Hypothyroidism and alcohol

[Doggygirl]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

No Topa for me either. I actually ordered some, but by the time it arrived I was doing well with the supplements and CD's, so never took it. Beatle I'm with you - don't need the complications!

The one thing I've finally gotten through my thick skull is that for a problem drinker like me, alcohol is just poison and will always be a negative in my quest for better health. So there is no place for it in my life.

Bird, you might want to get your other hormones tested too. 40 is when the problems began for me.

DG

[Bird of Paradise]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Thanks Beatle and DG,
Words of wisdom, Beatle. You're so right A has to come out of the picture. This is first and foremost for me. It's obviously affecting my health.
DG, what hormones should I have tested?

[Doggygirl]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Hi Bird. I would imagine "which hormones to test" would depend on the doctor and your symptoms. I have a lot of faith in my doctor as far as her being up to speed on the subject of hormone balancing, and here is what we tested in the first round:

Blood test (Thyroid):
TSH
Free T3
Free T4

Saliva test (4X through the day):
Estriadol
Estrone
Estriol
Progesterone
Testosterone
DHEA
Cortisol

All except DHEA (which was text book fine on the first test) have been re-tested at one point or another to check the levels following treatment.

Hope that helps.

DG

[Bird of Paradise]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

thanks for your wealth of info.

I jotted down your suggestions and it is the same tests I've heard from others and i've googled. Doogygirl, you're a great source of info. :thanks:

[Doggygirl]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

You are welcome. You know, I forgot to include a TPO antibodies test in the thyroid stuff. That test helps rule in or out Hashimotos Thyroiditis. LOTS of women have that and don't realize it. Treatment might take a different course if Hashimotos is part of the picture. My TPO antibodies were fine, so I can't personally speak to where things go after that if the antibodies are present.

Can't recall if this link is in this thread, but it's worth duplicating even if it is. Stop the Thyroid Madness - The truth about thyroid and thyroid treatment.

Be well!!
DG

[MyOwnWoman]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Update - my doc just told me that although we've increased my Armor dose several times, I'm still off in my T4 and T3 levels. So we're switching to Levothyroxin or Synthroid (not sure which she's calling in) and I asked too for Cytomel. We'll see....

Adrenal issues are also often tied in (there's info on Stop the Madness site that DG refers to) and I'm glad that my saliva is being analyzed as we speak.

It's weird that so many symptoms that I figured were due to alcohol are actually due to other things and didn't go away. That's a good thing - if I had kept drinking and continued to attribute my weight, depression, etc to alcohol, I'd never have pursued the real causes so they can be treated. So in the end, I'm going to get myself all fixed not just because the symptoms went away with going AF, but because I am being vigilant about caring for myself.

[Doggygirl]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

MyOwnWoman;553605 wrote: .....It's weird that so many symptoms that I figured were due to alcohol are actually due to other things and didn't go away. That's a good thing - if I had kept drinking and continued to attribute my weight, depression, etc to alcohol, I'd never have pursued the real causes so they can be treated. .....

I can SO relate to this!!! A contributing factor to my return to booze after my first 60 days AF in 2007 was just what you describe. I figured that once I gave up AL (and sugar, and started exercising) the weight would start dropping off, etc. etc. Well, it didn't! Yes, I lost a little bit but it was SUCH a struggle. It was so depressing.

But going back to AL sure didn't solve it.

I too am glad I figured out a more complete picture of ALL the issues so it became possible to get back to a semblance of a normal life!

I'm glad you are working this all through to figure out what all needs to be balanced. I will be interested to hear the results of your saliva tests and what the doc recommends there, and also how you like Synthroid (or whatever else). I've read that for some people, the Synthetic route does seem to work better! Never give up.

DG

[MyOwnWoman]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Holy cow - my doc switched me from Armor to Levothyroxin and Celexa. Just 2 days now and it's incredible. I usually can't get my lazy butt to do anything on Sundays - but today I've been non-stop. It's 9 p.m. and I'm still going. My house is cleaner than it's been since Inspector Lushy visited months ago!! Now I just hope I"m the sort of weight loss succcess that DoggyGirl has been.

Moral of the story - if you are hypothyroid and not feeling great, keep insisting on trying different approaches.

[Badonkadonk]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Hi, all. I just stumbled across this forum while trying to find an answer to this question. It may be buried somewhere in the threads, though it will take me a while to get through them all!

I know alcohol use can aggravate it, but can chronic alcohol use actually cause hypothyroidism? I finally became AF a few months ago after IP treatment. I have since become serious about getting my body back to health. I have always been slim and fairly healthy, but I can only imagine the damage I've done to my cells over the years.

I have steadily been putting on weight since the beginning of the year. I though I would lose it when I was AF. I have stopped eating out, cook healthy food at home, work with a trainer at the gym (no more calling to cancel now that I'm not HO). I have actually gained 13 lbs since Feb, and 7 lbs since last month.

I expected my body to have an adjustment period, but it's been nearly 4 months AF and I'm not feeling much better. I am very fatigued, so my doc took blood to check thyroid but I've not heard back yet. I KNOW I'm not consuming enough calories to gain this weight. Thoughts? Anyone experienced this?

[Doggygirl]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Yes, that is what I experienced. I am mildly hypothyroid, and also my sex hormones were out of whack. Low progesterone and progesterone / estrogen out of balance can cause all sorts of problems. To learn more about thyroid, I like this site. Stop the Thyroid Madness - The truth about thyroid and thyroid treatment.

To learn more about hormones and bioidentical hormone therapy, I like Suzanne Somers books such as The Sexy Years - but she addresses this issue in more than one of her books.

By arming myself with information from those sources, I then had to go find the right kind of doctor to work with. It was well worth the time in research and effort to find a supportive doctor. I wouldn't trade where I am now for where I was for anything. That includes my Armour and my BHRT in addition to sobriety! (although sobriety is #1...)

DG

[rolypoly]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

[rolypoly]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Have a friend with Hashimotos,
Many problems. Her niece had a clue, went to the doc early. Her choice was a Doctor of Eastern Medicine. She is in remission.
I have taken bio-identical hormones including testosterone for 5 years. I will be happy to give what little info I have if anyone is interested.

[WhiteRabbit]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Doggygirl;533339 wrote:

Beatle, my understanding of Hashimotos is that the thyroid gland is actually in the process of "dying." I believe there is something amiss where the body attacks it. Lots of auto immune disorders can accompany this process if left untreated or improperly treated. There may be times when a person with Hashi's shows symptoms of hyper AND hypo thyroid.
DG

I have Hashimotos too, and it is an auto-immune disease. The body thinks the thyroid is a foreign invader and so the immune system attacks it. I seem to be prone to auto-immune diseases. Along with the Hashimotos, I have Superior Limbic Karatoconjunctivitis (SLK), which is a non-infectious, chronic form of conjunctivitis which is common in people with thyroid disease. I also have Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder) which is believed to be auto-immune as well. I can't help but wonder if the damage to my liver from the alcohol is what set off all these things in me. At this point, I certainly don't doubt it. All the more reason to get off this poison and stay off it!

[snoopswa]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Hi All,
I'm new to this community and I really need your help with something. My girlfriend who is 50 years old, was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 2 months ago. Looking back on it, her symptoms of facial swelling and a HUGE personality change started around 7 months ago. Before all of this, she was a binge drinker. She would maybe have a glass of wine or two at home by herself once or twice a week. And every week or two have a night where she went out with either me or co-workers and drank alot, closed the bar and sometimes even went to an after hours bar. Since her symptoms 7 months ago, she is like a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON. Her drinking has gotten ALOT worse and that is all that she seems to care about. She has mood swings. One day she loves me, the next day she wants to be alone and doesnt love me. And we have been together for almost 6 years, there was always alot of love. So she has been taking the T4 thyroid meds from the dr for about 6-7 weeks. And she isn't too much different. My questions for you all are, If I get her to a doctor that will prescribe her the natural thyroid pills will it still work with her drinking. She is not willing or cappable of stopping right now. And How long should it be before her thoughts and moods return to "normal"?. Thanks in advance.
Frank

[Doggygirl]

Hypothyroidism and alcohol

Hi snoops. Your GF is very fortunate to have you on her side and willing to help while she finds a way to get the health issues addressed.

When it comes to the thyroid issues, my own doctor would consider it important to look at the numbers. Symptoms are important, but numbers from bloodwork are at least, if not more important. TSH is not a terribly revealing number. Free T3 and Free T4 are important, and there are also some other things my doc looks at. Some docs now are also considering Reverse T3 and some other things important. Thyroid Mistreatment, Hypothyroidism Scandals, and Thyroid Treatment Problems | Stop The Thyroid Madness™ is an interesting web site.

I think the problem with mood issues in an alcohol abuser is that it becomes very difficult to tell whether moods are a result of the booze or meds or something else. More than one psychiatrist has told me that they find it extremely difficult to treat depression in anyone who is drinking much alcohol - whether the drinker is drinking alcoholically or not.

I am no doctor, but I dont' think I would pin hopes on the drinking magically stopping if the thyroid treatment starts working better. Even if the drinking began to ease the hypothyroid symptoms, at some point the drinking continues because the drinker becomes addicted to alcohol. Would your partner be willing to have an assessment for alcohol use or consider treatment?

Like I said - I'm no doctor. Just offering my thoughts as a fifities hypothyroid alcohol dependent (in remission!) woman. Good luck!