All Hypothyroids should join this site!

Thanks for the links, joined both of them. Trying to cope with chronic diseases is exhausting. There's no question that I need thyroid medication. Over 20 years ago a prominent doc in St Louis with a renowned teaching hospital told me that my thyroid was malignant. He was chief of surgery at that hospital. I lost my thyroid and most of the parathyroids. It's been a struggle ever since.

I also have lymphodema. After years of trying to cope, I finally found an occupational therapist who has helped. I look like a mummy, but I wrap my legs from the ankle to the knee with a wrap from Germany, Comprilan. My legs now look like human legs instead of piano legs. I guess that I didn't win the genetic lottery. My grandmother and aunts all suffered from it.

I've gone to a weight loss specialist one time. He's a board certified internist and endocrinologist. He at least pays attention, which my primary doc hasn't done, to the thyroid problems. He's lowered my dosage from .2 to .175 to .15, but I felt almost comatose with the lowest dose, so he agreed to return to the .175. I had switched several months ago from the levothyroxin to the "real" synthroid.

My former internist said that Armour wasn't good for people over 65. I don't know if she just pulled that out of thin air or if she's right. Needless to say, she's my ex-internist, as she wasn't paying any attention to me or to my husband. (the new doc sent him to an urologist, who discovered his prostate cancer).

We really have to watch the docs and find the right one, if that's possible. We also switched urologists/surgeons for my husband. Sometimes it absolutely wears me out.

Thanks, for reposting...I have been away from this site, for awhile now..but I am no longer caring full-time for my mother, going back to real job, soon...I have quit smoking...this is going my year of MANY changes (positive ones)

Thanks fir that link! I used to read on that site all the time, nut I had lost the bookmark, now I have it again!

Eve

I appreciate the information too. I was happy to be made aware of it when I joined this team a number of years ago. I continue to visit the site from time to time to check in on what's being learned with new research.

I love the great information on Mary Shoman's site. I've been a big fan for years.

You're very welcome, Diane.

Thank you for giving us those sites.........they were very informative.
I learned a lot...can't wait to try some of these suggestions.
Thanks again,
Diane

Reposting YICHE12's initial post to get it to the top of the thread.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back in 2001 or so, I joined up with this site and it has allowed me to make decisions by myself about my Hypothyroidism. Doctors don't always have the time to research for information, therefore, we need to do this so we can inform them of what we want for ourselves.

Mary Shomon is also a Hypothyroid and is truly a fighter for our condition. Do check it out but I strongly recommend your joining her site. You will also receive regular news from her.

thyroid.about.com/

See you online!

Lise
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am also including a link to an additional site with thyroid information that was shared by SOMAFLEX.
www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am also adding a link to an article that gives brief summaries and links to multiple thyroid articles that folks may find informative and helpful.

www.wellnessresources.com/health/art
ic
les/top_thyroid_stories_of_the_past_R>year/

Wishing all of you success in uncovering what supports you best. Hang in there! It takes time.

By the time most of us become aware that we have issues with our thyroid, the condition has been developing for years. This is not a condition that will likely be resolved quickly, unless you happen to be dealing with an acute onset of your condition.

Again, for most, we are dealing with a chronic condition that has developed over years. It can get better. So, again, hang in there.

Read. Learn. Advocate on your own behalf.

Jeanne

Edited by: JEANKNEE at: 10/27/2016 (01:30)

SOMAFLEX - Thank you for sharing the link. I will certainly have a look.

As for Mzzchief, she is on the other team. Not on this team.

thanks will check it out -

Greetings all,

I've been following Shoman for years now and she does offer some exceptionally helpful advice and guidance. She's been a pioneer in taking our struggles mainstream.

A couple years back I started following stopthethyroidmadness.com and have found the insight, guidance and information there more helpful than Shoman.

Knowledge is power
www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

P.S. Where is Mzzchief these days?

thank you .. it is good to hear what others are doing and taking that is working - somethings to try

Keep us posted! We're in this together.

thanks - have had problems with thyroid since 98.. its fine then goes too high and docs do not up meds - anyway ... tried it and armour is not right for me .. but a little t3 added might help .. we shall see -

I am on the equivalent of Armour but it works for me. As you may know, not only does Hypothyroidism affect people differently on individuals but also the medication. It's a matter of trial and error unfortunately. Good luck in finding your right dosage.

Hi, well trying Armour and it is not working for my body - over dosed with first script -doc does not know what he is doing but wants to help - gave me 180 2 Xs a day -- of course numbers lowest I ever had ( have been on 300 synthroid ) .. so backed off to 120 2 Xs aday .. now these should have been 1 X a day ... so I self medicated and broke the 180 in 1/2 - 1 x aday and still awful as t4 too low and t3 too high !!!! had high BP, BS, shaky , heart racing -
my thoughts are going back to 200 synthroid and add small amount cytomel to reg the t3 better .... have to do it now I can not stand this - sleep is screwed up too and used to no problems .. any thoughts ??

Lise, Thanks for the link!

AliceArt2010, I have been taking Armour desiccated pig thyroid for close to 15 years. It has worked wonders for me in terms of symptom abatement. When I initially requested it, my doctor balked. The explanation shared made sense to me and I figured my doctor was the one with the medical training not myself, so, I deferred to my doctor's recommendation. After attempting to regulate my thyroid function with levothyroxine for about 1.5 years, my doctor says to me "What's the name of that medication you initially requested?" Armour thyroid was prescribed and in short order I was feeling like a different person. So, both of us learned something from that experience. Although my doctor has the medical training, I know my body's experience best. Over the years I had learned that my body does not respond well to synthetics. That's why I had initially requested a natural thyroid preparation in the first place.

Best wishes to you as you discover what works best for your body. It has been an ongoing process for me.

JeanKnee

Edited by: JEANKNEE at: 3/1/2014 (20:43)

Unfortunately, hair breakage and thinning is a symptom of Hypothyroidism. What helped me a while back is using Vivagen (by Redken) shampoo and treatment. There's also a link on our Team page that dealt with that subject a while back. Go through the different threads as these have a lot of information in them.

I have hypothyroidism as well as type 2 diabetes. I have problems with hair breakage as well as thinning. any ideas to help.

I'm on the equivalent of Armour - has T4 and T3 in it (I live overseas and take a French medication). Since taking this medication my levels have stabilized. I must admit that I feel very well with this medication. My symptoms seem to have vanished.

Your first doctor was correct in giving you 25 mcg to begin with as your body has to adapt to the medication. It's a low dosage and it will be adjusted as time goes.

Keep us posted as to your new results. Hugs.

I was diagnosed this year with hypothyroid & take 50 mcg of Levothyroxin currently. I am scheduled to go back to the doctor and get my blood tested again this month to see where my TSH test is. I was originally diagnosed in June and they put me on 25 mcg but I took myself off of it. I went to a different doctor for a second opinion & was re-diagnosed in October 2013. He then put me on 50 mcg which I currently take each day. My doctor told me to take it every morning when I was up & told me not to eat for 30 minutes after taking it. He also told me that I cannot take my other medication (abilify) for 4 hours after taking the Levothyroxin.

I met a woman who suggested that I read "Stop the Thyroid Madness" and so I ordered that book from Amazon. The person who wrote the book recommends Armour desiccated pig thyroid. Has anyone ever been on Armour? None of my doctors wanted to put me on Armour even after I suggested it.

Hello there. The site has changed substantially over the years as we had to register in the past. You may want to sign up for the newsletter and this way you will be updated all the time. Hugs. Lise

Hi,
Maybe I am missing it, but I went to Mary's site on hypothyroidism and I am not sure how to sign up on the site. Is it the newsletter sign up or is there another place I need to do the sign in?
Please advise me on this.

Sue

Hi Stacey. Unfortunately, having Hypothyroidism means that we need to take our medication for the rest of our lives. Yes, it can be a pain but if the symptoms remain abated, so be it. Do read through the different threads on the team page as there's a lot of useful information.

I wish you well on this journey.

Just found this group - I'm excited there are so many of us out here! I take Levothryoxine (sp?) and have ever since I was diagnosed 2 years ago which seems to work, but obviously would rather not take a pill every day. Oh yeah, and had gained a ton of weight which didn't just drop off after getting on the med of course!!! Will be digging through feeds to see what you all have found to work. :-)

I just joined the site, and ordered her book for my kindle as well. I see a nurse practitioner and she doesn't seem to have a lot of information on my condition. Thank you for the suggestion!

Lise,

Thank you for sharing!

joined ! thank you!!!

Mary Shomon is a strong advocate for Hypothyroidism. Should you need any questions answered, you can also ask on the site. It's great that you have all joined up.

Just joined it.

I really needed a resource like this site and it came at the perfect time! Thanks!

Just joined this site...thanks!!

Stupendous resource! I just spent quite a few minutes perusing the site. Thanks for the link!

Thanks for the link, I also joined the site!

Thank you! I have joined the site.

Thanks for the link. I need to know all I can about hypothyroidism. Just an aside: I had my thyroid checked about 2 months ago and it was off, so they got me taking 1.5 tablets (10 mcg) each day and someone told me to take it at night and that I'd sleep better, and well, my thyroid is back on track (checked it Monday) and I am sleeping better. So yippee! Thanks! Have a great weekend! God Bless you all.

Lise!

I joined that site about a month or so ago and LOVE it! I've learned so much on my own and still learning. The emails are so informative, too. Thanks for sharing the link with the rest of the team. :)

Hi, Lise! My doc lets me take a part in my treatment also. Like adjusting my meds. I joined the ABOUT site too.

Back in 2001 or so, I joined up with this site and it has allowed me to make decisions by myself about my Hypothyroidism. Doctors don't always have the time to research for information, therefore, we need to do this so we can inform them of what we want for ourselves.

Mary Shomon is also a Hypothyroid and is truly a fighter for our condition. Do check it out but I strongly recommend your joining her site. You will also receive regular news from her.

www.verywell.com/thyroid-401
4636

See you online!

Lise


Edited by: YICHE12 at: 2/8/2017 (13:00)