[Thumper]

#1019930

Hi ! What a comfort to find this forum. I was diagnosed with Graves a couple of years ago. I had R.A.I. therapy and have been taking Synthroid ever since but now I have been told that I am in sub clinical hypothyroidism and just had my meds adjusted. I guess my question is does this happen a lot? I am very tired again just like when I was Hyper and am just feeling discouraged by it all.I am also gaining too much weight. At this point I can not even remember a time when I felt good. Anyway I am also having some eye problems and hope that I am not developing any problems there. Has anyone here tried Armour? Well enough for now I think that I will read some of the other threads since I just joined today. Peace

[Bobbi]

#1075090

Hi, Thumper:

All "subclinical hypothyroidism" means is that your tested levels of actual thyroid hormone are "normal", but the TSH is slightly elevated. There can be any number of reasons for this happening, including an autoimmune problem, a response to illness or injury, taking corticosteroids or some other medications. The treatment is to prescribe, or increase the level of thyroid replacement hormone. Since you had RAI, and are already taking replacement hormone, raising the meds is an easy fix (or first attempt at a fix).

Even with RAI, there are typically thyroid cells still functioning. Not a whole lot, usually — especially if we have had an ablative dose of RAI — but enough that we can, occasionally require adjustments in the replacement dose. Antibodies can rev remaining cells into producing an extra amount of thyroid hormone, so that we need to, at least temporarily, lower our replacement dose. Antibody action can lower, and we might find ourselves needing a tad more replacement hormone. It’s annoying, but given that we’re on replacement hormone, the remedy is right at hand: changing the dose of replacement hormone.

But do not expect your dose of replacement hormone automatically to make you feel good. There’s more to feeling good than just a specific dose of replacement. Getting appropriate nutrition, and most importantly, getting a bit of exercise when we are hypothyroid (even if we have to drag ourselves out) can make a huge difference in how we feel. And, also, there can be something else going on that is making us feel ‘off’ that has absolutely nothing to do with thyroid. My first step is always to check my thyroid levels. If they are "off" it is a bonus. If not, I look to lifestyle, and then to the GP to try to figure out what else might be going on.

Being slightly hypothyroid can make the eye symptoms more pronounced. It does not "cause" the eye disease, but if the body is not functioning at par, then the muscles may not be able to compensate for the imperfect focal point and double vision can occur, or get worse, and the puffiness can increase. Getting back to better thyroid levels can eliminate those issues.

And, about the Armour: some folks do try that. And some like it. But you would have to go back to square one. The doctor would most likely put you on a low dose (because Armour contains the potent form of T3 which can aggravate heart conditions, etc.) and then gradually raise you up, just like when you started the Synthroid. The dose has to be carefully calibrated. It might work; it might not. My endo put me on synthetic T3 once, which made me feel great for a while — and then sick. I was on a very small dose of T3, and it made me ill. It is very potent stuff. When she took me off of it, I was absolutely positive I was going to start again having the problems that had resulted in me taking it in the first place, but instead I felt great! Go figure. It can all be very confusing.

Bobbi — NGDF Online FAcilitator

[Thumper]

#1075091

Bobbi, thank you so much for your reply! This disease confuses me at times. I was not diagnosed until after several visits to my G.P. I thought at the time that I was just having menopausal symptoms and it wasn`t until I lost a great amount of weight and ended up in the ER. with kidney problems that I finally was told that I had Graves. I had many issues come up with my health all at once so I had multiple symptoms. In reading some of the posts here I am gaining a better understanding about this condition and somehow it is helping me feel less helpless and more hopeful. I keep reading and think, Oh my word, yes I remember having those issues. My family has tried to be supportive but I know that they struggle in comprehending what is happening. Peace.

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