I have been testing with borderline hypothyroid since getting MS. I'm not sure about before MS because I wasn't tested for thyroid problems before.

Do you take medication and has this resulted in weight gain loss or no change.

My ms dx is not yet confirmed but i have been hypothyroid for years. I am on 137 mcg synthroid and it helped a lot with the fatigue. Now that I have had suspected ms "flares" the fatigue from that is very similar as is the foggy brain. I don't know why you stopped your ms meds but the thyroid meds def help with hypothyroid symptoms.

Well, I stopped the meds because I thought that was the cause of my problems. I had been to primary as well as neuro, neuro gave me ritlin and told me to take fish oil, vit d and vit e. I felt no better. Every symptom on the rebif was a symptom I was having, so i thought a break might help then the endocrinologist gave me the thyroid medicine. From reading the rebif can cause the thyroid issues, I have never had this problem before.

I have been diagnosed with Hypo-thyroidism. Currently on meds. I have a goiter and after a biopsy they said it had atypical cells. Now I have to have half of my Thyroid removed, maybe the whole thing. Then they will biopsy the whole mass to make sure it isn't cancer. I read on-line that Thyroid issues are common for people with MS. It is another auto-immune disease. I am hoping it isn't cancerous. Lord knows I have enough on my plate. I just take it al as it comes and try to stay positive.

@ Baywatc- I am so sorry and yes we do have alot on our plates.

I was DX with Hypothyroidism in 98 or 99. I have been taking Synthroid since then. Right now I am on 112 mcg and 125 mcg, alternating every other day. My fatigue is bad anyways but before I started treating my thyroid it was TERRIBLE! My dr told me that once you start taking a med for your thyroid that you will always have too. I thought at one point I would stop it......That was a big NO NO!! My body got all out of whack. Anyways now I try to keep it in control and take my meds like I am suposed to. I know what your going through. Keep your head up! I know it seems like we all have alot on our plate but we must keep on smiling :)

Ms and the meds seem to have that talent of playing tricks on our hormones. I stopped my meds January 1st. I konw that exercise and diet are crucial to recovering from this. The meds just control our system and I don't like them. I feel better when I exercise and eat right.

How long did you give the fishoil, etc.? It takes months for this stuff to kick in sometimes. Don't give up on it.

I just started the fish oil and vit e 2 weeks ago. I am not sure what I am going to do I just know I was not doing well at all and feel somewhat better-today that is. LOL

I can honestly say that there is no amount of exercising and eating right that handles true hypothyroidism - believe me I've tried. If there is a connection between the ms meds and the thyroid issue then I think you have to weigh the pros/cons of the ms meds with your dr and then if you are going to take them realize that hypothyroidism is a side effect and deal with that as well. The more I learn about ms and meds and options the more confused I get! I hope you get to a plan that works for you.

Well, I am still off the MS Meds, taking the thyroid meds I can tell a difference I feel some better. As bad as I was feeling anything was an improvement. I think I am going to continue to be off for a while and just take it day by day at the moment.

I am taking my Avonex tonight and I decided to read the side effect brochure. So when I was looking for the side effect of losing hair (which I found someone local who says that happened to her), and I didn't see that one listed, BUT I saw the side effect of interferons causing both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Also in its literature, it says that seizures were reported by "4 of 351 Avonex treated patients."

I am grateful that I have not experienced either of these problems or the hair loss. But be advised that the interferons can cause problems. Thanks, Xaviermom74 for bringing up this important topic.

Welcome, this has all been a learning process for me I am sure everyone else as well, I thought I would be free of problems after getting on medication, but I guess not.

Basic medical laboratory techniques
by Barbara Estridge, Anna Reynolds and Norma Walters page 393
"The thyroid glad synthesizes hormones that stimulate metabolism by increasing protein synthesis and oxygen consumption by the tissues. Thyroid hormones are synthesized from iodine and amino acid tyrosine." ie T4 and T3 only difference is one molecule of iodine.

If you are taking a MS med that works by addressing the abnormal protein this could affect thyroid. If you look at other MS meds that work on immune response you may bypass this issue. Best to speak to a doctor about your other options.

Best wishes to you,
EP

Well the thyroid medication was prescribed by the endo, the neuro said nothing when I mentioned the thyroid issue.