#low thyroid

I have both hashimotos and central hypothyroidism but this post is going to be about central hypothyroidism since i don’t see it talked about often

Central hypothyroidism is a rare disease where the pituitary gland or hypothalamus is not working properly leading to hypothyroidism

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are parts of the endocrine system located in the brain that help control hormones and other endocrine organs

They both make and release multiple hormones that signal other endocrine glands to work. For thyroid the pituitary gland will send out thyroid stimulating hormone (tsh) which tells the thyroid to make thyroid hormones like t4 and t3.

In central hypothyroidism one or both of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus is not working to send tsh leading to the thyroid making t4 and t3 and lower levels of this in the body

Since there is less tsh being sent and less thyroid hormones being made people with central hypothyroidism present with low tsh and thyroid hormones like t3 or t4 which is different than things like hashimotos, which usually has low t3 or t4 but high tsh, since the pituitary is trying to get the thyroid to create more hormones

Central hypothyroidism is treated with thyroid hormone replacement and monitoring levels like t3, t4, and tsh

The symptoms of central hypothyroidism can be found in other forms of hypothyroidism and include (not a full list)

Fatigue

Weight gain

Cold intolerance

Dry skin

Changes in periods

Depression

There’s multiple things that can cause central hypothyroidism but some include pituitary tumors , genetic diseases, traumatic brain injury and more

Sources and more information

I have been turning green?? and having bad fainting spells (passed out earlier this week)

I've had dizzy spells/faints before but the green is new. usually it's just very pale without a green tint.

how normal is this for those of you with ME/CFS? I'm trying to figure out if it's an ME problem, a Hashimotos problem, or something else.

I have made Dr's appointments etc etc just curious as to whether this is a 'normal' (lol) part of ME/CFS or Hashimotos for anyone else?

Dr is suggesting that it's cognitive/stress (grr) but I just had the best 6 months of health since my ME symptoms started in 2020, with several weeks of comparable shifts at work and much more stress in other life areas occurring during that remission period.

VEGETABLES

Alfalfa

Artichokes

Avocado

Beets

Bell Peppers

Carrots

Celery

Cucumber

Leeks

Mushrooms

Okra

Peppers

Potatoes

Sea Vegetables

Squash

Pumpkin

Tomatoes

Zucchini

Avocado and potatoes are great source of tyrosine - hypothyroidism has been linked to low levels of this amino acid.

Artichokes double up as a powerful liver detoxifier.

Sea vegatables are rich in iodine too - you can try kelp, kombu, wakame, arame and dulse.

BEANS

Azuki Beans

Black Beans

Lima Beans

Mung Beans

Navy Beans

Pinto Beans

Red Kidney Beans

Split Peas

Beans are a rich in Iodine. They are also a good source of fiber, which is helpful as many people with hypothyroidism also suffer from constipation.

HERBS

Black Pepper

Chilies

Garlic

Ginger

Cinnamon

Tumeric

Peppermint

Cilantro

Parsley

Rosemary

Some of these herbs are brilliant for warming you up and raising your metabolism - try black pepper, chilies, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric.

Cilantro will help detox metals out of your system, especially mercury, a proven toxin for the thyroid gland.

FRUITS

Apples

Apricots

Bananas

Blueberries

Blackberries

Cherries

Cranberries

Dates

Grapefruit

Kiwi

Papaya

Pineapple

Prunes

Raspberries

Cranberries are a great source of iodine. A half a cup contains 400mcg of iodine. I recommend buying fresh or frozen cranberries and adding them to smoothies. Supermarket cranberry juice usually either contains a lot of sugar or unhealthy sweeteners.

Prunes and dates are useful but only in small quantities.

GRAINS

Amaranth

Quinoa

Buckwheat

Brown Rice

Wild Rice

Although buckwheat is technically a fruit, buckwheat products are very nutritious.

You can find all these products in various flours, pasta, cereals, and crackers.

OILS

Coconut Oil

Olive Oil

Raw Butter

Coconut oil has a naturally stimulating effect on the thyroid gland.

NUTS

Brazil Nuts

Macadamia Nuts

Hazelnuts

Coconut Meat

Brazil nuts are very high in selenium, which is needed to convert the thyroid hormone T4 to T3. Be sure to only eat 1 or 2 though, any more is too much! Only a little selenium is necessary for the thyroid to function properly.

FISH

Sardines

Red salmon

Sadly the global fish supply is poisoned with PCBS and mercury, substances that poison your thyroid and the rest of your body, so it is recommended to cut down your seafood consumption. Limit your fish dishes to a maximum of one serving a week.

Try taking an Omega-3 supplement - deficiencies of this fatty acid have been linked to lower thyroid hormone levels.

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Chicken

Turkey

Beef

Lamb

Eggs

Without adequate protein, the thyroid can't function properly, even if you are taking suitable thyroid medication.

Be sure you get organic free range eggs.

Chicken and turkey contain tyrosine, an important amino acid that combines with iodine to make the thyroid gland function properly.

Commercial meat is packed with antibiotics which are disruptive to the thyroid gland - all meat consumed should be organic if possible.

Processed meats, like lunch meat, bacon, and spam, are loaded with dextrose, nitrates, sulfates, and sugars.

anywho, to the point. my GOD it frustrates me just how common thyroid problems are with ME/CFS. specifically the low thyroid rates.

[e.g: "Researchers found that most CFS patients had low or low-normal levels of the two key thyroid hormones -- triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) - .8 Oct 2022"]

like, okay. chronic fatigue syndrome by itself? NIGHTMARE. (ive had problems with my thyroid longer than ive had my CFS diagnosis, mind you) but then add on a low thyroid? oHH MY GOD.

first of all, with ME/CFS, swelling of the lymph nodes is pretty common. i myself get it a lot. yknow what else is common to swell if you have a problem that can affect it? THE TYROID! if both of them kick off then i think you can piece together the discomfort.

secondly, the 'root' or 'main' thing with chronic fatigue syndrome is, well, chronic fatigue. im not sure exactly where i fall on CFS severity levels, medically, but its bad enough that im mostly housebound, usually in my room and in bed, cant go to school, etc. yknow what else can cause fatigue?? LOW THYROID! with both of those together it just makes it so much more difficult to do anything.

third of all, memory. ME/CFS (much like many other chronic and/or neurological conditions) can cause brain fog and memory issues. and you'll never guess what else causes issues with memory! thats right! THYROID ISSUES.

its such a fucking sick joke?? one or the other, theyre already bad enough to live with and have to deal with in your daily everyday life, but both of them together... yeah.

and then just think, what if your thyroid is bad enough for surgery, but due to the long, long process of being diagnosed with ME/CFS, the trauma and/or PTSD is stopping you from getting help??

i know its just a 'well thats life! tough shit kiddo' thing but its so annoying. coming from someone who has both issues.

This can make thinking, problem-solving, and just coping with the everyday stresses of life, much harder.

In this article we dive into what thyroid is, how low thyroid occurs, how it affects our mood, mental alertness, and our ability to think and cope with the problems of everyday life and what we can do to raise it.