Just getting started: Hi everybody, just getting... - Thyroid UK

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Just getting started

Simonmerson profile image
11 Replies

Hi everybody, just getting started with the understanding with thyrois issues,

My GP told me I had TSH of nearly 8 and some kin kind of anti body things of just over a 1000 ! I am currently being treated for depression ( life long ) but he also suspects I could be ADHD. So far the anti depressent has been briliant and the anxiety has calmed too with some other mads I cant remembere the name of.

Any advice of where to go next, just to add I have a briill GP who also suffers and uses desicated treatment,

Mant thanks for any tips, Oh need to lose some weight too !

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Simonmerson
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11 Replies
silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

Welcome to the forum! Yes lots to learn but you have come to the right place to do it as lots of advice from many. A lot of the 'other' problems you have are actually thyroid related so as you get treated in time those should resolved as well. Hopefully with a doctor who is a fellow sufferer then he will be a help as well.

The antibodies I don't get get so I'll leave that to people who experience it but diet can help as well and many find going gluten free helps a lot to bring that high number down and make you feel, with the help of medication, much better.

I expect your doctor has put you on a dose of Levothyroxine which is one of the hormones in the body (T4) but it is a storage hormone and hopefully your body will convert it into the active hormone T3 which every cell in your body needs to function properly.

I hope your doctor as told you he has started you on a lowish dose so that your body with get used to it. That dose takes about 5-6 weeks to get to its maximum level so you should then be retested and probably given an increment of 25 mcg and then the process is repeated until you feel well so it can take time and you mustn't try to speed it up-everything works slowly in the Thyroid world.

You need to be taking the medication properly, on an empty stomach with a full glass of water and nothing else besides water for an hour then other things need to be taken well away as they can hinder the absorption.

Look at the Thyroid Uk site who run this forum as lots of other does and don'ts, a lot to take in at first but necessary.

Another good habit to get into is to always ask your doctors for a printout of your results as you can learn from them, with a bit of help, so they and the ranges are there if you want to ask about them. The ranges are always important as they differ from lab to lab.

So look up the site as it explains better than I ever could and shout out if anything you don't understand

Hopefully you will see a difference in your weight and won't need the anti depressants but remember it takes time as well

Hope you soon feel a little better

.

helbell profile image
helbell

I second Silver fox about how thyroid replacement may mitigate some of your ongoing problems.

Did you say your GP takes natural dessicated thyroid? If so, that is encouraging for us users.

Starfish123 profile image
Starfish123

Hi,

I'm not an expert but you may find you have always had autoimmune hypothyroidism due to the antibodies. This could mean you won't need antidepressants once you are treated for the hypothyroidism. If you can give up gluten do so, it fuels the antibodies.

Wow a doctor who uses dessicated thyroid, keep this dr he understands the problem. Will he prescribe natural dessicated thyroid for you too?

I hope you feel better soon.

Jumpey profile image
Jumpey in reply toStarfish123

Hi.Can you explain what natural dessicated thyroid is please?x

Starfish123 profile image
Starfish123 in reply toJumpey

As I understand it's the thyroid of a pig in tablet form. It contains T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, again my understanding. It contains everything to replace what is missing from a human thyroid. It's a grandfather drug so it predates the T4 and T3 that is available in tablet form from the pharmaceutical companies. There is no money in it for pharmaceutical companies so it's rare to get on the NHS, not impossible but rare. Drs are not covered by insurance if they prescribe and there are any problems. Generally people are prescribed T4 only, it helps some but a lot like me are still not well.

I hope that helps.

Jumpey profile image
Jumpey in reply toStarfish123

Thanks so much for the clarification.x

Heloise profile image
Heloise

Hi Simon, Since you have antibodies it means your thyroid is being targeted and trying to work for you while under fire. This is an autoimmune condition that's causing that fire and while you are supporting the thyroid (are you also getting NDT?) you should work at putting the fire out. Healing the gut seems to be the best way to attack this problem so researching leaky gut will give you a better understanding of what to do. Also understanding the way the thyroid works in association with the adrenal glands will be helpful. health.howstuffworks.com/hu...

Katepots profile image
Katepots

Hi Simon,

Dr Datis Khazzarian has brilliant easy to understand books for Hashimotos Thyroditis which is what you have. It is auto immune so your body is attacking your thyroid.

Eliminating gluten and casein (in milk) can really help so get inflammation and antibodies under control. Both gluten and casein look like the thyroid to the body so when ingested and leak into the bloodstream your T cells are sent to attack but then also attack your thyroid. Research paleo diet. Once you get your head around it it not hard at all and you'll feel so much better.

Antidepressants hmmm think of them as very short term. Once you get the Hashimotos and other vitamins under control you won't need them. We are not depressed we just feel like crap!

Research leaky gut. Chris Kresser website.

Obs thyroid U.K.!

Susan Blum The Immune System Recocery Plan is good.

Get your Folate Feretin B12and Vit D checked all could be low as run hand in hand with Hashimotos and will be making you feel awful.

Magnesium too if you have sleep difficulties.

B12 needs to be over 600 (your GP won't tell you that) under 500 can cause neurological damage.

Vit D around 60. If you're in the UK you're almost guaranteed to be lacking!

Simonmerson profile image
Simonmerson in reply toKatepots

Thank you very mush

Simonmerson profile image
Simonmerson in reply toKatepots

God advice much apreciated

Katepots profile image
Katepots in reply toSimonmerson

👍🏼

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