Vibes me, Loungians. Going to the doctor tomorrow for hypothyroid

[Bossy Monkey]

Been feeling very odd indeed lately, and very very late Friday it became too much. When you can no longer sleep because you're not sure you're going to wake up, it's past time to get help. I went to the emergency room, which mercifully was not busy. I thought I was having blood sugar problems, but it was hypothyroidism. So I have to go to a regular clinic tomorrow, or as soon as they can fit me in.

I'm hoping I can fix this with dietary changes. I had quit salting my food decades ago and forgot to start again when I quit eating the regular American high-salt diet and switched to mostly whole foods. (What put me in the emergency room though was quitting my iodine-rich multivitamins a few days before. That and my broccoli addiction.)

I still need to find out too why I'm losing so much weight (30 lbs this year; a total of fifty since 2007, a quarter of my weight). Pretty unusual for hypothyroidism; at least that lets me believe that the hypothyroidism is a new thing.

Thanks in advance for your support.

[emilyg]

1. Good wishes on way. Keep us posted.

[Bossy Monkey]

6. Thanks! Couldn't get appointment until Friday

so I'll be asking everyone to get their vibraphones out again then. The ER doctor said to see someone within the week, and it's within that parameter, so I should be OK.

[Wapsie B]

2. Good vibes on the way.

[Bossy Monkey]

7. Thanks so much! n/t

[Callalily]

3. Sending good vibes

your way.

As you probably know, hypothyroidism can be treated very simply with a synthetic thyroid hormone. It'll probably take several weeks to kick in, but you certainly will start feeling a lot better.

Glad you got diagnosed. Though easily treatable, hypothyroidism should not be taken lightly.

Good luck.

[Bossy Monkey]

9. I'm actually feeling good about not getting an appointment until Friday

because I expect my bloodwork is going to be much, much better by then. Pins and needles in hands and feet are already virtually gone, and I'm sleeping through the night again. I hope that cutting out goitrogens and getting my iodine will be sufficient, but yeah, if I have to go on Synthroid, I'm certainly more than willing. Thanks so much for the reply, and vibes.

[Louisiana1976]

13. I've been on a generic (levothyrooxin) since I found out I was hypothyroid...

last year. Costs only $4.00 for a 30-day supply since I get it from Kroger.

[seemunkee]

4. I have a friend with it

He lost a lot of weight before being diagnosed. Thought it was from stress because he was going through a divorce at the time. It made him so tired he was taking naps at work all the time(luckily he had a very understanding boss). After he got on meds for it he did great but took him a while to get his weight and strength back up.
Good luck to you.

[Bossy Monkey]

5. Hypo or hyper? Everybody else says you gain weight with hypothyroidism, but

if he lost a lot with hypo that would be great news for me, because it might explain my colossal weight loss. I'm REALLY hoping I'm not diabetic (or even pre-diabetic), too.

Edit: Forgot to say thanks. Thanks!

[seemunkee]

8. Opps, sorry

You're right it was hyper. Need to read all the words before making a fool of my self again.
Hopefully the clinic can find the source of your problems.

[Bossy Monkey]

10. Don't worry about it. No harm done.

Anyway, it opens an interesting possibility: maybe I was hyper before I was hypo. Granted, I don't know how I would have managed that, but it might be something to look into. Thanks all the same for your support.

[NJmaverick]

11. Good luck and I hope they figure out what's wrong

:hi:

[Bossy Monkey]

17. Thanks! Me, too.

:hi: back

[Madrone]

12. I'm going through it now...

So far, medication doesn't make me feel better. I've found out, though, that my thyroid is enlarged and multi-nodular (& all nodules are solid) so.... I won't know anything else for at least another week and a half. I have my first endocrinologist appt. then. I'm hoping that the enlargement, etc. are playing a part in why I feel like crap - and that I have a shot at normalcy when it gets figured out.

Good luck!

[Bossy Monkey]

18. Thanks, and best of luck to you, too

I really think I'm just reaping the harvest of overreacting to high blood pressure fears in the '80s. Strongly suspect my numbers will be vastly improved by Friday, and that medication will be unnecessary. As I type, I'm doing an iodine deficiency test (paint iodine on the skin over a bicep and wait); I'll find out in the next 4 1/2 hours how that goes.

[fizzgig]

14. good luck to you

i know how tricky thyroid problems can be. i hope the docs are able to get it figured out quickly.

[Bossy Monkey]

19. Thanks so much. I'm very highly optimistic n/t

[tonekat]

15. I wish you well, I have hypothyroidism too

I was diagnosed with Addison's Disease in 2001, and a few years later, the hypothyroid (which 25% of Addisonians get...lucky me). There's a nodule on my thyroid gland, I get an ultrasound every year or two to see if it changes, it's been biopsied too (that was fun, having a needle jabbed in my neck).

I take Levoxyl, there's a ton of debate on the net as to whether the Armour Thyroid is better. I can't get the endo who treats it to try it, she says I'll get heart palpitations. But sometimes I think I would prefer that to the lack of energy that is constantly with me. Apparently the tests are very inexact, and interpretations can vary.

And losing weight is difficult for me. But, the cortisone I take for the Addison's has something to do with that too.

I hope you can easily control this.

[lukasahero]

16. I take both Levoxyl and Armour

The difference between the two is that Armour has T3 in it and Levoxyl only T4. If your doc won't try Armour (personally, I'd get another doc but) you could ask about adding Cytomel to your Levoxyl. Cytomel is a synthetic T3.

[Bossy Monkey]

21. Thanks! Good luck to you, too.

Hope you can get to the bottom of your problem, even if it means changing doctors. As I've mentioned, not losing weight is the problem that I've had, so I have to assume that the hypothyroidism is new or not my primary problem. Best of luck to you regardless.

[mdmc]

20. vibes sent

and asked for in my own thread.
I'm going to the doctor tomorrow too. I've had a cold or something for over three weeks now.
peace and low stress..

[Bossy Monkey]

22. Vibes exchange commenced. See you in a minute on your thread for the completion.

And thanks!

[mdmc]

23. Peace and low stress my friend

God Bless!

[joeybee12]

24. Here come your vibes!

:grouphug:

[Bossy Monkey]

26. Thanks! Group hugs are always excellent! n/t

[latebloomer]

25. Vibes on the way

Hope all is well- or easily treatable.

PS- Why would a broccoli addiction put you in the hospital? I thought it was one of the healthiest things you could eat!

[Bossy Monkey]

27. There are substances called goitrogens in foods.

Goitrogens you can probably guess cause goiters; basically they inhibit the body's ability to use iodine. All the cruciferous (green leafy) vegetables have them, including broccoli, kale, cabbage (the main ones I was eating), spinach, mustard, collards, etc. Other goitrogenic foods include millet, soy, turnips, peaches, peanuts and strawberries. Possible goitrogenic foods include almonds and most other nuts.

I stress that almost everybody agrees that the goitrogenic properties are killed by cooking, and that if you steam your vegetables, the goitrogens are likely to leach out into the water. My problem was (that I'm an idiot, and) I decided that I didn't want to lose those valuable nutrients to the steaming water, so I started putting my broccoli, cabbage, kale and turnips straight into my stew so I'd get every frickin' molecule. Ummmm... don't do this. Not a good idea. Steam the vegetables, and if you want more of their vitamins and minerals, just make more. Belieeeeeeeve me!

Oh, the exception is that some people say that millet's goitrogens are actually concentrated by cooking. I have no idea whether this is true; take it with a grain of iodized salt. The Merckians indicate that it can also lead to pellagra, so my own love affair with millet is at least temporarily over: http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec01/ch004/ch004d.html#sec01-ch004-ch004d-267 (Millet never calls or writes anyway.)

Some links:
What, me worry? Eat 'em: http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=250
They'll kill ya! They'll kill your parakeets! They'll give you anemia! Stay away!: http://www.ithyroid.com/goitrogens.htm

And lastly, thanks for the vibes!

[latebloomer]

33. Very interesting!

Who knew all that good stuff could cause such problems?

Thanks for the info, and be well.

[MorningGlow]

28. Sending vibes now!

I'm hypo--was finally diagnosed back in 2002--and am now something of a thyroid crusader.

First, may I just say that ain't it just like a man to LOSE weight and piss off all the women who have gained much poundage when they went hypo!
:rofl:

J/K

Seriously, yes, you can be hyper before going hypo. You can also become prediabetic when hypo goes undiagnosed for a while (that was me).

Thyroid problems are thought to be caused by a mix of heredity and environmental factors; it can't be "cured" with dietary changes, but it can be managed better. However, you will need thyroid medication to regulate your hormone level.

Do NOT take Synthroid. It is shit. Doctors who don't know much except what their pharmaceutical reps tell them will push Synthroid. Resist. Synthetic thyroid meds like Levoxyl etc. are meh; natural desiccated thyroid is better (Armour etc.) But due to some FDA messin', they're in short supply right now. The most important thing is to get your T3 and T4 hormones supplemented, not just one or the other. If you must go on synthetic thyroid medication, ask about adding OTC supplements that will help the scrip work better.

Best of luck. Send updates! :hi:

[Bossy Monkey]

31. Hi, read this and see if you find it convincing:

http://www.qfac.com/articles/august/iodine.html
Fits my symptoms exactly, right down to the hot flashes. (If the lady having them while still menstruating thinks they're odd, she should try having them as a man.:)) I did the tincture to the bicep test; it didn't vanish in two hours, but then, I've been getting my iodine back up all weekend. It didn't last six hours either, so if I'm to believe the person at the website, I do indeed have a deficiency.

[MorningGlow]

32. No need to convince me

Your challenge will be to convince a doctor. They are notoriously reluctant to diagnose hypothyroidism. Was your TSH blood test results high? Most doctors will only willingly treat patients who have a high TSH. The problem is that many people (me included) have subclinical hypothyroidism--our TSH number is not very high or falls into the "high side of normal" (the range is particularly broad), and many doctors refuse to treat us. My holistic m.d. diagnoses and treats according to the symptoms, bless her; if I hadn't found her, I swear I'd have died before I was 40.

[Haole Girl]

29. Sending vibes...

hope they find out what it is & you feel better soon.

[Bossy Monkey]

30. Thanks. I think I've got the answer; just a matter of convincing the doctor n/t

[LaydeeBug]

34. are you sure it's not hyperthyroid disorder?

Hpo normally slows your metabolism so you gain. Hyper causes you to lose.

Either way, good luck.

[Bossy Monkey]

35. I'm sure that as of Saturday at 5 am my TSH numbers were high, meaning I was hypothyroid

Whether I've ever been so at any other moment, I don't know. As I've mentioned, it appears that a perfect storm of stupid coalesced to make this condition between not salting my food for 20 years, eating lots of goitrogenic foods straight in my stew instead of steaming them, and quitting my multivitamin. Indications are that the weight loss is due to long-term iodine insufficiency. Suffice it to say that I'm salting my food now. Interesting stuff: http://www.qfac.com/articles/august/iodine.html

[foxfeet]

36. Good vibes en route!

[Bossy Monkey]

37. Thanks! I feel so much better I might need to trans-ship some of these vibes

to the next person needing them.:)

[sarge43]

38. The best vibes on the way, Bossy. n/t

[Bossy Monkey]

39. Thanks! I'm almost totally better. Now I need vibes that the bill isn't too big

:) (Hospital just called wanting an additional $500. I managed to knock that in half, but am not well-pleased.)

[sarge43]

40. Great to hear that.

Major vibes on the bills. I am so glad I have that socialized health care gig. Wish everyone were.