Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
I'm on synthroid because according to my doctor my thyroid was a little low a few years ago. I started out at a lower dose but now I take 50mg of synthroid once a day. I am so focused on hyperparathyroidism that I don't pay as much attention to my thyroid as I should. All I know is that my doctor sometimes tests my thyroid along with my pth and calcium.
I have thinning hair, and dry skin but I always thought that may have to do with parathyroid. I usually don't have much of an appetite, and I'm constantly tired. Does body temperature change with hypothyroidism? There are some times when I feel like I'm burning up but don't have a temperature. Other times I am freezing and can't get warm. My temperature has been down to 96 or 97 during those times. I have been losing weight for some reason. I don't use the scale but go by the fact that my clothes are so much looser. I've changed jean sizes once.
Any information would be helpful. :) I am ready to learn.
I have thinning hair, and dry skin but I always thought that may have to do with parathyroid. I usually don't have much of an appetite, and I'm constantly tired. Does body temperature change with hypothyroidism? There are some times when I feel like I'm burning up but don't have a temperature. Other times I am freezing and can't get warm. My temperature has been down to 96 or 97 during those times. I have been losing weight for some reason. I don't use the scale but go by the fact that my clothes are so much looser. I've changed jean sizes once.
Any information would be helpful. :) I am ready to learn.
Sorry for the reason you're here but, glad you found us.
Your symptoms could be an indication of too-low thyroid hormone levels. (yes, body temperature can change with hypothyroidism)
The only way to know if your thyroid is to blame for your issues would be to take a good, hard look at your labs.
Hopefully, your doctor has been checking more than just pituitary hormone TSH. Unfortunately, doctors who focus only on TSH never get us well.
It's best if your doctor has also been checking your actual thyroid hormone levels - specifically, FreeT4 and FreeT3.
Do you have any recent labs you'd like to share? We'd need to see the reference range for each result since different labs use different ranges and your results can only be properly interpreted within the context of your lab's ranges.
Unfortunately, my doctor as only checked TSH asa far as I know. I will ask her to check Free T4 and Free T3.
I don't have copies of my labs. I live in Canada. My doctor only shows me what comes up on her computer screen. I have labs from when I lived in DE but that was 7 years ago. Once I find out my results and the lab ranges I will let you know. :)
Many doctors are all-too-happy to get the patient's levels within the normal range rather than trying to optimize their levels.
You see, each of us has his/her own set of optimal levels....within the normal range of levels.
For most of us, this means FreeT4 levels near the high end of the range and FreeT3 levels above mid-range.
This is documented in thyroid textbooks but, it seems like some doctor (many doctors, actually) forget this.
So, if you're able to share your labs, we can show you how to interpret them and share additional information that will help you have a meaningful conversation with your doctor.
Optimal thyroid hormone levels = no thyroid symptoms
Thanks, my avatar represents one of our gardening successes (before the squirrels decided to show us just how successful we were :)
I believe that Canadian residents are legally entitled to hard copies of lab results. It will be in your best interest to maintain them.
Even though TSH is never used for dosing purposes, you might like to know that thyroid textbooks indicate that TSH should be 1.0 or lower in patients taking levothyroxine.
Since you mentioned 50mg, I'm going with the thought that's what you're taking....I believe it's called eltroxin - right?
Glad you're taking those very first steps to achieving thyroid wellness - you will reap the benefits.
My endocrinologist referred my care back to my family doctor because my levels didn't look too bad. Now, if I want to be referred back I have to wait until my levels hit that magic number in the lab ranges! It's very frustrating! I miss the system in the US where my referrals were kept up by the insurance company. I never had to worry about being referred back.
I'm sorry the squirrels found your sunflowers but I'm glad you were able to get some pictures before they went to town! Sunflowers are so cheery! :)
I'm taking 50mg of synthroid.
I'm still not sure how to sort out the hypothyroid symptoms from the parathyroid symptoms. I never had to be on synthroid until after my two parathyroid surgeries. I hope they didn't nick my thyroid or that it's not MEN!. My endocrinologist told me that all four of my parathyroids were enlarged.
From what I've heard from other Canadian thyroid forum members, endos in Canada are very similar to endos in the US: clueless when it comes to thyroid disease.
Sometimes, GP's are "workable". As long as you're able to get the right labs done, we can help you help your doctor provide the proper treatment.
You might tell your doctor that you've been researching hypothyroidism to get a better understanding of your disease and realized you'd like to have your FreeT4 and FreeT3 levels monitored as well.
That's really all you need to get started.
Here's some info about the right way to be medicated for hypothyroidism:
http://www.mercola.com/article/hypothyroid/diagnosis_comp.htm
My levels were very much within the normal range yet, I suffered with over 20 symptoms.
I can only imagine that it's hard to sort out symptoms.
However, it makes sense to me to work towards having the "most commonly comfortable" thyroid hormone levels and see what symptoms dissipate.
I'm very fortunate that I don't have any other health issues and once, my levels were optimized, all of my symptoms disappeared.
And, please understand that I'm not saying *every* endo is clueless about thyroid disease but, it seems that many are. I know the 3 I met were clueless.