That explains a little bit... Thyroid and Mineral/Vitamin Deficiencies in Blood

I just came back from the doctors after having some blood work done to check my thyroid and some other minerals, etc in the blood.

There are a few people in my family with thyroid (underactive) issues, some thyroid removals, etc.

I had originally gone to the doctor for some routine seasonal allergy issues, and told the doctor about my other symptoms. She recommended blood work to check things out, which I am so thankful about. I recommend it for people who are not sure.

I had several symptoms of thyroid... tired, my hair seemed to be getting thinner on top (a hair stylist actually mentioned it to me...eek), heavy periods, weight gain for the first time, etc...

Though I was not sure if I was just getting old or something (30 - ha ha) - in general I felt not 100 %.  

So it turns out that I am just below the healthy thyroid range for one component, and the doctor will re-test my blood in 2 months, to see if the results stay the same, or change. T4 = 10.4 pmol/L (11.4 - 21.0 normal), T3 3.5 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.5 normal), TSH 2.45 mU/L (0.35 - 4.50 normal).

I also am iron deficient, and vitamin D deficient, explaining my symptoms too. So I was prescribed some drops, tablets, and instructed to take my multi-vitamin every day, and not sporadically like I had been, and get sunlight (love that prescription). I eat basically a vegetarian diet - dairy products, eggs, and seafood now and then. - These deficiencies are apparently common with a vegetarian diet.

I was kind of relieved and thankful in a way to have some explanations of my symptoms, and know that it was not aging or anything else. 

Does anyone have any advice on this condition as far as dieting goes? Or does anyone else have the same problems?

Is there really nothing that you can do about an underactive thyroid - right below the healthy range? Exercises?

I have something similar, symptom wise...

My doctor checks my blood everytime I see him.  My test always turns out just slightly in normal range.  They are watching it. They said the same, not much they can do at this point, except monitor.  The nurse practioner told me that with all other things being healty, and unremarkable it isn't horrible.  I maintain my weight, regardless, but right now it isn't affecting my well being.  She actually said, it's just the way God made me.   While knowing I am an overall healthy lady, I would still like to look like it too.

 At one time I tried a natural thyroid supplement, found at Drugstore.com.   I felt like I was on speed after just a few doses. It helped but the Dr told me not to continue it because it maybe too much for me- hence the speed feeling.

I will let you know if I find any insight.  Good luck

Hey, I am a writer and I write a lot about nutrition and I have just posted up an article on foods that are deemed superfoods, and I thought you may be interested that Buckwheat contains all of the essential amino acids making it a very good protein food for vegetarians.

Also I dug this snippet from an article I wrote a few years back, out as I thought it might be useful:

An under active thyroid

When the thyroid is  under-active the body does not produce enough thyroid hormone.

Symptoms of an under active thyroid include fatigue, weight gain, depression, body pain, memory loss, reduced thinking ability, and slow reflexes.

How an under active thyroid is diagnosed

Most doctors diagnose a thyroid problem by doing a blood test.

Dr Durrant-Peatfield  (an expert on thyroid conditions) believes there are many flaws with blood tests.  He says that levels of thyroid hormone in the blood fluctuate, and at best a blood test is just a ‘snapshot’ of what the body is doing at a particular time.

Diagnosis needs to be combined with a detailed exploration of the patient’s symptoms and medical history.

The Basal temperature test

The thyroid hormones are instrumental in energy production, and low body temperature can be a symptom of an under active thyroid.

Your basal temperature is your temperature when you are at total rest, which should be around 37 degrees centigrade

As soon as you wake up, before you even go to the toilet, or make a cuppa, take your temperature and record it for a couple of weeks.

If it is on average below 36.5 degrees centigrade this could be indicative of an under active thyroid.

Do not do this test if you are ill or menstruating, as these factors  also  affect your body temperature.

 You could combine this with taking your pulse at the same time.  With an under active thyroid, pulse pressure may be reduced.

At rest the average pulse per minute is 72; with an under active thyroid you could find it’s as low as 60 pulses per minute.

With these findings, you and your doctor, can then explore further whether you have an under active thyroid.

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I have always wondered if I have an underactive thyroid as I can calories count and eat less than I should have and still not lose any weight.  I have written lots on nutrition and health etc and the link to my articles is on my profile.

Thanx

Jacqui xxx