hypothyroid...

[jenny511w46]

hi all, id like to say thank you that i found this forum. ive learned so much in the last few weeks. i like knowing im not alone. i was diagnosed hypothyroid about 13 yrs ago after my son was born. have been on levothyroxine .075 for about 10 of those years. in the last few yrs my dose has increased, was on .200 but felt nervous,jittery,lost 15 lbs in 3mths and increased panic and anxiety. asked my doc to drop my dose, its now 150, was feeling better. my last test (tsh only) was 120, 4wks ago, also found out i am b12 deficient, i take 1000mcg/day. my symptoms have never been this bad. through this forum i learned what tests to ask for at my next appt. my newest symptoms make me wonder if its all related to my hypo. increased depression,anxiety, body aches, cramps like charley horse cramps, late afternoon exhaustion, brain fog. i believe i may have hashi's but have not  been tested yet. thanks so much...

[jenny511w46]

thanks barb, i see my dr. jan 2 and will ask to be tested for the vitamins also. i was only tested for b12 earlier this year and was found to be anemic and she only tested my TSH which was 120. my levo dose is 150mcg. its been a rough couple of weeks with my symptoms so i want to be prepared when i see my dr. for my next test.

[Barb135]

You have to get tested for the vitamins... just trying to supplement without knowing what you really need is like shooting at moving target.

Some people who are deficient in B12 must inject, otherwise it won't do any good.  I've tried, both, pills and sublingual....... I have pernicious anemia, so those methods don't work.  Only thing that works for me is weekly injections (those are usually monthly).

As I said, you have to be tested; you can't just "assume" that because you're hypo, you're low in certain vitamins/minerals, including vitamin D.  Many of us who are hypo are not deficient in vitamin D.  Vitamin D is actually a hormone produced by the body as a result of the amount of sunlight you get every day.   The sunlight must hit bare skin for at least 15 minutes/day; and the larger the area of skin, the more sunlight is absorbed.

Some people who live in northern climates and can't get sunlight during the winter months, or those who spend their entire days in office buildings, etc, are most likely to be deficient in vitamin D.  Some people can't synthesize vitamin D from the sunlight; others have no problem doing that.

Again, you have to be tested, because there is no "across the board" rule that if you are hypo, you are deficient.

[flyingfool]

First off all the symptoms you are having are consistent with being Hypo or Low thyroid.

Second is try to get the sub-lingual B-12.  Taking it by letting it dissolve under your tongue significantly helps absorption rather than going to the stomach and waiting for digestion for absorption.

Also Vit D deficiency is VERY common in the USA for the general public and almost everyone who is low thyroid.

[jenny511w46]

thanks toni2251, ive been reading about all these vitamin defiencies related to the thyroid but the drs. never mentioning anything or testing. when i read about the types of defiencies i was overwhelmed because i have symptoms of almost each one. i feel sooo bad lately, i wanted to go out and buy supplements but dont know where to begin. my next dr appt is jan.2nd i just dont know if i can wait. do you think there is something i can take in the meantime? i run out of energy by 3-4in the afternoon, like exhausted. i take 1000mcg of b12/day. i was thinking about taking 1 in the morning and 1 around 4pm just to get me through. Ugh, i hate this...thanks again

[toni2251]

Hi Jenny
Let me tell you that it is so important to make sure your vitamin levels are good. I was diagnosed with hashimotos and was sooooo deficient in b12, vitamin d, magnesium, all needed minerals, c, e, calcium.  Trust me when I tell you to make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals. They are essential when you are dealing with thyroid. Beef up on a great multivitamin and minerals. You will feel so much better as you get regulated on your meds. Also make sure your t3 is checked. This is usually related to depression. Keep us informed.

[gimel]

Glad to have you with us.  There is lots of experience and knowledge spread among our many members, and it is all readily available to anyone that finds the Forum and asks questions.  Beyond that you'll find the members here are non-critical, and very supportive.  Sounds like you have picked up quite a bit already.  I would add that if you haven't been tested for the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4 (not the same as Total T3 and T4), then you should make a point of getting those tests done.  Trying to medicate a hypo patient based on TSH testing is like shooting in the dark.  Not very effective.  And the patient suffers from it.  

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.  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 after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

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

If you want to test for the thyroid antibodies related to Hashi's, those tests are TPO ab and TG ab.  After the 10 years of being hypo, however, it is not likely to provide any further info useful for medicating you.