Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Well doctors in Aus aren't doctors on the NHS. You can pick and choose here.

As for supplements, here's a little list. ;)

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/supplements/

It's really experimenting to find what works for you.

Daily, I take:
Vitamin C (Very high dose, about 3000mg)
Vitamin D
Vitamin B complex
Magnesium
CoQ10 - energy energy energy!
Selenium
Boron and Zinc together
Omega 3 + 6

Sometimes I add in probiotics for a week or two, then other times, I forget to take anything at all and regret it a week later. :D
There is research to show that taking supplements all the time isn't so hot for you... that taking them periodically just as you would eat seasonally is more beneficial.
Up to you really.

I've been reading about tyrosine which is the building block of thyroid... so thinking of sourcing some of that and having a little bash.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I take:

Decent Multivit
Extra 1000mg Vit C (more if I'm under the weather, plus Echinacea)
Omega 3

These are the default I would recommend anybody to take; nobody has the perfect diet. My husband takes these, too.

Add to that:

Glucosamine and Chrondoitin (for my creaky joints)
Calcium with Vit D & Magnesium (I need a lot for my osteoporosis)
Probiotics (esp as I have a leaky gut)
Other me-specific stuff ;)

When my gut was at its worst I also took L-Glutamine powder.

I would like to take Boron with my Calcium but can't find a suitable supplement here - any clues, Tiddly?

In Singapore I wasn't on pig, I took Metagenics Thyrosol (I know WVB Healthcare stocks Metagenics) and it was doing the job, albeit slowly.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

This is interesting reading for the omega 3 and 6 people.

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.co...uppresses.html

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Very, thanks Tiddly. I've always struggled to get answers on Omega 3 v Omega 6 for our specific (thyroidy) needs.

I eat ground seeds every day with my breakfast as well as nibbling on seeds and nuts as snacks (when I snack - I'm terrible for not eating for 6-8 hours :( ) but I don't eat oily fish every day so I supplement that.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Yes, well I was taking O6 until I read that. :D

I got my L Tyrosine so have had a first dose this afternoon with lunch. I'll let you know how that goes. Have cleared with the doc and she's ok'd it.

Link here if you want to look:

http://thyroidtalk.org/hypothyroidis...hypothyroidism

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I'm glad you posted on this. Slap...must...eat...lunch...not having dinner 'til 9pm.

Bump it again tomorrow and I'll have a good read of the link :p I must call Dr B, tomorrow, too - she should have some more results for me.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Norty! Eat your lunch! (I can talk... I miss meals all the time - sometimes just can't eat...)

It says in that link that it's been known since the 1970's that 'all polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) suppress thyroid signaling'.

This would explain why I feel so good when I eat larger amounts of animal fats.... :blink:

I recently swapped to that 'better fats' thing. Now I am returning to the animal. Yeah.

Oh, and rapeseed is goitrogenic.

There now, don't we all feel so much better?! :lol:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

It's fine all these doctors telling us to eat every 2 hours, but then they say you can't eat this and you can't eat that, you're intolerant to this and that's not good for your thyroid...so I actually rarely feel like eating.

Not specific to thyroid but I've recently been reading about GE foods. I like to have an open mind until I've verified information but I do believe in reading everything I can on these issues. This site has a list of GE food and GE-free manufacturers: http://www.truefood.org.au/

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I find I am best on meat, fish and salad. Anything else, bleurghhhh!
Keeps it simple I guess.

I'm going completely GF now, instead of just wheat free. Nothing like a challenge, eh?

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

God no, I can't give up oats - what else would I eat for breakfast? :lol:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I ate Freedom Foods rice thingymajigs with psyllium this morning, along with chopped banana and a teaspoon of cinnamon (good for lowering and stabilising blood glucose)
The cardboard taste was offset by the added goodies. :D

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

My breakfast (I think I posted this on the old thread so apologies for stuck record) consists of oatmeal, ground seeds (done weekly at home so they are relatively fresh), chopped apple and sheep yoghurt. I used to have it with water but my nutritionist said I needed more protein for breakfast.

I eat apple or pear because it's easy to digest. I think I'm slightly intolerant to bananas - must review my charts. I know I'm intolerant to citrus fruits. :( Had to stop putting calamansis in my gin. Also got a bit of gut candida so can't eat too much fruit. Might try rice cereal for a change.

Another BE member is going through all this at the moment. She's still having tests but she's been very unwell and her doctor agrees with me :lol: that she's underactive and has a gluten allergy. I'm hoping she joins in our thread or, at the very least, gets some useful information from it. ;)

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Sorry for butting in on your conversation.
But that bis the same as me, i am under active and now just been diagnosed gluten free.
And i can tell you its a pain in the neck.
I take all my tablets in the morning at breakfast time, but i ant have any breakfast as it seems to make me feel poorly.
Some times i can have a bowl of cereal, but that's on the rare occasion, but them i would have to take more medication to counter react it.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Oh! Do you think that is why i can eat some days and then others i just dont feel like eating and my husband cant understand it as i can go without eating for days.
But i have to go careful, because if i dont eat a lot in a day i end up loosing a least a couple of pounds in weight just for that day.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I was told not to eat fruit and salad stuff.
But every now and then i sneak a banana out.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

My tests for coeliac came back negative - but then I found that can happen and that you need a biopsy of the intestine wall to definitively tell. My symptoms when I eat wheat are just vile... so trying completely gluten free to see how I improve. Normally I just stay off the wheat. I can't say I find gluten free a pain at all. I just stay off things which are in any way processed. It seems to work so far.
Hope your friend joins in....

I don't really like cereal for breakfast. I find it too carby so usually I eat my breakfast around 10am and usually have a high protein meal, with animal fats. Eggs...and butter... yum ... and yes, my cholesterol is fine... ;)

Could well be. But you do need some good carbs so you have enough to convert your T4 to T3, so eating is important. Last night, I so did not want to eat dinner. Then when I started eating, I was hungry. Sometimes I have to make myself do it.

I am sure you will be delighted to know that bananas are 'bad' for your thyroid. Foods high in potassium may cause lethargy in people with dodgy thyroids. I can't find the link where I read it now but FFS! Bananas are bad for you? :lol:
Yesterday, I ate a banana. It was Gluten Free. I liked it. Today I am feeling fine.

:D

Whilst I was cruising for the little link I came across this little mine of misinformation. Much of this is incorrect, wrong and just plain nuts.
Apparently god will heal all your ills and the natural healer in the US swears you can come off thyroid meds by cleansing your body.
Who knew it could be that simple? Damn, why haven't I thought of that?!
:blink:
http://www.pathlights.com/nr_encyclopedia/11endo03.htm

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

See, your mother was right after all ;)

Totally by the by, the idea of eating a banana for breakfast is enough to make me gag, let alone actually doing it :blink: Not a fan of bananas but it's a nice word to write/type/spell out loud :D

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Oh I used to love mashed banana sarnies for breakfast when I was a kid.

I tested negative for celiacs, too, but then I test negative for gluten intolerance. If I tested positive I might try to be a bit stricter with myself.

It's not the gluten in cake I shouldn't eat - it's everything else that I'm intolerant to. :lol: (Eggs, dairy, sugar...)

edit: One strange test result I had, and I can't remember ever being tested for it, never been anaemic - my iron levels are HIGH. Not worth worrying about (yet) but not sure why, as I eat hardly any red meat.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Chicken has high iron... in fact, lots of white meat does. I think chicken is higher than some red meats.

One thing I realised today - Vitamin B12 is low i think. I hear that it's possible when you have absorbtion probs such as gluten intolerance... but on a few occasions recently I've had tingling in hands and inability to walk straight without dizziness on waking (and yes I was sober) :D , plus chest pains - thought it was stress and took a load of Vit B complex ... it resolved itself. Thinking that perhaps I'll get that tested at the doc. Would explain a few things.

I think that regardless of positive or neg tests, I feel so much better when Im not eating wheat/gluten... Everything works how it should and that's a lovely feeling.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Mmmmm. Banana's and chocolate....

Or bananas and telephones.... Altogether now....

Click me... You know you want to...

'Cellular, modular, interactive-odular ....'

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Oh my god! vomit central.

I'm ignoring the rest of it ;)

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Oh for two years i was anaemic, but i can safely say i am all ok now.

And i never eat red meat, i just cant seem to get it down past the throat.
it gets stuck if i try to eat it.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hello TiddlyPom, i call you my wisdom of information.

I have had a bit of trouble with balance, every now and then it feels as if i am going to topple over, but dont.
And when waking in the morning i have quite a thick chest with a few pains. But i lay there until it goes off and am right as rain again.
I tend to find that when i have those dizzy spells, i go and eat a chocolate bar or some thing sweet and it puts me right again.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Apparently there are two types of vit B12 ,cyanocobalamin and methylcobalmin.the second one is best, but its hard to get.Iget mine from my govita store and its a NatureDoc one in the 5mg as opposed to to the other one which comes in the 1000mcg.Hope this helps
donna

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thanks Donna.

I'm told I can have a blood test and get jabs for free.... courtesy of Medicare. Apparently the jabs are the best.
I should get the bloods done before I start supplementing.

Ausi, you could have low blood sugar... but get your B12 levels checked anyway.

Symptoms:
'# The first symptoms will be tiredness and palpitations (awareness of heartbeat).

# Shortness of breath and dizziness (fainting) are also common.

# If the anaemia is severe, it can result in angina (chest pain), headache and leg pains (intermittent claudication).

# Red, sore tongue and mouth.

# Weight loss.

# Diarrhoea.
Here's the link:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/...anaemiab12.htm

I've had three out of five of those so seeing the doc for a test. (obviously no weight loss.... :D )

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I've had a week's supplementing with Tyrosine folks and would like to report that I'm feeling pretty ok on it. No negatives with it.
I feel that it's helping with energy - feeling good after a lull before taking it. The body is meant to use tyrosine to make thyroid hormone.
It's worth investigation.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I have just got back from the docs an he has told me i have an underactive thyroid to go along with my diabetes and i am also anaemic. My husband is really worried that this will affect our PR process (this all came about after reports requested by Doc who did our medicals) any advice would be greatly appreciated.

poshrice

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

You'll be fine, Posh. It won't affect anything. You just declare it and then say it's being treated. Bingo!

:)

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Okay here goes - long awaited blood test results:

Full Blood count - good, high
Thyroid - normal (in the mid range but no figures??)
Hormones normal - still ovulating, which I knew as I get horrendous pms
blood sugar - high - have to go for another fasting blood test with a glucose drink.
Cholesterol - good


Looks like I'm just a fat lazy bastrd as no excuse for weight gain or tiredness.....

Dr said - you are a bit overweight though and that could be making you tired - exercise more

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I had under active thyroid and anaemia with a whole lot more and all was fine.


Dont worry, they just ask if its being treated.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Oh i love bananas, had one today. But i wont so much now i know they dont go with the thyroid condition.
I got all my results back from the hospital today and my cholesterol read 5.4, so im not sure if that is ok.
Saw the dieatition yesturday and went thrugh with me what i could and couldnt eat.
At least i can still have the wine and tomatoe sauce, but got to have bran for breakfast.
NO CHIPS:(
I saw that on tele about cleansing your body and i dont think i will be doing it.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

No chips?

What is the world coming to?

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Blood sugar being high is interesting. See how that works out.

'In the mid range means' nothing to be honest.... get the figures from the doc. You need the lab range and the result to get an accurate pic.

I'm sure you feel like exercising when you're so tired. Great.

Call them back and get a print out of the tests. They're yours and you should have them for your records.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Had my next lot of blood tests on Friday.

Fasting bloods again.

Blood sample at 9am - nothing from the left arm, so she tries the right one, eventually gets a sample. Gives me a glucose drink, I wait an hour (by now I have a thumping headache). Another blood sample. Wait another hour and another blood sample.

I now look like a junkie with pin holes everywhere and both arms bruised.

Results next Friday. I think this was diabetes check.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hope you don't mind a brain-fogged ex-Brit Canadian adding to your thread - I found it by accident.
I have spent a couple of hours reading both threads and learnt a lot, thanks everyone.
I was diagnosed hypothyroid about three years ago, TSH was around 9 and an elevated cholestrol which went back to normal as I started taking Synthroid. Started at 0.5, then increased gradually to now, taking 0.1 to 0.125mg. My weight has continued to increase so I am now about 60lbs heavier than I should be, despite having what I would consider being a healthy diet (no red meat, lots of fruit, veg, whole grains, home-cooked meals and fast food about twice a year)- it keeps my husband and 4 kids slim and healthy!
I went for a physical this week as I had been feeling increasingly crappy and despite exercising and really limiting calories, I was exhausted and not losing any weight. The doctor told me my cholesterol was elevated, my fasting glucose slightly outside normal range and I needed to lose weight and improve them.
I asked about natural thyroid, but she said she did not prescribe it. I asked what my most recent TSH was - 4.4. It had been about 1 and I felt better at that level. But she insisted that it was within limits - I think they use 0.35-5 as normal here.
So I asked for a copy of my results which she gave me on the way out - TSH 4.4 (0.35-5)
Triglycerides 3.28 (0.42-1.69)
Fasting Glucose 6.2 (3.6-6.0)

When I got home and studied my results, I got increasingly annoyed! Having been told my cholesterol was high, yes overall it was, but the HDL's and LDL's are within normal range, it is the triglycerides that throws the whole thing out and an internet search told me that a cause of that is hypothyroid!
I don't understand why the doctor wouldn't pick up on that.
So I am hoping that when I see her in 6 weeks that I can persuade her to up my dose to maybe 150 and see if that can get rid of my lethargy, dry hair and skin and general brain fog (I wouldn't say no to losing a few pounds too).
Does anybody know if hypothyroid would be the cause of my high fasting glucose?
I also asked for a thyroid panel, but was refused. I would welcome your knowledgeable comments and recommendations. Thanks!

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hello my dear. Welcome to the thread... anyone's welcome here, even nice people from Canada. ;) You are having a lousy time aren't you? :(

My only recommendation would be to change your doc to be honest. It sounds like you're being severely under dosed on your current levels... And given that the population TSH is around or under 1, then this explains why you feel so good there.

Your doc is a 'levels/numbers' doc and what you need is a 'symptoms' doc. This way, your doc will go on how you feel rather than what your levels are. 4 is way to high, imo. You need to be symptom free and you're obviously not.

Your high fasting glucose needs looking at. People with Hypo can have insulin resistance as part of the package and you'll need dietary advice to sort that out when you find out what's goin on.

Are you in Canada or the UK? Then I'll try to point you in the direction of a good doctor....

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thanks so much for the quick response - I am in Saskatchewan, Canada.
At the moment I am thinking that I will go to another doctor in the practice this week, take my old and present results and make a straight forward request for an increase in my Synthroid initially. Hopefully that will give me enough energy to sort myself out! One major problem with low thyroid is that we don't have enough energy to fight for what we really need! I guess I need to get my thyroid level correct before I can assess triglycerides and glucose properly.
I am really grateful just to be able to talk about this to people that understand. My family are great but unless you have been in this situation, you can't fully appreciate how low it can make you feel.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hey Ex, isn't that the truth! You're right, other people just don't get it.

I think also that they think they're a bit immune to anything and everything... After all, we have this condition here and now and we have to manage it for the rest of our lives... They on the other hand don't have anything for now... yet that doesn't mean they won't get anything they'll have to cope with later on down the track... And no doubt they'll expect understanding, tolerance and assistance when they're ill... but they're not too bothered about learning about your illness because it's not cancer or something 'life threatening' (even though untreated, it is!)

My ex husband said something about getting my 'slovenly ass out of bed' the other week, whilst he was being his usual abusive self at my front door.
And I don't even have a donkey. :blink:



It's a case of 'there but for the grace of god go I'... families need to get with it a bit, considering how common this is becoming.

I think you're right to go back to your doc. I would ask for a referral to an endo too. I think you're beyond the point where a GP can handle this for you and you need an expert, given your blood sugar result.

Here's a link to top docs for thyroid, plus reviews, in Canada.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/canada.htm

Also, if you're not taking vitamins, perhaps I can recommend you start? I've put the thyroid vitamins link up in both threads so you may have seen it.
B vitamins for metabolism, C for immune, selenium for T4 to T3 conversion ... a good mineral and vit supplement would do you the world of good....

Let us know how you get on.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thanks for the vitamin and doctor links. I am already taking supplements, but not selenium, so I will start with that one too.
I went back to the male GP that I have seen before and was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting a little empathy from the woman doctor but I actually got much more from the male GP I saw. He was happy to listen to my list of problems and upped my Synthroid which he said could bring down my triglyceride levels. We talked about weight and he asked about the rest of my skinny family and then said, "Life is just not fair, is it?" He accepted that overeating was not the main cause of my problems, but asked if I would like to go to a dietician as she may be able to help with the glucose problem. I was happy to do that, and am going there tomorrow.
He then surprised me when he asked if I had heard of 'Wilson's Syndrome' people with hypothroid symptoms but normal blood/TSH results. He then talked about treating people for symptoms rather than actual results. The treatment involves T3 therapy, I guess many doctors don't even recognise the syndrome. So if the Synthroid doesn't work he wants me back to try a different appproach.
So I am feeling more optomistic - I also got forms to do repeat bloodwork next month to check my new dosage. To say I am surprised is an understatement!
I'll keep you posted on my progress and thanks again TiddlyPom!

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thought i would update whilst i had time :thumbsup:
I went from 125 up to 150 then back to 125 now on 150 AGAIN!
Have had a sore throat for over 3 weeks without a cough or cold so went to the doctors this morning.
She felt my throat and had a look down it and then said she is sending me for a scan :unsure:

I always think of the questions later - but she mentioned goitres or something and have had a quick search on here.

I think they are finally realising after 2 + years of feeling up/down that i might need to see a specialist. HOORAY!!!!
J x