I have subclinical hypothyroidism based on recent test but I think GP will need another in 3 months to consider lexothyroxine. I've seen online some people suggesting attempting to treat naturally with diet & exercise before medicating.
My question is: Why the reluctance to medicate? Are there long term side effects from the medication? Is it a big hassle to monitor, adjust the dose etc? What is behind this reluctance?
I've had a lot of the classic symptoms over the past 2 years, and keen to see some improvement particularly where body aches and brain fog are concerned.
Latest results:
TSH: 4.83 (0.27 - 4.2)
FT4: 13.6 (12-22)
FT3: 4.9 (3.1 - 6.8)
anti-TPO: 173 (<34)
Anti-thyroglobulin: 307 (<115)
Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
Written by
katep82
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thank you for your reply. It is frustrating, I was also told "I am fine" by medical professionals. I was wondering why some patients feel they'd rather avoid medication too?
Which thyroid patients want to avoid taking thyroid medication? None who I know / read from here so am just checking I understand what you are saying.
I echo human bean’s comment - there is a profession-wide lack of understanding about thyroid - the physiology of it, the symptoms and how they can compromise a patient’s whole wellbeing, the range of medications, the numbers, the range of tests. You name the thyroid concern and there is a whole set of false understandings about it out there that patients who are members in this group report daily.
I would imagine that the wide-spread nature of thyroid problems is (ironically) what leads to them being handled so badly.
I am sure that GPs have taken on board “floodgates” that if they treat patient X whose TSH is 4 and over then they will have to treat thousands of other patients in the same way too. (And who would want to have thousands of patients feeling much bette and having higher expectations?!). I say this because there is nothing set in stone to say that GPs can’t treat patients like you. But nonetheless they choose not to.
Another angle - I spoke to a very good GP a few months ago about T3. He said he has spoken to an endo / endo department about it (prescribing it) more than once, and each time they essentially put him back in his box and told him T3 doesn’t work / isn’t clinically appropriate or whatever it was (I forget the exact reason) they needed to tell him to ask him to go away and stop asking.
I think one factor is that doctors are extremely reluctant to prescribe thyroid hormones, and that reluctance makes many patients think thyroid hormones are dangerous.
If someone takes too much Levo for them their TSH will usually end up very low. And doctors think that very low TSH leads to lots of health problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease. They also try and convince patients they might die if they take too much thyroid hormones.
Doctors confuse over-medication for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), and they fear hyperthyroidism because, basically, they don't understand the thyroid and how it works.
From a patient viewpoint the wellness craze has a lot to answer for, I think many people turn to diet, exercise and supplements in the belief that you can reverse a failing thyroid. Which you cant.
Dont get me wrong, eating healthily and regular exercise are wonderful things and should absolutely be encouraged. There are many complaints that can be made immeasurably better by doing this.
However underactive thyroid will not be cured this way, in the same way someone with say type 1 diabetes cant cure their pancreas. If your organ or gland is failing or has failed you have no choice but to take the hormone it used to produce as it can be life threatening to go without.
Theres a growing trend to try and heal the body naturally without pharmaceuticals. And whilst I dont think our first port of call should be a pill, in certain cases you have no choice. No amount of smoothies, yoga or wishful thinking is going repair your thyroid.
However one caveat I would say is that many doctors try and make patients believe that a daily pill of thyroid hormone is an easy fix. I certainly thought so. I now know better. It can take a lot of tweaking and blood tests plus vitamin supplements to get to a place where you feel well and even then Levothyroxine isn't for everyone. We have plenty of members who didnt get on with it.
It's a question I have often asked - both of myself and people on here who talk about how they would rather use 'natural' means to 'cure' their thyroid, rather than take a drug. And, I think that is the crux of the matter: calling thyroid hormone replacement (levo, etc.) 'drugs'. Even doctors do it, and lots of articles written about hypothyroidism call the 'drugs'. Well, obviously, I can understand people not wanting to take 'drugs', I don't myself. But, levo isn't a drug. It's the thyroid hormone, T4. I once corrected a doctor on that point. He looked embarrassed, and said 'yes, of course, you're right'. But, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he went on to say the same thing to the next patient! Even calling them 'meds' - which just about everybody does - is countre-productive, because they aren't 'meds' in the normal sense of that term. So, I think there's a lot of ignorance and confusion in some people's reluctance to take thyroid hormones.
Oh, and another point: people believe - and have probably been told by their doctors - that 'once you start them, you can't stop because they suppress the function of the thyroid gland'. Well, really, if you're hypo - a life-long condition - why would you want to stop them, anyway? But, let's say that, for whatever reason (and it does happen) there is a problem with your supply and you can't take levo/T3/NDT for a period of time. What is going to happen? Well, what happens is, the TSH rises, and stimulates the thyroid, and the thyroid slowly comes back to life and takes up where it left off, making as much hormone as it possibly can, and keeping you alive. And, I speak from personal experience, there. That is what happens. My TSH went very high, and the Frees were at the bottom of the range, but that was enough to keep me functioning. But, I think that many people believe that the thyroid dies when you start taking thyroid hormone replacement, and this scares them on the 10 000 to 1 chance that they just might have been misdiagnosed. It's just a pity that doctors can't get their facts right and stop scaring people!
thank you so much for your answer. that does make a lot of sense. I've also been 'warned' by family members "once you start you can't stop" which is what got me wondering what that's all about.
Yes, it's a common belief, but it's just not true. But, of course, if you're hypo - especially if you have Hashi's - it's not a good idea to stop your thyroid hormone replacement, but it won't kill you on the spot! You would just get progressivly sicker because the body cannot function correctly without adequate thyroid hormone.
I can fully understand people not wanting to take drugs, I try and keep mine to a minimum. And if you've got sub clinical hypothyroid and feel well then thats a choice you have to make.
But usually once the thyroid starts to fail its normally progressive, except in certain cases. After childbirth for example some women get transient thyroid problems that can resolve themselves. Its normally a fairly slow decline and you might not have any symptoms at first. But eventually most people start to feel unwell and get diagnosed.
Are these family members trying to persuade you not to see your doctor and ask for more help? Do they have any personal experience of thyroid conditions or medical expertise? Am curious to know where people get their ideas on thyroid matters, especially where these ideas involve telling someone who doesn’t feel well that they should (in essence) just get used to it.
I am curious too. I suspect because we have no visible issues (although arguably weight/puffiness is visible - its usually put down to personal failure to diet) and it's a hormone thing its seen as different from, say, a current heart condition.
And thyroid issues are principally a middle-aged woman thing. I don’t know whether a middle-aged man condition would be written off like this. Medically / anecdotally / by usually caring family members: I can’t think of one.
I am often asked by doctors at this stage of my life what I do.
At no stage in my life before have doctors felt it necessary to ask me my school subjects / degree / job / earnings. From the exchange (on many occasions) it seems they want to know what my social status is. Why my status / standing / earnings should matter to them, I don’t know.
From your comments, I presume its not the GP that suggested a natural approach?
There are indeed some views that such an approach may be beneficial when at subclinical stage. Whilst I risk the wrath of others on here (I will likely delete unconstructive responses!!), my view is that its worth considering now since there seems no turning back after levo. And what's to lose at least until you are able to consider levo?. Also I believe it helps if/when you reach that stage, as many have reported on here. But personally Id probably consider a specialised, naturopathic practitioner.
Such practitioners often get a rough ride on fora but theres been lots of successes in health. I read an analogy with Type 1 diabetes in the responses and agree natural approaches are likely unhelpful for that. But the opposite is true for Type 2. So case by case applies.
My theory is that because people on Thyroxine are going to be taking it for life, doctors think it's going to cost their GP practice a lot of money from their drugs budget. Call me cynical if you like.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
taking thyroid medication
how to take medication 
Thy3f and total thyroidecromy...but I'm reluctant for this
Reluctant vegan patient
Considering Self Medicating , what to take, where to purchase?
