Thyrodial Deficiancys

Oct 6 04:26 UTC 1996

Just recently, I went in for a physical (oh joy, oh rapture), only to find
out that I (most likely) had a thyroidal deficiantly.  So far, all I know is
that this causes your metabolism to be a little screwy (i recently dropped
8 lbs for no reason, and now can't lose it when i'm trying to), and it causes
joint pain (boy do i have plenty!)

Basically, I want to learn as much about it as possible, since i know so
little.

(The tests aren't back yet, but since my mom and her dad both have it, and
I seem to have a few other signs of it, we think it's a sure bet.)

response 2 of 31:

Oct 11 21:29 UTC 1996

This is odd.  I'm going to contradict a doctor.  Graves Disease, also known
as exophthalmic goiter, is *not* the same as hypothyroidism.  In fact, it's
quite the opposite, as it causes the thyroid to produce *too much*. 
Hypothryoidism is a deficiency of thyroid, or not enough.  Which appears to
be what is being spoken of here.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism are a severe slowing down of the
metabolism, resulting in weight gain, puffiness, and water retention.  In
addition, because the thyroid effects and is effected by other glands and
regulators of the body such as the pituitary, ovaries and testicles, and
the hypothalamus, one may see a change in menstrual cycle, libido, and
immune system.  If one is still at an age where growth is expected, this
growth may be slowed down or stopped.

Typical treatment is to replace the missing thyroid elements, known as T3
and T4, with either synthetic or natural supplements.  Usually, the
synthetic thyroid replacements of Synthroid or Levothroid are sufficient
for the patient to reach a stable metabolic rate; however, these
synthetics contain only one of the two thyroid elements.  It has been
determined in scientific experiment that 20 percent of the general
populace needs to have *both* thyroid elements replaced, as one
element alone will not work at all without its partner.  For this 20
percent, replacement has to be done using natural thyroid.

Usually, once hypothyroidism is discovered the patient is on replacement
therapy for the rest of his or her life; however, a small percentage of
people have taken replacements for a few years and had the thyroid begin
functioning again after that time.  Replacement is in once-a-day pill form
and requires frequent testing at the beginning to assure the patient is
receiving the appropriate amounts.  After stability is achieved, the
patient should be tested regularly at least once and preferably twice a
year to insure the proper levels are being maintained.

How do I know all this?  I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism over nine
years ago, and I'm one of the 20 percent who needs natural thyroid.  Like
you, I wanted to know as much as I could about it.  Talk with your doctor
for reading material on this condition.

response 4 of 31:

Oct 12 06:55 UTC 1996

actually, tests have come back negative!!!  :)  (very happy/surprised meg...:)
i still want to know about it, tho....it wouldn'tsurprise me to wind up with
it since my mom and gradpa have it....

response 6 of 31:

Oct 18 18:10 UTC 1996

THey have to. We couldn't be discussing the question if they didn't.

response 8 of 31:

Nov 18 17:51 UTC 1996

Thanks, Kathleen, for the enthusiastic complement!  Actually, the "real
doctor" remark was made tounge-in-cheek.  As you've come to know, I feel a
large part of the art of medicine is the ability to educate our patients as
fully as possible about their condition/s and help them mobilize their bodies
and minds resources to assist in symptom resolution and healing.  Also, as
a surgeon, there are technical qualities to how tissues are handled and
sculptural techniques used in bone reconstruction and, to a lesser degree,
soft tissue surgery as well.  I'm glad your scar is 'nearly invisible' and
you've done so well.  A good deal of that is attributable to your compliance
with your surgical and post-operative rehabilitation plan.  I was not unlike
the conductor of a symphony played by the cellular and biochemical (and
unknown) instruments of your physiology.  But... let's not plan any encore,
heh.   ;-)

leonardo da vinci called the foot a work of art, and a masterpeice of
engineering.  It's a "bit" more complex than most folks credit.

response 10 of 31:

Nov 25 21:11 UTC 1996

I agree with otter!  Fortunately, the latest styles are rounded toes, and I
for one intend to stock up on them.  I used to find them so comfortable I
could even run in them (if necessary).  But, a lot of manufacturers don't give
enough support to the arch in their high heels.  I used to love wedgies for
that reason.  I like my shoes to look reasonably stylish, but comfort is the
priority.

response 12 of 31:

Nov 26 13:58 UTC 1996

i've fouind that a full lenght arch support pad REALLY helps...i paid $20 for
mine, and i can put them into any of my shoes, and my last pair lasted 6
months of working full-time retail...i was quite pleased with them.  :)

response 14 of 31:

Jan 15 03:33 UTC 1997

i was AMAZED at how much is attached to your thiroid!!!!  why should joints
hurt because the thyroid be defeciant?  :)

response 18 of 31:

Jan 24 15:31 UTC 1997

Tempest, your thyroid is low.  Find a different doctor and get another
opinion.  I've had an acclaimed endocrinologist who screwed up my whole system
even though he allegedly knew what he was doing.  Don't trust them if you know
you don't feel good.  Keep going until you find one who will help you.

response 20 of 31:

Dec 9 00:39 UTC 1997

Hi again, Valerie, you are everywhere!  Probably irrelevant, but you can get
thyroid deficiency symptoms by eating a diet in which you don't add salt to
things.  I was cold all the time, and a friend suggested eating kelp.  I
happened to have laver around, and after eating two packages of it in one
month, am comfortable at 60 degrees (dressed warmly, we conserve on heat),
wherease I was cold at 72 dressed warmly before.  We don't cook with salt,
to which iodide is added.  Packaged stuff has non-iodide salt.  Kelp and other
seaweeds have sodium potassium magnesium calcium and iodine, and lots of B
vitamins, also C and D, and laver is rather tasty even by itself.  You can
supposedly buy powdered kelp and use it instead of salt.  Salt (sodium
chloride) causes calcium loss as well as high blood pressure.  Kelp can be
boiled in soup, or added to stir-fries without even presoaking (if you want
the extra minerals from sea water), but is rather tough going uncooked.  It
is also one of the few (only?) sources of omega-3 fatty acids for vegans.

response 22 of 31:

Dec 10 20:17 UTC 1997

FOr at least some people, salt causes high blood pressure.  They have some
metabolic problem with their potassium-sodium balance.  Sometimes eating a
lot of potassium fixes the problem, it they insist on eating sodium.
Packaged foods, I think, are produced wtih uniodized salt, as some people
cannot tolerate the iodine.   And restaurants may use the uniodized stuff.
Eating foods grown in other parts of the country will help, since the Great
Lakes region is very low in iodine in the soil.  If you are trying to eat
locally grown vegetarian food, without adding salt, there is the choice of
vitamin and mineral supplements or seaweed, the latter tasting better.  (I
have not yet found a source of locally grown seaweed, you would probably have
to grow it with iodine supplements, so we buy the Chinese product that China
imports from Canada.)  I am still trying to find out how much B-12 there is
in kelp and laver and tempeh, which have lots of minerals and vitamins and
essential fatty acids.

response 24 of 31:

Jun 8 01:22 UTC 1998

   Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
   _________________________________________________________________
   
   Hashimoto's thyroiditis, also referred to as autoimmune thyroiditis
   and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is a chronic inflammatory
   glandular autoimmune disease. An autoimmune reaction to proteins in
   the thyroid is the underlying cause of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. There
   is evidence of a genetic predisposition in the development of
   Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It is not uncommon for persons with
   autoimmune thyroid disease to have other coinciding autoimmune
   disorders. Approximately 25 percent of patients with Hashimoto's may
   develop pernicious anemia, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, or other
   autoimmune diseases.
   
   Another thyroid related autoimmune disease is Graves' disease. The
   disease process can eventually destroy the thyroid, resulting in
   hypothyroidism; but usually the person has an enlarged thyroid gland
   with normal or mildly abnormal thyroid function tests. Persons with
   Hashimoto's thyroiditis have autoantibodies against several different
   proteins in their thyroid gland. A family history of thyroid disease
   is not unusual.
   
   Although men and women of any age can develop this disease, it is most
   common in women between the ages of 30 or 50 where the ratio of female
   to male is fifty to one.
   


Found by searching with Altavista on "Hashimoto" and "thyroid" and then
more narrowly on "Hashimoto's thyroiditis".

There was also mention of someone with Hashimoto's thyroiditis having
several miscarriages due to thyroid hormone imbalances.  My mother had
several miscarriages when she was hypothyroid, before she eventually had
surgery and then took thyroid hormones, which seemed to fix the problem.