Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

[beatle]

Many of you know this already, but there is a link between hypothyroidism and alcohol consumption. It is a viscious circle because alcohol relieves many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, while it increases the severity of it. People with hypothyroidism also don't respond to SSRI antidepressants, which can increase the visciousness of the viscous circle.

I read that over 5% of women over 40 have hypothyroidsm, but probably twice as many actually have it, as about 1/2 of cases go undiagnosed.

Please check out this great website for more info:

http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.c...id_disease.htm

[Finding My Self]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

Beatle - good on you for this one....only my specialist guy I saw with it said it was nearer 30% of women over 40....!

BTW all - the TSH (TRS in US) thyroid function test the docs do inthe UK isn't enough for this...this only says how much the thyroid is being Stimulated/is Releasing by the pituitary, NOT how much the thyroid is responding...which is where we 'old women' (Not!) come in it...you MUST get the T3 and T4 test as well - the doc'll moan but insist! - that will tell if there are enough thyroid hormones actually in the system.

A really good site Beatle! I did the Barnes test...amazingly low when it was....I think I'm Ok now but might try the iodine test...a new one on me!

And check out low adrenal reserve...stress...if you boost the thyroid and not the adrenals the thyroid can get suppressed even further...

Thyroid probs are not an 'excuse' but I am sure they were the start of drinking becoming a problem for me...

Thanks Beatle!

[beatle]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

Yes, all you say is true, FMS. The thyroid specialists these days say the TSH test alone is practically useless, though most GPs use it as the only standard by which to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.

Thyroid problems often are the strart of alcohol problems, which further increase the thyroid problems and it all spins out of control. Especially for women over 40 with alcohol problems, I would absolutely recommend you get tested... and insist on all the tests, as FMS says.

Another thing-- the standard treatment is to use synthetic hormones --Thyroxin, Levaxin, Synthroid-- it goes by different names in different countries. Many people do not respond to these synthetic hormones (even though their TSH goes down-- the thyroid is still not doing job). There are many natural ways to treat hypothyroidism. Also, there is a "natural" hormone supplement called Armour (comes from pig thyroids-- yuck) that works much better than the synthetic version, but doctors don't like to prescribe it for some unknown reason (but we can guess-- pigs thyroids can't be patented).

The website with most information is:

drlowe.com---fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone resistance

[wwbarb]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

Very interesting info - thanks.

[CaptJBean]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

That was a good read. I take Levathroid. My levels are still low-normal. I also have hypoglycemia. And, I'm allergic to iodine. All of this long before I started to drink. My phobias and stress promoted my drinking.

[MyOwnWoman]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

After I had my baby - 10 1/2 yrs ago - I continued to gain weight and felt awful, could barely make it through a day. My doc said I was "profoundly hypothyroid".... said it happens sometimes during pregnancy. My thyroid levels were SO low, that my breast milk never came in.
I've been on synthetic thyroid ever since.
(Well, a few years ago I got stubborn about taking a pill everyday and just quit. A few months later I was gaining weight and depressed.)

As for the link with drinking - I've been drinking heavily since I was 19 - many years before being diagnosed. Of course, I suppose I might have been going through the years undiagnosed, and it just got worse when I was pg.

[beatle]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

I think the two (over-drinking & hypothyroidism) exacerbate each other, but one does not lead to the other necessarily. As for myself, I had symptoms of hypothyroidism many years before I even took my first drink, as well as for years while I drank moderately. It's hard to say which drove which, but as my hypothyroid condition worsened, so did my drinking. All of this happened in the context of my personal situation worsening... there is no one culprit. Our bodies are too complex for that.

Still, it is important to be aware of the connection. Both over-drinking and hypothyroidism need treatment. If you only treat one, and let the other get out of hand, you will never get anywhere.

[beatle]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

p.s. dealing with personal issues is, of course a part of that equation.

[Finding My Self]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

Armour is, well, as you say...hmmm. But there is also Nutri's (UK web) Thyroid and Adrenal 'glandulars'...from New Zealand bovines...neither very good for veggies!! But Nutri also do a really good supplemental support to go with it/instead of.... Nutri Natural, Herbal and Vitamin Supplements and also Thyroid UK Dr. Barry Durrant- Peatfield's book is amazing.. Dr. P as he's affectionately known!

Beatle - really good thread; clearly about 'this'! I've always 'lost' anything I've posted in somewhere else I think!! Not that I'm an 'expert' (ex = a has been and a spurt = a drip under pressure!!) but care that everyone's getting the best chance at feeling good!

Hope you don't mind me joining in! Just been there, done it, put the T-shirt back in the drawer thank goodness!

[lorisunshine]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

Never knew that, thanks for the info.
L

[pansy]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

Thanks Beatle!!!

I had never heard of this - I take 4 grains of Armour thyroid - a full replacement dose. My grandmother passed from hypothyroid coma - she was misdiagnosed for over 40 years ... and yes she drank!

There is also something called "hormone resistance" that is similar to insulin resistance. Even if a body is producing hormone, it is possible that the body cannot make use of it.

Interesting stuff, thanks ...
Pansy

[beatle]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

good point pansy, about hormone resistance. That's why the TSH test is not reliable. The experts are saying that, but the GPs haven't gotten it yet.

Dr. Lowe (see: drlowe.com---fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone resistance) doesn't use the TSH test at all. His treatment is done in response to the patients' symptoms.... (what a novel idea)-- if the patient feels lousy, he believes the patient is sick, and he treats the patient according to the symptoms-- when the patient feels good, that's when he/she is well.

[Finding My Self]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

Absolutely! As Dr. P and my cousin (also a doc) say....."The best tools a doc can use are the Mark 1 Eyeball and the Mark 1 Earhole..." ! Make sure your doc 'sees' you.....!

[beatle]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

I've never heard of that FMF/S. What exactly does it mean? (I know I'm a bit thick, but as you probably have noticed, I have to ask when I don't know, even if it means appearing foolish).

[Finding My Self]

Link between alcohol and hypothyroidism

Don't worry Beatle!! It's good to ask - and I know I need a badge on me that says, "Beware, talk to this person and you could end up seriously confused!"

What it means is that the best diagnostic tools a doctor has - and which were taught big time 'in the old days' but not so much now - are his eyes and ears....99% of what you want to know is in front of you. We also use it in sailing.....when you're navigating a boat, take your eyes off the electronic dials and screens and go above and look around you! Hence, Mark One eyes and ears!

Love Fms xx