Vent - My Turn - Tired From Thyroid Disease

[Skylark]

My turn to vent a little. I'm sitting here soooo sleepy and I napped half the afternoon. I've been run down the past couple months, brain fogged and gradually losing motivation. I haven't wanted to do things I usually like. I gained some weight, blamed it on sitting still too much because I got bronchitis twice this spring. I finally got a lump in my throat feeling, looked at my dry, flaking skin and brittle hair, and went "Duh. Thyroid." I made a Dr. appointment, got bloodwork done yesterday and sure enough it was low so I start on a higher dose tomorrow.

I'm so sick of being groggy in the morning, sleepy every afternoon, brain fogged, and unmotivated. It's 4th of July weekend, my friends might join me to barbecue and it just seems like too much effort to even consider. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Anyone with Hashimoto's get your dosage bumped up? How long did it take to feel better? I've been on the same dose so many years I just can't remember.

Also is anyone on timed release T3 and if so where did you get it? My doctor won't consider the daily T3 because they're hard to control and he's seen people with nasty osteoporosis but he was interested in the idea of timed release.

Anyway, that's my little vent. I sure hope the newer dose kicks in fast. Like by tomorrow afternoon.

[tmbarke]

Aww doll, I can sympathize with you mucho lotta.

Although I am not on any medication, I've experienced your symptoms prior to going gluten free....then afterward, I'd get the hot flashes and I've also gained the weight. Sitting mostly on the job and here on this darn puter.

My back spasms if I do any lifting or stooping so that in itself is depressing.

Motivation and ambition is limited and going outside my 'safe' zone of my sanctuary I call home becomes a forced effort to go anywhere or socialize.

My doctor has me on 1000ui of VitD (I take 2000) and a B-Complex with a multivitamin (I take the metabolism formula)........Gluten Free........and now I'm on the specific carb diet. I feel so sluggish eating outside the healthy realm of veggies, fruits and meats(protiens). Everything else is minimal.

I feel my mind is more clear and the vision is less strained.

I can feel my heartbeat thru my whole body and the body gets warm and aggitated when I take in dairy these days....which is new to me as I've never had the problem before.

The only other medication I take is Welbutrin for 2 reasons....sleep apnea causes the mind to lose focus....and to quit smoking. I almost succeeded when I too got bronchitis earlier this year......then the stress levels of having a grown man (brother) living with me and working only part time and a couch potato the rest of the time really increased my desire to smoke....and partake in nightly drinks.

Self sabotage.

I've learned to put on my smile when I'm around less stressful people....cuz it actually relieves me and makes me feel part of a social environment and feel human and normal again.....Although I'm not a witty person - I recommend someone with wit to keep my attention focused on enjoying myself and my surroundings.

I know it's not easy to pull out of your routine - but doing it leaves no regrets.

I know the SCD is working wonders for my mind and my ambition - and I highly recommend it to all brain fog and energy challenged gluten-free people. To me it's a window that opens the world of normalcy and my thyroid is less affected.

I prolly didn't help much - but I can relate to you and the way you feel....and big hugs to you.

I hope someone has more informative info.

[Roda]

Yes I have hashimotos and no I have not had my dosage increased since gluten free. Actually I had my levothyroxine dosage reduced last year. I had plenty of medication increases in the years before gluten free. I started with current endocrinologist in 2007 long before my celiac diagnosis. The first visit she added cytomel to my daily levothyroxine after 7 years of being on a T4 medication only. She told me that while my TSH and Free T4 were normal(at that time) that my Free T3 was low which was consistent with my symptoms of hypo. It made a world of difference but I also was symptomatic from my undiagosed celiac and did not get tested for that until Sept of 08. My ferritin was in the toilet too. I go to the endocrinologist every 4-6 months with blood work. We have found that I function the best with a slightly supressed TSH and higher T3, but you need a knowledgable doctor to monitor this. I am currently taking 112 mcg of levothyroxine once a day in the morning and 5 mcg of liothyronine(cytomel) one in the morning and one before lunch. Alot of doctors are uncomfortable with cytomel. None of my other doctors know much about it. It's half life is much shorter than T4 meds so it is possible to feel changes in a few days to a weeek as opposed to the 4-6 weeks to feel changes with the T4 meds. This also allows for adjustments if you should get symptoms of overmedication. All medications have side effects/risks. I accept the fact that I will be on thyroid medications for the rest of my life and I will keep an eye out for osteopenia/osteoporosis. Many people get it without being on thyroid replacement. I am happy with being on both and I had no knowledge of if before my current endo. I just don't get why more don't try it for more patients. I do know that not all people need it, but alot more could benefit.

[sandsurfgirl]

I am militant about natural thyroid. Check out www.stopthethyroidmadness.com for lots of info about it.

Armour is tough to get and also they changed their formula so not as effective. I take Naturethroid. It has been LIFE ALTERING for me, even before celiac diagnosis.

I wouldn't let synthetic thyroid cross my lips again.

I take my natural thyroid under my tongue after I crush it with my teeth so better delivery and no need for empty stomache.

Do some reading about it.

[Skylark]

Thanks for the tips and hugs. Sounds like I'll be toughing it out for a little while longer.

Tmbarke - I looked at SCD. I might give it a try someday though my GI stuff is actually really well under control. As long as I don't eat a lot of refined sugar or starchy foods without some fat/protein my blood sugar seems stable enough. With me it's mostly the hypothyroidism right now.

Thanks for the link, Sandsurfgirl and the T3 info, Roda. My free T3 has always tested normal when I'm on enough T4 to suppress TSH so there is really no evidence that I have trouble converting. I also do feel OK on Synthroid when it's titrated right, although I don't know what I could be missing. I'm mostly curious because so many people say they do better on Cytomel. Maybe I can get a referral to an endocrinologist to talk to.