Hypothyroidism Support Group

Hi everyone, hope you're all having a good Monday!

This is my first post and I came across this site via google so I'm not sure how it all works. Basically I am looking for some advice and hoping to share experiences with other hypothyroid sufferers. I was diagnosed at the age of 22 although the doctor thinks I have had this condition from birth and it has been missed.

I am currently taking 75mg of levothyroxine a day and still I have all the symptoms I had before. No matter how much I try I cannot get my doctor to up my dosage (I am travelling atm and currently living in Oz so my UK doctor won't up it as he cannot monitor my progress...fair enough I guess but it is frustrating!)

Although I feel a little better than I did before being diagnosed I am still gaining weight easily, falling asleep and feeling tired all the time, being irritable and feeling cold when I'm in 26 degree heat (it is a running joke I would be cold when sat on the sun!)

I read on another site that changing of diet can help the fatigue and I wondered if anyone else has tried this? I am thinking of cutting out gluten for a month to see if I feel any improvements. I suffer from IBS so I am thinking it may help that too.

Any comments will be welcome as I feel like unless you have hypothyroidism you don't know how it feels!

Thanks

Hyposaz87

Paleo diet...it honestly helped me for a while but I didn't follow through the way I should have because I found it to be time consuming and I have a one year old at home and a husband with a completely different schedule than me. But once I figure out what's going on with my meds (see new post "uppped my meds and feel WORSE") I intend on doing Paleo full throttle. It's a Gluten free and soy free, low carb diet...but unlike Atkins it incorporates healthy fats, fruits, and even honey. Go to Paleodiet.com and try some of the recipes to see if you like it.

Best of luck to you,

Gigi

Hi;

Does your diet contain enough protein?

Just a thought.

I noticed when I stopped eating heavy meals in general I had more energy. Light meals with fruits n veggies are good. Starchy goods weigh me down. But I also found out I'm hyperglycemic, so this makes sense in my case..

Hypoglycemic*

A well balanced diet of 5-6 small meals a day does help, It keeps your blood sugar level.

Also, how long since you have had your blood tested? And did they test T3 and T4 as well as TSH? If your body isn't converting the T4 to the usable T3 that would explain the continued symptoms.

Glad you found us!

Denise

Ditto to what everyone else has said here. I had terrible fatigue that was separate from my hypothyroid problems (because I was stable at the time), and was alleviated by starting a multi-small meals diet low in carbs and balanced with fats and proteins. I am so sensitive that even sugary fruits can make me sleepy. I drink *low carb* shakes for breakfast, have a low carb bar two hours later (tho I used to eat pretzels with cheese and was fine, too); a bean/veggie/cheese/chicken wrap for lunch, and often that or something similar for dinner, for example. I've never limited my fat intake. Freaks my dh out, but I have very low cholesterol levels and don't seem to have problems with my fat intake.

I even heard of going through a cleansing such as a colon cleans helps with fatigue.

( Hope To Cope ) Scott

Thank you everyone for your advice. I have tried the gluten free diet now for only 3 days and I haven't seen much of an improvement but then I didn't expect to!

The last blood test I had they just told me my levels were in "normal" range. This is another thing which annoys me...how can they say I am "normal" when I still have symptoms? I read a book when I was first diagnosed called "tears behind closed doors" (if you haven't read it I recommend it) that summed up exactly how I felt. When I told my doctor this he looked at me like I was mad.

This is why I decided to change things myself, I will admit in the past I have increased my own medication and felt a bit of improvement. Has anyone else done this? I know it is dangerous but I feel like my doctor won't do anything because of my blood results. I'm 24 years old and I'm constantly tired and feel like I have no energy it's driving me mad!!!

Rant over! (sorry!)

I understand EXACTLY how you feel. I'm 26 and have a one year old and some days I struggle just giving her a bath because I'm so exhausted. But the doctor said my levels are NORMAL and he just upped my meds recently so I should be feeling like wonder woman by now...RIGHT?! Seriously though, I don't understand why both doctors I have gone to are supposed to be experts and are oblivious to our symptoms. When I asked my doctor if my hypothyroid causes mood swings sometimes he told me not really and that some women diagnosed with hypothyroid use their condition as an EXCUSE sometimes. I felt like leaving his office right there but the sad thing is he was better than my last doctor