entrenching hypothyroidism?
Posted , 8 users are following.
I was recently diagnosed, through two blood tests as having an under-active thyroid. I had none of the usual symptoms, but I was prescribed Levothyroxine 50 micrograms and told to take it for the rest of life. I guess in all likelihood the dosage will need to be increased in the future, depending on blood test results.
But I have a question. Perhaps the under-active thyroid is only a temporary imbalance – a response to some environmental or psychological factor.. And what if those factors change or end after a while? In the absence of medication I can imagine that the thyroid swings back into normal operation.
But as I AM taking medication, the thyroid hormone levels in my body are normal, are they not? So the brain does not know there is a problem. So it does not act (assuming this is possible) to adjust hormone production in the thyroid gland. So the gland stays in under-production. It has no chance of functioning normally again. And the condition becomes entrenched
The same sort of argument is applied to the wearing of glasses. The refractive error produced by the eye may be a temporary imbalance, as a result of stress, environmental factors, etc. If the glasses are prescribed, the eyes are in focus with those glasses even though they are producing a refractive error. And so the brain is fooled, it says to itself ''Everything is perfect, no need to adjust the eyes''. And so the refractive error becomes fixed, established.
I would welcome people's comments on this perspective.
Clive
1 like, 33 replies
RKD clive86761
Posted
Hello Clive, I will read ALL the replies but firstly must ask why people are being medicated without typical symptoms, and if you are comfortable with you health. Most of us with this debilitating condition can't get properly prescribed/treated.
Rgards.
clive86761 RKD
Posted
Another question that has occurred to me is: how much natural variation is there in the T4 and T3 hormone levels in the body, on a daily or weekly basis? I would think before being prescribed life-long medication, there needs to be 3 identical tests, separated by a few weeks.
I am not sure what you mean,RKD, by "am I comfortable with my health''. I attend to it, but It does not cause me stress; I do not worry about the future.
regards
Clive
terry07900 clive86761
Posted
I was hoping you could provide an update. Did you stop taking the medicine? Your theory : "In the absence of medication I can imagine that the thyroid swings back into normal operation" is of great interest to me. I am curious about your situation. Did you stop your medication? How are you?
Below I will give some details about my situation but the quick summary is that I have borderline hypothyroidism and I am currently not taking medication, against doc orders.
A few details about me. 2 months ago thyroid test indicated borderline hypothyroidism and an ultrasound of the left lobe of my thyroid showed it to be very diminished-- (or maybe it was always small?) No nodules. The doc wanted me to try taking levoxyl for 6 weeks (she gave me free sample pills) and then get re-tested. I thought it was strange- I read that hypothyroid patients have fatigue and yet I have very bad insomnia and I am quite alert. (additionally I am much more athletic than my peers- I'm a female-age 56) I never drink caffiene -I'm pretty energetic. Anyway- I followed doc order's and I cut the pill in half and I took the Levoxylin pill early the morning . That day I discovered my insomnia issues were far worse- and they were already bad. That night I could not sleep at all. Zero sleep. The next day I felt terrible. Even though I should have followed doc orders- I did NOT take another dose that next day. I finally fell asleep around midnight on the second evening after taking the half pill. I complained to the doc by using an online tool and she said I could cut the half dose in half and take that.
I decided against taking any more pills. I am researching about diet and nutrition and I think maybe will get my blood retested eventually. I probably need a new doctor since the endocrinologist doesn't like how I disobeyed her doc orders.
I am NOT free of symptoms but oddly-my symptoms do not fit the normal hypothyroid profile.Biggest symptom: really bad insomnia. This insomnia is NOT stress related and I am keenly aware of proper sleep hygiene. Hypothyroid patients usually have hand tremors and I do have that. They also usually have joint pain and so do I -X rays show I have degenerative joint issues- but again, I am quite athletic/active.
I have been very slim my whole life until the last few years and I'm getting fat in my tummy area. My theory is that I now have too much cortisol and hence the insomnia and middle section fat.
Genetics are not my friend: My dad was afflicted severely with ankylosing spondylitis- an auto immune disease - --however I do NOT have that- my sed rates are normal and the primary care doc screened me for lupus (not sure why) and she said I didn't have that.
So there you have it- much more detail than you probably want, ha! It seems you are my captive audience, lol...
My basic question is about you. I wonder if you stopped your medicine and how you are faring. This is an old thread , so I'm not entirely sure you will get this or I'll get a reply. If you can reply, thanks. Best regards to all on the thread.