Just told have an underactive thyroid- Can't take much more

Gary1205 said:

Diagnosed T2 seven months ago Hbac1c 98 reduced to 47 three months ago. Latest blood test yesterday, still waiting for HbA1c result which if as good or better than last time will mean come off metformin. Have lost 4 stone since diagnosis through balanced diet and more exercise. Cholesterol result back in good levels so can come off statins for a trial period.

However doctor feared last week I had overactive thyroid hence weight loss, doubting my efforts it seems, however test has proved opposite, seems I have an underactive thyroid and from what I read on the net do not really seem to be displaying any symptoms of this. GP has called me in to see him tomorrow and from what I have read there is a risk that the meds push up your BGs just when I seem to have things under control in that direction. Feeling extremely low this evening and don't know how many more kicks I can take, just when I seemed to be getting on top of things weight and control of BG wise.

Hopefully there are some there are some other T2s here with an underactive thyroid who can tell me about how it is treated and possible side effects diabetes wise. Thanks in advance for any help.

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Oh dear. Sometimes life is rather cruel.

In your shoes, I would be inclined to want to listen to what the Doc had to say, then take away the print outs of my blood test results and do some research before agreeing to any medication or definitive actions. That would be provided you are feeling fine, and the levels you have tested at aren't in any danger zones.

Of course your weight loss is probably due to your new eating regime. Those with under-active thyroids tend to have difficult losing weight, which you clearly haven't experienced. That's not taking away anything from the work you have put into your diet; just confirming my understanding.

I'm in total agreement with @AndBreathe.

Check your thyroid results carefully (dont leave the surgery without a printout of the results clutched in your paw, for careful internet reading and comparison).

My mother has had thyroid issues all her life. Her tests always put her just inside the 'normal' range. Yet she has symptoms of hypothyroidism - unless she can persuade the doc to give her the smallest treatment possible. If she gets the prescription, she feels fine. Without it, the symptoms come back.

Moral of the story: it is more important that you feel OK, than that you fit on one side of an arbitrary line that marks 'normal' for most people.

I mean, what IS 'normal?

Thyroid testing is notoriously problematic. The TSH test in particular can be all over the place. I would ask for a re-test and other related thyroid tests before agreeing to any course of treatment. I don't think hypothyroidism is one of those conditions that should necessarily be treated when there are no symptoms and the test result is only slightly outside of normal.

I'd say you are lucky to have a GP who actually tested you. That said, TSH is notoriously unreliable and don't really tell you much on it's own. Ask if you can get FT3 and FT4 tested as well along with thyroid antibodies. Also that your GP examines you thyroid gland.

Hypothyroidism is usually treated with synthetic T4. It never did much for me so I use the older treatment, i e natural dessicated thyroid extract, NDT.

It's common to gain weight with low thyroid hormones and to lose with hyperthyroidism but it's not unknown to lose weight as a symptom of hypothyroidism either.

Some people with autoimmune hypothyroidism can at times swing between hypo and hyper, I assume because of some autoimmune activity. It's not very common but it happens to some.

Forgot to say high cholesterol, particularly high LDL, is a common symptom of hypothyroidism.

I shouldn't worry too much about your thyroid if I were you. See if you can get some further testing done and see where it takes you.

My experience is that LCHF not only soon brought my BG into normal range but also helped with other hormonal issues including thyroid. I'm still on thyroid hormones (not meds as such, just hormones I need) but a lower dose.

I'd certainly ask for results .In the UK though (and here in France) the UK guidelines say to start thyroid hormone replacement when TSH is above10mU/L and FT4 below the reference range so they should certainly test both of those . They are very reluctant to put people on thyroid replacement at lower levels than this ( from what I see that is to the chagrin of many on thyroid forums who want to treat subclinical thyroiditis.

Personally, when I looked at these forums I came away rather depressed thinking that I should be feeling much sicker than I did.

I felt lethargic with a lack of motivation, nothing more yet I'd obviously had the problem for some time.
My endocrinologist certainly examined my neck, she's done that on every visit for the last 10 years but never found any problem. I suspect that was because there wasn't really anything to feel. When I had a scan they found my thyroid gland was very small and degraded,' typical' of long standing hypothyroidism .It was probably the result of a process going on for many years and I hadn't known about it (further blood tests also showed antibodies )

I'm T1, not T2 and there hasn't been a change in my HbA1c since before I started on treatment. Having said that I probably have fewer hypos than before.

If you start to use levothyroxine then they start with quite low doses and titrate upwards gradually. You need to tell them if you feel your heart racing for example. Overtreatment can have serious effects that they don't want either. It's all a matter of balance

http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.c...s-information/thyroid-disorders-and-diabetes/ tells you more about what the thyroid does and what hypothyroidism is.
UK guidelines on testing can be downloaded here http://www.btf-thyroid.org/index.php/thyroid/guidelines (the ones dated 2006) I doubt very much that they will either perform tests or tread outside the guidelines.

edit, I agree, they are just replacement hormones. I don't make insulin so I have to replace that, it's exactly the same with the thyroxine.

Gary1205 said:

Thanks for those responses. Had an awful night so pleasantly surprised BG is only 5.7 this morning.

I guess it is part of my psyche but I am anti drug, each to their own but I am a teetotaller as I consider alcohol a drug. Have taken the metformin and statins through apparent necessity with the aim of coming off them ASAP which it looks I am going to achieve, one of a number of reasons I have been very focused since diagnosis.
Found one study on the net last night which seems to imply a strong link between metformin and hypothyroidism in diabetics, which is reinforcing my views about drugs. Will discuss with my GP this morning but if I can come off metformin as I hope once the HbA1C result is back, thinking at the moment to see how things go drug free for a while as no doubt will be continuing to have regular blood tests.
Certainly feeling between a rock and hard place as have seen with my late T1 father diabetic complications if I don't keep BG under control, but from what I've read so far if I don't have meds(which may push BG up) there maybe other health issues through hypothyroidism.

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In response to your last sentence, any of us can develop health issues at any time, and there's no way to predict them and often no way to prevent them. It's just a part of life, (especially from middle age onwards, I've found). We are lucky that we live at a time when so many diseases can be detected and treated.

I'm often quite envious of people who have no or few health issues. Most of it is down to luck, rather than our choices. I've had chronic health issues since my late teens, which is getting on to 25 years now. After about the 3rd or 4th new diagnosis I decided to just take it in my stride as much as possible. It's amazing what we can cope with when we have to.

It wouldn't surprise me if it turns out you don't have much of a thyroid issue. Try not to think the worst, there are a range of possible outcomes from none/mild to significant. You will be able to deal with whatever happens, I'm sure

Hi @Gary1205 I have had Thyroid issues for years and my doctor would test every 2-3 years but, even though I had a number of the symptoms like weight gain, difficulty in losing weight, feeling cold etc I was always 'borderline' so he could not treat it under NHS guidelines (poss because you get free prescriptions). However 2 years ago I was finally diagnosed as having Hypothyroidism and am currently on 50mg of Levothryroxine daily and feel a lot better plus, possibly a coincidence because I've also reduced my carbs, I've lost about 3 stone. On diagnosis my hba1c was 48 which increased to 53 when I started taking statins - I came off them last year and my hba1c has come down from 42 last August to 36 in July - I know it's yet another health issue to deal with but, based on my own experience, I would go for the treatment as I'd rather take a drug that for me is a necessity than feel like I used to.

Hi Gary 1205 I have just been diagnosed t2 diabetes but have had under active thyroid since birth it hit me like a brick. I've been so depressed etc you will end up on thyroxin if you do have it you constantly feel shattered I get dry skin etc anything else send me message I can give you some advice x

I'm also struggling to loose the weight cos of the thyroid prob but been told need to to hell diabeties grrrr

Since being diagnosed in March with T2 and adopting the LCHF diet my TSH have reduced from 0.33 miu/L to <0.1 and Levothyroxine reduced from 150mcg to 100mcg. My blood test in August showed Serum free T4 level (XaERr) 29 pmol/L above high reference limit and Serum TSH level (XaELV) <0.1miu/L below low reference limit. As I have stopped losing weight I am wondering whether reducing the Levothyroxine has something to do with that and why are the Doctors ignoring the T4 level. I
cannot find any information via internet regarding what levels should be. Does anybody know anything about this.
Thanks Carol

Hi Gary1205, I had a Thyroid problem till a month ago. It was over active, over large and problem some and affecting my type2 diabetes. It was removed completely. I currently take 125 Msg Levothyroxine every day and I will have to taking at least that dose for the rest of my life, if I do not want any nasty complications. The thyroxine is usually started at 50msg for under active Thyroids and dosage adjusted accordingly on how it responds for Over or Under active thyroids.

The thyroxine is a small portion of my medical arsenal which includes 4 x Metformin, angina and blood tablets along with some serious vitamin B deficiency tablets. A total of 15 tablets and capsules every day. I do not check my own Blood sugars and leave that to my Diabetic nurse and doctor. I eat healthy but do not adhere to any true diet other that staying away from very sugary foods. My sugar levels are becoming near normal. I feel much better than before being diagnosed (9 months ago) with more energy and no headaches or throbbing pulse and lower blood pressure. I personally will continue to take the medication as long as the doctors advise me to and I keep feeling fine. It's horses for courses but I do not want to worry about the medical figures or which tablets etc. I have to take if it keeps my standing upright, mobile and reasonably worry free.

The thyroid patient website for the uk is www.thyroiduk.org.uk

A great deal of research is going on around metformin and heart health (including one from Newcastle of LCHF fame) and the protective properties of metformin for certain cancers.

Regards

Doug

Gary1205 said:

Diagnosed T2 seven months ago Hbac1c 98 reduced to 47 three months ago. Latest blood test yesterday, still waiting for HbA1c result which if as good or better than last time will mean come off metformin. Have lost 4 stone since diagnosis through balanced diet and more exercise. Cholesterol result back in good levels so can come off statins for a trial period.

However doctor feared last week I had overactive thyroid hence weight loss, doubting my efforts it seems, however test has proved opposite, seems I have an underactive thyroid and from what I read on the net do not really seem to be displaying any symptoms of this. GP has called me in to see him tomorrow and from what I have read there is a risk that the meds push up your BGs just when I seem to have things under control in that direction. Feeling extremely low this evening and don't know how many more kicks I can take, just when I seemed to be getting on top of things weight and control of BG wise.

Hopefully there are some there are some other T2s here with an underactive thyroid who can tell me about how it is treated and possible side effects diabetes wise. Thanks in advance for any help.

Click to expand...

Hi Gary1205 I was diagnosed in Jan this year with Type 2, on Metformin 500mg SR 2 daily. I also have had an underactive thyroid for years am on 75mg Levothyroxine. No problem with BG readings so I wouldn't worry if I were you as I don't and never have worried about it, as I really was shocked when Diagnosed with Underactive Thyroid as I didn't feel ill it was just a routine check that they did and that was how I found out you will be fine.