The Connection Between Iodine and Thyroid Hormone Production
In previous posts we talked about how goitrogens affect the iodine and thyroid hormone production in our bodies, now I’m going to talk about iodine intake, how it works with, how it affects the thyroid and whether you should be taking iodine supplements for hypothyroidism.
Iodine and Your Thyroid
You might be asking; what does iodine have to do with hypothyroidism and thyroid dysfunction? Well iodine plays a major role in the overall function of the thyroid and its production of thyroid hormone. It’s for this reason that the bodies iodine intake needs to maintain a healthy balance.
Iodine is the key component in thyroid hormone production. There are two hormones produced by the thyroid gland T3 and T4. The numbers 3 and 4 are the actual number of iodine atoms found in each thyroid hormone molecule.
Just too briefly explain the complex manner of how T3 and T4 hormones are used by our bodies I’ll try to summarize it in laymen’s terms. The cells in our bodies use T3 thyroid hormone for gene control. However the majority of thyroid hormone that the thyroid gland produces is T4. The bulk of the T3 and T4 hormones stick to proteins that are produced by the liver, the remainder of the hormones actually make it into the bodies cells where T4 is converted to T3 by the cells deiodinase enzymes and use it to control the cells genes.
Iodine and Thyroid Hormone Production – Iodine deficiency
When there isn’t enough of iodine in a person’s diet the thyroid gland can’t produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s demands. This is when goiter develops because the thyroid gland enlarges as it works harder and harder to try to meet those demands. I’ve seen instances where the recommended daily allowance of iodine intake can range anywhere from 90 on up to 290 micrograms per day depending on age and whether you are pregnant or nursing. Pregnant women require around 220 and nursing women may require around 290 micrograms of iodine per day.
Thyroid dysfunction caused by iodine deficiency in the United States is very rare because in this country our salt as well as many of the foods that we eat contain iodine. The lack of iodine is more common in countries around the world that don’t have iodized table salt or readily available sea food and kelp.
Iodine Supplements for Hypothyroidism – Iodine excess?
More common in the United States are issues where excessive iodine intake is prominent. As I stated above, in the United States there may be more than enough iodine in our daily diets to fulfill the iodine needs of our thyroids. With this being the case in the United States there may be no need for iodine supplements for hypothyroidism treatment. As a matter of fact taking iodine supplements could be detrimental to your thyroid health. If you suspect that you may be have an issue with iodine deficiency you should have blood work done to confirm it.
When there is excessive iodine intake in the human body the thyroid gland starts to overproduce thyroid hormone and when this happens the bodies autoimmune system starts to attack and shut down the thyroid gland to a point where it actually causes hypothyroidism if you have an underlying potential for hypothyroidism such as a family history of this disease. On the other side of the coin if you are pre-disposed to either Grave’s disease of nodular goiter then too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism. A healthy thyroid gland handles excessive iodine intake by controlling how much iodine it takes in and last with Hashimoto’s too much iodine intake will cause your thyroid gland to slow down thyroid hormone production even more than it already is.
So again when you are looking to provide yourself with a healthy hypothyroidism diet much like with goitrogens and everything else that you include in your diet, it’s important to maintain a healthy balance of foods that contain iodine. Always consult your doctor to treat your thyroid disease then look into the diet and exercise program that works best for you. If a lack of iodine is discovered through proper testing then you may need an iodine supplement.
None the less, there is an important link between iodine and thyroid hormone production but this is only part of the story.
Is Soy Milk a good product for people with hypothyroidism?
Judy,
During my last visit to my thyroid Doctor I asked if it was true that soy is bad for people with an under active thyroid and she verified that soy products are bad for people who have hypo and that soy should be avoided or extremely limited.
Some vegetables that contain goitrogens can or actually should be included in your diet because of the other nutritional benefits that they provide your body with. Most of the goitrogens in these common vegetables like broccoli are counteracted by iodine levels also found in those foods and if you eat those later on in the day, a good while after taking your thyroid meds then your body should have already absorbed the necessary synthetic hormones from your meds and there will be very little interference at that point. But as far as soy goes. It really should be avoided.
Iodine/Iodide supplementation has been a very difficult decision for me. What I have read seems to indicate that we get enough iodide from an american diet for the thyroid, but not enough iodine (notice the difference in iodine/iodide) for the health of other organs, in particular the breasts. Fluoride possibly further complicates the issue by mimicing iodide to the thyroid with a resulting overreaction to additional supplementation. Then one is faced with a decision to supplement for organ health and risk hypothyroidism or having fibercystic disease with bad mammograms.
sigh… I have decided to supplement iodine 12.5 mg daily,which eliminates my fibrocystic breast disease and take thyroid medication for what seems to be a resulting hypothyroidism. My mother and sister already had hypothyroidism so the predisposition was always there whether the iodine would have caused it in any person without the predisposition I can not say.
In addition I am now filtering fluoride from my water and supplementing my body with bioidentical hormones,selenium,Atp cofactors, and other vitamins to help my thyroid try to recover. fingers crossed
Hi Kathleen,
Great informative comments. In the US we do have iodine rich foods, especially in foods that come from coastal areas and in sea foods. This is because of the iodine found in the ocean. Be careful with the amounts of iodine supplements that you take in because too much iodine can be bad for your thyroid as well. There needs to be a healthy balance in your diet. Soy products are very bad for people who have hypothyroidism because the goitrogen levels found in soy and soy products will attack and deplete your iodine levels.
I am vegetarian and soya products have been a large part of my diet. Just read Cindy’s note on avoiding Soya products. Oh dear. And today’s dinner is soya nugget curry!
How good/bad is cottage cheese made from curdling toned milk? Do tell please.
Thanks
So, I was getting on here to look more into the possibility of taking iodine supplements. I am struggling with hypothyroidism. My levels come back “normal” but I remain with the symptoms of abnormal: fatigue, no weight loss (even with managing calorie intake, running, lifting, – still big in the middle, no change for months and was not like this last year), cold when shouldn’t be, headaches, memory issues … was thinking that iodine supplements may help – I cannot eat sea food (except for fish) and really watch salt, somewhat of a healthy eater (somewhat meaning, if I want a cookie I have 1…but stick to low calorie with balance of proteins fats and carbs, low sugar, low salt)… I am so frustrated…also thinking I need to see a specialist since my Doctor just says: your levels are in the norm…you are just getting older (36 – so true)…pretty much deal with it – don’t want to rely on caffine to get through the day…..any ideas?
Dionne
Talk to your doctor about having sugar tests done. I know that you said that your are balancing carbs with everything else. Big in the middle is also a sign of over insulin production which predisposes you to geriatric diabetes the other sign of that is thin legs and big in the middle.
Then another possibility is a constipation issue, this is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. This can sometimes become chronic and will bloat your mid section along with causing you fatigue which will lead to temporary memory loss. Some ways to tone down the constipation are high fiber, more water, I also recommend raisin bran, oatmeal, tomatoes, spinich (I eat it cooked) and fruit for snacks like apples, plums, mellons and strawberries in between meals. It also helps to drink down a glass of that old stand by Prune Juice…My preference is prune juice and a small bowl of oatmeal before bed.
If your doctor is just writing this off then ask to him or her to recommend an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist will study your case deeper and should figure out what’s going on.
One other thing with Hashimotos disease hormone levels can and do fluctuate.
My Dr. told me that I should just keep a good mix of most foods but yes to stay away from soy products because they are very high in goitrogens and bad for people who suffer from hypothyroidism. Cottage cheese and dairy products should be fine. I eat cottage cheese, I love the stuff.
When you don’t eat meat, other foods that you can get your protein from are such beans as black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans and garbanzo beans. You can also get protein from nuts, peanut butter (if you aren’t allergic), oat bran, whole weat and Seitan. The majority of these foods are also high in fiber. Good stuff!
No Judy Soy products are not recommended for people who have hypothyroidism.
I have hypothyroidism, including being unable to lose any weight no matter what I do. I’ve been told that if you buy regular drug store iodine made for cuts and bruises and only put 1 drop in water, juice, etc. daily, that it helps if your not getting enough through your throid medication. Is this true, or harmful?
Dariel,
WOW! I wouldn’t even attempt to go there. You should never try to treat your own symptoms in such a manner! Go to your doctor! If you don’t like what he/she has to say or their treatment doesn’t work then find a doctor who will be willing to listen to you. A good doctor will not only listen to you but at the same time should be able to explain your symptoms and why they are happening as they happen.
I have been recently dx with Hypothyroidism after a functional medical exam and labs. I also discovered that I have leaky gut with high intolerences to gluten, casen, chicken, bananas, wheat, sunflower, soy, oats, garlic, crab, and salmon not to mention a multitude of others that are level 1s. I have worked very hard to eliminate this out of my diet. I take a number of suppliments to assist with my nutritional intake and to assist with GI motility. My question is if I consume any type of substance during the day, I end up falling asleep within 30 minutes. If I just drink fluids I am fine until I get home from work and then I eat. Soon after, if I sit down, I’m out for the count. I do not know what to do and very frustrated since, I am trying to control my diet within my limitations. I do not consume sodas of any type but I do drink tea. If I drink a sweetened drink my accident, I feel nauseated from the sugar. Any ideas on the food consumption and fatigue? My family and I are frustrated!
Dariel,
I agree with Cindy re ingesting drug store iodine for cuts. WOW! I am not a doc, but have been suffering with hypothyroid years now and with all the reformulating of products been having to readjust all that made me well before so researching alot and came across your post. If you want to consider iodine therapy, Check with a doc who will work with you and read the books of Dr. David Brownstein. He is a big believer in supplementing with iodine, but a specific iodine, inorganic iodine and iodide combo, according to Nan Kathryn Fuchs, PhD (also supportive of iodine therapy for hypothyroid), identical with Lugol solution, a well-absorbed form of iodine used for 180 years. Tablet form of Lugol’s solution is called Iodoral. Research both.
Fritzi,
My heart certainly goes out to you. The only thing that I can suggest to you is that you have your doctor refer you to a specialist as soon as possible. Please let us know how you make out.
well most if not all synthetic hormones only cotain t4 and in most patients t4 does not increase metabolism in tissue..t3 does 90% off the
work and has 4 times the hormone strength of t4..t4 normalizes tsh levels..
Only a thyroid hormone preparation that contains T3 will accelerate these patients’ metabolism. Hence, when T4 therapy normalizes TSH blood levels of many patients, it leaves their metabolism subnormal. These patients remain symptomatic despite their normal TSH levels. This finding has led researchers to urge physicians to no longer base patients’ thyroid hormone dosages by TSH levels.
Todd,
Yes you are correct, some hypothyroid patients do experience problems with the conversion of T4 to T3. It’s customary for all doctors who conduct regular bi-annual blood work on hypo patients to run t3, t4 and tsh testing. This is an issue that should be dealt with strictly under a doctor’s care because too much T3 in your system will cause increased heart rates and heart disease. I see only danger in it being dealt with outside of a doctor’s care.
Hi I have been on 350 mgs of thyroxine for about 20 yrs, and I still struggle with my weight can you please tell me why my weight won;t shift.
My doctor always says that you are what you eat but I don’t agree with that asumption it is very frustrating when you dont’ eat all the things that other people eat & still put on heaps of weight can anyone offer me some benifical advice.I also have two daughters with thyroid problem and know doubt some of my other daughters will develop thyroid problem also.I think we should be given a lot more information about the disease.
Thankyou rhonda
Unfortunately there are some doctors out there that only provide thyroid medication. I can tell you that the things that work for me is making sure that I take my medication as directed so that it has time to absorb into my system without interference from foods or other medications. It works for me if I take it first thing in the am because I don’t eat right away. I weigh myself every day and if I find that I’ve put on a few pounds over night I lower my carb intake and pay close attention to that dreaded symptom of constipation. TMI but making sure that you stay regular really helps in both the weight department and the fatigue department. Waste needs to be discarded from your body or it can back toxins up in your system. As with any diet your bodies metabolism needs to be stoked constantly you should eat only what you need to eat add a glass of water to each main meal and have a healthy snack like a yogurt or piece of fruit in between each main meal. Avoiding too many bad carbs and adding proper amounts of fiber and water to your diet is huge in weight control.
I am hypothyroid and on Armour. I do take kelp too. I got my thyroid levels correct first and then I did a few iodine patch tests to see if it picked up a deficiency. It showed I was deficient, so I started the kelp. Many people do fine with a little bit of iodine, then there are others that don’t. I started out by taking powdered kelp, but the problem with powdered kelp is that there are no dosages. Plus, iodine deficiency is a symptom, not a cause. There are other, more pressing headaches associated with hypothyroidism. Metabolism, for starters, which can play hell with your immune system, and also your mental health. If you look at a nurses’ guide, you’ll see that thyroid issues can lead to some chemical difficulties in brain/body day-to-day functioning.
Shazam,
You are absolutely correct in a lot of what you said here…Some people do fine with one treatment of hypothyroidism while others require a completely different treatment. This is because there are multiple issues that cause hypothyroidism. Sometimes it’s autoimmune issues, sometimes it’s thyroid cancer, other times it’s a lack of iodine in ones system among other things. It takes a medical professional to determine this and if you don’t get the help that you need and properly treat your hypothyroidism then yes there will eventually be difficulties with day to day functioning and those difficulties will only get worse without proper treatment.
I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic 4.5 years ago from which I got hypersensitive lupus. Horrible! Since then I have had consecutive years with some problem with my autoimmune system, each time being put on steroids for treatment. Sadly, this is the only time I have felt healthy and happy since my episode with lupus. (one long term regimen on prednisone ended up making me feel nutty though!) This past February after seeking help from three different doctors I found one who listened to me. I was diagonosed with Hashimoto’s thyroidism. I was put on Armour to improve my thyroid level and happily after 2 months I started getting better. Unfortunately, 4 months later exhaustion returned, headaches, constipation and another 10.5 lbs that came on in TWO weeks. This was NOT water weight either, it has STAYED! I went back to my doctor and she checked my horomone levels in addition to my thyroid levels. My thyroid was doing well, however, I was now in menopause. I’m 41. In addition to Armour, I now take progesterone and testosterone every day. I’m definitely feeling better and feel like my head is back on straight. Bad news? In the past 21 months I have gained 30 pounds. I eat well but haven’t exercised in almost a year. I am starting back at the gym where, prior to the last 21 months, I used to go 4-5 times a week. I hope this summer to return to sprint triathalons and hopefully will have regained my health/body. If I know anything about weight loss, it’s this: there is no shortcut. If you are still gaining weight after your thyroid levels have improved, try checking on your other horomones. The weight probably will not fall off, but I’m hopeful and now have enough energy to get back to working it off! Good luck
I don’t have a thyroid, I was given RAI pill because of a goiter. My question to you is should I be taking a iodine supplement?
Alice,
Your thyroid gland uses iodine to produce thyroid hormone. If you don’t have a thyroid then I don’t see where an iodine supplement will help with thyroid hormone production. You need to ask your doctor how or what meds are going to provide your body with a synthetic thyroid hormone to replace the hormone that it isn’t capable of producing anymore. Let us know how you make out.
Cindy
Julie,
Thank you very much for sharing your story with us. And thank you for the valuable tips and information that you have provided to us.
Remember though thyroid levels fluctuate with Hashimotos because it attacks the thyroid gland until it is no longer productive. Sometimes you will experience severe symptoms and then have somewhat normal thyroid levels return in your blood work. I’ve had it take another two weeks to show up enough to require a med adjustment. Even to this day 9 years after being diagnosed with Hashimotos my thyroid levels fluctuate. When that happens if it’s moderate my doctor leaves my meds alone and rechecks me if the symptoms worsen or change.
Soy and carbonate beverages deplete the body of iodine which is very important to the body,esp those of us with thyroid problems. You can also have a normal thryroid test but still be low on iodine. This happened to me. I finally got a doctor who knew this. Most argue this point, but I know something was wrong. I was having trouble loosing weight despite being very careful of what I ate, and was exercising. My skin was becoming very rough and no creams helped. I was loosing my hair. The new doctor ran an iodine test and sure enough it was very low despite the normal thyroid test. I am on synthroid. I had to give up the sodas and the soy. So good luck.
Alise you need to have a doctor test just your iodine level. I bet you will find out it is low. If he argues then just insist on having it checked and dont back down. Not all doctors are created equal. I am a practicing RN and went to work for the doctor that explained the thyroid test in detail. I want to know Cindy’s credentials. If you have no thyroid you are probably are low, but need the test to confirm. After menopause and after age 60 the iodine levels start getting pretty low. Test is the key, and insist on the test my doctor said.
What are the medications T3 and T4 made of?? Im thinking the medications is made from PIG??? I am a vegetarian. I would not eat pig in any form. Is there any other FOODS that I should or shouldnt eat? I am also reading that SOY is not good for me, is that like Soya Sauce?
Redfeather,
Thank you very much for your comment. As far as my credentials go, as stated in the about section of this website. I am a person who was diagnosed now 9 years (7 at the time the about was written) ago with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. I’ve spent much time over the past 9 years researching this disease that many of us live with daily. I put this website together for the purpose of educating people like me who wouldn’t have otherwise known what to discuss with my doctor at my appointments if I hadn’t researched my illness.
As far as my research, well that comes from places like my endocrinologist, Harvard Medical, The Mayo Clinic, pamphlets found in medical facilities and pharmacies as well as from numerous books written by MD’s and PHD’s on the subject of hypothyroidism. I’ve found that the knowledge that I’ve gained on thyroid disease and it’s many components, through all of this research, all share common theories, findings and conclusions. Some of my other posts are based on personal experience in handling my hypothyroidism symptoms and being able to maintain and manage a comfortable weight and lifestyle.
The other purpose of this website is for people to have a place where they can share their experience in living with this disease. It’s a place where people can find some comfort and support in understanding what they are living with because it’s a disease that can be frustrating to live with. And last because I’m a person living with thyroid disease much like many of the visitors that I get on my site, comments and questions regarding the information provided on this site are always welcome. What we don’t know will be researched and/or corrected.
With regard to iodine it’s pretty common knowledge that if you live in the US, foods that we consume daily off the shelves in this country such as bread, milk, iodized table salt and sea food provide us with our daily supply of iodine. We don’t see many issues caused by a lack of iodine consumption in the US especially along coastal areas. Common knowledge is that your body requires 150 micrograms of iodine daily. Common knowledge is also that the primary need for Iodine is in thyroid glands production of T4 and T3. If the thyroid gland either doesn’t exist or has shut completely down in the body then how can it possibly use iodine to create T4 and T3? This is a very good question to ask a doctor because I don’t logically see where something that doesn’t function or exist could produce anything. Does the body use iodine in other areas and for other purposes, I have seen suggestions of that in my studies but I study the thyroids needs for iodine. This is an extremely good question for the Doctor especially if you don’t get any iodine on a daily basis.
Finally as in the majority of comments that I respond to, I can never stress enough to ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS discuss your concerns with your doctor. And as you’ve recommended here Redfeather if you feel that you need to be tested for something and your doctor is resistant to your request absolutely insist on having things checked and don’t back down. Redfeather is absolutely correct in providing that advice.
Thank you again for your helpful comment Redfeather.
Cindy
Janette,
I would say that your best bet is to ask your Pharmacist which if any thyroid medications are made without anything to do with animals included in the process. Explain to them that you are a vegetarian and then discuss the possibility of taking any medication that the Pharmacist recommends with your doctor.
As far as foods go you should try to find a good variety of foods that include the daily nutrition that your body requires. Things like soy burgers are not good because they contain such high levels of soy. It’s the goitrogens that soy products contain high levels of and the goitrogens are bad for your thyroid because they interfere with your iodine intake. Some occasional use of soy(a) sauce used in cooking isn’t going to cause much damage but used on a daily basis can be bad and isn’t recommended by endocrinologists.
You do however need to find a means of consuming your daily protein. Some common suggestions for protein sources are eating: Nuts, Beans, Peanut butter and whole grain products. There are lots of Homemade low fat granola recipes on the internet.
I knew that Soy interfered with iodine in the body but WOW carbonated beverages do as well. That might be an interesting topic to research for out here and maybe we can give everybody some good feedback to give to their doctors on this subject.
Thank you Redfeather.
Iodine supplementation needs to be carefully monitored for hypothyroid patients. It can be helpful for some and very detrimental for others. My thyroid antibody levels have been slowly climbing over the past three years but my TSH levels were not out of the normal range. Having a family history of low thyroid, I was hoping to go the natural route and fend it off with iodine supplementation from my chiropractor. I took an iodine loading test and found I was deficient so took iodoral tablets (mentioned by Peggy) for 3 months and retested. No change. So I was advised to stay on iodine supplementation (iodoral, oranically bound minerals, and another whole food supplement containing iodine) for a year. I am about 6 months in to it and just had my TSH level tested at 9! I jumped from 4 to 9 in one year on iodine supplements and after doing some of my own research, I believe it was my body reacting to the iodine in what is known as the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. I am feeling more exhausted than ever and definitely need to to on thyroid supplement but am not sure if Armour will be enough for me at this point since my spike. I guess there was no way to know, but I am seriously doubting whether I should have done the iodine/whole food supplements.
Message to FRITZI. You almost certainly have candida yeast problems, google it. You almost described the most classic symptoms. I had loads of health issues like your related to yeast/candida and after a 6 months on sugar/wheat free diet im back to full health again, Try it what have you got to loose. Dan
Thanks for your input Dan,
Fritzi you should take the information that Dan provided to you here and ask your doctor about it.
Jewel,
You are absolutely correct you do have to be careful with iodine supplements. I probably should write a post on the affects of having too little or too much iodine in your system (on your thyroird of course).
I ended up being just not too long ago clinically determined as having Pseudohypoparathyroidism nevertheless for the longest time period medical doctors told my family that I had Pseduopseudohypoparathyroidism. I don’t really fully grasp any of this. Does this mean I’ll have kidney problems? All the websites I’ve seen just say the same medical jargon over and over. I’m so baffled! Just what is the distinction? Could any person help me understand what’s going on? Many thanks to anybody who can assist!
I am a diagnosed celiac and was also diagnosed with thyroid disease. Unfortunately the doc did not tell me that when I felt better I should not go off the medication which I did several years ago. I have recently found a lump on my neck and I am also suffering the classic symptoms, fatigue, weight gain around the middle, constipation, heavy menstration, weakness, depression. Im off to the doctor for tests but I started to take some kelp, magnesium suppliments to see if this would improve my energy levels. Now I have read this site and learnt that too much iodine can actually cause hypothyrodism, Im wondering if I should continue or just rely on the doctor again?
Paula,
Definitely talk to your doctor. Explain to him what you are using in supplements because according to medical studies, too much iodine sends the wrong signals to your pituitary gland. Many thyroid diseases especially autoimmune thyroid disease require you to take medication for the rest of your life. It’s a maintenance med. You should absolutely also be talking to your doctor if you’ve found a lump. That’s not something that should be ignored.
Ok so I was reading the comments on your site & was wondering about a few things. I have been self medicating for hypo thyroid. I saw my dr last week & he was sure by my symptoms of weight gain hair loss & cold/hot intolerance I had a thyroid problem but when my test results came back they were normal. It was so depressing to think I have this but my dr refuses to give me the meds to help, I’m so afraid I’m gonna go bald at this rate of hair loss. He referred me to an endocrinologist. I have been taking a kelp supplement in hopes it would help but now after reading this I’m not sure if I should be. Also autoimmune disorders run in my family so that could be a cause of it?? I just want some help to end this, I was doing so great losing weight & then it was like a switch turned on & no matter what I did I was gaining weight like crazy. I gained back almost all of the 40 lbs I had been working so hard to lose in a matter of 2 months. So any thoughts on my situation??
Val,
Too much kelp can be a bad thing. Another question…How much soy have you been taking in in your diet and weight loss program. Soy is something that a person with family history of thyroid disorders should avoid. Definitely take the advice of your doctor and go to see that endocrinologist. They should do a thorough investigation into your endocrine system in order to find out what’s going on.
.
How about tofu? I have been buying and eating firm (type) organic tofu from Trader Joes. That’s fermented and different than just plain soy products and supposedly ok I read?
It seems to agree with my diet which has always been good, I have studied nutrition on my own all my life so I eat very well, but think I may have hypothyroidism. I have gone thru menapause.
So my big question is about my hair shedding quite a lot!!
Over the years it got thinner, has always been very long, but now it’s really accelerated the past two years getting so– thin. I had to cut it all off when I broke an arm last january.
I have been trying to ‘control’ this shedding the past 6 months while mending but until seeing an endocrinologist in the next month (which I have a feeling won’t do much good (unless I find out I have Hashimotos sp? or something heavier than hyphthyroid) I’m taking “Thyroid Complete” supplement from Whole Foods, it’s their brand.
I might have symptoms for adrenal fatigue, or chronic fatigue; as I have had some work/business stress in my life over the past 2 decades but, also, I did have a thyroid operation at 16 and didn’t need medication after it.
I just had a small benign nodule removed the doc found during a physical, as a teen. I did get some radiation treatment after that, back in those days I think they just did that to be safe…don’t know why.
So my thyroid always tests “normal” but……now I have a lot of the symptoms of hypothyrodism: fatigue like crazy, memory fog, constipation, bloating around the middle, etc, lately feeling my throat, seems like it’s a little horse sounding or conjested sometimes, looks kind of bulgy around the thyroid but that could be because I have a slender neck…. Thing is, I have never had a weight problem, I’m very slender and actually for a couple of years here and there the last decade I was “loosing” weight…I do believe I am one of those who can loose weight possibly having hypothyroidism.
I have heard that with people with strong “wills” who just “keep” going thru the tiredness and just get apathetic about food, and also I have lost my appetite and just became very disiplined about eating well because I felt “bad” and not energetic all the time and wanted to help that with nutrition. I have also had a bad sinus headache every month or six weeks for years. I remember it started in my middle 30′s which I thought was hormonal reasons and not from any allergies as I got the sinus-like headaches no matter what state or region I was in or visiting.
I travel a lot and they came once a month around my ovulation or before my period. Now they still come once a month or every two months if that, and also I get them still after menapause, as a reaction to sweets especially chocolate suddenly. (last 6 years) can’t eat chocolate like I used to be able to do, anytime.
I think it gives me a sudden sinus headache or sinutitis( it is just around my nose area that hurts) which puts me in bed and I just sleep it off for a couple days instead of taking anything which would make me nausious anyway. So I just sleep. And feel really good after it’s gone but during it is painful.
I think my body is telling me I need rest when I don’t sleep for nights at a time very well, and so sleeping two days and fasting does wonders….though I hate the “nose” aches I get for the past ten years now.
I finally saw all the sypmtoms of hypothyrodism; realized these sinus type headaches surrounding my nose area, and the stomache bloating after I eat that stays awhile like a small balloon around my middle but doesn’t “hurt” or food related because I can eat anything, any veggies, fruits, grains, meats….it’s just the sweets now that I seem to have some kind of maybe “alergic reaction to and never did before I don’t think anyway. And also the tiredness and sweets–and my body says: hey we need to put you “out” and down for a couple of days, don’t eat it makes you naustious and after the 2-3 day rest I feel good.
ok, so those are aobut all the symptoms…oh…also seems I grind teeth for several past years, thought I had some tmj going on, so wearing a mouth guard at night, I clench.
other than all this, I am very healthy. ;-0)
The main thing was the hair loss–that has bothered me a lot!!
All the other stuff is not hard to put up with not that I would want to if I really have this but I think there is a lot of stress coming from the loss of the hair. My hair was always great and long, and now….
Let me know what you think and also about eating tofu!!!
(ps. I stopped eating corn products like corn tortillas and was eating sprouted wheatless bread so now just on veggies, fruits, beans, brown rice, dairy, chicken, fish, turkey.
DD
Dee,
Thank you for sharing your story…It’s long but with a lot of good stuff in there…I would definitely stay away from tofu as it’s made from soy bean and has a high soy content. High Soy content is a total enemy of the thyroid.
Now as far as your symptoms go yeah you are experiencing most of the symptoms of Hypothyroidism. You said that you have a history of nodules and that you had surgery in the past for those. You also said that you are experiencing hoarseness and that you that it looks kind of bulgy around your throat area. There could be many things causing your issues…Maybe Hashimoto’s but your endocrinologist should also check for more nodules and/or goiter as well. It could be the soy in the tofu, if you are still receiving any radiation then it could be that…It could be a combination of all of these things or it could be something that they haven’t found yet. Discuss all possibilities with your endo at your appointment.
Teeth grinding is not a symptom of Hypothyroidism but could definitely be a sign of stress that you are harboring and not consciously dealing with. Other then the tofu though your diet looks pretty balanced and healthy.
I wouldn’t do well without my chocolate! LOL
ps..I am noticing hair falling still the past few days and have stopped and started back up on the Thyroid Complete supplements a couple times to take a break. I only take 1/3 the daily dose now anyway (2 capsules a day) but my hair is falling still and lessening at the temple on one side even more so…
I know that with possible adrenal problems, taking a thyroid supplement might just make syptoms worse not better, etc.
I tried potassium supplements (have to be careful on those) and a little mineral salt in water in the morning.
Has anyone tried that for their electrolyte balance and hydration? It seemed to do “something”. Potassium can be a cause of hair loss.
I eat a lot of beans, etc. but I still may not be metabolizing potassium well.
Thanks,
DD
Dee,
Are you dong this on your own or under the direction of a Medical Professional? It’s not good or recommended to self medicate in any situation. You need to find out if there are other underlying issues that could cause complications.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism Thyroid
Pseudohypoparathyroidism is more of a hypoglycemic/calcium processing disorder from what I read…Here is a nice article with a little information on this disorder: http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/pseudohypoparathyroidism/overview.html
I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in 1989 and had surgery to remove my left thyroid gland. In 2000 I was diagnosed again and went through radiation. After that I was diagnosed with hypothyroid. I have been taking levothyroxine since then (11 years), but it seems to me, of late I have been experiencing symptoms of the hypothyroid. I’m allergic to sea food so I can’t eat them except fish which is our island staple food however sometime last year my system started rejecting it. Does anyone know why this is so? I’m sorry but I’m from an island where we don’t have specialists such as endocrinologists. Now I find out from the above comments about avoiding soy and carbonated drinks. I don’t drink them or eat anything soy except we use a lot of the soy sauce in our cooking.
Hi Romi,
Sorry to tell you that your allergies to sea food shouldn’t have anything at all to do with hypothyroidism.
Unfortunately once your thyroid glands have been removed and/or you have radiation treatment you do become hypothyroid.and that can even worsen over time. If you are experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism then even your normal doctor should be testing your thyroid levels to figure out if they are off. If it turns out that they are normal then he/she should be testing and checking you for other things like a hidden infection someplace in your body that you aren’t aware of or stress related issues, just to name a couple.