help for a newbie

[Guest guest]

Dear and group,

I am new to this board. I have symptoms of hypothyroidism. I

suspect, maybe adrenal gland issues as well. I have tested in a gray

area, but towards the low thyroid side. Plus, I had a paternal

grandmother and aunt who took thyroid medications daily. My sister is

now on thyroid medication of some sort daily. She is a traditional

medicine type person despite my adversities to that so I don't know

what she is taking. I suspect it is an unnatural type of thyroid med.

I am just tired of being tired. I have broken my leg (three years

ago-took forever to heal), torn my meniscus ligament in my left

knee-this April-still hurts, still limping-I refused surgery I am

considering prolotherapy) and been rather miserable for several years

now. I take a variety of supplements such as C, multi vitamins,

co-q-10, omega 3, calcium, magnesium, herbs to help sleep, 3 mg.

melatonin, msm for pain, bromelain for pain, occasionally organic

apple cider vinegar, non-aluminum baking soda, black strap unsulphured

molasses, Mediterranean sea salt, lecithin, and a few other assorted

things.

I ordered and received Iodoral at 12.5 mg. I also bought World

Organic liqui-Kelp daily iodine containing purified water, decoction

of Atlantic kelp (fucus vesiculosus), potassium iodide (to standardize

potency,sodium benzoate. Four drops equals 150 mcg. I took that two

days in a row four drops each day. Nothing changed. I took one Iodoral

yesterday. Nothing happened in particular.

I would like to give iodine a true trial full speed ahead. But

since I haven't read what to do in a more organized fashion, I thought

I should post and hopefully someone could help me proceed.

I have gone to a holistic doctor,out of state,but he no longer

accepts our insurance.

Thank you so much.

jholl

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane

Welcome to the TPA group! I cannot help you much personally but hope that

someone will see your post and reply and help you soon.

If you get the results of the tests with the ranges, then someone on here can

see where you are and help you interpret them. Have you read through the

adrenal information too, does any of that fit with you?

Chris

>

> Anyway, I'm off for the annual blood test again next week and wondered if

anyone can suggest a strategy to get a bit more of a dialogue with either the

nurse or Dr. Also, if I ask for the numerical results of the tests what will

they mean ? ly although I like to think I'm pretty intelligent I'm

overwhelmed by all the information on this forum and all the websites I visit -

everyone else seems to know all about their T levels and all the drugs etc.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane, and welcome to our forum where I hope you will get all the help and support you need. Hypothyroidism is a big subject surrounded by a lot of controversy on thyroid function tests being used ONLY as a diagnostic tool by many NHS doctors and only ONE of the thyroid hormones (T4) being used to treat all patients. However, you will soon get to grips with the terminologoy and what all these 'T' tests mean, and if you have any questions, all you have to do is shout, and somebody will be along to help you.

You should know that there are many associated conditions that go along with being hypothyroid and many NHS doctors are not even aware of these, so I think what might be most productive in your own case is to write a letter to your GP (before your blood tests) setting out your present symptoms and signs (see our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under 'Hypothyroidism' and then click 'Symptoms and Signs' and check yours against those listed.

Ask for a FULL thyroid function test which should include TSH, free T4 and free T3. Ask also if your GP would check the following: serum ferritin (stored iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. These are important, because if any of these are low in the reference range, no amount of thyroid hormone is able to be properly utilised in the cells in your body and brain. Ask for a trial of a rise in your levothyroxine and you can mention that blood tests alone should not be used in either reaching a diagnosis or treating the condition - symptoms and signs must be taken into consideration. Ask for a copy of all these blood test results, together with the reference range for each of the tests done. Doctors are NOT allowed to withhold information in your medical records so they will happily give you your blood results. Also, once you get them, post them here on the forum (with the ref. range) and we can help with any interpretation.

Mention in the letter that as you are not prepared to put up with these symptoms any more and as the levothyroxine does not appear to be working at the present dose, so you would now like a referral to a specialist in thyroid disease. Ask in your letter for your list of requests are placed into your Medical Records.

Meanwhile, check out our web site again under 'Hypothyroidism' and click on 'Associated Conditions' and learn about the thyroid/adrenal and thyroid/candida connection. You may want to get the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile done through Genova Diagnostics to see where your cortisol and DHEA levels are at four specific times during the day. You may also wish to get tested to see if you have candida antibodies. No amount of thyroid hormone will work if you have low adrenal reserve, systemic candidia, mercury poisoning caused through amalgam fillings etc etc. All of these things we can walk you through - and yes, it sounds more frightening than it actually is and I appreciate you must be feeling over-whelmed. However, let's take baby steps only right now, and you should first just concentrate on the letter to your GP. It is a fact that doctors will take more notice of you when you put things in writing and ask for your letter to go into your notes.

Luv - Sheila

> Anyway, I'm off for the annual blood test again next week and wondered if anyone can suggest a strategy to get a bit more of a dialogue with either the nurse or Dr. Also, if I ask for the numerical results of the tests what will they mean ? ly although I like to think I'm pretty intelligent I'm overwhelmed by all the information on this forum and all the websites I visit - everyone else seems to know all about their T levels and all the drugs etc. >