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Low/High TSH Levels, and Impact on Other Conditions?
@colleenyoung Coleen, it's been a while since I participated in a discussion, last year when I first had A-fib and stayed active for a while. Recently it's come to light that when my A-fib events happen, my thyroid TSH hormone has been very low and it seems that it may be the trigger. The reason for this contact is to learn if there is any discussion of thyroid issues. I asked my doctor to switch me from Synthroid to Nature-Throid, a natural product instead of synthetic, last June. Since then my TSH numbers have been all over the map. It first came back very high, meaning I needed more Nature-Throid. We increased and tested, increased and tested until my meds were high and the TSH was very low (0.03) at my last A-Fib event when it should be 0.6 - 3.74. Since then we have decreased the meds but the TSH stays low, recently at 0.06. Just wondered if any other members had any experience in this arena. Thanks, Jim
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@cherriann, I ABSOLUTELY agree! I was told years ago that generic brands are not as carefully "checked" .. that any doctor I dealt with should always specify the brand name Synthroid. I have always been careful about that. Thanks for pointing that out! Katherine
@cherriann @cherriann @katemn I've heard the same thing about generic drugs. Being a natural born cheapskate I will usually opt for generic. However when it comes to thyroid I have never had a generic but have been either on Armour, Synthroid or Nature-Throid, all of which are old, established brand name drugs. From time to time I will add an iodine supplement to my regimen, and because it is crucial to the thyroid gland, I may be forcing the numbers up and down with my throid trying to figure out what I'm doing. If anyone has any experience with iodine supplementation and its affect on T4, T3 of TSH I'd like very much to hear it. Thanks guys.
Many who are on dessicated need t3 also. I'm on Levo so still learning myself all this thyroid stuff. I've also cut out processed foods, dairy and gluten. Ugh. What a headache. Lol!!! There's many different issues ranging from person to person as far as diet, activity, age, thyroid treatment, supplementation, etc. if you are deficient in vitamin D, that can cause symptoms related to thyroid. Same with hormones. Magnesium, selenium and vitamin D in my opinion are very important for us thyroid peeps. I buy NOW brand and take 10,000IU's daily. I a
Do take K2 with it as it helps to absorb. Check out thyroid healing journey on Facebook - it's a private group and if you post there, they may be able to give you more info. I've learned so much and feel so much better since taking vitamin D!! I do suffer Hashimotos and my understanding is that hashis will and can alternate up and down. Have you had antibodies tested??? If you have elevated antibodies, the first step is to reduce and that is by diet modification and supplementation.
You don't have to see an endocrinologist either. There are integrative drs and functional med drs that treat. My Dr is integrative and much more up to date on thyroid than the endo my daughter and I saw.
I too, have Hashimoto type thyroid disease Michelle, and take D3 every day. However, I started taking the D3 more recently when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Thyroid had been well-managed prior to osteoporosis diagnosis by taking name brand meds - but perhaps the addition of D3 has also added a benefit for my thyroid health! Anyway, I started feeling best I had in many years after changing to name brand med, and thankful I haven't needed additional drugs to feel well and keep my levels good.
@michellecrcrn Thanks, that is good advice. D3 has become a staple for millions of folks. I take 5,000/day. I did learn, however, that an excess of D3 can trigger A-Fib so I reduced my 10K to 5K. Speaking of K2, it has come to light that K2 helps direct calcium to the bones instead of to the heart and blood vessels thereby preventing build-up that can cause cardiovascular problems. I'll be sure to checkout the Facebook group. Be well.