is best - I read that it is the most consistant in strength-- who knows, it works for her right now.  This is terrible when not treated properly, and your body's needs change too.  Take care of yourself and see a good Endo who will listen to how you feel along with looking at your blood tests.   Again, I hope you don't mind my comments, it's just been so emotional for me that I wanted you to know our experiences-- I hope it helps.
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