HypoThyroid Madness

[mzjriley2012]

I need support with my thyroid concerns. I have been hypothyroid sinceI was about 24. I don't take the medicine because I like natraul healing. I got my bloodwork done the other day and needless to say it was not good. I have started back taking my levolthrotyne @ 100mcg. My YAH is 33.8. I am worried because lately when I drink you can hear me drinking. Has anyone else experienced this? Also my folate is low (5.8) my cholesterol is 207, my hdl is 68, both are high. My FT4 is .44, my Credit in is 9.6, FT3 is 1.7. My red blood count is low 3.38, hgb is low 10.0, hct is low 31.5. I am really worried and need just advice and support.

[jimh111]

Unfortunately if your thyroid is diseased it cannot be healed. There are cases where 'thyroiditis' causes temporary problems but these patients recover after a short time. I think you meant to write your TSH is 33.8 (Y and A are next to T and S on the keyboard).

It would help if you gave the reference intervals for each blood tests, these are numbers in brackets after the result - you may not have them, don't worry. Your fT4 is 4.4. This is very low and you would have a lot of symptoms, it would also make your cholesterol levels bad. Your fT3 is also low.

Now you have started taking your levothyroxine again you should start to feel better in a week or so, it will take a couple of months to feel much better. You should have another blood test after six to eight weeks to see how your hormone levels are doing. As well as physical effects low thyroid hormone can cause depression, confused thinking and anxiety. So, in about a month's time you should be able to think much more clearly.

Whilst your low thyroid hormone levels are a concern, low hormone levels can also cause anxiety. So, your genuine concern is amplified by the effects low hormone have on your brain. You shouldn't worry if you continue to take your 100 mcg levothyroxine, this may not be the perfect dose for you yet but it will make you feel a lot, lot better and improve your health.

Hypothyroidism can affect your hearing. Hypothyrodism leads to hair loss in some people. We have tiny hairs on the eardrum which assist hearing. These can also be lost in hypothyroidism leading to impaired hearing. Don't worry! These tiny hairs grow back quickly when thyroid hormone levels are restored. I wonder if you can hear yourself drinking because you hearing's improved and you're not used to it yet. I guess we all hear ourselves drinking but naturally block out the sound.

Levothyroxine is a natural hormone. It is a manufactured hormone but identical to the hormone our thyroid produces. Our thyroids also produce other hormones like T3 but most patients are able to convert enough T4 to T3 so they don't need to take any T3 tablets. What I'm saying is that levothyroxine although manufactured is a natural hormone we have in our body. There are alternatives such as liothyronine (L-T3) and natural dessicated thyroid (NDT) but these have pros and cons and it's very difficult to get a doctor to prescribe them. I wouldn't worry about these for now. Take your time, see how you go on levothyroxine and you will be in a better state to make judgements and push for good care.

[mzjriley2012 in reply to jimh111]

Thank you so very much for taking your time to write me all this wonderful and much information that I needed! All those symptoms, you named. I have them!!!! Times 2! And yes I meant to say TSH, auto correct changed it. I thought I was going crazy. Especially the brain fog and anxiety. I wish I could heal with natural things. How do I know if my thyroid is diseased? Or is it diseased because it's hypo? Also, when I say I can hear Mr drinking what I meant is I, along with the entire room can hear me swallowing. It's quite embarrassing.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and am sorry you are hypothyroid.

There is a 'natural' thyroid hormone replacement which is no longer prescribed by the NHS.

When hypothyroid, unmedicated leads to severe consequences. Thyroid hormones run our whole metabolism from head to toe and T4 (levothyroxine) is an inactive hormone which should convert to T3 (liothyronine) which is the Active hormone needed in our millions of T3 Receptor Cells.

The majority of people who're hypothyroid recover their health with levothyroxine. This is a synthetic T4 and inactive. It should convert to T3 - T3 is the Active Thyroid Hormone and enables our whole body to run smoothly and normally. Heart and brain have the most T3 receptor cells.

It is very important that you take thyroid hormone replacements. There can be very serious consequences if you do not and you no longer pay for any other prescriptions (in UK) for any other health issue.

When having blood tests follow this procedure:

1. Always make the earliest appointment.

2. It should be a fasting test (GPs may not agree but it is a tip between those who're hypo).

3. Allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

I hope you feel better soon and the aim is a TSH of 1 or lower whereas many GPs seem to believe that if it is within the range we're on sufficient but that's untrue.

Ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Everything has to be optimal. This is a list of symptoms - thankfully we don't get them all:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

A higher cholesterol is a common symptom and should reduce as thyroid hormones are increased (slowly).

When you get your next blood test ask for a Full Thyroid Test and it may not be given.This is:

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

Doctors may not think antibodies are necessary but they are as they inform us whether or not we have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease commonly called Hashimoto's. The antibodies attack the thryoid gland and wax and wane until you're hypothyroid but treatment is the same.