Hello Heather,
Do you have more information or websites on natural/holistic treatments. Where do you do your research on these?
Hi Heather!
I’m sorry you are feeling so fatigued. When I was first diagnosed as hypothyroid, my endo put me on Levoxyl. I was at home full-time with two preschoolers and talk about exhausted! My husband would come home from work to find me in the lazy-boy-chair, eating horribly because I had no energy to shop for and prepare healthy food, the house an absolute mess, the children were safe, though. I used the tiny bit of energy that I had to make sure of that. I followed doctor’s orders carefully, taking my Levoxyl, and then 6 or 8 weeks later, I was tested again, and he told me I was in the normal range. I still felt horrible and exhausted and depressed.
I finally found the book, “Thyroid Power, 10 Steps to Total Health” by Richard L. Shames, M.D., and Karilee Halo Shames, R.N., Ph.D. and I learned more about the different forms of thyroid medication. (It also has chapters on adrenal function and nutrition.) I found a new endo with a fantastic nurse practitioner who agreed to add Cytomel in the morning and after lunch. I felt like a new woman!
Thyroid meds are either in the T-4 form (Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc.) or T-3 (Cytomel), or both T-3 and T-4 (Armour). Some people feel good taking a T-4 med only. Some people feel good with taking both T-4 and T-3 in separate pills, so you can adjust the dosage on each of them. A lot of people do extremely well on Armour; some don’t do so well because there is too much T-3 in the Armour for their bodies and they get unpleasant symptoms. Some people can be in the “normal range” on their TSH test, but they don’t feel very good or have energy (like me). Some people can’t take Cytomel because it makes their heart race. Some doctors will tweak the thyroid meds based on how the patient feels, and not just on the blood test results. Others will treat ONLY according to the textbook definition of “normal” range, no matter how exhausted the patient is. No one will be as motivated to help you as you are, especially when it comes to something as complicated as hypothyroidism. You need to find a doc/nurse practitioner who, if you read of a promising solution, will at least agree to try it, knowing that every patient is different and each patient may have to try a couple of different meds/dosages before feeling better. If you actually find one who will suggest different approaches, including Armour, you’ve found an exceptional endo.
Here is an informative website that will explain thyroid issues in more detail and if nothing else, you will realize that you are not the only exhausted hypothyroid person who still has symptoms while testing in the normal range.
I have an incredible CDE (she also has Type 1 and is on Armour herself), Anastasia Marie Chehak. She has put me on a very specific regime of supplements and vitamins to help rebuild the organs of my body from the damage caused by the big D. If you want to work on your overall health as well as your diabetes and can afford her, she is absolutely wonderful. Everything she has recommended to me, she takes herself. Because she has studied biochemistry, she only takes the vitamins and supplements that she trusts. I do suffer from fatigue, and as long as I eat and drink and supplement the way she advises, I feel so much better.
(By the way, when she found a lack of effective products to help the dry skin problems that diabetics have, she did extensive research and invented and sells the Diapedic foot cream, which has FDA registration as an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever. It’s the only diabetic foot treatment product on the OTC market to be awarded this FDA registration, meaning that people with diabetes cannot find a more therapeutic or pain relieving foot treatment with or without a prescription. I have been using it, and it is a wonderful treat for the diabetic feet and the cracks in my heels have completely disappeared. Besides its therapeutic qualities, you feel like you’ve given yourself a little mini-spa treatment! Even just from rubbing the cream into my feet, the hang-nails on my fingers have improved a lot. My mom has bought it for my 90-year-old grandmother who is crippled and in a nursing home–she’s not diabetic–but it has helped heal her dry feet. Sorry I got on my soap box–it’s just an incredible product…
If you are up for traveling to see her, I think (double-check with her first) she is licensed to write prescriptions in her state (she’s in Oklahoma City). I have been working with her via telephone consultations, and I email her my blood sugars. She has inspired me to work very hard on my health, and the results have been good.
I wish you the best–everything can feel so overwhelming when you are so exhausted. Keep us posted–I feel confident that, with your inquiring mind and your motivation, you will find better health, and it seems to make the quest more worthwhile if you can share what works for you with the rest of us here at tudiabetes, to not only help yourself, but help others too.
P.S. Every doctor that I brought up adrenal exhaustion with, looked at me like I’m crazy! I haven’t asked Anastasia yet…
Heather,
I have always loved your ramblings. I am a endocrine mess as it sounds you are as well. In that respect I take thryroid replacement as well, but its a generic I think its called Levothroid, but there are a numer of different ones out there. While in many cases generic and brand drugs are equivalents no so for thyroid medications. They all sort of work the the same way, but are not equivalents, Sounds like you need a change of med darling or a increase in your dose.
Mike
Hi Heather,
I’m also a card-carrying member of the hypothyroid group. So many tests & all doctors said I was on the low side of normal & wouldn’t prescribe anything. My mother has Hashimoto’s (I do also), has lost most of her hair, dry skin–the full range of symptoms.
Finally found an endo who would listen to me when I said I don’t care what the tests say when I feel tired & blah. I think either those tests (or labs) aren’t accurate, or what’s commonly accepted as normal isn’t a normal range at all.
I had T4 free & T3 free tests done. The method was direct dialysis because my doc says this is more accurate, if this is helpful for you. I’ve got a weird combo of kind of high T3 & low T4 so couldn’t take Armour as I wanted. I take Liothyronine & get it specially compounded so it’s slow release & I take it twice a day. My endo says it’s more effective this way. Perhaps a compounded form may help you.
hi everyone thanks so much for your input and suggestions- i knew TU was the place to go!
I still have really low energy so my days and time are cut in half but i will answer your questions as soon as possible and also post what i have learned.
i really appreciate you all!
hi, I have the graves and am hypothyroid with Diab 1…I take levthroxine on a daily basis…though i have been on this for more than 4 years and everything was working fine till recently, i have had the problem that my hypothyroid became worse. Anyway to cut a long story short I have seen Dr Rubenfeld in Houston, TX. He is not on medicare so you need to pay it out of your own pocket, but since I have followed up on his advice my Thyroid seems to be back in order once again. He also has a book called Could it be my Thyroid, highly recommended. Basically be sure that you take your medication on time and without any intervention from any other medication otherwise your thyroid gets totally messed up. hope this helps
hey kristin thanks for your insight!
i found an endo in Daytona Beach who may be just what i’m looking for but he doesnt have openings till july 30th! crap!!!
i have TSH levels and they are low so it REALLY doesnt make sense to me why my current endo wont change dosage??? am a bit pissed about it cuz it’s affecting a whole year of my life.
the new endo i’m looking into does prescribe armour so i shouldnt have to pull teeth to get it… lets just hope i can get in sooner than a month and a half away.
thanks for sending energy LOL
hey jason i’m willing to travel! plus i’d love an excuse to go back to SoCal… love it!
who is it?
hey lauren can you mention names so that i dont go to them???
no but i’m willing to travel!
I would see if he will give you a combo of Armour and Synthroid. Like I mentioned above my wife was absolutely exhausted, join pain you name it and since she has been doing Armour withe the Synthroid she says that she feels so much better and her TSH levels were in the normal range before taking Synthroid but she has all the symptoms but not the numbers.
Good luck–Dave
hey tony!
yeah i have more info on holistic stuff.
here are the websites ive been on to research the thryoid/adrenal issues i’m having.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/
http://www.wilsonstemperaturesyndrome.com/
if you want a broader view than just thyroid etc, here’s one:
http://www.mercola.com/
for diabetes, this guy rocks:
http://www.diabetesnpc.com/about.html
how bout that for a start! let me know if you want more info and what type
hey kerry thanks so much! i’m researching and looking into everything you said. thanks for being so detailed when you wrote me! i’ll let you know what i find out 
thanks mike
i’ll look into levothroid
hey kerry wrote down some great info for me above… also i replied to a guy named tony above and gave him websites on thyroid… maybe they’ll benefit you too!
take care!
hi gerri! great info! i will research!
who is your doctor? and do you have contact info?
hi nilufer thanks and i will check out the info!!
Hi Heather,
He’s in VA, pretty far from you. He gave me the party line about Armour, but since I don’t seem to need the T3 I didn’t argue with him.
After reading the info on the http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ link you posted, I’m going to get my adrenal function checked. That’s a great site–thanks!
Hi Heather–
I hope even a little bit of what I wrote helps you (I was thinking today and wondering if I wrote too much or said too much)…
Sometimes when I go through a difficult period health-wise, something that keeps me going is that I might be able to help someone else through my experience.
So pay it forward, sweetie! I wish you the best! Hugs!
And thanks to tudiabetes for giving us the forum to help each other! (I’m pretty sure Manny and Andreina have halos, as well as the rest of the volunteers here!)
Hi Heather-
I can relate to your struggle. I was Dx last year with T1, and kept waiting to “feel better” like everyone said I would once taking insulin and having my BG in “good control”. Still hasn’t happened. Extreme fatigue, low blood pressure (and subsequent heart palp), dizziness upon standing.
A naturopath finally put me in the right direction too (Clymer Healing Center in PA, http://www.chronicfatigue.org/) with tests showing adrenal fatigue (depressed cortisol levels all day except night). I have discovered that the mainstream/allopathic doctors call it “chronic fatigue syndrome” (a Dx of exclusion only!) and the alternative/natropathic doctors call it “adrenal fatigue” usually. They don’t usually agree on reasons or treatment for the same symptoms.
Whatever it is called, I am in the middle of it. I don’t have any clear answers of what exactly works or how to make an Endo believe the something so different than what s/he was taught. I have NO faith in the mainstream medical community, btw, so I know my opinion is very harsh and critical them in general. I will only go back to my Endo for a refill of my presciptions for insulin/strips which is annual it looks like. I am obsessed with my health, but I don’t need to spend a co-pay to be pressured into getting a pump that I don’t want. Seriously, I don’t know what an Endo can do for me.
I found a book by Dr. Teitelbaum : From Fatigued to Fantastic. He was an “allopathic doctor” in training when he was hit with CFS and went on his own journey to discover what he realized allopathic medical school did not teach. This book has helped me a lot so far, and has finally put me on the road to recovery. There are treatment centers around the country based on what he learned to treat this: http://www.endfatigue.com/ Although I feel the book is sufficient for me.
Unfortunately, you have to play the game. I’ve had to use my mainstream doctors to give me this “wastebasket” Dx of CFS in order to have FMLA paperwork (and in prep for disability) completed for my job (since I’ve been unable to work full days anymore). Sounds like you have had a similar experience of mainstream med not being helpful. I would be SHOCKED if you find an Endo that will accept anything your naturopath says. But hopefully you can use both to complement each other. I really hope you find what works best for you.
I urge you to reconsider your opinion of endocrinologists. Perhaps you did not get hooked up with one that treats Type 1 patients the right way, but I assure you they are of great use to us. The reason most doctors don’t pay attention to naturopaths is that you can become a naturopath in a few months with an online study course. There is no oversight or even a medical background required.
As a Type 1 you need to be careful of other autoimmune reactions, problems with your kidneys, insulin antibodies, and hormonal inbalances. An endocrinologist can order and analyze the right labs to prevent and treat these issues. You don’t need to be on a pump to treat Type 1 successfully, but the reason many endocrinologists suggest them is that they result in a very good outcome for almost all people who try them.