Join now

Already a member? Sign in

Welcome to Inspire!

What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.

Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.

How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!

corner corner corner

Thyroidism?

ErinC
0 Recommendations

In my physiology lecture this afternoon, my professor briefly touched on thyroid hormone's effects on bones.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was 11 and have been on Synthroid .05mg for half of my life now.

I was wondering if anyone else has thyroid issues and/or have any theories or information on this and bone loss.

I found some articles that may be useful:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18637

http://mend.endojournals.org/cgi/rapidpdf/me.2007-0033v1.pdf

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Celiac disease Acid reflux Falls Dry mouth Hypotension Levothyroxine Osteopenia Menopause Anorexia Hepatitis Osteoporosis Evista Hysterectomy Forteo Levoxyl Synthroid Actonel Levothroid Pain Heartburn Hepatitis B Hypothyroidism

50 replies

wilsonaa

Oh, okay...if your thyroid is still working then that makes sense. I was concerned that it had shut down like mine has, but maybe the doctor just thinks since your levels have not changed on that small of a dosage of Synthroid and your body can adjust to doing without it.

Also, It would be great to be able to come off of one of your medications...don't you think????

Andrea

ErinC

My thyroid is underactive, not inactive. I'm only on 50 mcg.. So I'm making some thyroid hormones, just not enough. Maybe he feels that it wouldn't harm me to go off of it, since I'll only be gypping my body of a small amount, and I may not notice a difference? Maybe he thinks it's odd that my dose hasn't needed to be changed in the decade+ I've been on the drug? Who knows.

But I was concerned that going off would make my symptoms worse, and not better. Afterall, taking the Synthroid should be regulating my hormones and correcting this stuff in the first place, right?

nobonesaboutit

Erin, I agree w/ Andrea!!! My son is on synthroid-he's oly 15 and has been on it probably 6 years now. His Endocrinologist and PCP say this is a lifelong medication for him. My sister is an RN who worked for an Endocrinologist who mostly treated women with thyroid probs. She told me that when you take synthroid, your body sees you have the hormone and then doesn't produce even as much as you previously did when you were first diagnosed. Meaning you then need it all the more. I asked my sis about dessicated thyroid I see at the health food store. She said that's how the Armour thyroid med is made. It was the original thyroid med before synthroid was made. She told me most Drs don't even know how to deal with this "old" product. It is not interchangable with synthroid in trying to regulate a patient on it-it's like apples to oranges. The endo she worked for did use it for the older ladies who were used to it. Otherwise if a pt asked, she told them to choose which one they wanted to be regulated on. The other thing she mentioned is that her Dr wasn't that comfortable recommending Armour thyroid in that you are not guaranteed where that "natural" thyroid came from. Could it have been obtained from "downer cows" or sick bovine? Especially that at the health food store that is considered a supplement and may not have strict regulations about source or if the labeled amount is consistant. These are just the comments from that Dr, I certainly don't claim to be an expert but it certainly was thought provoking to hear that an endo said all that.
Think things over carefully. I'm all for the more natural the better but sometimes things were produced in the lab in order to provide (hopefully) a safer product. There was a time the Hepatitis B vaccine was made with human blood product just as we were starting to learn about HIV. Now it's made in the lab and people don't get exposed to blood products from it. Sorry for the novel-

wilsonaa

Erin,

I am really puzzled that he told you that you could stop the Synthroid if you have Hypothyroidism. I have this too, and have for 20 years and have always been told that I would have to take the Synthroid the rest of my life.

If your thyroid has completely shut down, which mine has, there is no other way for your body to make this hormone and it is essential as it controls the body's metabolism.

I just don't understand if you have been truly diagnosed with hypothyroidism, how you could stop treatment as this point in your life.

Andrea

reversiblecat

LOL. Yes I've done the 24-hour test. I nearly fell over when I saw the size of that jug. I kept in it the fridge - in a brown paper bag. It would be fantastic if you were able to get off of Synthroid. I have a lot of your same problems. My nails are brittle and have ridges. So far no amount of calcium/supplements has helped. I'm hoping that the eZorb and the Strontium will help in the next few months. As for dry skin, have you looked into Coconut Oil? It is said to be good for the thyroid. After taking about 2 Tbls. a day for a week, my skin started to get so soft (my hair, too). I use it every day now. One brand tastes really good (nutiva) - the others not so much. I also use it on my skin & hair. Unfortunately it is also described as being for weight loss. Being so thin, this worried me, but I haven't noticed any loss. I'm cold a lot, too, but I often wonder if lack of body fat plays a part. The good news is that when you go thru menopause, the hot flashes will feel wonderful - not a problem like they are for many women. ;o)

ErinC

So I had my appointment with Dr. Moore at Johns Hopkins yesterday, and he seemed to feel that I was doing everything I could possibly be doing at this point right now. He said as long as I keep walking 2 miles a day three times a week, eating right, and taking calcium (I plan to switch to Ezorb, even though I forgot to ask him about it), he doesn't want to see me again for another few years. He said he doesn't want to throw anything into the mix that would disrupt my normal growth, because (I didn't know this,,) a woman's peak for bone density is 30-32.

He also told me that when I get my next DEXA scan, it needs to be at the SAME facility, on the SAME machine, in order to get an accurate comparison. He said the scan I had from GBMC in 2005 is trash at this point, and that we must disregard it completely.

In addition to all of this, he said that I could probably be weaned off of my Synthroid?? I'm no doctor, but wouldn't that just intensify my already present symptoms? Like my insane intolerance to cold (Winter KILLS me, I'm always freezing. Even in the summer, I wear long sleeves, or sometimes sweatshirts), my hypotension, weak and brittle nails, dry skin, fatigue?? I'm slim, but I fear it would cause some weight gain.. And with my past history of anorexia, I do not need that trigger to send me into relapse.

Since it's only 50 mcg, he said it wouldn't hurt me to stay on it, but that depending on what he finds in all of my bloodwork, I may not have to take it anymore.

I've always been told that this is "a lifelong treatment," and I've already accepted that, and after eleven years of popping that tiny pill every morning before I brush my teeth has become so built into my routine, that I just see it as everyday normal life.

P.S. Anyone have to take a 24-Hour Urine Test? I'll be marking that jug "NOT Lemonade." Gross. -- Perhaps I'll be keeping it in a cooler with ice, and not in the fridge.

nchg

Hi There,

Sad to hear your story.. hmmz.. have u ever try other alternatives to try stop relying on western medication? Since it seems that it's bad for the bone.. Maybe that's one of the side effect of the drugs/chemical use in the medication. Too much or too long can cause severe damaged to the other organs.

Try something else ah. I heard that actually you can have chance of thyroid recovery. since urs is not serious(as in non cancerous or aniting), it can actuali cure. You can give it a try of other health herbal and natural supplements. At least you know natural and herbs have no side effect on your body and. And surely this will make your body more healthy and bone stronger. hahx.

Well so far i know one called the healthguard t18. Maybe you can try search for the information. Just my opinion.=)

ErinC

KathleenAlford: I'll have to ask my endocrinologist tomorrow at my appointment. I also have to look into T3.. If I've been fine on Synthroid for eleven years without it, would the addition really make a difference?

Also, have you ever been on Synthroid, or did he just start you on AT to begin with? How does the price of the prescriptions compare?

Thank you for sharing. This is the first I've heard of Armour Thyroid.

KathleenAlford

Dr. Robert Rogers put me on Armour thyroid for several months because he said my thyroid was not working up to speed. Armour thyroid is different from Synthroid. Armour thyroid is a natural thyroid, while Synthroid is synthetic--that is, made by the drug companies. Synthroid does not do for the body what Armour thyroid does. If you research Armour thyroid, you'll see what I mean.

reversiblecat

I wish I knew about the soymilk. I gave up using it because I'd heard it was bad for the thyroid, but there is evidently no clear-cut answer. It appears one answer may lie in how much iodine you have in your body. The link below is for a study done by Stanford University on soy consumption (notice how they specify that those in the study had healthy levels of iodine). The conclusion, as far as I can tell, was that people with healthy levels of iodine can tolerate soy.

I've read that low iodine often goes hand and hand with hypothyroidism, and that Americans tend to have very low levels of iodine. (I supplement my diet with iodine and seaweed). Most Japanese and Koreans probably have higher levels of iodine in their systems due to the seaweed and fish they regularly eat. Which may be why they can handle the soy. (?)

http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?ProdID=art1211&zTYPE=2

I don't think you are going to find any definitive answer to your question on soymilk. For every ten sites saying it is bad, there are ten more saying the opposite.

SharonG

Lani,
Too much soy may be bad for a few reasons. What they mean by too much is the issue. You are getting soy from many sources that you may not be aware of. Check labels. I have read that soy may cause hormone imbalances and mimic estrogen which throws off the natural process. I have read that it interfers with normal thyroid processes.
Check out this website http://thyroid.about.com/cs/soyinfo/a/soy.htm
and google soy and the thyroid and you will get many more websites with information. Dr. Weil suggests no soy supplements by pill. I think that cautious moderation with everything we ingest is wise.
Sharon

Laniphil54

Do you see Dr. Cooper at JH? I just started seeing him. Good guy!

Laniphil54

Have you heard soy milk is bad for thyroid??? It's the only milk I drink... Anybody heard any proven information on this? Lani

wilsonaa

I see my medical doctor for my check up on Jan. 9th and I'm going to take her the Ezorb Calcium info and let her know that this is what I have chosen to take for my calcium supplement. They sent me brochures with my order so I'm going to give her those. I'm just going to let her know that the other forms gave me heartburn...she knows my gastro history anyway. We'll see.

I know it's expensive, especially the first three months, but after that it won't be that bad.

I think you should consider asking the doctor at John Hopkins about the form of calcium in Ezorb...couldn't hurt. Tell him you've heard good things about the results.

Andrea

ErinC

I really want to order it. NOW. But I just can't afford to at the moment. I wish health insurance covered this! Let's hope that it will one day.

I have my first endocrinology appointment at Johns Hopkins in one week. I'm afraid to print out information on Ezorb and show it to him in fear that he'll tell me it's a crock of crap. :o[

wilsonaa

Sharon--

Yes...I was taking Caltrate and it was giving me heartburn and I have severe acid reflux already. I just couldn't handle it. So far, no heartburn on the Ezorb and after two days on the Ezorb, I think my joint pain is already feeling a little better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Andrea

Cher1

I am very interested in your response to the Ezorb calcium. I looked at the information and a few other websites and there seems to be some reactions. I would love to go off my Actonel and HCTZ (for hypercalceuria (I excrete my calcium in my urine). Please post your experiences, I am looking forward to reading them.
Cher

SharonG

Andrea,
Thanks for the heads up on the heartburn. I have noticed that I have been getting some acid reflux since taking Calcitrate. Must be the reason. I'm going to try taking it with different foods or no food to see if that helps. I'm definately going to show my doctor literature about Ezorb and have a discussion with her.
S.

wilsonaa

Sharon--
I'm really not sure. That's a good question, but calcium is not a pharmaceutical (atleast I don't think it is...maybe some forms are?) so it's not regulated by the FDA. I am really losing faith in some of the medical doctors...I think we have to be proactive in this day in time and given the side effects of these drugs such as Actonel, Fosomax, etc.. and all the statistics/feedback from individuals, I am basing my recent decisions to take the Ezorb Calcium on that. I have been researching calcium for about a month and a half. The results I have heard from people on message boards (on health websites) have been so positive and off the charts.

Honestly, I think you can learn more about calcium by doing your own research online. Also, the regular calcium citrate (which is a side effect of regular calcium) that my doctor recommended gave me heartburn and supposedly, the Ezorb, will not cause heartburn. We'll see...I'm into my second day of Ezorb and no heartburn yet!!! :)

Andrea

SharonG

Andrea,
I'm curious as to why this type of calcium is not used by pharmaceuticals and/or recommended by our doctors. Why wouldn't the medical profession advocate for the most effective calcium?
I guess a lot of this is political and driven by how much money the pharmaceuticals can make.
Thanks for the info.
S.

Add to the discussion

Don't have an Inspire account? Join now!

Forgot password?

OsteoporosisNOF: Download NOF's new brochure Hormones and Healthy Bones @ http://bit.ly/3Yg7tq

OsteoporosisNOF: NOF's CFC information: CFC #:11043; Osteoporosis Foundation, National

OsteoporosisNOF: NOF announces the launch of their Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Visit www.nof.org.

OsteoporosisNOF: Need information on osteoporosis? Visit NOF's Web site at www.nof.org or email request@nof.org. NOF can send you free educational materials.

OsteoporosisNOF: Volunteer to start an NOF support group to help yourself and others with osteoporosis in your community. Call (800) 231-4222 to learn more.

Group leaders

You