Hypo male

[Luke1962]

I am a 49 year old male.  I have a history of ulcerative colitis - diagnosed back in the 1980's and eventually had to have my colon removed.  Over the years I have felt horrible.  Started working with a GP a couple of years ago who put me on Zoloft.  I also have a history of systemic candida.  Symptoms are muscle and joint pain, etc, etc. etc.  My last two lab results over the last 2 years have shown TSH to be 3.90 and 3.40.  My GP even said I was hypo but didn't prescribe anything.  I am starting to feel worse recently and started taking by temp. under my arm prior to getting out of bed.  The last 3 recordings were:  96.1, 96.7 and 97.1.  Clearly this is my thyroid but my main question is can the candida be causing my TSH to be high.  I know that candida can cause similar problems as hypo.  I have ZERO sex drive even before the Zoloft and I have noticed my eyebrows are falling out.  Is this candida related hypo or hypo related candida??

[gimel]

Good info from Red.  I just wanted to add that TSH is a pituitary hormone that is totally inadequate as the sole diagnostic for thyroid status.  At best it is an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4.  You should make it a habit to always get tested for Free T3 and Free T4 each time you go in to the doctor's office.  

The next thing to consider is that many doctors use "Reference range Endocrinology" by which they will tell you that any thyroid test result that falls within the so-called "normal" range is adequate for you.  that is totall wrong also.  The ranges are too broad.  Many of our members report that symptoms relief for them required that Free T3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and Free T4 adjusted to around the midpoint of its range.

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  This is a good link to read about clinical treatment.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

[Red_Star]

Candida can get out of hand with low stomach acid. Good amounts of stomach acid is needed to kill off bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Low stomach acid can occur with hypothyroid patients as the metabolism slows down the production of stomach acid.

The baking soda test:

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, not baking powder) in an 8 ounce glass and drink it.

If sufficient quantities of acid are present in the stomach, bicarbonate of soda is converted into gas, producing significant bloating and belching within 5 or 10 minutes of drinking the mix.  Little or no belching is suspicious for low stomach acid.