RE: Levothyroxine, PCOS & feeling fed up

[Guest guest]

Hi, I can really sympathise with your situation - I also have PCOS along with

hypothyroidism, and have been fobbed off constantly, refused medication and

refused even a referral to an endo! I did get a referral to a gynae who said he

wouldn't do anything to help me unless I was trying to get pregnant!!!

I've also had very 'abnormal' periods for most of my life. Along with many of

the other symptoms of pcos, like hairiness and weight gain. It really is a

nightmare condition.

I don't know what the answer is, ultimately. But I do know that I feel much

improved since changing my thyroid medication from levothyroxine to natural

dessicated thyroid. I am also taking a lot of stuff to support my adrenals. This

has enabled me to lose a little bit of weight, which in turn seems to reduce the

pcos symptoms marginally. I am hoping that further down the line, the benefits

will become clearer.

The protocol that most people here will advise you is to deal with your adrenals

first, then thyroid, then sex hormones. So leaving PCOS til last and trying to

get other issues under control first. That is what I am doing -- I hope it works

out!

In the meantime, I can recommend a book called 'the pcos diet' by n

Glenville, which is pretty helpful and has a lot of treatment ideas. I also use

maca powder which seems to alleviate some of the symptoms. Licorice can also be

a good herb for pcos sufferers. But everyone is different and I would really

recommend seeing a herbalist if you want to medicate with herbs and natural

medicines.

I'm fairly new around here and probably not the best person to help you, but I

wonder if your doctor is testing the full thyroid hormone? I.e. Free t4, free

t3, tsh, and thyroid antibodies? That seems to me like the logical place to

start. Get those tested, get your test results (with reference ranges) and post

them on here, where some genius ladies will doubtless help you to make sense of

them.

The good thing is that you are here. You'll get a lot of help and support and

learn that there is hope for you!

Georgie

> Just looking for a bit of advice and support really.

[Guest guest]

what treatmentdid you get for pcos? Did they put you on metformin?

chris

>

> Hi,

>

> Just looking for a bit of advice and support really.

>

> I currently take 175mcg of levothyroxine and have done for a while now

although they tried to reduce it to 150mcg at one point. I still have a load of

symptoms and I am so sick of being tired. To make matters worse I also have

PCOS which I got diagnosed with about 6 years ago, to be honest I don't think I

have ever had a normal

[Guest guest]

Before making another appointment with your GP, sit down and

write her/him a letter. Start by saying that you are no longer prepared to

carry on suffering the symptoms and showing the signs that you are and not

getting any better so you are now determined to do whatever is necessary to

find the cause (and the correct treatment) and that you hope your GP with work

with you.

First, list all of your symptoms and signs that you are

suffering with right now. Check these against those in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under the drop down Menu

under 'Hypothyroidism.

Next, take your basal temperature for 4 or 5 mornings before you

get out of bed and list these if they are 97.8 degrees F (36.6 degrees C) or

less. Such low temperatures can be an indication of hypothyroidism that is not

being properly treated, or you are being given the wrong thyroid hormone

replacement.

Next, ask for a FULL thyroid function test that should include

TSH, free T4, free T3 and tests to see whether you have antibodies to your

thyroid. Ask also for the following specific mineral and vitamins to be tested

to check out their level. If any of these are low in the range, no amount of

thyroid hormone will work as it should because low levels stop the thyroid

hormone from being fully utilised at the cellular level. Anticipate that your

GP might turn round and try to tell you that there is no association between

low levels of these and symptoms of hypothyroidism, and print off the attached

document to show him/her just some of the references to the science that shows

there is.

Ask for all your thyroid function test results and those of the

vitamins and minerals to be made available to you together with the reference

range for each of the tests done. You do not have to give a reason to your

doctor why you want these, and doctors are not allowed to withhold them from

you under the Data Protection Act and Freedom of Information Act. (you can then

post these results to this forum so we can help hopefully with their interpretation.

next, ask for a referral to an endocrinologist for a second

opinion as you would like a trial of the active thyroid hormone

triiodothyronine (T3) in combination with your inactive thyroid hormone

thyroxine (T4). Many patients do OK on thyroxine, some for years, and then, for

no apparent reason, the mainly inactive T4 suddenly stops converting to the

active thyroid hormone T3. It is T3 that every cell in the body and brain need

to make them function. If you are not converting to T3, you need some form of

T3 either adding to your T4, or T3 alone, or natural thyroid extract.

You do not have to be seen by the endocrinologist in your

particular area, especially if he is a specialist in diabetes, as we have

learned that there are few such endocrinologists who really understand about

the functioning of the thyroid. I will send you a list of doctors recommended

by our members and ask your GP to refer you to one of your choice.

Last, ask for your letter of requests to be placed into your

Medical Notes and keep a copy for yourself. Then ask for an appointment after

your doctor has read your letter so that you can both discuss this matter

together and decide which road is best to follow. Above all, hold your head up

high, and be assertive, difficult I know, but you can get the facts from TPA

and be assured that we can back up what we say, something your GP will not be

able to do.

Lastly, do read the other attached document as to the many

reasons why thyroid hormone stops working for you as you may pick up some clues

there.

Good luck

luv - Sheila

I currently take 175mcg of levothyroxine and have done for a while now although

they tried to reduce it to 150mcg at one point. I still have a load of symptoms

and I am so sick of being tired. To make matters worse I also have PCOS which I

got diagnosed with about 6 years ago, to be honest I don't think I have ever

had a normal period.

I feel like my body is falling to bits and just don't know what else to do.

Everytime I go to the docs I come out feeling fobbed off with regard to my

underactive thyroid and PCOS.

Whilst pregnant I was monitored a little more closely and also increased my

Thyroxine to 200mcg. I am apparently within the normal range but I am fed up of

feeling the way I do.

Any advice that anyone can arm me with before I make another GP appointment

would be greatly appreciated!! I have read a bit on here around T3 & T4 but

I am at a bit of a loss to be honest!

I

2 of 2 File(s)

Why thyroid hormone stops working (2).doc

LOW MINERALS AND VITAMINS AND THE THYROID CONNECTION.doc