Hypo with influenza

[Kevin]

I'm currently taking 2 1/2 grains of westhroid and I think it is my optimum dose. I feel like my old self and have a core temp of 98 to 98.6. Can I develop a fever if I contract an influenza? My wife is just getting thru the swine flu and I've been caring for her in close contact but I feel great other then a mild dry cough. Could it be that Hypo"s like me lack the mechanism to develop a fever?

[Maria]

You'll develop a fever just fine. Fever is controlled by a different mechanism - interleukins from the immune system.

[kevin]

I had periontal cavity infection (ruptured appendex). And had a white cell count of 24000. My temps never reached 100 F. The doctor was completely at a loss to explain it. She finaly released me at 18000. This was before I was diagnosed hypo of coarce but I still think that if I were to contract N1H1 I could drop down to 1 grain to reduce fever. If you find yourself with hypothroidisn, use a natural dessicated pork product like westhroid or armour and count your blessings. I used to be 260 lbs and now I'm 210 and can eat anything I want and still losing at a slow gradual rate. When I reach my target of 180 Illl cut back to 2 grains. This is not a bad thing at all. Synthroid on the other made a mental basket case so go natural. Contact me if you have been diag as hypothyroid as I try to help you with more info. [e-mail]

[Maria]

I have no reason to go "natural" - I'm perfectly fine on generic levothyroxine (have lost 15 lbs). Since I don't have unlimited money to spend, I'll stick with that. I don't really see the benefit in the "natural" stuff anyway - chemically, it's the same.

[kevin]

I get armour or maturthroid. 1 grain for four bucks 90 count. And as far as being the same chemically, sythyroid is molecular identical to the hormone T4 only. Natural products have a 4 to 1 ratio T4 to T3 and they also contain T2. T1 and calcatronin. Some people do well on T4. Others like me, are unable to convert T4 to T3. You'll know if you belong to the 2nd catagory if you don't seem be able to organize your thoughts and slide into deprerssion. I started on T4. And it took about 6 months to figure out I needed more. I lost weight but was unable to focus my thoughts. I'm not a zealot from STTM's website. I learned a lot from them but those people are taking doses of 3-5 grains and I do well on 2.5 grains. Here's a link http://www.sttm.org if you want it.

[kevin]

Typo. It's Naturthroid.

[kevin]

I just checked the link and it's not right. Try http://www.stopthethyroidmaddness.com sorry about that.

[kevin]

Wrong again http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

[Maria]

I can understand using it if you can't convert T4 to T3 for whatever reason. T2 and T1 are simply intermediates in the formation of T3 and T4 - they have no biological function. Calcitonin doesn't have much biological function in normal people - it may come into play with calcium regulation in diseases which break down bone.

[SillySister]

Since I am hypothyroid, I always have extremely cold hands and feet even in the summer time. Recently my left hand has been getting so cold and it radiates all the way up to my elbow and actually hurts like I've been out in the freezing weather for hours. Nothing I do seems to help. Walking around with arm wrapped in heating pad and cut tips out of gloves. When I shake someone's hand, I have to warn them and they still scream out. Does anyone else have this problem and could this be something else and not my hypothyroidism? My normal body temp is usually 97 degrees.

[kevin]

Do you have numbness also?

[SillySister]

A little, but mainly my hand, elbow, and arm are extremely cold, somewhat tingly, but it feels like it hurts deep down. It is very painful. This just started about 4 weeks ago. The rest of my body is normal. It is very weird and is driving me crazy. I hope this is not fibromyalga(sp).

[Maria]

If you have it only in one arm, that makes me worry that there is something wrong with the vasculature, such as a growing clot in an artery, or inflammation of an artery. I suggest that you go to the doctor and get it checked out, because vascular problem can become very serious.

[SillySister]

Thanks, Maria. I will ask my doctor about it Friday. Today I woke up with it so cold it hurts all the way to my elbow. It feels like I've been out in the freezing snow for hours. It's that deep, stinging, cold, aching feeling. I've never had this symptom before; cold hands & feet, yes, but not up my arm.