Posted by IsoM on March 25, 2002, at 11:53:56
In reply to Thyroid supplementation., posted by JahL on March 24, 2002, at 21:22:40
Speaking from experience. When you're initially diagnosed with hypothyroidism & prescribed hormone treatment, the doctor will probably err on the side of too little. It's standard for most. They're afraid of excessive bone loss in women. The more active your thyroid (naturally or through supplementation), the more calcium turnover causing osteoporosis in women, especially menopausal women.
Therefore, your doctor may initally underprescribe for you. In about a month, he'll want to recheck your TSH levels to see if they're satisfactory. Mine were considered fine after a month's treatment, but I noticed very little difference. I had to be somewhat insistent about getting him to increase the dose. I told him if I couldn't notice a difference, why bother giving me any. After the dose was increased, I noticed a difference within a week or two. You may have to do the same.
If you're going to be taking thyroid supplementation, make sure you increase your B complex vitamins & your calcium/magnesium/vitamin D combination as your body needs more with an active thyroid or the hormone supllementation.
You may intially find your response is absolutely wonderful before it evens out to just good. Your body can kick in with its own amphetamine-like hormone called PEA (phenylethylamine) which then releases dopamine making a person feel so good. That'll decrease in a while leaving you with the real response.
Side-effects: Bothering your family at the supper table as you keep pausing between mouthfuls to say "Mmmm! This tastes SO good!" My taste & appetite came back & everything tasted so good again. It was nice to enjoy my meals again. But don't worry - you'll probably lose weight even if you do eat more. Your metabolism will increase, burning calories better & your physical activity will increase too as you now have energy.
Like I said earlier, you'll initally feel *much* better, but I didn't find my depression worsened at all. I admit after the PEA effect wore off, I was a little disappointed but not depressed by any means.
I'm not sure what you mean by v. TR BPII. Very thyroid-resistant bipolar II? Damn those British thyroid glands - I wonder if the Canadian glands are similar? :-)
poster:IsoM
thread:99951
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/100043.html