Graves' Disease Support Group

Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...

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Article linking CHF and hypothyroidism

Fern-RL
Fern-RL
I just read an interesting article in the journal: Clinical Thyroidology for Patients put out by the American Thyroid Association.

http://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/vol-5-issue-9/vol-5-issue-9-p-6-7/

I would really like to discuss this article with anyone who is interested. In a nutshell it is a report on a health study involving hypothyroid patients, including those with 'subclinical/mild hypothyroidism,' and other individuals who were not previously thought to be hypothyroid. Echocardiography was used to determine the heart function, particularly of those who were subclinical, because they already knew the heart function would be less for those who are simply hypothyroid. The surprise was that over half of the patients with normal TSH and FT4 levels also had subnormal results in the Echo; but after they added thyroid supplementation to that group, their heart function also improved.
bransnana
bransnana
Yes, I believe this. There is also something called the "Hunt Study" where they state that the tsh shouldn't be above 1.4 I think to prevent heart problems. Cholesterol goes up too with decreased levels of thyroid hormone and a high tsh.
Fern-RL
Fern-RL
I have also read (and posted) the one about the Hunt study--my take on it was the lower the TSH the better, within the normal range.

My TSH on Monday was 0.99, however, and my FT3 was also very close to the bottom of the range, with FT4 in the middle of the range, and I felt horrid!
bransnana
bransnana
Oh yeah, I went today cause I knew i had dipped somewhat hypo again as I had decreased my dose of Armour at the end of December because I was really stressed out and my levels went up.If my FT3 is too low, I feel like crap too.I feel better with it around 3.6. I know it's lower now for sure. Thanks for that article Fern!
Fern-RL
Fern-RL
I am still feeling so awful that I am not even doing much at the computer. My doctor will not supplement my thyroid. It has been about three months since I have been off the MMI, but he says: "get more blood work done in 4 weeks" [from March 4th.]
Fern-RL
Fern-RL
I recently posted some photos showcasing what GD did to my eyes, and what I have done to survive, if anyone wants to see. I made it public.
Fern-RL
Fern-RL
Since posting this reference, I have looked into "Central Hypothyroidism" and realize that this is what the article is referencing in part.

"Central hypothyroidism: a rare cause of hypothyroidism where the thyroid gland is normal and the problem is inadequate TSH secretion from the pituitary gland."

I also read an article pointing out that the "Reflex strategy in TSH testing" (namely, the lab will first test for the TSH and then, only if it is abnormal, will test the same blood for FT4) --so the article pointed out that this strategy won't detect subclinical central hypothyroidism.