If Part Of My Thyroid Is Surgically Removed Will The Other Part Be Able To Make Enough Thyroid Hormones To Keep Me Off Of Medication
Sometimes, your surgeon may be able to remove part of your thyroid and leave the other part so that it can continue to create and release thyroid hormones. This is most likely in situations where you have a nodule thats causing your thyroid problem. About 75% of people who have only one side of the thyroid removed are able to make enough thyroid hormone after surgery without hormone replacement therapy.
Feed Yourself More Fruit
Saying that I talk A LOT about blood sugar handling and the liver dysfunction associated with hypothyroidism would be an understatement.
But when it comes to energy production, nothing hits you harder than your inability to produce and use glycogen... a storage form of sugar essential to the health of you and your thyroid.
Think of glycogen like fuel in your gas tank
if you run out of fuel then you cant produce energy and youre stuck going nowhere.
And fruit, containing healthy sugars is known to help your body produce glycogen more efficiently to keep more fuel in your gas tank.
Unfortunately, more and more people are becoming concerned regarding elevated blood sugar and diabetes and the use of fruit.
Yet, research has shown that the more fruit you eat, the less your risk of diabetes. And fruit has also been shown to be very protective for those who are already diabetic.
Diabetes is NOT a sugar disease as you might have been led to believe.
Its a metabolic dysfunction that prevents you from delivering sugar to your cells efficiently.
Elevated blood sugar is simply a result of the dysfunction, and cutting sugar out of your diet does nothing to fix this dysfunction.
However, fruit sugar has two huge benefits .
Natural Remedies For Hypothyroidism
The standard treatment for hypothyroidism is taking daily thyroid hormone replacement medication. Of course, medications often come with side effects, and forgetting to take a pill might lead to more symptoms.
In some cases, natural remedies may cause fewer side effects and fit into your overall lifestyle better.
The goal of natural remedies or alternative medicine is to fix the root cause of the thyroid problem. Thyroid problems sometimes start as the result of:
Changing your diet and taking an herbal supplement are two ways you can help your thyroid condition. These options may have fewer side effects than taking thyroid medication.
Also, taking an herbal supplement to help address a low or underactive thyroid may be helpful for people who arent responding well to medications.
Consider the following five natural remedies as additions or alternatives to your treatment plan.
, selenium is a trace element that plays a part in thyroid hormone metabolism.
Many foods contain selenium, including:
- tuna
- Brazil nuts
- grass-fed beef
Hashimotos thyroiditis, an immune system attack on the thyroid, often reduces the bodys selenium supply. Supplementing this trace element has shown to help balance thyroxine, or T4, levels in some people.
Its important to talk with your doctor about how much selenium may be right for you since every person is different.
Recommended Reading: Butterfly Ergonomic Non Flat Anti Fatigue Standing Desk Mat
Take Your Thyroid Replacement Medication Consistently
Thyroid hormone replacement medication helps most people with an underactive thyroid feel less fatigued. Even those with severe cases of hypothyroidism usually get some relief from symptoms within six months of starting treatment, according to Dr. Hoffman. Its important to take your thyroid medication as prescribed. That means taking it at the same time and in the same way every day. You should take your medication on an empty stomach and wait at least 30 minutes to one hour before eating. According to the American Thyroid Association, the best time to take your medication is first thing in the morning. If you take other prescriptions or supplements, talk to your doctor about how to time these with your thyroid medication.
If you happen to be among the group that continues to feel fatigued despite meeting TSH goals, Hoffman suggests adjustments to include both the T3 and T4 hormones in your medication plan. “This is a practice thats increasingly accepted,” he says. Talk with your primary care doctor or endocrinologist about trying this approach if you haven’t been getting good results from your current medication plan.
Hashimoto’s Disease And Hypothyroidism
Fatigue is a nearly-universal symptom of hypothyroidism , occurring as a result of the decrease in thyroid hormone production. One noticeable sign that your thyroid levels aren’t properly regulated may be bone-numbing fatigue.
It can develop slowly or come on suddenly, leaving you barely able to lift your head off the pillow in the morning. You may feel like you can’t get through a day without a nap, or you sleep more than usual but still feel completely exhausted. You may not have the energy to exercise, or you may fall asleep during the day or very quickly at night and find it difficult to get up in the morning.
If you’re experiencing exhaustion, which is frequently seen along with other hypothyroidism symptoms, the problem may be that your hypothyroidism isn’t sufficiently treated.
You May Like: Global Industrial Anti Fatigue Mats
Fatigued Or Full Throttle: Is Your Thyroid To Blame
Understanding Thyroid Problems — Symptoms and Treatments
Feeling all revved up, even at bedtime? Or maybe your throttle’s on idle with symptoms of depression, fatigue, and weight gain. In both cases, the root cause may be your thyroid.
The thyroid — a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck — makes hormones that control the way your body uses energy. Your thyroid controls your metabolism, which is how your body turns food into energy, and also affects your heart, muscles, bones, and cholesterol.
While thyroid disorders can range from a small, harmless goiter to life-threatening cancer, the most common thyroid problems involve an abnormal production of thyroid hormones. If there is too much of these vital body chemicals, the result is a condition known as hyperthyroidism. Too little hormone production leads to hypothyroidism.
Although the effects of thyroid problems are unpleasant or uncomfortable, most thyroid conditions can be managed well if properly diagnosed and treated.
What Causes Thyroid Disease
The two main types of thyroid disease are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Both conditions can be caused by other diseases that impact the way the thyroid gland works.
Conditions that can cause hypothyroidism include:
- Thyroiditis: This condition is an inflammation of the thyroid gland. Thyroiditis can lower the amount of hormones your thyroid produces.
- Hashimotos thyroiditis: A painless disease, Hashimotos thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where the bodys cells attack and damage the thyroid. This is an inherited condition.
- Postpartum thyroiditis: This condition occurs in 5% to 9% of women after childbirth. Its usually a temporary condition.
- Iodine deficiency: Iodine is used by the thyroid to produce hormones. An iodine deficiency is an issue that affects several million people around the world..
- A non-functioning thyroid gland: Sometimes, the thyroid gland doesnt work correctly from birth. This affects about 1 in 4,000 newborns. If left untreated, the child could have both physical and mental issues in the future. All newborns are given a screening blood test in the hospital to check their thyroid function.
Conditions that can cause hyperthyroidism include:
Also Check: Extreme Fatigue Bloating And Constipation
How To Reverse Adrenal Fatigue
We may not be able to remove all forms of stress in life, but we can try to control how we perceive that stress and how we respond to it. Controlling your thoughts and the way you react to things are paramount. Belly breathing and mindfulness are great techniques to combat stress responses. Here are other important things to consider:
- A low refined sugar and low processed food diet in order to avoid spikes in insulin and other hormones. I do not recommend a no carb or excessively low carb diet, this is actually taxing to the adrenal glands.
- Taking the right supplements A good quality Vitamin B complex, Magnesium Citrate and Vitamin C. I am not a fan of many adrenal support supplements as they contain an adaptogenic herb called ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is part of the nightshade family and some people with autoimmune disease, such as myself, are sensitive to the nightshade family. Ashwagandha is also an immune system stimulant. So this is something to consider. Other ingredients in Adrenal Supplements can also damage your thyroid.
Ways To Reduce Your Risk Of Thyroid Disease
While there isn’t any particular step you can take to definitively prevent thyroid disease, there are choices you can make that may reduce your risk or, if you’ve been diagnosed with thyroid disease, help you slow down or stop the progression of your condition.
According to the American Thyroid Association , more than 12 percent of people living in the United States will develop a thyroid condition at some time in their lives. The ATA also estimates that around 20 million Americans have thyroid disease, but up to 60 percent may be unaware of it.
Because undiagnosed thyroid disorders can raise your risk for developing a host of other medical conditions, it’s important to be aware of your family history of thyroid disease and pay attention to any unusual symptoms you have.
Read Also: Does Adrenal Fatigue Cause Anxiety
The Right Hypothyroidism Workout
You might think hypothyroidism has drained you of all energy reserves, but even adding a little more physical activity to your day can help you improve energy levels during the day, and get better sleep at night. Aim for the recommended amount of physical activity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: moderate-intensity aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes on at least five days of the week and strength training activities on least two days a week. Since exercising in the evening can make it difficult to get to sleep, try to get most of your workouts done earlier in the day. The bottom line: the right hypothyroidism workout can help give you back the energy youve been craving.
Get On The Right Type And Dose Of Thyroid Medication
The truth is that being on the right type and dose of thyroid hormone is also necessary for proper energy levels.
While it is not necessarily the ONLY or even the most important factor for increasing your energy levels it is still worth discussing.
Currently, the thyroid treatment paradigm is focused on treating your thyroid based on your TSH.
Most providers and physicians feel that this allows a steady stream of thyroid hormone into your cells and technically makes you euthyroid.
This is interesting because most patients still have symptoms of hypothyroidism despite having “normal” lab work.
In addition, several studies have shown that patients who are treated to “normal” TSH levels still show around 20% less circulating T3 and T4 thyroid hormones in their blood compared to age-matched controls .
When you read this it’s important to consider that your T3 and T4 levels are far more important than your TSH in determining cellular function of the thyroid.
This would suggest that TSH is not the best marker for evaluating your thyroid levels in the body and indeed I have written about several conditions where the TSH isn’t very accurate.
When it comes to thyroid hormone in the body most patients do require more thyroid hormone than they are currently being treated with.
It turns out that a more sensitive marker for assessing cellular levels of thyroid hormone is your reverse T3:free T3 ratio.
Don’t Miss: Causes Of Exhaustion And Fatigue
What Goes Wrong With The Adrenal Glands
When you have chronically high levels of cortisol, you can have an autoimmune disease called Cushing’s syndrome. Chronically low levels of cortisol are associated with autoimmune Addison’s disease. Integrative physicians have identified another condition associated with insufficient but not chronically low levels of cortisol, known as adrenal fatigue, or adrenal insufficiency. The existence of adrenal fatigue is still considered controversial in some endocrinology circles.
Ways To Combat Fatigue Caused By An Underactive Thyroid
All over the world, many people suffer with thyroid problems, and some dont even realize the source of their symptoms. Those who suffer from hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, may experience fatigue which can not be eliminated by sleeping or napping. Those who experience these symptoms may find other ways to overcome their feelings of fatigue.
Take Supplements: Supplements can be helpful to those feeling fatigued because of an underactive thyroid. Whole food multi-vitamins and omega-3 supplements are good recommendations. Other supplements that could be helpful include iron, B-12 and Vitamin D. A doctor can run tests to determine if you are deficient in a particular vitamin and whether this deficiency is contributing to your problem.
Get a Sufficient Amount of Sleep: Even though sleep may not seem to cure your feelings of fatigue, you still need as much of it as you can get. Be sure to stick to a regular sleep schedule and try to get 8-9 hours of sleep every night.
Dysglycemia is the condition of having blood sugar that is too high or too low and it can affect metabolism and hormone levels, disrupt detoxification and exhaust the adrenal glands.
When you go out in the sun during midday, try removing your sunglasses for brief moments of time. This can be a great energy boost and promote better sleep habits.
You May Like: How To Recover From Adrenal Fatigue Naturally
Try Adrenal Glandular Supplements
For more significant adrenal fatigue that doesnt respond to supplements and lifestyle changes, some patients appear to benefit from adrenal glandular supplements. These supplements, which can help support low cortisol levels, include actual glandular material from animals. Note: Most healthcare providers do not recommend taking glandulars unless directed by a professional.
What Are The Causes Of Fatigue
Today’s lifestyle, nutritional choices, and overall stressful environment are all factors that contribute to increased fatigue levels.
Some other causes of fatigue can be:
Medical issues
Fatigue can be caused by thyroid dysfunction and lack of essential nutrients, such as low vitamin D and iron levels.
Before looking into lifestyle, consider that fatigue is a symptom of many illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, anaemia, thyroid disease, arthritis, sleep apnea, allergies, and asthma.
Talk to your doctor if you feel unusually tired as a simple blood test may help you uncover an underlying medical issue.
Lifestyle factors
Lifestyle also plays a very large role in your energy levels. An honest look at your life may help you pinpoint the causes of fatigue and help you fight them efficiently.
Fatigue can relate to:
- Use of alcohol or drugs
- Nutrition
- Jet lag
Recommended Reading: Body Aches Joint Pain And Fatigue
What Are The Symptoms Of Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a common condition. It can go undetected if symptoms are mild. Hypothyroidism means the thyroid is underactive and making insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones. Symptoms of hypothyroidism may be mild and may start slowly. The following are the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism:
-
Feeling tired
-
Unable to stand cold temperatures
-
Hoarse voice
-
Skin and hair changes, including dry skin and loss of eyebrows
-
Carpal tunnel syndrome
-
Slow heart rate
-
Trouble concentrating
-
Irregular menstrual periods
The symptoms of hypothyroidism may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Avoid Stimulants & Caffeine
This one may sound counter-intuitive so let me explain:
Stimulants and caffeine work by increasing the demand for existing hormonal systems in your body.
Caffeine helps produce energy by putting pressure on your adrenal glands to produce more cortisol and increase adrenaline production.
But what if you are putting pressure on a system that is already weak, to begin with?
This is exactly what happens when thyroid patients take stimulants.
And by the way, stimulants can include medications like Adderall and other ADD/ADHD medications.
While caffeine may provide you with a “quick” boost to help you get through the day, it may be causing more harm than good in the long term.
If you find yourself reliant upon caffeine , then it’s a good sign that you should NOT be consuming it.
As you wean yourself off of stimulants you will find your energy naturally increases and your sleep schedule naturally improves.
Also Check: Chest Pain Nausea Headache Fatigue
Make Sure Your Iron & Ferritin Are In The Sweet Spot
Another very important nutrient that is absolutely required for proper energy production is iron.
When I’m talking about iron I am referring to iron deficiency and NOT anemia.
Most physicians consider iron to a problem when you develop a condition known as anemia, which is to say your number of red blood cells in the bloodstream have dropped to a point where they are causing symptoms in your body.
But to suggest that iron deficiency is only a problem when it causes anemia is not a good idea.
Why?
Because studies have shown that low iron by itself has been shown to have anemia.
How many women run around with low iron levels but normal hemoglobin levels but who are never treated with iron?
I’ve seen a fair amount of these patients.
Another important aspect to consider is the fact that iron is required for proper thyroid hormone production .
Thyroid hormone is also involved in iron absorption, so hypothyroidism increases your risk of developing iron deficiency.
So now we have a scenario where thyroid patients are at increased risk for developing low iron, they are at increased risk for not absorbing it, the iron itself lowers thyroid function AND most providers only treat anemia.
It’s easy to see why hypothyroid patients should have their iron levels checked AND treated if it is determined to be low .
You can read more about iron deficiency and thyroid function here.
What if your iron level is low?
