This new study kind of turns the current way of diagnosing hypothyroidism on it's ear. And therefore, this study's findings may have beneficial implications for people with chronic health conditions such as chronic fatigue and even chronic Lyme Disease.
The authors of that new study concluded that a TSH blood level of greater than 2.0 uIU/L would indicate that you are hypothyroid and that you have hypothyroidism. And theres are some some doctors that believe a normal TSH level is between .3 - 1.5 and anything over 1.5 would indicate hypothyroidism.
And in my opinion, this is imporant because most medical doctors will not diagnose a person with hypothyroidism unless their blood TSH level is around 4.5 uIU/L or higher. And thus, there are probably alot of chronically ill people that have hypothyroidism and they don't even know it. And more importantly, they are not being treated for it and they are suffering needlessly.
I also feel as though this study may be very important to people that have a chronic infection such as chronic Lyme Disease because having hypothyroidism can supppress your immune system and thus a person with hypothyroidism is more susceptible to contracting an infection and a person with hypothyroidism will also not be able to overcome an infectious illness as easily.
Also, people that have chronic fatigue may want to compare their blood TSH level to the blood TSH level that the authors said would indicate that you have hypothyroidism because a hallmark symptom of hypothyroidism is chronic fatigue.
A few quotes from that study:
"These preliminary results suggest that TSH levels > 2.0 uIU/L may be abnormal."
"This observation raises the possibility that negative health effects of mild, subclinical hypothyroidism with mild to modest elevations in TSH may begin at levels MUCH LOWER than those currently considered abnormal based on assigned normal reference range values with an upper reference level of 4.5 uIU/L."
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[ 01-19-2013, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: emla999/Lyme ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Emla,
Thanks a bunch for all that great detail - and all the other good stuff you post, too. -
Posted by emla999/Lyme (Member # 12606) on :
I thought that a list of symptoms that can be caused by hypothyroidism might be appropriate for this thread topic. So here goes.....
A list of symptoms that can be caused by hypothyroidism was taken from this website
■Less stamina than others (chronic fatigue) ■Less energy than others ■Long recovery period after any activity ■Inability to hold children for very long ■Arms feeling like dead weights after activity ■Chronic Low Grade Depression ■Suicidal Thoughts ■ Often feeling cold ■Cold hands and feet ■High or rising cholesterol ■Heart disease ■Palpitations ■Fibrillations ■Plaque buildup ■Bizarre and Debilitating reaction to exercise ■Hard stools ■Constipation ■Candida ■No eyebrows or thinning outer eyebrows ■Dry Hair ■Hair Loss ■White hairs growing in ■No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows ■Dry cracking skin ■Nodding off easily ■Requires naps in the afternoon ■Sleep Apnea (which can also be associated with low cortisol) ■ Air Hunger (feeling like you can�t get enough air) ■Inability to concentrate or read long periods of time ■Forgetfulness ■ Foggy thinking (brain fog) ■Inability to lose weight ■Always gaining weight ■Weight loss (a small minority experience this) ■Inability to function in a relationship with anyone ■NO sex drive ■Failure to ovulate and/or constant bleeding (see Rainbow�s story) ■Moody periods ■PMS ■Inability to get pregnant; miscarriages ■Excruciating pain during period ■Nausea ■Swelling/edema/puffiness ■Aching bones/muscles ■Osteoporosis ■Bumps on legs ■Acne on face and in hair ■Breakout on chest and arms ■Hives ■Exhaustion in every dimension�physical, mental, spiritual, emotional ■Inability to work full-time ■Inability to stand on feet for long periods ■Complete lack of motivation ■Slowing to a snail�s pace when walking up slight grade ■Extremely crabby, irritable, intolerant of others ■Handwriting nearly illegible ■Internal itching of ears ■Broken/peeling fingernails ■Dry skin or snake skin ■Major anxiety/worry ■Ringing in ears ■Lactose Intolerance ■Inability to eat in the mornings ■ Joint pain ■Carpal tunnel symptoms ■No Appetite ■Fluid retention to the point of Congestive Heart Failure ■Swollen legs that prevented walking ■Blood Pressure problems ■Varicose Veins ■Dizziness from fluid on the inner ear ■ Low body temperature ■Tightness in throat; sore throat ■Swollen lymph glands ■Allergies (which can also be a result of low cortisol�common with hypothyroid patients) ■ Headaches and Migraines ■ Sore feet, sore heels (plantar fascitis); painful soles of feet ■ Having a cold butt, cold hindquarters ■colitis ■ irritable bowel syndrome ■painful bladder ■Extreme hunger, especially at nighttime ■Dysphagia, which is nerve damage and causes the inability to swallow fluid, food or your own saliva and leads to �aspiration pneumonia�.
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[ 01-19-2013, 04:25 PM: Message edited by: emla999/Lyme ]
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
Let's hope the medical societies that handle thyroid issues takes this to heart. They are not well informed on the subject. Which is why a lot of people who need thyroid supplementation don't get it.
Makes you wonder why these medical societies are considered to be the authorities when they keep getting it wrong.
Synthroid alone did not work for me, or for my mother, but she never get the chance to try anything else. And this has immune consequences too.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Very good information and list of symptoms. Did you mention a low body temperature taken first thing in the morning?
My entire life my normal body temperature was between 96.8 and 97 degrees F. Since starting LDN, it has been around 98.6.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I bloodtested low thyroid, and since I've been on Armour thyroid, these symptoms have greatly reduced:
brain fog dissociation lack of sense of time passing
I also notice, reading through the list of symptoms above, that air hunger has greatly reduced. Interesting.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
I remember some other study showing the same - that TSH should be below 2 rather than 5 for the upper limit of the "normal range" on lab tests...but the medical community and most labs have ignored this.
That information was presented at the endocrine society�s annual meeting!!
Endocrinologists are considered to be the world's experts on thyroid function but for some reason most medical doctors don't seem to be aware of those endocrinologists findings. So, there are probably alot of chronically ill people that have hypothyoidism but are not being treated properly for it.
And this is all unfortunate and sad becuase alot of people are probably needlessly suffering.
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Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Endo's did not take into consideration that there is no more "normal" in the pop.s.
You can have perfectly looking normal hormone levels in the blood but if you have infected neurons that transverse those hormones to their desired locations CANNOT because those neurons are infected with stealth infections they will get the symptoms of low hormones and still suffer.
A new report from Japan on Testosterone. TESTOSTERONE IS FUEL FOR THE FIRE
IF YOUR NOT KILLING BUGS.
Effect of Sex Steroids on Babesia microti Infection in Mice.
Which can help explain why 4 out of 5 cases of Autism is in Males.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Thanks for posting it emla999/Lyme. I am stealing it...
What the Endo's have to do is get onboard to the truth of what denying people treatment
because of stupid tests and criminals who have denied Lyme exists
that has caused much suffering for NO reason...
Posted by birdie67 (Member # 35994) on :
Thank you emla Posted by Tricky Tickey (Member # 26546) on :
Interesting information here. I've been taking Levothyroxine for Hypo-T for a few years. I got off of it for 2 months, then my hair starts falling out. I wish I could treat it naturally, without the Levo-T, but would be afraid to venture out and try on my own.
Regardless, I still feel there is a natural treatment for this condition..I've heard Iodine, but haven't seen a ND to verify and get proper treatment. I tried on my own but not sure I hurt or helped the condition.
Posted by emla999/Lyme (Member # 12606) on :
Tricky Tickey,
There are naturally derived thyroid meds available. Armour, Nature Throid and ERFA are just a few examples of naturally derived thyroid meds. But unfortunately most medical doctors don't prescribe them. They usually only prescribe the T4 containg Synthroid..... it's synthetic.
I've been seeing a BHRT doc for a few months now and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and glucocorticosteroid deficiency.
My TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 were within "normal" range. Since going on Armour Thyroid and HC, my hair isn't falling out in clumps, MUCH less fatigue, starting to sleep better and many of those symptoms you listed I have/had with improvement.
Hoping this will be the key to me getting quality of life back.
Thanks for posting this as now dealing with yet another controversial illness, any validation one can get helps immensely.
Posted by Jane2904 (Member # 15917) on :
Lots of good info. Thanks.
Anyone notice more fatigue when they started taking Armour Thyroid?
Posted by emla999/Lyme (Member # 12606) on :
Jane2904,
Some people can experience fatigue when they first start on Armour.
And have you had your Reverse T3 (RT3) blood levels checked?
I ask this because if your RT3 is high then taking Armour may actually make you feel worse. And you may need to take a thyroid med that contains only the T3 hormone.
Armour contains both T4 and T3 but if you have high RT3 you may not be able to tolerate a T4 containing med such as Armour.
You can read more about that on the link down bellow.
When I started Armour, definitely more fatigue. That was with only 15mg. I was to increase by 15mg weekly but couldn't do it the second week.
I pushed through and increased it starting the third week. I crashed. That was proof that I needed hydrocortisone due to adrenals not working properly.
Since adding the HC, big difference. It is a trial and error type of thing to get on the proper dose and time of day to take the HC especially with increased activity/stress.
Posted by Jane2904 (Member # 15917) on :
I will have to look at labs.
Thanks Emla and Pocono.
Glad things are working out for you Pocono.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Pinelady: [QB]
A new report from Japan on Testosterone. TESTOSTERONE IS FUEL FOR THE FIRE
IF YOUR NOT KILLING BUGS.
- What do you mean?
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Effect of Sex Steroids on Babesia microti Infection in Mice.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)