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Weak Muscles and Tiredness - is it LC?

fumanchu

fumanchu

Well-Known Member
Messages
393
Location
Scotland
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Diet only
Hubby is type2, diagnosed in 2009, and we've been on LC for years now, his BG control is excellent and he is not on any meds. However recently he's complaining of weakness and lack of muscle strength, plus every time he lies or even sits down for any time at all he falls asleep. Might this be a lack of proper nourishment? We were doing Bernstein for a while and that worked well but it made me fat lol, so I cut down on the fats. Any ideas gratefully received :)
 
Yes he does take a small dose - 10mg statins, but he's been on them for years since he had heart attacks in 2005/6. I was also wondering if protein shakes or whey protein might help him? Sorry forgot to add that into the original post.
 
I think he should go to a doctor to rule out anything else going on with his health. If he is having a varied LC diet with enough fats then he should be getting good enough nourishment.
 
fumanchu said:
Hubby is type2, diagnosed in 2009, and we've been on LC for years now, his BG control is excellent and he is not on any meds. However recently he's complaining of weakness and lack of muscle strength, plus every time he lies or even sits down for any time at all he falls asleep. Might this be a lack of proper nourishment? We were doing Bernstein for a while and that worked well but it made me fat lol, so I cut down on the fats. Any ideas gratefully received :)
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It could be vitamin D deficiency.The older you are, the less you synthesize it. If I remember correctly, for instance, a 60 yr old has 1/4 the levelof a 20 yr old.
http://www.medicinenet.com/vitamin_d_deficiency_symptoms/views.htm
Geoff
 
He takes a high dose vitD supplement but thank you for that - yes vitD is very important.
 
Both of us been taking it for about 5 years now, D3 capsules, he takes 5000iu a day. I read about it on a pernicious anaemia forum and it seems to be great stuff :). This weakness is new but gradual onset, and he isn't keen on going to the doc as in the past they've been useless.
 
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fumanchu said:
Both of us been taking it for about 5 years now, D3 capsules, he takes 5000iu a day. I read about it on a pernicious anaemia forum and it seems to be great stuff :). This weakness is new but gradual onset, and he isn't keen on going to the dog as in the past they've been useless.
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That leaves me with the thought there may be something thyroid going on. Something that a standard TSH test wouldn't pick up, although it might. An additional test for thyroid antibodies might also help, but of course we're talking GP visit
 
He is low thyroid and has recently had his thyroxine increased from 100mcg to 125... so maybe that's the problem? I wonder if I can find out how food interacts with thyroid function. God it's such a minefield isn't it? Thanks so much for this Geoff! Having no strength is really bothering him and I want to fix it.
 
fumanchu said:
He is low thyroid and has recently had his thyroxine increased from 100mcg to 125... so maybe that's the problem? I wonder if I can find out how food interacts with thyroid function. God it's such a minefield isn't it? Thanks so much for this Geoff! Having no strength is really bothering him and I want to fix it.
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GPs usually only test for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) but there are other important levels that can throw additional light on the condition FT3, FT4.
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-diagnosis
Most GPs think you have to treat to keep the TSH 'normal' when it's better to treat to avoid low (or excessively high) T3 and T4.
I spent over a decade undiagnosed hypothyroid. Undiagnosed by my GP that is - I knew I had it. Increasing tiredness, increasing ability to fall asleep, and an increase in muscle weakness (that puzzled me since I have dumbells at home, and work physically).
Hope you get there with this issue !
Geoff
 
fumanchu said:
He is low thyroid and has recently had his thyroxine increased from 100mcg to 125... so maybe that's the problem? I wonder if I can find out how food interacts with thyroid function. God it's such a minefield isn't it? Thanks so much for this Geoff! Having no strength is really bothering him and I want to fix it.
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Dr Malcolm Kendrick (a Scot) on the inability of Levothyroxine to adequately treat low thyroid sufferers.
https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2015/05/01/treating-thyroid-patients-like-children/
I no longer take my GPs T4 prescription, but prefer to source my own Natural Dessicated Thyroid, which is largely T4 but includes some T3. With thyroid there is no 'one size fits all' treatment.
Geoff
 
Thanks Geoff, your symptoms are certainly the same as my hubby's. I will go off and google about the natural thyroid, thanks.
 
Kentoldlady1 said:
Libra, may I ask where you source your ndt? Thanks
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Busy day today. My daughter's wedding party later (wedding a week ago)
Recommended source came from a thyroid webite or forum, possibly Stop The Thyroid Madness
https://stopthethyroidmadness.com/natural-thyroid-101/
When first ordered was available on Amazon. Last time I had to order direct. Probably won't have time to check that today.
Hopefully tomorrow
Geoff
 
fumanchu said:
He is low thyroid and has recently had his thyroxine increased from 100mcg to 125... so maybe that's the problem? I wonder if I can find out how food interacts with thyroid function. God it's such a minefield isn't it? Thanks so much for this Geoff! Having no strength is really bothering him and I want to fix it.
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Raw veg should be avoided for underactive thyroid and cooked veg not hard. Seafood/kelp interaction can interfer with thyroid function. I found I needed less thyroxine on low carb diet but not sure if that's common. My heart beat became very fast. Is your husband's heart beat slow? Check at his wrist or use a blood pressure machine which also does pulse rate? Depends on his age and fitness level will depend on if his rate is slow or fast.
It can take around 6wks for more thyroxine to help. In my body.
Is he due a new blood test to see if his levels have improved?
 
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