Thyroid

[Tonto21]

Let me start by saying......I'm no authority on the subject, I post this topic in the belief if I can help just one persons that has gone though what I have it would have been well worth posting this.

Very briefly, about 7 years ago I was diagnosed with an over active thyroid, I was given radioactive iodine, and subsequently I became underactive. I was put on Thyroxin, (a very cheap drug)

Thyroxin, an artificial medicine aimed to replace naturally produced chemicals and maintain normal body functions that the thyroid can no longer do, to one degree or another. Thyroxin is the number one treatment given to suffers of an under active thyroid. However, it doesn't always work! The body can, after a period of time stop converting the artificial medicine. This is what happened to me.

After 5 years, (about 2 years ago) I started putting on weight, despite being very active and becoming obsessed about what I was eating......It was driving me mad! I've always been a fit guy, but despite all my efforts , I was getting fatter and more, as I saw it lazy!

Anyway, it all got too much, and I saw a specialist in CM, after a blood test, for TSH and T4 levels....They were of the chart....In a bad way, I was at the time on 200mg of Thyroxin, (a high dose) the doctor told me my body was no longer converting the Thyroxin, basically my metabolism had gone on strike, along with other now reduced body functions!

He told me I need to go on thyroid hormone, (it's natural and comes from pig and sheep thyroids) the body will readily except this, and it has no side effect, being a much closer match to our own body's needs than thyroxin.

I've now been on the thyroid hormone for just about a year now, with great results, I can eat more, I feel good, in the head as well as my body....and I'm losing weight....slowly, getting to where I should be.

Bottom line guys and girls, if you have an under active thyroid, and are on thyroxin. If you're not happy, but are just accepting the fact that this is it! Well it isn't. See your doctor, get a blood test, get yourself on thyroid hormone, you will like the results I'm sure.

As a foot note; I've found it hard to get thyroid hormone, (only in 60mg tabs) in Thailand. Luckily for me, Buri Ram hospital, (by central shopping mall) Chiangmai stock it.

Edited June 15, 2011 by Tonto21

[Wavefloater]

Fortunately, it's not a problem that affects me, but I read your post as I have a friend with thyroid concerns.

Just wanted to say that it was very nice of you to warn people of this potential problem. I am not a big fan of the effectiveness of Thai doctors -- think they're downright dangerous idiots too often, so reminding people to monitor their own health is helpful. Good for you!

[lopburi3]

I would expect a blood test should be a regular check for anyone using such medications. I know it has been for me since discovery of nodules and since most of thyroid removed. Believe it will continue well beyond the getting levels right phase that am in now.

[Tonto21]

I would expect a blood test should be a regular check for anyone using such medications. I know it has been for me since discovery of nodules and since most of thyroid removed. Believe it will continue well beyond the getting levels right phase that am in now.

Hi ‘lopburi3’ yes I agree about the regular blood test, (I believe 6 monthly is the recommended intervals) and I do, but all the doctors ever do...UK as well was slowly up my dose of thyroxin, I started out on 50mg/pd. Fact is, most doctor don’t know much about the thyroid, (I'm not knocking them, GP's do a good job, and can't know everything...about everything) They read just enough to know where the TSH and T4 levels should fall and the general treatment to issue, thyroxin. Doctors like to keep the patient in the low end of the range, (less chance of possible complications) the body will function, but you will feel like shit most of the time, mentally and physically. I recently read an excellent book on the thyroid. It was called “Thyroid for idiots” (same line of books as “computing for idiots” and so on) very informative. I just feel one of us when I go to see the doctor knows something about the subject!

About your condition, even if the entire thyroid is removed you will need to input thyroxin or thyroid hormone won’t you? And you will still need to maintain a level suitable for your body’s requirements. But, anyway best of luck with it all.

[Sheryl]

I'm surprised you say thyroid extract is hard to get as I have not found it so. There are 3-4 brands on the market and any pharmacy of significant size should have it. I've had no problem finding it in either Bangkok or even Prachinburi.

it is worth noting that the body normally converts thyroxin (T4) to T3 and most people do fine on just thyroxin replacement. But there are people in whom the mechanism for conversion of T4 to T3 is impaired who will need to take the extract instead. Best done under the careful supervision of a specialist.

[moe666]

I have been on Armour Thyroid for years (pig extract) and it works fine. I also take hydocortizone as well this helps to increase receptor sights for thyroid. The signs for low thyroid and cortisol are similiar, they tend to treat only the thyroid and the improvement is not significant no matter how high a dose is given.

Another problem I have encountered is adherence to the dogama of you donot need thyroid your test show you are at low normal. All the while you have all of the symtoms of a under active thyroid weight gain, cold feet, cold hands, unable to wake up after a nights sleep, and tiredness.

At one time the use of pig extract was an excepted therapy but the drug companies had to demonize it to Drs in order to sale their new product thyroxin. The only difference being the pig extract has a small amount of t-3 that the body can use immediately while waiting for the t-4 to be converted.

Good luck to you and your treatment.

[Tonto21]

I have been on Armour Thyroid for years (pig extract) and it works fine. I also take hydocortizone as well this helps to increase receptor sights for thyroid. The signs for low thyroid and cortisol are similiar, they tend to treat only the thyroid and the improvement is not significant no matter how high a dose is given.

Another problem I have encountered is adherence to the dogama of you donot need thyroid your test show you are at low normal. All the while you have all of the symtoms of a under active thyroid weight gain, cold feet, cold hands, unable to wake up after a nights sleep, and tiredness.

At one time the use of pig extract was an excepted therapy but the drug companies had to demonize it to Drs in order to sale their new product thyroxin. The only difference being the pig extract has a small amount of t-3 that the body can use immediately while waiting for the t-4 to be converted.

Good luck to you and your treatment.

Hi 'moe666', interesting, especially the hydrocortisone bit! Another test I've been advised to have done, along with TSH and T4 levels is my adrenalin level. any thoughts on that….anyone?

Edited June 16, 2011 by Tonto21

[Tonto21]

I'm surprised you say thyroid extract is hard to get as I have not found it so. There are 3-4 brands on the market and any pharmacy of significant size should have it. I've had no problem finding it in either Bangkok or even Prachinburi.

it is worth noting that the body normally converts thyroxin (T4) to T3 and most people do fine on just thyroxin replacement. But there are people in whom the mechanism for conversion of T4 to T3 is impaired who will need to take the extract instead. Best done under the careful supervision of a specialist.

Hi 'Sheryl' come on, I didn't say it was hard to get, I said; "I've found it hard to get, there is a difference. Let me expand on what I meant. After I was prescribed the extract by the doctor, (in CM hospital) they said they didn't have any…But it could be got in most hospitals. I traveled to Pattaya the next day…..Long story short, I was told by all I asked, 'no have'.The hospitals I went into would not tell me if they had it, to find out I would have to see a doctor, price ranging from 500 to 1000 Baht, regardless I had a doctors certification, I was not going to play that money making game for them. Eventually I gave up looking, rang my doctor, (in CM) who then said…"Oh, we do have that drug…silly us" bottom line they EMS to me. So the only place I have found it is Buri Ram hospital Chiangmai.

But thanks for that info, it's good to now know I was just unlucky at that time in finding it.

Edited June 16, 2011 by Tonto21

[moe666]

The reason I went on hydrocortisol mine was low which is an indication of over stressed adrinals which most people have because of stress. I will say this good luck finding a Dr. who will prescribe it for you .. My Dr. has been studing with a Dr. in Belgium who is an expert on Hormone Replacement Therapy and so it is excepted as a protocol with this group of Dr. Most Drs. donot have enough knowledge about the therapy and it is considered dangerous by most uninformed therapist. Yes over medication can be dangerous just as over medication with thyroid is dangerous, heart palpatations is the fastest for me to spot.

If you supplament the hydocortisol you can cut back on the amt, of Thyroid medication as you will develope more receptor sights I went from 6 grains of Thyroid to 4 grains after introduction of Hydrocortdisol.

Check you temp. that is one way to determine if you are taking enough Thyroid or if it is working. Before getting out of bed and about 2 hours later take temp. keep track of you temp for a week and log it should be a consistent 98.6 give a few tenths of a degree. Before I started Thyroid my temp. would be down to 94 and 95 degrees. I would hit the snooze alarm 10 to 15 times before getting out of bed. Talk about miserable.

I went to a Dr. who specialized in Thyroid and he checked my blood work and he says you have a low normal reading but all physical indicators say other wise he put me on Armour Thyroid and I haven't looked back since. I did visit my old family Dr. and after reviewing my blood test she said with these readings I would not have put you on this medication. My response to her was and yea I would have weighted at least 300 lbs, could not have worked or been dead. I payed my bill and haven't been back to see her since.

Also my gout isn't a problem when I am on my Thyroid medication. I was able to get off the medication for several years without any problems, a bit complicated to explain here, after a few years I started having a lot of gout attacks and my present Dr. says time to get back on the Thyroid when I worked my way to 2 grains a day the gout stopped.

Good luck on you treatment

Tonto21 every thing I have mentioned here has been prescribed to me by my Drs. who have been treating me for more than 15 years. The Hydrocortisol is a new treatment started in the last year

Edited June 16, 2011 by moe666