Posted by Cairo on October 20, 2005, at 21:32:24
In reply to Re: Hypothyroidism-What to do?, posted by lynn971 on October 20, 2005, at 11:38:18
I would also like to add that many attribute symptoms to hypothyroidism, but using thyroid medication and bringing your values up to "normal" may not improve the symptoms. I have taken Unithroid for years and my TSH, T3, T4 look great, in the "right" range, yet it does nothing for my fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety symptoms.
Yet, it's interesting that a trial of low dose Cymbalta (5mg) made some of my "thyroid-like" symptoms improve (weight gain, thinning hair, cold extremities, acne, postural dizziness, fatigue, thirst, etc). I feel this was due to revving up my HPA axis, which is generally sluggish. The only problem is that it didn't help my core symptoms and made my muscle tightness worse.
So I don't think it's an easy take thyroid and you'll be better or take T3 and you'll solve your problems. If you're helped by thyroid, then you had hypothyroidism and your symptoms were the result of that. But if it doesn't help, and I know plenty of people that it doesn't, then you have more going on.
BTW, you also need to have a thyroid scan and check for thyroid antibodies to rule out Hashimoto's as well as hyperthyroidism and other things. So whoever said a specialist would be better is correct, but for uncomplicated hypothyroidism, I still maintain a good general practitioner would do. The operative word is GOOD. My Internist was the one who picked up on the fact that my TSH was creeping up over 2 when it was still generally thought that a TSH under 5 is "normal".
Cairo
poster:Cairo
thread:568617
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051017/msgs/569584.html