Hypothyroid Results -Mixing Vitamins and Levothyroxine

[camillahealth]

Hi all I've recently had a blood test where my TSH is low and my T4 and T3 are normal. I have racing heart when lying down. My vitamin D levels are fine and so is my Vitamin B12 as I supplement. I take L-tyrosine to help with the T4 to T3 conversion. I have high levels of Prolactin and low levels of oestrogen. The endocrinologist wants to reduce my meds from 100mcg to 75mcg. I have severe metabolism issues, food reactions and swellings of the legs and feet and cannot seem to shift the weight no matter how hard i try. I have gained an uncomfortable amount of weight, but keep getting told I am over medicated due to my TSH being low. I have had my pituitary checked and that seems to be fine.

I take 5HTP before going to bed to ensure i get a good night’s sleep. I'm struggling with accepting that my Thyroid is slightly hyper. I'm constipated most of the time, have severe swellings of the legs and feet, suffer from all the symptoms of Hypothyroidism, but the endo is basing his diagnostic on my THS results and speedy pulse. I need 9-10 hours sleep as I’m tired in a morning with waking throughout the night about 5 -6 times to use the bathroom to empty my bladder. I seem to have an overactive bladder.

I am convinced I am not hyper- but the endo seems to think otherwise. I am thinking of adding to the levothyroxine or taking myself off these meds and introducing something natural. Please let me have your comments as disheartened with the lack of concern around my weight increase. By the way I eat very little and have no appetite Which can result in me eating the wrong foods at times as I become hungry towards the end of the evening and crave something sweet.

[humanbean]

Low TSH isn't necessarily indicative of being hyper or over-treated (although doctors think it is). What you really need to know are your Free T4 and Free T3. If they are within the reference range then you aren't over-medicated. It all depends on where you personally feel best. Some people feel best with a Free T4 which is, say, mid-range and a Free T3 which is two-thirds of the way through the range. Everyone has to find their own sweet spot, and it can be time-consuming and annoying to do so, but it is worth the effort.

One thing to remember is that TSH (or the lack of it) doesn't make you feel anything - it is the lack of Free T3, or having too much Free T3, which has the most effect on people.

Your fast heart rate and frequent urination...

Have you been tested for diabetes or insulin resistance?

Personal anecdote : I found that my heart rate would rise, sometimes quite dramatically (to 100+ and even up to 120+), when I had a carb-heavy or sugar-heavy meal. Reducing sugar helped enormously. I'm now in the process of lowering my carbs to see if that helps even more. I think I'm insulin-resistant. My fasting glucose and HbA1C are both okay - I'm not prediabetic or diabetic. But the possible insulin-resistance is a worrying warning sign. Note that frequent urination is a possible diabetic sign that shouldn't be ignored.

I think you should get yourself tested for HbA1C and/or fasting glucose and/or insulin level. I'm not an expert on diabetes so I don't know what tests are most appropriate. You might want to look into private testing. Although your doctor should be happy to test some things I'm not sure if they will test for insulin resistance :

medichecks.com/diabetes

[camillahealth in reply to humanbean]

Thank you for your reply.The endo did a HBA1C test and nothing came back. I will certainly look into carrying out some private tests myself and once again thank you for recommending medichecks. My T4 and T3 all seem to be within normal range.

[Clarrisa]

Hi, Have you tried eating a small apple in the evening when you crave something sweet? I found going to a dietitian this week helpful. She gave me a good suggestion or two I would never of thought of on my own, based on my own issues. I'm new here, sorry I cannot assist further.

[camillahealth in reply to Clarrisa]

I'm craving pineapple and have started incorporating that into evening snacks. The trouble with fruit is at times i find it be cold. My body wants the heat.

[Clarrisa]

Hi, A English "Healing Remedies" book I was looking thru recommended apples & celery for relieving edema. You could warm up the apple. The book sites "the old adage-To eat an apple going to bed will make the physician beg his bread."