thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner

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Although both my Mother and paternal Grandmother were on thyroid medications, I always tested within the normal range in thyroid blood tests. I read a book many years ago that covered taking your body temperature to correctly find out if you have low body temperature(hypothyroidism). It was way back then that I found I had extremely low body temperature. I found a doctor who had me chart my body temperature and after some initial tests I was able to go on T3 therapy. My body temperature rose quite quickly and I was off it within a few weeks. However, now, 10 years later I find my body temperature is back to below normal and I plan to do T3 therapy again. When my body temperature was up at a normal range, I was more energetic, felt much better and more normal. Perhaps I should have stayed on it longer when I did this back then. I urge you to go to "www.wilsonssyndrome.com" and look through the list of symptoms and explore this site. Dr. Wilson has helped a lot of people with hypothyroidism, maybe it will help others to review his information.

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Hi I too have this condition and have daily medication to take. The condition can be very dangerous if not kept under control and if anyone has these symptoms please go to your doctor and get tested. I had to have blood tests done and was diagnosed some years ago. Now I have thyroxine tablets to take and can work and live a normal life.

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Some of the symptoms described also are part of what many women experience when they are going into the pre-menopausal years. The shift in the female hormone levels at that time are also likely to cause a major shift in moods, energy levels, heavy periods, & the like.

Part of the picture is also Adrenal exhaustion - which is something more of us need to be aware of too.

For more info on all the hormonal changes - which sometimes include thyroid issues - I strongly suggest that any woman from her mid-thirties into the 50's & 60's read Dr. Christianne Northrups book on The Wisdom of Menopause. It should be on every woman's bookshelf! If you're younger than consider her other book Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom.

Also if you're considering any form of "bio-identical" hormones she writes about that - as does Suzanne Somers in her books.

It is crucial to be your own best advocate & do your research to take charge of your own health!
Sometimes medication is the way to go, other times herbs or acupuncture can be much more balancing to your system. Above all, it is important to reduce stress & make time to take care of yourself.

As women, we do so much for others, and often put ourselves last on the list. Stress, poor diet, to much coffee, exhaustion, lack of sleep all add up to the body being unable to function normally. This can result in any number of health conditions. The trick is finding balance, & of course a good doctor, who is wil

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I'm glad Dr Brent tests for hypothroidism, but he didn't say what TSH range he uses. Many doctors and labs are still using the old range (0.5-5.5), thus undertreating and underdiagnosing patients. The AACE released a new range (0.3-3.0) in 2003.
I was diagnosed about 10 years ago, too. Luckily my doctor knew what: feeling cold, PMS like mood swings, hot flashes, sleeping in a lot and a goiter and a TSH of 7 meant. I actually started crying for no reason during the appointment. If you think you have the symptoms don't take your doctor's word for it that your labs are 'normal'. I've since had an endocrinologist say my TSH wasn't high enough at 7 to have been diagnosed hypo and since I didn't know about the others in my family with it, then I didn't have it. I've also had difficulty getting doctors to increase my prescription to keep my TSH at an optimal level, with the hope of eliminating some of my continuing symptoms and new thyroid-related problems (feeling cold, needing 10-11 hours sleep, eczema, infertility, yeast infections, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis...).
Bottom line is that with hypothyroidism you need to be your own advocate. Mary Shomon is a great resource.

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As someone else mentioned, this article is about hypothyroid, not hyperthyroid. If you believe you may have this condition (it is very common, especially in women) please do not just trust your family doctor to diagnose and treat it properly. Do some research. I was diagnosed 11 years ago, and have been under treated the entire time, still having symptoms (depression, hair loss, weight gain, brain fog, low energy, cold all the time...) while being technically in the "normal" range while medicated with synthetic T4 only medicine. I just found a doctor who really knows how to manage this condition, he switched me to natural dessicated thyroid supplement (Armour) and I felt much better immediately. Once I get up to my ideal dose, which will be far higher than what I have been given for the past 11 years, I will finally be able to feel normal! Check out the website "Stop the thyroid madness" for a lot more info on natural thyroid supplements. The specialist I am seeing now says about 90% of people do better on Armour than on the synthetic T4 only supplements. Commercial medicine will not tell you this because it's all about making profits for the pharmaceutical companies. Obviously I am not a doctor, so don't take my word for it, do your own research. All I know is it is definitely making a big difference for me!

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TESTS FOR HYPOTHYROIDISM ARE NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE
TSH tests and blood tests are useful to help diagnose hypothyroidism but should not be used alone. Symptoms are the most important factor. It is rare that a blood chemistry panel shows your true condition because the values measured are only about 30% accurate. It is common for a hypothyroid person to have a completely normal thyroid panel. This is why the Thyroid Panel is considered by many to be inadequate.

It is common for a hypothyroid person to have a low TSH value, which is usually interpreted as hyperthyroidism, not the reverse, despite many symptoms of low thyroid (depression, dry skin, weight problems, chronic infections, female problems, hair loss, low blood sugar, and so on).

TSH tests are not as scientifically accurate as they need to be.

There is a sophisticated test to reveal even mild low thyroid and it is the TRH (Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone) test. This test requires an injection, followed by one or more blood draws at 15, 30 and 45 minute intervals. This test is accurate, but is expensive and inconvenient for both patient and the lab.

Check this site for the temperature test etc.
http://allonhealth.com/hypothyroidism-test.htm

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I, also, have Hypothyroidism. Did not gain much weight, but felt like someone had "pulled out" my energy plug. Synthroid was prescribed and adjusted once in 12 yrs. Did not do well on generic - had to go name brand. Wonder what would have happened if natural solutions would have been tried before medication was prescribed? I hate to think of life long dependency on Synthroid. Anybody ever tried natural treatments?
Judy

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I have Hypothroidism. I gained a lot weight, was tired all the time, my cholesterol was high and my mermory was bad. My doctor didn't know what was wrong, after a lot of testing he finally said I had hypothroidism. When the doctors had their meetings he told me he brought up my disease and had another doctor to come and ask me questions to try and see if he could tell what I had. This was 12 years ago. With medication I'm much better, but after I got psoriasis, psoriasis arthritis and finally I got a disease call Bullous Pemphigoid all auto immune related.

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Ain't it the truth, Peggy N? My sister and I both had symptoms from hyper and hypo, and my blood tests were always "within normal limits". I pushed my docs for further tests and they discovered my thyroid was enlarged with nodules so I had a partial thyroidectomy and now manage with diet and lifestyle but no meds.

Hey, folks - if you know something's wrong, don't just take the doctor's placating words and ignore it: push them if you have to. It's your body and your life!

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