Ketosis / hypothyroidism / palpitations

(Brenda Lock) #1

I have had a long history of feeling un-well. I was diagnosed hypothyroid in 1999 and prescribed Synthroid, that is when my problems really began. I have spent most of the years since lethargic and depressed, sometimes severely. I have seen a variety of professionals seeking help, to no avail.

Then I learned that eating low-carb, specifically ketogenic, could help with my energy and mental health. I started eating low carb last September.

I have had issues with palpitations the last few years and found that if I backed off the thyroid medication, I would feel better. Not long after starting to eat low carb, I found the palpitations got worse - was having them daily, and they were more intense. If you have ever experienced palpitations you understand that feeling – like you’re dying, then being totally exhausted when it’s over. So, as I usually do, I backed off the medication for a while and began to feel better. So much so, I actually went off them altogether.

While visiting my doctor for a different issue, she asked if I needed a refill on my prescription. I told her what I had been up to. She immediately took my blood pressure and it was elevated. She sent me off for blood test which revealed TSH was 338! I insisted the lab got it wrong. Her receptionist said she wondered how I was even standing, yet I felt better than I had in years! Needless to say, the doc put me back on the thyroid medication, my latest TSH was 64.

I have returned to feeling tired and depressed. I just cannot seem to get the energy to do the meal planning, shopping, and cooking necessary to get back on track. Therefore, the diet has been very poor.

I just turned 60 and am not looking forward to old age. I need to get back on track so that my “golden years” can be golden. Any advice?

Thank you

Brenda

PS: These are some of the things I have done to try to help myself: Talked with 3 family doctors, a psychiatrist and his counselor, a naturopath, an osteopath, a nutritionist. I have read all kinds of books on health and nutrition to the point of confusion; looked for spiritual guidance through the church in the hopes that if my spirit was healed, I would heal; followed Hay House and its authors; attended OA meetings (Overeaters Anonymous), talked to my employer’s EAP (Employee Assistance Program). I have tried myriad supplements, have had both natural and synthetic thyroid medications, taken Zoloft, Prozac, and others I cannot remember. To be fair, all worked… until they didn’t. I wasn’t able to sustain anything. I’m bloody tired of it all!

(Karen Fricke) #2

Your TSH was high, what were T3 and T4? TSH just tells your thyroid to make hormone, doesn’t tell you what your hormone levels are.

(Sophie) #3

Check your Iodine. I’m beginning to believe that a lot of misdiagnosed thyroid issues are actually due to iodine deficiency. I now know mine was.

(Brenda Lock) #4

Thank you, I am aware of that. Unfortunately, the doc only tested TSH, I should have thought to ask for T3 and T4, but I have not had my wits about me to think of such things.

We tried in past to run a complete thyroid panel, but our health insurance only supports minimal testing. I cannot recall whether or not the T3 & T4 were reported. That was a couple of years ago. My memory is VERY poor. I’ll try to remember to ask next time I see her if they reported the T3-T4.

Which makes me wonder, is there anyone on this forum who lives in Ontario, Canada and has similar experiences getting tested?

#5

mistakes are proof that you’re trying :two_hearts:

(Khara) #6

@JustPeachy What do you eat to increase your iodine intake?

(Marie) #7

I had a lot of your symptoms, including the palpitations and took several different meds, for different problems. I am about to start my 8th week on Keto and I am off all those meds, down 12 pounds and haven’t felt this well in over 15 years. My general well-being is wonderful. I wake up “happy” and raring to go, whereas before Keto, I hated getting up in the morning. If I didn’t have my dog, I’m sure there would have been days I would have stayed there. The doc told me my palpitations could have been from my “dangerously low” (to quote him) B12 level. They stopped when my B12 was brought up to normal level. I’d also been concerned about a chronic twitching in my right thumb, but that also stopped after the B12 was normalized. I can’t ever see myself going back to being a carboholic. Don’t give up!

(Sophie) #8

I don’t. I supplement with Lugols 5% Iodine. Some people eat kelp but most of that comes from Asia and there was a little accident over there called Fukushima so I stay away from it.

(Brenda Lock) #9

Thanks Marie! I really appreciate the info. Next blood test requisition the doc gives me, I’ll ask for a B12 test.

I do not want to give up on this woe. The palpitations were the only side-affect. I felt so much better, I slept well, and I wasn’t waking up with the hip pain that had been plaguing me for years. No weight loss, but that might come after becoming fat-adapted.

(Carpe salata!) #10

I agree that waking up without hip pain is well worth it.

(Marie) #11

Hope you can get it resolved!