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 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.
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.
Here's some more articles
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/hypothyroidism/possible-complications.html
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/symptomsproblems/a/heartrisk.htm
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/116/15/1725.full
PS I have a family member who has two large goiters (over 5 CM) and a TSH of 50. Her dr told her that since it's not cancerous she doesn't need treatment. But, they're giving her cholesterol lowering meds, pre-diabetes drugs, fibromyalgia drugs, and anti depressants. All she needs is treatment for thyroid disease for which she has a STRONG family history. UGH.
We all know that many people are also undertreated for their hypothyroidism.
It's a travesty......and Big Pharma is the only one winning.
I'm still going with the thought that maintaining optimal levels is what will keep me healthy. So far, so good.
12/11/2012 -- stopped MMI that evening, endo said afterwards that it was good I did.
TSH 3rd generation, 1.64 (0.30-5.60 UIU/ML)
Free T4 1.0 (0.60-1.12 NG/DL)
Free T3 2.27 (2.5-3.90 pg/mL)
My most recent labs are:
03/04/2013
TSH 3rd generation, 0.99 (0.27-4.20 UIU/ML)
Free T4 0.99 (0.60-1.12 NG/DL)
Free T3 2.56 (2.5-3.90 pg/mL)
Curious, I googled a few things and found that hypothyroidism is often mistaken for sleep apnea and vice versa, but also being hypo can cause it. Some symptoms overlap. Both are frequently present in CHF.