Men and Hypothyroidism

[Boristhespider]

Is it terribly uncommon for a man to be hypo? I am a male who had a TSH of 16.96. I went and had more blood work done monday and still have not received a call from my doctor. I am just nervous and feel bad. I was just talking with guys at work and they never heard of men having thyroid problems, and then I check on line and it is rare. I was just wondering if anyone here knows of any men who have thyroid problems?
And if my 16.96 TSH is something to be concerned about.
THANKS!

[giga612]

And I haven’t been tested for thyroid antibodies will request it at my next appointment in 2 weeks

[giga612]

Hi
It is a no for any thyroid meds.
But I have been taking a multivitamins every day for as long as I can remember even at high school I carried a bottle in my bag and only used them when I needed to.
I currently take berocca performace every day.
I live in Australia in Northern NSW
And I hope you start to get better to tkd4u2
And thank you for the help I do appreciate it Gimel

[gimel]

You are definitely hypothyroid, based on all those symptoms and your test results.  Your free T4 is okay, but your Free T3 is not high enough to relieve symptoms.  Many of our members, myself included, report that symptom relief for them required that Free T3 was adjusted into the upper third of its range and free T4 adjusted to around the midpoint of its range.

Raising your Free T3 level is going to suppress your TSH further, which will cause many doctors to declare you hyper and want to reduce medication.  You are not really hyper unless you also have hyper symptoms caused by excessive hyper symptoms.

By the way you did not mention if you are taking thyroid meds already.  Also, have you ever been tested for the thyroid antibodies, Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin?  The tests are TPO ab and TG ab.  they are used to detect the most common cause of hypothyroidism, which is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Just as I told tkd4u2 above, you can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with from a distance.  The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.  This is the type of treatment I strongly recommend for you also.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

So I think your most immediate need is to find that good thyroid doctor that will treat you clinically.  If you will tell us your location, perhaps some member may be able to recommend a good thyroid doctor for you.

I also want to mention that whenever you go back to see a doctor, try to get them to also test you for Reverse T3, Vitamin A, D, B12 and RBC magnesium.  Many hypothyroid patients find they are low in these areas as well.

[gimel]

If you would like to understand how you should be tested and treated,  you can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with from a distance.  The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.  This is the type of treatment I strongly recommend for you.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

The biggest problem for most of us here has been finding that good thyroid doctor.  If you are interested, I have such a doctor in Seattle that was recommended by a fellow member.

[giga612]

I haven’t replied in a few days I have been laid up with some back pain just above my kidneys and chest pain not my heart or anything just chest pain and a real bad stabbing pain in my throat.
And most the systems are there and I will post the list.
One thing that may be worth noting is I have this lump on my back just above my kidney and I got this checked out when I was 20 by 2 doctors and they basically told me it was a fat lump but I don’t now and I think it is more than that because it is still there and that’s the same area that some of the pain came from in the past few days.
I still have some pain today but it is minimal
And on the exercise part I have found something that does help. it is called a power ball gyro .it is manly used to help RSI but it has helped me out with some of the muscle weakness and I have  had it for around 6 years.
Around 2 months ago I did get stung by a paper wasp and I went in to anaphylactic shock.
The emergency doctor told me that if I get stun again it will be worse. I was getting testing by my doctor for about 1 mount before this happened and I also have to carry adrenaline shots around with me .
I don’t really want to disuse all this with my doctor but it does look like I have no choice.
•Feeling tired (fatigue) and sluggishness    yes
•Weight gain  yes (but stable at 100 kg)
•Slow movement and speech   yes
•Constipation    yes
•Increased sensitivity to cold   yes
•Puffy face  yes
•Swelling around the eyes  no
•Loss of eyebrows  no
•Joint and muscle pain, aches, and stiffness   yes
•Pale, dry, rough, and thick skin   yes
•Dry, thinning, or coarse hair  yes
•Brittle nails  yes
•A horse voice (don’t now)
•An enlarged tongue     no
•Decrease in taste     yes
•Decreased sweating   yes( but have night sweets)
•Heavy or irregular menstrual periods  (not applicable)
•Infertility  (don’t now never been tested )
•Miscarriage in early pregnancy  (not applicable)
•Depression  yes
•Slowed heart rate  yes
•Swollen ankles  no
•Decreased hearing  yes
•Mild high blood pressure yes
•Difficulty catching your breath (severe shortness of breath) when exercising  yes
•Decreased ability to exercise  yes

[tkd4u2]

I thought it weird that people think men don't have thyroid problems really. I've known a dozen or so over the past 5 years alone. I've had Hypo for 18 years now.

Discounting the symptoms for women, I have all but 3 of the symptoms on the web link gimel posted. I've never had a swollen tongue and am not sensitive to cold. I am quite opposite actually. Completely hot all the time to the point I wear shorts and tank top when it's 30 degrees out.

And the part about "decreased ability to exercise" is spot on. Not only is it difficult to exercise due to bones hurting but the total lack of energy on top of it. It typically interferes with my ability to work regularly but I "grin and bear" it and keep quiet about it and do what I can. I guess that has been the man's way forever it seems.