I have posted this very same thing in the "Advise Needed" Forum. So if you posted any messages there, thanks! I just wanted to see if any of my Veggie Buddies had any experience to share with me on this subject?
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Okay....I am dealing with Hypothyroidism and would like any advise that anyone can send my way.
I am not trying to compare myself to others, I just want all of the help that I can get in dealing with Hypothyroidism.
My Doctor gave me a prescription for Hypothyroidism, about a year ago. It was for Synthroid 0.05mg. Once the prescription was filled, the label read Unithroid 50mcg, I see by my research that it is another form of Synthroid. I take one every morning with a glass of water and wait one hour before I eat anything.
One of my questions is, that I have been averaging a weight loss on JC of apx 6lbs per month. That is also including the months that I plateau. Didn't know if that was a good average or not.
Also, since I went from a 1700 calorie menu to a 1500 calorie menu, I have been averaging a 3lb loss per month. Seems like maybe I should have stayed on the 1700 calorie planned menu a little bit longer
"AND"...I have been reading some info on a natural way to help Hypothyroidism. It is called Thyodine. Has anyone else tried this natural way, that can maybe share their experience with me?
Like I said...I am not trying to compare, just trying to get all the information that I can get, to help me on my journey in being successful on JC.
Feel free to post a reply on the message board to me, private message me or just send an e-mail my way (ykwcg@aol.com)
Thanks a million!
~Connie

Hi Connie,
I don't have hypothyroidism, but I know a little about the condition. First - congrats to you for losing weight, your condition slows metabolism, making weight loss extra challenging. Next, you are on a fairly low dose of Synthroid (the medicine you're taking is equivalent to synthroid). Your doctor should be following up regularly with you to perform blood tests. Most doctors will test the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels about every 3 months for the first several years of the disease, and then, when you stabilize, every 6 months or so. So, if you have not had blood tests since you started the Synthroid, it is very important that you contact your doctor and get your TSH levels checked. High TSH levels means that your body is trying to stimulate your thyroid to produce more hormones because the thyroid hormone level in your blood is too low. So, if your TSH is high, your doctor will need to increase your Synthroid dosage. Hypothyroidism leaves you at in increased risk of high lipid levels (high cholesterol) and makes it harder to lose weight, so you are at a higher risk of heart disease. Hypothyroidism is also correlated with carpal tunnel syndrome, and may cause peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the feet and hands). Best of luck to you and once again, good work on the weight loss.
Shelli

Thanks Shelli for your encouraging words of support.
I will be getting tested again. The hold up was me being unemployed for a year and without medical coverage. I wasn't able to get an appointment until May 14th. I told them, if they had a cancellation in the month of April, to please give me a call.
Anyway, I won't have medical coverage until April 1st. I find that when I am able to keep a regular exercise routine, I do a lot better. But since my new job, I haven't been able to pull it off.
The weather is starting to get nicer here in Florida. So I am fixing to buy a new swimsuit and get myself back in gear again.
I know that all of the information that I have read on Synthroid and Unithroid, it says that both medications are the same, only different company's. However when I take the Unithroid, I feel great, I look better the weight loss challenge is a little bit easier on me. "BUT" I have tried the same dose in the Synthroid and I felt lousy every time I took it, got all swollen and bloated and the weight loss was a little bit tougher. So maybe the companies use the same ingredient, but something is not the same for me to have such a different reaction to the both of them.
I am looking forward to my next Doctor's visit. It won't come soon enough for me.
Thanks again for your support.

The active ingredient may be the "same" but the fillers that each drug company uses can be different... I know because I'm allergic to every one of a certain Canadian generic company's drugs... but I have no problems with the same drugs from another generic... I used to work with a pharmacist, and she told me it was probably because of the fillers.
Hope that helps
Dayle

That makes complete sense. I agree with you 100%.
Thats for the info.

Hi Connie:
I joined JC one month ago and so far have actually GAINED three pounds!
About four years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease, which is a primary factor in hypothyroidism. The symptoms were varied but I had every condition you can think of associated with hypothyroidism: the dry skin and facial hair, weight gain, slow metabolism, menstrual cycle issues, and brittle hair... anyway I just wanted to share this with you as well as what my doctor prescribed to combat the menses of the condition.
I started out on a low-dosage of Synthroid and (very) gradually increased the dosage over six months to get up to 1.0 mcg per day, which is the dosage I have been taking for a few years now. I think I started at 0.50 or 0.25, then worked up to 0.75, then 0.88, and eventually up to 1.0...... I take the pill first thing in the morning and then of course have to wait one hour before I eat anything.
I also have to get tested once every three-six months to make sure that my thyroid hormone levels are "normal." These are simple blood tests that monitor your TSH and free T4 levels. I don't know enough about the tests to offer any medical advice to you but I am just sharing with you my experiences.
On a personal level it has been EXTRAORDINARILY hard to lose weight since I not only have hypothyroidism, but I am also an ovo-lacto vegetarian and I CRAVE carbs like nobody's business!
Anyway I don't know if this information is of any use to you or not, but I just thought I would post anyway, and maybe we can discuss this further if it helps.
Thanks,
DCStarfish