Needless suffering?
For years, I have been considered by several family doctors as sub-clinically hypothyroid. At least, that’s what my TSH test said.
In Canada, that’s the only blood test most doctors will do, even if you have a strong family history of thyroid conditions, unless you become an advocate for yourself, and demand further testing. I had so many horrible symptoms for years… They made me miserable. And, every time a doctor did the TSH test, the resulting labs indicated that I was on the high side of normal. And then, I did some research. I learned how to ask (demand) the testing I needed to get the proof — proof of what I already knew from my suffering to be true — I’m not sub-clinical, and probably have been full-blown hypothyroid for years.
I’ve now been on Natural Desiccated Porcine Thyroid for 3 weeks; in Canada, it’s known as simply “Thyroid” and in the states, the brand is called “Armour”. I consulted with my Naturopathic doctor after doing a ton of research myself, and chose to go with natural porcine thyroid rather than a synthetic, because the natural drug offers both T4 and T3, where Synthroid only offers T4.
I feel like a new person!
In addition to supporting my under-active thyroid (something I’ll have to do for the rest of my life), I’ve also been supplementing my adrenal gland function. The adrenals work with the thyroid to regulate your metabolism, and when they’re under-functioning, life can be pretty hard to live fully. Thankfully, it seems some basic supplements are improving my adrenal gland function, and I won’t need to support them for more than a few months if all goes well.
I’d like to share the symptom list that many hypothyroid patients deal with… If you suffer from many of these, I urge you to go and talk to your doctor or Naturopath.
- Love Comes Lately video
- - Fatigue
- - Weakness
- - Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
- - Coarse, dry hair
- - Dry, rough pale skin
- - Hair loss
- - Cold intolerance (can’t tolerate the cold like those around you)
- - Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
- - Constipation
- - Depression
- - Irritability
- - Memory loss (lack of ability to concentrate)
- - Abnormal menstrual cycles
- - Decreased libido
free lawrence of arabia
More info, and other symptoms can be found at Stop The Thyroid Madness
– A patient to patient advocacy site for people with thyroid issues. It’s a fantastic site…
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Tanya that’s awesome! I’m so glad you got the right treatment. I thought there was something different about you lately…
Tris Hussey’s last blog post was… Ada Lovelace Day 2009 Women I admire in tech: Justine Ezarik and my daughter
As someone with hypothyroidism I’m curious to know what things changed after you started taking the Armour? I have not been on thyroid med’s for years and I keep putting it off. Maybe its time to end my own needless suffering.
Chris Pugh’s last blog post was… From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
Tanya,
You are always surprising me with your blog.
This is excellent information! What a gift you have for bringing things into the open that others should know about.
Thank you for this post I already have a few of the symptoms and I’ll be checking with my doctor as well.
Dorothy from grammoloogy
grammology.com
Dorothy Stahlnecker’s last blog post was… Maple glazed carrots and apples
I have a friend with the same condition, but hasn’t found any suitable treatment. I’ll pass this on to her. Thanks so much!
Thomas’s last blog post was… Pre-Planning For Zombies!
I’ve had a hypothyroid for years.
Teena in Toronto’s last blog post was… Massage
half of those symptoms would make anyone a much less than happy camper
david, tree house man’s last blog post was… Radical thought
I have been on hypo thryiod meds for 5 + years.
THey are no so bad . I am at 125mg a day and they do ramp me up a bit. THey do make the lower GI speed up and generate more gas..
The up side is more energy and the weight comes off easier.
I have all but 3 of those symptoms, and yet, my thyroid tests normal. Good for you for finding out what is wrong and doing something about it.
You might find this BBC story interesting :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7965417.stm
Not sure if it’ll add anything though, it does the usual BBC thing of touching the surface but not going too much deeper.
I suffer from some of those symptoms but it’s probably more due to diet and psychology
Sleepypete’s last blog post was… Buy 2 Get 10 Free
I am also hypothyroid and have been taking 200mg of synthetic thyroid hormone daily for about 5 years. Although my TSH is now well within the normal range (unmedicated, my TSH is just over 17), I don’t feel significantly better than before the diagnosis.
I have been wondering if I might have better results with desiccated thyroid and have been considering seeing a naturopathic doctor. Can a naturopath prescribe desiccated thyroid? Or does he or she make the recommendation and then you have to see a prescribing MD?
Wow, it seems like this is an epidemic, and yet, so many people don’t know much about this issue.
I’m glad I could be a little help, anyhow.
@Georginie – In Canada naturopathic doctors can prescribe (that’s who did the rest of my tests, and found the issue was far worse than the regular MDs found) — and prescribed me the “Thyroid/Armour” after discussion.
Tanya, I’m so happy that you were able to find something to help! I know all too well about solving my own medical problems. I’m glad you’re feeling like a new person and sharing in your blog
)
Stacie’s last blog post was… Depo-Provera caused my Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and chronic UTIs
What kind of further testing did you get to determine hypothyroid? I have been low and high and low again. I also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which I think is all related. Tests have show that I make anti-thyroid antibodies even now with my thyroid in normal range. When I was 19 I had a full blown Hashimotos incident, anxiety, clinch depression etc. A doctor tested my thyroid and said, “you’re a little on the low side but you’re too young to be on medication.” He recommended a psychiatrist! I never went. I wonder if I had been treated then if I would have contracted CFS 10 years later.
I’m so glad you are feeling better. I was also on Armour for a time and even a tiny dose of cortisol for a time.
colleen’s last blog post was… A Gathering of Gardeners
PS I didn’t notice much difference on the armour or the synthroid. I did feel much better when I was on a thyroid blocker when my thyroid went hyper active. They only let you stay on that for a year. When I went off my fatigue and other symptoms came right back.
colleen’s last blog post was… A Gathering of Gardeners
@Colleen, I’ll preface with I’m NOT an expert, but I have done a ton of research, and with all my reading, Hashi’s is going to cause all sorts of symptoms, like depression, anxiety, CFS, and tonnes of others. I’m SHOCKED that your doc said you were “too young” — that’s insane. My step-sister has been treated since she was 8, and my friend’s son has been treated since birth for thyroid issues.
I’d find a better doctor! Or, go to a Naturopath if you can. I finally had fT3, fT4, antibodies and the other blood tests they SHOULD have been doing a long time ago, and my bloodwork clearly showed a thyroid that was not functioning properly.
In addition, low cortisol and adrenal issues can also work against you (even on thyroid meds) because the adrenal glands help the thyroid converting the storage T4 into active T3. A great place to learn more about these issues is at http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com
Tanya (aka NetChick)’s last blog post was… “Hello NetChick Sent Me” Meet n’ Greet!
Oh! and ps: From my reading (and again, I’m not an expert) once you start on thyroid meds, you shouldn’t stop completely, because the thyroid, once supported, slows or stops functioning alltogether — I’d ask your doc about this.
Tanya (aka NetChick)’s last blog post was… “Hello NetChick Sent Me” Meet n’ Greet!
Wow, T, I didn’t know you were dealing with that. My mom had hyper and hypo thyroid her whole life, and has found the right doses so that life is very manageable. If you want to e-mail her, I’m sure she’d be happy to be a resource. Speaking of which, kudos to you for taking it into your own hands and finding the resources you need. and grrrr to our health system that gave you such superficial help.
@Nancy… Thanks! I’ll definitely grab that info, if I find I have any questions. My sister deals with it, and so does many of my blood relatives, so I’m pretty informed. That said, a new perspective (sounds like she has Hashmotos?) might be good too.
@Sleepypete – That BBC story is incredibly uninformed. It *never* takes only 1 blood test to properly diagnose a thyroid condition. In the UK, there’s been an extreme fight going on regarding proper treatment, and diagnoses of these issues. And, when they talk of saliva tests? That’s not even a thyroid function test, that’s an adrenal test. The patients dealing with thyroid issues, esp. in the UK are up in arms over the recent crap coming from the medical system there. (Thanks for bringing it up, though… Discussion and interaction is better than no conversation at all!)
Tanya (aka NetChick)’s last blog post was… “Hello NetChick Sent Me” Meet n’ Greet!
Oh, good on you for hauling it out into the open! My partner’s on thyroid meds, it’s a real bastard to nail down and a change in meds is akin to a change in direction for the Queen Mary; you’ve forgotten which way you spun the wheel by the time the boat’s on a new course.
pericat’s last blog post was… surely you could just keep a journal?
It was back in 1969 when the doctor told me that. I was young and alone. I would hope it would have been better handled today.
colleen’s last blog post was… As Wet as That
I’m a big supporter of people who take their health into their own hands and do their own research. So props to you! I’m curious though what type of test you asked your doctor to give you?
@Pericat – Welcome back! Awesome to have you here. What’s N on now? (synthetic or natural?)
@Colleen – Wow… Okay. Those were different times.
@Duane – Free T4 and Free T3, as well as anti-TPO (thyroid antibody test) — my results all showed a full-on hypothyroid whereas my TSH was only at the high end of normal. This one extra set of labs could help so many people, and yet they don’t do them unless the TSH is well beyond normal. [shaking head]
Tanya (aka NetChick)’s last blog post was… “Hello NetChick Sent Me” Meet n’ Greet!
This is very hot information. I think I’ll share it on Twitter.