Re: Re: Help! Armour & T4 - Hashi's

[Guest guest]

Wow!! I thought it was just me! I can have trouble sleeping, drink a cup of coffee and am asleep within minutes.Tee wrote: Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I usually react 180 degrees different from "the norm"...Just curious about the caffeine connection.Thanks! Tee> Hello,> > I am a Hashi's patient and my levels have been stabilized for a year > or so. However, at my last doctor's appt., my doctor thought my t3 > was too high in proportion to my t4 so added a small dose of levoxyl > to my armour. That didn't seem to effect the way I felt and I have > been taking this combo for 6mos now. In Jan, my blood levels were:> > Free T4 - 1.01> Free T3 - 2.6> TSH - .5> > I'm not exactly sure when it started, but I began waking up at night > with a racing heartbeat and thinking I was having anxiety attacks. > I also started noticing the feeling of a

"racing" heartbeat during > the day and sometimes at night. This progressed to a feeling of a > shortness of breath. While I was pushing the cart at the grocery > store, I started to feel light-headed and out-of-breath and felt my > heart racing. I just happened to be in front of blood pressure > machine so I stopped and took my blood pressure. The BP was great, > but my pulse was 140 just from walking around. I called my > cardiologist and the nurse said that she thought it was probably > thyroid related. I was/am afraid to go back to my doctor that > prescribes my thyroid meds because I feel like she's just itching to > get me off of Armour and will use any excuse to do so. I only have > it now because I pleaded with her. I felt horrible years ago on > synthroid and only felt human again with armour. I made an > appointment with an

internist I used to see years ago accross town > who has no qualms with using Armour and I will be seeing him today, > but he goes strictly by the numbers and doesn't treat symptoms > alone. I haven't had any thyroid meds since Thursday (almost a > week) and have been feeling much better with no racing pulse. > However, my heartrate is still really high, fluctuating btw 90 and > 130bpm just through normal activities.> > I'm going to see the doctor today regardless, but I'm wondering if > anyone recognizes these symptoms and what can be done to correct > it. If this doctor wants to keep my tsh higher than I can function > with, I may need to just stay with the other doctor and tweak the > prescriptions she gives me. I just don't know what to do. I > thought this was all under control and that I wouldn't have deal > with again - wrong!! Such is the

nature of Hashi's, I guess. I > would appreciate any helpful info or comments as I will be seeing > the other doctor this afternoon.> > Take Care,> Katy> > ---------------------------------> Yahoo! Mail> Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.>

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[Guest guest]

Just a thought — when caffeine has a sedating or calming affect that is usually a strong sign of ADD – you might want to look into that, my husband has it and can drink coke and coffee at night and sleep whereas I get racy with one cup!

Sue

Wow!! I thought it was just me! I can have trouble sleeping, drink a cup of coffee and am asleep within minutes.

Tee wrote:

Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how

caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect

me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can

drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I usually Hi

react 180 degrees different from " the norm " ...

Just curious about the caffeine connection.

Thanks! Tee

> Hello,

>

> I am a Hashi's patient and my levels have been stabilized for a

year

> or so. However, at my last doctor's appt., my doctor thought my t3

> was too high in proportion to my t4 so added a small dose of

levoxyl

> to my armour. That didn't seem to effect the way I felt and I have

> been taking this combo for 6mos now. In Jan, my blood levels were:

>

> Free T4 - 1.01

> Free T3 - 2.6

> TSH - .5

>

> I'm not exactly sure when it started, but I began waking up at

night

> with a racing heartbeat and thinking I was having anxiety attacks.

> I also started noticing the feeling of a " racing " heartbeat during

> the day and sometimes at night. This progressed to a feeling of a

> shortness of breath. While I was pushing the cart at the grocery

> store, I started to feel light-headed and out-of-breath and felt my

> heart racing. I just happened to be in front of blood pressure

> machine so I stopped and took my blood pressure. The BP was great,

> but my pulse was 140 just from walking around. I called my

> cardiologist and the nurse said that she thought it was probably

> thyroid related. I was/am afraid to go back to my doctor that

> prescribes my thyroid meds because I feel like she's just itching

to

> get me off of Armour and will use any excuse to do so. I only have

> it now because I pleaded with her. I felt horrible years ago on

> synthroid and only felt human again with armour. I made an

> appointment with an internist I used to see years ago accross town

> who has no qualms with using Armour and I will be seeing him today,

> but he goes strictly by the numbers and doesn't treat symptoms

> alone. I haven't had any thyroid meds since Thursday (almost a

> week) and have been feeling much better with no racing pulse.

> However, my heartrate is still really high, fluctuating btw 90 and

> 130bpm just through normal activities.

>

> I'm going to see the doctor today regardless, but I'm wondering if

> anyone recognizes these symptoms and what can be done to correct

> it. If this doctor wants to keep my tsh higher than I can function

> with, I may need to just stay with the other doctor and tweak the

> prescriptions she gives me. I just don't know what to do. I

> thought this was all under control and that I wouldn't have deal

> with again - wrong!! Such is the nature of Hashi's, I guess. I

> would appreciate any helpful info or comments as I will be seeing

> the other doctor this afternoon.

>

> Take Care,

> Katy

>

> ---------------------------------

> Yahoo! Mail

> Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.

>

Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/virusall/*http://communications.yahoo.com/features.php?page=221> helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

I don't think I have that....although the way my body is going haywire lately who knows. I usually don't have trouble concentrating...I can actually read and book and sing along with the radio at the same time. But don't ask me to remember the word for something as simple as "door" most days. It frustrates the daylights out of me.jytdtp wrote: Just a thought — when caffeine has a sedating or calming affect that is usually a strong sign of ADD – you might want to look into that, my husband has it and can drink coke and coffee at night and sleep whereas I get racy with one cup!Sue Wow!! I thought it was just me! I can have trouble sleeping, drink a cup of coffee and am asleep within minutes.Tee wrote: Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I usually Hi react 180 degrees different from "the norm"...Just curious about the caffeine connection.Thanks! Tee> Hello,> > I am a Hashi's patient and my levels have been stabilized for a year > or so. However, at my last doctor's appt., my doctor thought my t3 > was too high in proportion to my t4 so added a small dose of levoxyl > to my armour. That didn't seem to effect the way I felt and I have > been taking this combo for 6mos now. In Jan, my blood levels were:> > Free T4 - 1.01> Free T3 - 2.6> TSH - .5> > I'm not exactly sure when it started, but I began waking up at night > with a racing heartbeat and thinking I was having anxiety attacks. > I also

started noticing the feeling of a "racing" heartbeat during > the day and sometimes at night. This progressed to a feeling of a > shortness of breath. While I was pushing the cart at the grocery > store, I started to feel light-headed and out-of-breath and felt my > heart racing. I just happened to be in front of blood pressure > machine so I stopped and took my blood pressure. The BP was great, > but my pulse was 140 just from walking around. I called my > cardiologist and the nurse said that she thought it was probably > thyroid related. I was/am afraid to go back to my doctor that > prescribes my thyroid meds because I feel like she's just itching to > get me off of Armour and will use any excuse to do so. I only have > it now because I pleaded with her. I felt horrible years ago on > synthroid and only felt human again with armour. I made

an > appointment with an internist I used to see years ago accross town > who has no qualms with using Armour and I will be seeing him today, > but he goes strictly by the numbers and doesn't treat symptoms > alone. I haven't had any thyroid meds since Thursday (almost a > week) and have been feeling much better with no racing pulse. > However, my heartrate is still really high, fluctuating btw 90 and > 130bpm just through normal activities.> > I'm going to see the doctor today regardless, but I'm wondering if > anyone recognizes these symptoms and what can be done to correct > it. If this doctor wants to keep my tsh higher than I can function > with, I may need to just stay with the other doctor and tweak the > prescriptions she gives me. I just don't know what to do. I > thought this was all under control and that I wouldn't have deal > with again

- wrong!! Such is the nature of Hashi's, I guess. I > would appreciate any helpful info or comments as I will be seeing > the other doctor this afternoon.> > Take Care,> Katy> > ---------------------------------> Yahoo! Mail> Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.> Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/virusall/*http://communications.yahoo.com/features.php?page=221> helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

Pam

You are thinking of ADHD in terms of concentration probs -- and not ADD — my husband can concentrate fine — it’s more of a a “fog” he is in, and sluggish, forgetful and the ability to drink caffeine and stay and/or get calm was the big red flag to the doc that he has ADD.

Sue

I don't think I have that....although the way my body is going haywire lately who knows. I usually don't have trouble concentrating...I can actually read and book and sing along with the radio at the same time. But don't ask me to remember the word for something as simple as " door " most days. It frustrates the daylights out of me.

jytdtp wrote:

Just a thought ˜ when caffeine has a sedating or calming affect that is usually a strong sign of ADD ˆ you might want to look into that, my husband has it and can drink coke and coffee at night and sleep whereas I get racy with one cup!

Sue

Wow!! I thought it was just me! I can have trouble sleeping, drink a cup of coffee and am asleep within minutes.

Tee wrote:

Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how

caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect

me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can

drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I usually Hi

react 180 degrees different from " the norm " ...

Just curious about the caffeine connection.

Thanks! Tee

> Hello,

>

> I am a Hashi's patient and my levels have been stabilized for a

year

> or so. However, at my last doctor's appt., my doctor thought my t3

> was too high in proportion to my t4 so added a small dose of

levoxyl

> to my armour. That didn't seem to effect the way I felt and I have

> been taking this combo for 6mos now. In Jan, my blood levels were:

>

> Free T4 - 1.01

> Free T3 - 2.6

> TSH - .5

>

> I'm not exactly sure when it started, but I began waking up at

night

> with a racing heartbeat and thinking I was having anxiety attacks.

> I also started noticing the feeling of a " racing " heartbeat during

> the day and sometimes at night. This progressed to a feeling of a

> shortness of breath. While I was pushing the cart at the grocery

> store, I started to feel light-headed and out-of-breath and felt my

> heart racing. I just happened to be in front of blood pressure

> machine so I stopped and took my blood pressure. The BP was great,

> but my pulse was 140 just from walking around. I called my

> cardiologist and the nurse said that she thought it was probably

> thyroid related. I was/am afraid to go back to my doctor that

> prescribes my thyroid meds because I feel like she's just itching

to

> get me off of Armour and will use any excuse to do so. I only have

> it now because I pleaded with her. I felt horrible years ago on

> synthroid and only felt human again with armour. I made an

> appointment with an internist I used to see years ago accross town

> who has no qualms with using Armour and I will be seeing him today,

> but he goes strictly by the numbers and doesn't treat symptoms

> alone. I haven't had any thyroid meds since Thursday (almost a

> week) and have been feeling much better with no racing pulse.

> However, my heartrate is still really high, fluctuating btw 90 and

> 130bpm just through normal activities.

>

> I'm going to see the doctor today regardless, but I'm wondering if

> anyone recognizes these symptoms and what can be done to correct

> it. If this doctor wants to keep my tsh higher than I can function

> with, I may need to just stay with the other doctor and tweak the

> prescriptions she gives me. I just don't know what to do. I

> thought this was all under control and that I wouldn't have deal

> with again - wrong!! Such is the nature of Hashi's, I guess. I

> would appreciate any helpful info or comments as I will be seeing

> the other doctor this afternoon.

>

> Take Care,

> Katy

>

> ---------------------------------

> Yahoo! Mail

> Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.

>

Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/virusall/*http://communications.yahoo.com/features.php?page=221> helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam,

I hear ya — hubby is the same way and NEEDS to have HIS thryoid levels checked but for him it’s the ADD and guess what they give for THAT??? A stimulant — and it “calms” him and he is now much more focused and clear thinking... Wonders never cease!!

sue

Oops....my bad. I don't think I can get much more calm though....I feel like I spend most of my time dragging myself around as it is. lol

jytdtp wrote:

Pam

You are thinking of ADHD in terms of concentration probs -- and not ADD — my husband can concentrate fine — it’s more of a a “fog” he is in, and sluggish, forgetful and the ability to drink caffeine and stay and/or get calm was the big red flag to the doc that he has ADD.

Sue

I don't think I have that....although the way my body is going haywire lately who knows. I usually don't have trouble concentrating...I can actually read and book and sing along with the radio at the same time. But don't ask me to remember the word for something as simple as " door " most days. It frustrates the daylights out of me.

jytdtp wrote:

Just a thought ˜ when caffeine has a sedating or calming affect that is usually a strong sign of ADD ˆ you might want to look into that, my husband has it and can drink coke and coffee at night and sleep whereas I get racy with one cup!

Sue

Wow!! I thought it was just me! I can have trouble sleeping, drink a cup of coffee and am asleep within minutes.

Tee wrote:

Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how

caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect

me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can

drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I usually Hi

react 180 degrees different from " the norm " ...

Just curious about the caffeine connection.

Thanks! Tee

> Hello,

>

> I am a Hashi's patient and my levels have been stabilized for a

year

> or so. However, at my last doctor's appt., my doctor thought my t3

> was too high in proportion to my t4 so added a small dose of

levoxyl

> to my armour. That didn't seem to effect the way I felt and I have

> been taking this combo for 6mos now. In Jan, my blood levels were:

>

> Free T4 - 1.01

> Free T3 - 2.6

> TSH - .5

>

> I'm not exactly sure when it started, but I began waking up at

night

> with a racing heartbeat and thinking I was having anxiety attacks.

> I also started noticing the feeling of a " racing " heartbeat during

> the day and sometimes at night. This progressed to a feeling of a

> shortness of breath. While I was pushing the cart at the grocery

> store, I started to feel light-headed and out-of-breath and felt my

> heart racing. I just happened to be in front of blood pressure

> machine so I stopped and took my blood pressure. The BP was great,

> but my pulse was 140 just from walking around. I called my

> cardiologist and the nurse said that she thought it was probably

> thyroid related. I was/am afraid to go back to my doctor that

> prescribes my thyroid meds because I feel like she's just itching

to

> get me off of Armour and will use any excuse to do so. I only have

> it now because I pleaded with her. I felt horrible years ago on

> synthroid and only felt human again with armour. I made an

> appointment with an internist I used to see years ago accross town

> who has no qualms with using Armour and I will be seeing him today,

> but he goes strictly by the numbers and doesn't treat symptoms

> alone. I haven't had any thyroid meds since Thursday (almost a

> week) and have been feeling much better with no racing pulse.

> However, my heartrate is still really high, fluctuating btw 90 and

> 130bpm just through normal activities.

>

> I'm going to see the doctor today regardless, but I'm wondering if

> anyone recognizes these symptoms and what can be done to correct

> it. If this doctor wants to keep my tsh higher than I can function

> with, I may need to just stay with the other doctor and tweak the

> prescriptions she gives me. I just don't know what to do. I

> thought this was all under control and that I wouldn't have deal

> with again - wrong!! Such is the nature of Hashi's, I guess. I

> would appreciate any helpful info or comments as I will be seeing

> the other doctor this afternoon.

>

> Take Care,

> Katy

>

> ---------------------------------

> Yahoo! Mail

> Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.

>

Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/virusall/*http://communications.yahoo.com/features.php?page=221> helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

The connection with ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, is that the brain seems to be wired backwards--sedatives take the person up and uppers take the person down. Many times this straightens out at puberty but sometimes not. This person often has problems concentrating, is easily distracted, and may have great difficulty with spelling, math, reading or any sort of other learning and memory glitches. The types of glitches are infinite. Caffine helps the person concentrate and focus as well as being relaxing. Marilynjytdtp wrote: Just a thought — when caffeine has a sedating or calming affect that is usually a strong sign of ADD – you might want to look into that, my husband has it and can drink coke and

coffee at night and sleep whereas I get racy with one cup!Sue Wow!! I thought it was just me! I can have trouble sleeping, drink a cup of coffee and am asleep within minutes.Tee wrote: Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I usually Hi react 180 degrees different from "the norm"...Just curious about the caffeine connection.Thanks! Tee> Hello,> > I am a Hashi's patient and my levels have been stabilized for a year > or so. However, at my last doctor's appt., my doctor thought my t3 > was too high in proportion to my t4 so added a small dose of levoxyl > to my armour. That didn't seem to effect the way I felt and I have > been taking this combo for 6mos now. In Jan, my blood levels were:> > Free T4 - 1.01>

Free T3 - 2.6> TSH - .5> > I'm not exactly sure when it started, but I began waking up at night > with a racing heartbeat and thinking I was having anxiety attacks. > I also started noticing the feeling of a "racing" heartbeat during > the day and sometimes at night. This progressed to a feeling of a > shortness of breath. While I was pushing the cart at the grocery > store, I started to feel light-headed and out-of-breath and felt my > heart racing. I just happened to be in front of blood pressure > machine so I stopped and took my blood pressure. The BP was great, > but my pulse was 140 just from walking around. I called my > cardiologist and the nurse said that she thought it was probably > thyroid related. I was/am afraid to go back to my doctor that > prescribes my thyroid meds because I feel like she's just itching to > get

me off of Armour and will use any excuse to do so. I only have > it now because I pleaded with her. I felt horrible years ago on > synthroid and only felt human again with armour. I made an > appointment with an internist I used to see years ago accross town > who has no qualms with using Armour and I will be seeing him today, > but he goes strictly by the numbers and doesn't treat symptoms > alone. I haven't had any thyroid meds since Thursday (almost a > week) and have been feeling much better with no racing pulse. > However, my heartrate is still really high, fluctuating btw 90 and > 130bpm just through normal activities.> > I'm going to see the doctor today regardless, but I'm wondering if > anyone recognizes these symptoms and what can be done to correct > it. If this doctor wants to keep my tsh higher than I can function > with, I may need to

just stay with the other doctor and tweak the > prescriptions she gives me. I just don't know what to do. I > thought this was all under control and that I wouldn't have deal > with again - wrong!! Such is the nature of Hashi's, I guess. I > would appreciate any helpful info or comments as I will be seeing > the other doctor this afternoon.> > Take Care,> Katy> > ---------------------------------> Yahoo! Mail> Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.> Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/virusall/*http://communications.yahoo.com/features.php?page=221> helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

Sounds like a hypoglycemic epidsode?? If you were experiencing a period of

low blood sugar, the coke solve that problem (at lease for a while),

-Katy

Re: Help! Armour & T4 - Hashi's

Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how

caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect

me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can

drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I usually

react 180 degrees different from " the norm " ...

Just curious about the caffeine connection.

Thanks! Tee

[Guest guest]

Just caught up with my reading, LOL! I'm guessing you guys are not

hypoglycemic :-) My husband is like that - he can drink coke all day long

and coffee right before bed. I can't. I feel the least little bit over my

one cup of joe a day.

Take Care,

Katy

Re: Help! Armour & T4 - Hashi's

Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how

caffeine affects us Hashi folks??

[Guest guest]

I do not have any references for you. I speak from my own experience and that of others I know. T3 does tend to normalize the adrenergic receptors. When I was on $ynthroid, I could drink a pot of real coffee and go to sleep. On the Armour, I found that I could not tolerate any increase in my dose until I reduced my caffiene to a bare smidgeon. The good news is that the decaf tastes the same as the real coffee. You will have to figure out what works for you. Whatever you do, it is not a good idea to stop the caffiene cold turkey, or you may end up with a horrific withdrawal headache. So take a few days to taper off gradually, if you think you want to see how you do without

it. As for opposite reactions, I think they are common in hashi folks. has talked about that a lot. I do not have hashi myself. I am a thyca survivor. The shakiness that was fixed by a coke was most likely low blood sugar. Tee wrote: Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I

usually react 180 degrees different from "the norm"...Just curious about the caffeine connection.Thanks! Tee> Hello,> > I am a Hashi's patient and my levels have been stabilized for a year > or so. However, at my last doctor's appt., my doctor thought my t3 > was too high in proportion to my t4 so added a small dose of levoxyl > to my

armour. That didn't seem to effect the way I felt and I have > been taking this combo for 6mos now. In Jan, my blood levels were:> > Free T4 - 1.01> Free T3 - 2.6> TSH - .5> > I'm not exactly sure when it started, but I began waking up at night > with a racing heartbeat and thinking I was having anxiety attacks. > I also started noticing the feeling of a "racing" heartbeat during > the day and sometimes at night. This progressed to a feeling of a > shortness of breath. While I was pushing the cart at the grocery > store, I started to feel light-headed and out-of-breath and felt my > heart racing. I just happened to be in front of blood pressure > machine so I stopped and took my blood pressure. The BP was great, > but my pulse was 140 just from walking around. I called my > cardiologist and the nurse said that she thought

it was probably > thyroid related. I was/am afraid to go back to my doctor that > prescribes my thyroid meds because I feel like she's just itching to > get me off of Armour and will use any excuse to do so. I only have > it now because I pleaded with her. I felt horrible years ago on > synthroid and only felt human again with armour. I made an > appointment with an internist I used to see years ago accross town > who has no qualms with using Armour and I will be seeing him today, > but he goes strictly by the numbers and doesn't treat symptoms > alone. I haven't had any thyroid meds since Thursday (almost a > week) and have been feeling much better with no racing pulse. > However, my heartrate is still really high, fluctuating btw 90 and > 130bpm just through normal activities.> > I'm going to see the doctor today regardless, but I'm wondering if

> anyone recognizes these symptoms and what can be done to correct > it. If this doctor wants to keep my tsh higher than I can function > with, I may need to just stay with the other doctor and tweak the > prescriptions she gives me. I just don't know what to do. I > thought this was all under control and that I wouldn't have deal > with again - wrong!! Such is the nature of Hashi's, I guess. I > would appreciate any helpful info or comments as I will be seeing > the other doctor this afternoon.> > Take Care,> Katy

Yahoo! Mail Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.

[Guest guest]

Wow! I see the dr next week so I"m anxious to see what I find out...but I'll just pray that he can do something to get me to where I don't feel like my body is beginning to fall apart.jytdtp wrote: Hi Pam,I hear ya — hubby is the same way and NEEDS to have HIS thryoid levels checked but for him it’s the ADD and guess what they give for THAT??? A stimulant — and it “calms” him and he is now much more focused and clear thinking... Wonders never cease!! :)sue Oops....my bad. I don't think I can get much more calm though....I feel like I spend most of my

time dragging myself around as it is. loljytdtp wrote: Pam You are thinking of ADHD in terms of concentration probs -- and not ADD — my husband can concentrate fine — it’s more of a a “fog” he is in, and sluggish, forgetful and the ability to drink caffeine and stay and/or get calm was the big red flag to the doc that he has ADD.Sue I don't think I have that....although the way my body is going haywire lately who knows. I usually don't have trouble concentrating...I can actually read and book and sing along with the radio at the same time. But don't ask me to remember the word for something as

simple as "door" most days. It frustrates the daylights out of me.jytdtp wrote: Just a thought ˜ when caffeine has a sedating or calming affect that is usually a strong sign of ADD ˆ you might want to look into that, my husband has it and can drink coke and coffee at night and sleep whereas I get racy with one cup!Sue Wow!! I thought it was just me! I can have trouble sleeping, drink a cup of coffee and am asleep within minutes.Tee wrote: Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I usually Hi react 180 degrees different from "the norm"...Just curious about the caffeine connection.Thanks! Tee> Hello,> > I am a Hashi's patient and my levels have been stabilized for a year > or so. However, at my last doctor's appt., my doctor thought my t3 > was too high in proportion to my t4 so added a small dose of levoxyl > to my armour. That didn't seem to effect the way I felt and I have > been taking this combo for 6mos now. In Jan, my blood levels were:> > Free T4 - 1.01> Free T3 - 2.6> TSH - .5> > I'm not exactly sure when it started, but I began waking up at night > with a racing heartbeat and thinking I was having anxiety attacks. > I also started noticing the feeling of a "racing" heartbeat during > the day and sometimes at night. This progressed to a feeling of a > shortness of breath. While I was pushing the cart at the grocery > store, I started to feel

light-headed and out-of-breath and felt my > heart racing. I just happened to be in front of blood pressure > machine so I stopped and took my blood pressure. The BP was great, > but my pulse was 140 just from walking around. I called my > cardiologist and the nurse said that she thought it was probably > thyroid related. I was/am afraid to go back to my doctor that > prescribes my thyroid meds because I feel like she's just itching to > get me off of Armour and will use any excuse to do so. I only have > it now because I pleaded with her. I felt horrible years ago on > synthroid and only felt human again with armour. I made an > appointment with an internist I used to see years ago accross town > who has no qualms with using Armour and I will be seeing him today, > but he goes strictly by the numbers and doesn't treat symptoms > alone. I

haven't had any thyroid meds since Thursday (almost a > week) and have been feeling much better with no racing pulse. > However, my heartrate is still really high, fluctuating btw 90 and > 130bpm just through normal activities.> > I'm going to see the doctor today regardless, but I'm wondering if > anyone recognizes these symptoms and what can be done to correct > it. If this doctor wants to keep my tsh higher than I can function > with, I may need to just stay with the other doctor and tweak the > prescriptions she gives me. I just don't know what to do. I > thought this was all under control and that I wouldn't have deal > with again - wrong!! Such is the nature of Hashi's, I guess. I > would appreciate any helpful info or comments as I will be seeing > the other doctor this afternoon.> > Take Care,> Katy>

> ---------------------------------> Yahoo! Mail> Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.> Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/virusall/*http://communications.yahoo.com/features.php?page=221> helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

I am realizing how common all our symptoms are and yet — why IS it so difficult to “treat successfully?” -- I think in generations gone by they just wrote women off as “nuts” and we know what happened before that – they were burned at the steak! At least they are “medicating us” now....! LOL, I have to keep my sense of humor about it or will go bonkers!!!

Wow! I see the dr next week so I " m anxious to see what I find out...but I'll just pray that he can do something to get me to where I don't feel like my body is beginning to fall apart.

jytdtp wrote:

Hi Pam,

I hear ya — hubby is the same way and NEEDS to have HIS thryoid levels checked but for him it’s the ADD and guess what they give for THAT??? A stimulant — and it “calms” him and he is now much more focused and clear thinking... Wonders never cease!!

sue

Oops....my bad. I don't think I can get much more calm though....I feel like I spend most of my time dragging myself around as it is. lol

jytdtp wrote:

Pam

You are thinking of ADHD in terms of concentration probs -- and not ADD — my husband can concentrate fine — it’s more of a a “fog” he is in, and sluggish, forgetful and the ability to drink caffeine and stay and/or get calm was the big red flag to the doc that he has ADD.

Sue

I don't think I have that....although the way my body is going haywire lately who knows. I usually don't have trouble concentrating...I can actually read and book and sing along with the radio at the same time. But don't ask me to remember the word for something as simple as " door " most days. It frustrates the daylights out of me.

jytdtp wrote:

Just a thought ˜ when caffeine has a sedating or calming affect that is usually a strong sign of ADD ˆ you might want to look into that, my husband has it and can drink coke and coffee at night and sleep whereas I get racy with one cup!

Sue

Wow!! I thought it was just me! I can have trouble sleeping, drink a cup of coffee and am asleep within minutes.

Tee wrote:

Jan can you point me in the right direction to learn more about how

caffeine affects us Hashi folks?? I never knew that it would affect

me...I have noticed that if I get really shaky and agitated I can

drink a coke and be fine for hours...maybe I'm just weird - I usually Hi

react 180 degrees different from " the norm " ...

Just curious about the caffeine connection.

Thanks! Tee

> Hello,

>

> I am a Hashi's patient and my levels have been stabilized for a

year

> or so. However, at my last doctor's appt., my doctor thought my t3

> was too high in proportion to my t4 so added a small dose of

levoxyl

> to my armour. That didn't seem to effect the way I felt and I have

> been taking this combo for 6mos now. In Jan, my blood levels were:

>

> Free T4 - 1.01

> Free T3 - 2.6

> TSH - .5

>

> I'm not exactly sure when it started, but I began waking up at

night

> with a racing heartbeat and thinking I was having anxiety attacks.

> I also started noticing the feeling of a " racing " heartbeat during

> the day and sometimes at night. This progressed to a feeling of a

> shortness of breath. While I was pushing the cart at the grocery

> store, I started to feel light-headed and out-of-breath and felt my

> heart racing. I just happened to be in front of blood pressure

> machine so I stopped and took my blood pressure. The BP was great,

> but my pulse was 140 just from walking around. I called my

> cardiologist and the nurse said that she thought it was probably

> thyroid related. I was/am afraid to go back to my doctor that

> prescribes my thyroid meds because I feel like she's just itching

to

> get me off of Armour and will use any excuse to do so. I only have

> it now because I pleaded with her. I felt horrible years ago on

> synthroid and only felt human again with armour. I made an

> appointment with an internist I used to see years ago accross town

> who has no qualms with using Armour and I will be seeing him today,

> but he goes strictly by the numbers and doesn't treat symptoms

> alone. I haven't had any thyroid meds since Thursday (almost a

> week) and have been feeling much better with no racing pulse.

> However, my heartrate is still really high, fluctuating btw 90 and

> 130bpm just through normal activities.

>

> I'm going to see the doctor today regardless, but I'm wondering if

> anyone recognizes these symptoms and what can be done to correct

> it. If this doctor wants to keep my tsh higher than I can function

> with, I may need to just stay with the other doctor and tweak the

> prescriptions she gives me. I just don't know what to do. I

> thought this was all under control and that I wouldn't have deal

> with again - wrong!! Such is the nature of Hashi's, I guess. I

> would appreciate any helpful info or comments as I will be seeing

> the other doctor this afternoon.

>

> Take Care,

> Katy

>

> ---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

ADD and ADHD are often symptoms of hypothyroidism. That is why a stimulant such as Ridlen- or caffiene- may help.jytdtp wrote: Pam You are thinking of ADHD in terms of concentration probs -- and not ADD — my husband can concentrate fine — it’s more of a a “fog” he is in, and sluggish, forgetful and the ability to drink caffeine and stay and/or get calm was the big red flag to the doc that he has ADD.Sue

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[Guest guest]

ADD and ADHD are often symptoms of hypothyroidism. That is why a stimulant such as Ridlen- or caffiene- may help.

That makes A LOT of sense considering my husband also has all the same symptoms of Hypo that I do... He’s going for bloodwork PRONTO!

sue

[Guest guest]

That's me. It kind of reminds me of the ADHD folks being more brought down by stimulant drugs, where other folks respond to these drugs the way they should, as in upper. I personally think that it's because we're addicted to the caffeine and must have it to "calm down", but not sure. It does stimulate the adrenal glands.

Re: Re: Help! Armour & T4 - Hashi's

Wow!! I thought it was just me! I can have trouble sleeping, drink a cup of coffee and am asleep within minutes.

[Guest guest]

Thyroid disease has been very greatly attributed to ADD and to ADHD by many doctors, only to find out that the person has subclinical hypo or hyper, or even, for that matter, severe hyper or hypo. There is a lot of documentation on this, as well as attributing those symptoms to many other diseases. Not saying he has hypo, but I'd get it checked out, with the Frees testing, not necessarily the TSH.

Re: Re: Help! Armour & T4 - Hashi's

Pam You are thinking of ADHD in terms of concentration probs -- and not ADD — my husband can concentrate fine — it’s more of a a “fog” he is in, and sluggish, forgetful and the ability to drink caffeine and stay and/or get calm was the big red flag to the doc that he has ADD.Sue

I don't think I have that....although the way my body is going haywire lately who knows. I usually don't have trouble concentrating...I can actually read and book and sing along with the radio at the same time. But don't ask me to remember the word for something as simple as "door" most days. It frustrates the daylights out of me.

[Guest guest]

No kidding, that IS me. I made A's in school, but I learned very young to find the main idea in a paragraph and WRITE it down. It was the only way that I would ever learn anything I read was to write it down. Same thing in all classes and in college classes too. Take notes and I could stuff things away in my brain, but just LISTEN? No way! Just READ? No way. As a matter of fact, I could read infinitely and never know what I read. That's why it's so strange that I can take medical matter and stuff it away forEVER and always remember it. But dates, times, events and the like? No way. NEVER could gracefully, and that has gotten worse in the last few yrs (I'm 54). I'm strapped to remember when an event happened just last week or what I ate yesterday or day before. It's like my brain takes the most unimportant, in order to remember the most important. Trouble is, it has involved some of the important also and that's been all my life. Yet I was an A student because of my devisive ways of studying. It's probably mild, but was there all my life. Coffee revs me and makes me sharp, doesn't make me shake or have jumbled thoughts at all. It's when I DON'T have it before bed and such is when the jumbled thoughts start, at least these days. It really doesn't wake me up any more, so there must not be a whole lot of cortisol to prompt, but that's better than it was most days.

Re: Re: Help! Armour & T4 - Hashi's

The connection with ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, is that the brain seems to be wired backwards--sedatives take the person up and uppers take the person down. Many times this straightens out at puberty but sometimes not. This person often has problems concentrating, is easily distracted, and may have great difficulty with spelling, math, reading or any sort of other learning and memory glitches. The types of glitches are infinite. Caffine helps the person concentrate and focus as well as being relaxing.

Marilyn

[Guest guest]

What gets me is that it's NOT the sugar in the coke, because concentrated

juice doesn't have the same effect on me, ONLY the coke. I'm thinking that

it might be the amt of what??---phosphoric acid---in it, or the acid period.

It's like it " balances " something in me. What IS that, since carbonated

drinks are not good for our teeth at all. It's like acid sugar eating away

on them. I do swoosh water around in my mouth after drinking one, but water

does not satisfy that particular thing at ALL.

RE: Re: Help! Armour & T4 - Hashi's

> Just caught up with my reading, LOL! I'm guessing you guys are not

> hypoglycemic :-) My husband is like that - he can drink coke all day long

> and coffee right before bed. I can't. I feel the least little bit over

my

> one cup of joe a day.

>

> Take Care,

> Katy

[Guest guest]

I'm thinking that I had Hashi's antibodies all my life, but that it just took a lot of time and events to bring them out in full force. I think that earlier in my life, I was so healthy in all other ways that it just lingered around until something happened to my immune system to let them out of Pandora's box. Hormonal changes, terrible marriages, widowed at a young age, then throwing the other darling out the door, various things. These all play a part. I was a very timid youngster and teenager and froze before an audience, but did manage to get around all that. Later on, the panic attacks, etc...etc...

Re: Re: Help! Armour & T4 - Hashi's

I do not have any references for you. I speak from my own experience and that of others I know. T3 does tend to normalize the adrenergic receptors.

When I was on $ynthroid, I could drink a pot of real coffee and go to sleep. On the Armour, I found that I could not tolerate any increase in my dose until I reduced my caffiene to a bare smidgeon. The good news is that the decaf tastes the same as the real coffee. You will have to figure out what works for you.

Whatever you do, it is not a good idea to stop the caffiene cold turkey, or you may end up with a horrific withdrawal headache. So take a few days to taper off gradually, if you think you want to see how you do without it.

As for opposite reactions, I think they are common in hashi folks. has talked about that a lot. I do not have hashi myself. I am a thyca survivor.

The shakiness that was fixed by a coke was most likely low blood sugar.