Underactive thyroid- will I ever feel the same again?
I have been diagnosed for about 2 years now and seem to have finally got the right level of thyroxine.
User Comments
- After treatment for an overactive thyroid 10 years ago I've been on thyroxine for the last 8 years.
It is a struggle at times because the thyroid plays such a major role in the body. One thing I have to remind myself after my thyroxine levels have been changed is that it takes a long time for it to get into your system as thyroxine tablets are slow-release hormones.
Alos, thyroid imbalances can lead to depression and lack of motivation as well as the physical side-effects of weight problems etc.
I piled on the pounds and found that after my treatment swimming was great exercise as was yoga. It's low impact, it's relaxing and I managed to lose all of the extra weight I'd gained. It also really helped lift my mood.
If you feel unbearably tired you could always ask your doctor to test you for anaemia. I developed pernicious anaemia (vit B12) which added to the feelings of tiredness and low motivation.
Just try to stay positive, it does take time but you will feel better again soon :)
- Just because the doctor says you are in range, does not mean you are where you should be. For most on T4, the morning TSH should be around 1.0. If you are at that level and you still fill tired, then its perhaps because you are a poor converter of T4 into T3. This means that you may need a med like ARmour thyroid, which is both T4 and T3.
- THE FACT YOU STILL FEEL DEPLETED ON ALL LEVELS TELLS ME THAT YOUR ENERGY LEVELS SHOULD BE BETTER, YOU WILL NEVER FEEL 100% MY PAL DOES NOT.
THE BODY HAS A WAY OF BALANCING ALL WITH A HEALTHY THYROID, TABLETS ARE JUST KEEPING FROM DETERIORATING MORE,THE THYROID IS A VERY IMPORTANT GLAND. IT NEEDS FINE BALANCING HAVE YOU TRIED REFLEXOLOGY,THAT THERAPY IS DRUG-LESS, IT MAY HELP YOU TO BALANCE THYROID AND GET BETTER CONTROL OF HOW YOU FEEL,REFLEXOLOGY IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN THIS AREA. TRY IT FOR SIX WEEKS AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE MY PAL HAS.
- A girl friend had similar symptoms turned out she was coeliac (intolerant to Gluten) easy to check there is a NEW Human tTG dot-blot test based on the detection of anti-tTG antibodies in serum or in one drop of whole blood-30 minutes to get results.
If that isn't available avoid foods with gluten (brows is a good word to remember Barley, Rye, Oats, Wheat, Spelt) read labels on processed foods. If you are a coeliac you will notice a difference in short time. Good site to visit is
www.celiac.com you will note that thyroid problems has been
associated with coeliac. Take the quick tour on web site.
- If you are getting at least 8 hours of good sleep every night, and you are still tired all of the time, then you are NOT on the right dose of thyroxine. It's that simple.
Either that, or you have some other disease along with your thyroid disease. But the simplest explanation is almost always the right one. You have thyroid disease. Thyroid disease causes tiredness. Therefore your thyroid disease is causing the tiredness.
What is your heart rate?
- anyone else have the same probs or have any ideas on how I can feel human again?
- You are not alone. I had my thyroid remove and do not feel 100% either. Fatigue and lack of motivation seem to be my lingering symptoms.
Your thyroid produced 2 hormones that effect metabolism, T4 and T3. Your body can make T3 out of T4 so your medication is just T4. From what I read many people feel better taking T3 supplements also. I haven't taken it, but discussed it with my doctor, and after my next visit, will be adding it. Armour thyroid medication is another choice, it is natural made from pig's thyroid.
Also the normal TSH range is 0.3 to 3.0, but everyone feels normal at a different value. See what yours is ? Many people feel the best around 1.0.
For myself I also found some of my other hormones were "normal" but not for a man of my age. There can be other issues at work here that cause these symptoms. Weight gain can lead to hormone changes and sleep apnea.
Good luck.
- But still dont feel 100%. I still feel very tired all the time, demotivated etc... and cant seem to shift any weight!
- I have had hypothyroidism since1995,since then it has went to hashimotos disease.I was on levoxyl for 9 yrs,now im on synthroid 150.I am still trying to lose weight,I am checking in on the coconut oil as we speak.it claims to increase your energy levels as well as take the weight off slowly.I am a candidate for the gastric bypass and I am also looking for an alternative solution for weight loss rather go through surgery.please let me know if you find out anything...!