Low Thyroid in Men: Not Just a Woman’s Issue

[Clutter]

Many doctors ignore the symptoms, from erectile dysfunction to balding.

health.usnews.com/health-ne...

[Teuchter]

Interesting article, unfortunately the advice to find a good doctor, don't suffer in silence, get properly tested, etc, doesn't really apply to us guys in the UK who are stuck with our NHS. My GP has no interest in listening to my symptoms. If you live in the US, you at least have the opportunity to choose.

[Clutter in reply to Teuchter]

Teuchter, You could see other GPs at your practice or change practice. Unfortunately, it's the BTA guidelines which hamper good thyroid treatment. The blood ref ranges are far too wide.

Choice in the US can be limited according to which doctors the insurance companies approve. A lot of US patients pay privately to see functional and integrative doctors who don't accept insurance patients or because they aren't approved by insurance companies.

[PR4NOW in reply to Clutter]

Clutter, tis true tis true. Here in the US the main advantage is we have more choices "IF" you can afford to pay for them. Allopathic medicine is stuck in pretty much the same rut as your doctors. Good article by the way. PR

[Treepie]

Add very loud snoring to the list!

[Sandra600]

It's important that men are aware of this. My husband went to the GP with breathlessness, they focused on his heart but also decided to test for thyroid disease. Luckily there was nothing wrong with his heart but he had a TSH of 36.9!

[farmerfester]

Hi I am a man with hypothyroidism hashimotos and other ailments as well I've been taking levothyroxine since 1996 now taking 200 mg

[HypoHim]

It's true, I find almost all articles focus on the symptoms women experience.

When I had my first TFT, my doctor asked if I was having various symptoms, but I realise now I had a whole different set of symptoms he didn't ask about. Even when my thyroid hormone levels were off the charts and I could barely stand up, my symptoms were not the classical ones most women experience. I've never put on weight throughout this whole experience; it has never fluctuated by more than 2kg. But my whole body shape has changed - my arms and legs have gone from muscular to skin and bone. And one of my initial symptoms which my doctor couldn't explain was aching in my testicles.

I guess it would be helpful if the people writing medical textbooks investigated what happens in men too...

[Teuchter in reply to HypoHim]

I'm interested to hear that you have had a loss of muscle mass and aching testicles amongst your symptoms. Having got no nowhere with my GP, I did a bit of research, and self medicated with anything which I thought might help. I have found the following to be of benefit to me:

Tribulis terristris: boosts your own testosterone production. Makes me less irritable and more good natured (partner testifies to this).

Danazol, anastrazole and letrozole: these seem to help me tolerate a higher dose to thyroxine, lessening jittery anxious feelings, make me feel physically stronger and more confident and assured. I find maximum benefit by cycling these drugs, taking them for a couple of days, taking nothing for 3 or 4 days (except daily thyroxine of course), then taking a different tablet for a couple of days. I also find it best to take one of these other tablets before going to bed: gives me a good chance of waking up in a reasonably energetic state. Letrozole seems to work best for me: sometimes it even gives me a bit of mojo in the morning, which had been a thing of the past lol.

Of course EVERYBODY'S BODY IS DIFFERENT!

[Rick68 in reply to HypoHim]

Spot on with the symptoms, my GP dismissed them all as "Anxiety" - they don't expect us blokes to suffer from hypothyroidism!. This is certainly NOT a sexist point, it's just a fact that a much higher percentage of women experience hypothyroidism ( and Hashimoto's / Autoimmune Thyroiditis). My GP made me feel "different" saying that I had "chosen" some very unusual illnesses for a man!. This is because I have Hashi's, POTS and Gilberts Syndrome - all of which I am now discovering can be inter-related. The testicle aches are not pleasant, and unless you've been there, it's impossible to explain the constant misery. Apologies for the rant - welcome and keep posting!.

[Clutter in reply to Rick68]

Rick68, it's medical sexism that is the problem in assuming that hypothyroidism is only a woman's disease. The ratio is 10:1 under <60 but after age 60 hypothyroidism is quite common in men.

Men did very badly for a while when it was assumed breast cancer was a women's disease too.

[Rick68 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter - very valid points and interesting statistics - I didn't realise the ratio was so high!

Keep up the fab work you do in guiding sufferers on the forum - I honestly can't praise you and the others enough for the advice and pointers you give, it's like a lifeline just when you resign yourself to a life of misery. I don't post very often (time issues), but I DO read the forum every day so a big thank you!

Rick

[Meltedwellies]

GP didn't want to know

[Coastwalker]

Thank you clutter, I have printed this off for Hubby's Dr..

Hubby has much lower 'thyroid hormone' levels than he should have and is in the grey area of B12 deficiency. He has lost far too much weight without dieting and has weakened muscles, tiredness etc.. We have been very worried for a long time now, which is time wasted.

Maybe he has a bit of both Hypo and B12 D or even low Testosterone.

I had Testosterone on my list to ask Dr. about thanks to members on both TUK and PAS mentioning it, one insisting it be done, I had it on my list, but never did get time to ask as we over ran our time, but I will see what the bloods show first, then ask about Testosterone. (which was mentioned in the article you posted about.)

Another Male friend is also suffering similarly, but getting nowhere fast.

Top marks Clutter for posting this article.

[Clutter in reply to Coastwalker]

Thanks Coast. I hope it helps your husband and friend to get a diagnosis.

[Coastwalker]

Fingers and toes crossed Clutter.

[Hypo101]

Can underactive thyroif/hashimotoes cause loss of sensation, redness, dryness and skin texture/atrophy on penis?

Also can it cause issues with your breathing?

[Clutter in reply to Hypo101]

Hypo101, they can certainly cause breathing issues and thickening and dryness of skin. I don't know whether loss of sensation and atrophy are also due to Hashi/hypo.

[tegz]

Thyroid hormones affect Testosterone levels and vice versa. From memory I think Test. helps with T4 conversion. My guess is that the adrenals are also involved as they can produce Test.- the only source for women.