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hypothyroid woes

By April 23, 2008 - 6:20pm
 
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I have hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed over 15 years ago and have since been taking various doses of synthroid. I've been told over the years that I can't ever get off of my meds b/c I've trained my thyroid not to work! What gives?

I've also heard from natural practitioners that I can. So, what's a hypo girl to do?

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Anonymous

It's been a few years since you posted. Have you come off your thyroid medication. I've been on thyroid replacement drugs for 5 years and am slowly reducing my meds. I am now at 50% reduction which is great. It's said that when you are on thyroid meds that your thyroid does not need to produce the thyroid hormones itself and that it atrophies due to lack of use. Just the same I am finding that if you take the proper supplements you can at least reduce your meds and I am hopeful to get off the meds one day. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism following the birth of my first son in 2006 and experienced many of the symptoms you have listed. I trusted my doctors completely assuming they knew everything there was to know about this disease, especially when I became pregnant again in late 2008. How wrong I was! Under their care my TSH, the gold standard for measuring thyroid function, rose high above the safe range for pregnancy and I miscarried. I vowed to myself that I would research everything there was to know about hypothyroidism and warn other women. I fulfilled my vow and launched my blog Hypothyroidmom.com in memory of the baby I lost to hypothyroidism.

October 21, 2012 - 6:01am

I really like the advice not to get hooked on the idea that Betha's thyroid problems are the cause of ALL her problems. That is something I would probably do - connect the problem I know about to anything else that's wrong with me!

It definitely may be your thyroid but also may be something else - I would also have a full physical.

Good luck and keep us updated!

April 25, 2008 - 1:49pm

Betha, Thanks for your question. Dr. Lawrence Wood, one of the country’s top specialists in thyroid and founder of the Thyroid Foundation of America, responded to your question about hypothyroidism.

Wood says because of your condition, it’s true that your thyroid has been affected and for your to stop taking medication would be unwise. The good news, Wood says, is thyroid patients don’t tend to live short lives, they tend to live long happy lives. The other good news is that you don’t have to take Synthroid as there are many medicines out there for thyroid.

But if you’re not feeling good, Wood says you need to find out why. Something else may be going on besides your thyroid issue and you need to find out what that is. Here’s what he recommends:

Be sure the doctors have checked your thyroid with a very sensitive TSH test. The TSH will tell you whether you’re on the right dosage for your thyroid.

You’ll also want to have a physical from a general internist because he or she will want to look at some other things, and may be will check for diabetes or other conditions and check out your kidneys or heart. Don’t get hooked on the idea that how you’re feeling may be related to your thyroid.

Wood also recommends daily exercise and suggests reading this article from the American Thyroid Association about hypothyroidism which may give you clues to your condition.

Hope you find that helpful and good luck.

Also, what did the naturopath recommend to you in terms of treatment?

April 24, 2008 - 12:53pm
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