I get this where I get days where I feel very very cold, even if wearing lots of clothes and all heating on high. Then a few days where itis fine again and so on. Have done basic research which says it can be anaemia or thyroid
but I eat properly, have iodine and vitamin b and iron. And why would it go and then come back>
Cold body temperature is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. Your thyroid (or is it the pituitary affecting the thyroid?) regulates body temperature. If you have Hashimoto's which is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid, iodine will make you worse because it incites an autoimmune response. Do you have periods of fatigue alternating with energy? Or just fatigue? Often with Hashimoto's symptoms its up and down, off and on, of extremes.
Granted, anemia can have the same symptoms and anemia is very much connected with thyroid function. (Heck, it's all connected.) You need to go to a doctor and get iron and thyroid levels checked. Don't try to guess yourself and treat accordingly or you might make yourself worse. If your thyroid levels are off, have the TPO test for antibodies to see if it's Hashimoto's. Some doctors really dont know what to do with Hashimoto's so they don't do the antibody test, but Hashimoto's needs to be treated differently from plain hypothyroidism.
These are just ideas based on my own experience. I am not a doctor.
excellent advice and try to watch the autoimmune summit....google..it ends tomo i think xxxx
we've also started an autoimmune section...as is so unique. you can find it via the alphabetical search...researched info especially welcome!
Hi Runraisin. Thank you. Have read all of this on the web.
Living in the UK you cannot just decide to get this or that checked, the doctor decides all that. Yesterday I had palpitations for first time in ages, and have been wheezing and getting heady headaches, fuzzy head as well as the coldness. But it comes and goes and it might go away for two months and then be there for just one day.
Thanks marey will have a look.
welcome!
there's only limited info at the mo....but do have a look at the summit....just google to find it and listen in.
it would be great if all of us folk felt like trying to summarise what we've learnt inorder to share so it becomes a resource...by putting up notes in our autoimmune section.
i wish you luck with seeking out the cause of your condition....keep in touch x
ps i'm in the uk too and know how hard it is ...but if your GP will do TSH ask for T3 AND T4 ...as well as antibodies TPO....do say that you really want to know as you're in a support group of others also working on this ...we cut out food groups eg gluten and dairy...but it is hard and help is needed as well as the info and the testing...so insist. plus vit d test is allowed for autoimmune conditions.
then you know you have hashimotos and can start taking responsibility for your own treatment as they don't treat antibodies but wait til the thyroid destroys itself...then increase thyroxin....great! hope you'll join in with being more proactive xx
Doctors are the same everywhere. I have found the more knowledgeable I am and the more articulate and thorough with symptom descriptions, the more likely they do exactly what I want. If a doctor isn't listening then you find one that does. I really good doctor not only listens, but is knowledgeable enough to know what advice to give and what labs to get. Rare, but they do exist.
Agree. I found that if I quote actual medical terms to them - i.e.
I think maybe the splincter valve needs help - rather than I keep coughing - they take far more notice of you.
Marey. I dont need to cut out dairy and gluten and feel sorry for those who do, but it is different for everyone. My doctor listens fairly well compared to mostl but telling him I am in a support group would not change him or his attitude one bit.If you look at this site you will see I have been very proactive both on the site and off, more than most here.
IF you have Hashimoto's you WILL need to cut out grains, dairy, sweeteners, legumes, starchy vegetables and high-glycemic fruits. Both myself and Marey have offered the Hashimoto's theory as an idea based on your first post questioning your body temperature and the fact it goes away and come back. This is a Hashimoto's pattern, but of course, it might not be what you have. Clearly from your first post you are asking for help and we, eager to help, have given you this idea based on our experiences.
I think it's very strange you are asking this support group for help, but you keep contradicting everything everyone is saying, telling us you don't need our advice after we've given it and sounding like you resent it. I'm really unclear what you want..
I appreciate you answering but when you tell me stuff I have already read on other sites, stuff I can google easily and quickly, that is not helpful to me. I was asking for personal experiences, not to reread what I have read elsewhere or can find elsewhere. I understand what you are saying about your own experiences BUT that does not mean that everyone else you speak to has the same illness. If I had Hashimoto then it would not go away for months and then come back for just one day and then go away for months again. That would make no sense. In fact it cannot be diet related then.
YOu have to use some common sense with all of this too.
Not just remember what you have read. I wont be folloiwing this thread anymore so if you post again that is up to you but I wont be reading it.
I understand your frustration, but it's not my fault you weren't clear on what you wanted. I was just trying to help and your question was vague which indicated to me you didn't have a lot of information. To avoid people wasting your time, next time be more specific about what you want and don't want and that way we won't waste our time either.
hi carmel
i did try to check out your contributions to this site but you may have opted for limited disclosure as only your badges are on display....just to let you know!
i used to feel exactly as you do now about gluten, well all grains, and dairy...its funny to read from the perspective of being on the receiving end ...but that's karma!
i'm in UK and my GP did agree to do TSH, T3 and T4 tests as well as vit D... SO i'm sure he'll help you with those markers no problem.
i did ask for TPO antibody tests....this confirms hashimotos thyroiditis...but you may prefer not to know as there is no conventional treatment? My GP had the tests done for me - apparently per my request...but i don't remember him telling me the results. this may either have been policy, not to disclose to the patient....since conventional treatment doesn't alter.... or my poor memory!!
HOWEVER THE POLICY IS NOT TO TREAT thyroiditis (as indicated by antibodies) with any distinction. This is because the medical profession doesn't know how to. so we are on our own. However you would be offered thyroxin ...and some form of thyroid hormone could be vital to help with reducing the inflammation. however if you're at the early stages and your TSH has not yet increased...it does so in response to nagging from the pituitary which, if working, produces more TSH IN THE ATTEMPT TO GET A RISE out of the fading thyroid....then merely taking appropriate vits and mins could fix it. i know at least one woman who has done this. do I make any sense? or prob thats what you already know as you've done some research as you mention.
I found out I had antibodies as the endocrinologist told me. I was very grateful ...since this was what I expected. I was referred to him by a locum GP when I asked about iodine testing. Like you I had been persuaded that I had a need for iodine.
I have noticed that my TSH went up...my first (known to me) reading was 4.5 this increased to 5.1 ...possibly due to iodine but i have not yet cut out all the inflammatory factors in my diet so can't be sure...but am experimenting and working towards that goal. Others here may be further down the line...of reducing inflammation - our ultimate goal - so do lets nuture those kind enough to share with us and lets encourage anyone kind enough to come on with their experience. I'd love to hear more from you rumraisin. how are you now? May I ask as to where your TSH level is and where it had been?
Iodine is a major inflammatory factor as the Endocrinologist did also confirm....so that is not in dispute...but its important to know if you wish to intervene in the ongoing degradation of your thyroid (if this is your diagnosis)...that it does flare up and drop bits off - this damaged tissue ignites the flares (symptoms of which you describe) via the bloodstream as those particles contain hormone...if its thyroiditis that you have. And If so you can at least follow the strategy of others. anyway If you find someone who does reactivity testing do let me know! Are you uk based too? I think its Igg and IgA thats needed? Others on here may know and might be kind enough to guide us...if and when we're ready for the info....since its tough.
prob for you the first step might be a TSH test (tho as above I would ask for the lot...it gives you more time to be effective and to work on alternatives BEFORE going onto thyroxin...since once on its diff to come off tho i'm following a protocol with that aim personally i wish i'd had these types of conversation first...i would have handled things differently...you may only have a low thyroid or something else altogether...but you can decide in consultation with your GP if you do want to know more. may be some genuinely don't want to know...so i don't want to interfer but hope this has been helpful...am exhausted...phew!
my goodness!
well we are clearly failed mind readers!! please stay on rum since i've found you....a treasure.
HAHAHAHA!!! Marey: We are spending our time writing as much as we can trying to help a stranger. I definitely understand carmel's frustration, but it was like we were being reprimanded at for our ideas. That kind of attitude makes people not want to contribute anything nor help anyone.
Marey, you certainly are most knowledgeable on Hashimoto's. Excellent information!
never mind ay
lets move on. I replied above and wonder whether
you'd be kind enough to take a glance at my questions? Any tips? I really appreciate meeting you!
Marey: To answer your question: In 2011 when I started crashing, total exhaustion unable to move, my TSH was 5.13. Started the diet and it's been gradually going down every year: 4.88, then 3.31 with my thyroid levels going up. This was without any medications. Episodes of exhaustion disappeared, but low-level fatigue remained.
In the last six months I was still experiencing some low-level fatigue with stress intolerance, exercise intolerance, and body temperature fluxuations so I thought I'd get smart and add some drugs...bad move. All symptoms got worse and some that I hadn't had for a while even returned. I think the drugs killed off my pituitary causing hypofunction. Stopped the drugs and I actually feel really great now. I got on this list because I was searching for some of the odd drug side-effects that no doctor could explain and I found someone here who was experiencing something similiar. I now wonder if my issue is more adrenals than thyroid. I have no idea what to do about adrenals. I've tried some adrenal-supporting herbs but I often react poorly to herbs. I considered DHEA, but I've heard about the bad side-effects AND I did try it but it made me very sick. Changing my diet was a life saver for me because I'm so intolerant of drugs/supplements.
I do wonder if I'm feeling great because the excess drug residue is still in my system...so not too much drug, but just enough to jumpstart everything. I hope I continue to feel fine...it's hit and miss.
Any ideas you have please share! I'd be happy to hear them (even if I've done the research - hehehe)
In addition, I do wonder if the thyroid meds I was taking was inciting inflammation...the returned inflammation hasn't gone away. I know natural dessicated thyroid has natural iodide. Is that what I reacted to? I hadn't had any inflammation with just the diet - it all went away. I hate meds. What was I thinking?
inspiring...thank you! i wish i hadn't started thyroxin....wanted to warn carmel.
we may be around the same kind of stage...tho i'm not feeling great...i think my energy is slowly returning.
i'm also looking at my adrenals...have a book recommendation. may not be allowed to mention here....so will PM you. will also ask another woman who seems to have sorted her thyroid if she'd come on and give us some tips and guidance.
don't go away...so good to have found you. oh and thank you for your kind compliment above xx