Smoking & thyroid

[tbl35]

I saw a mention in another thread about smoking & thyroid function. I'm hypothyroid and on a (to me) high dose of levoxyl right now. I really had no idea that smoking had any effect on this (my doctor is not the most informative), but if quitting will help me get on a lower dosage that'd be a big side benefit to me.

I'm wondering if there's anyone out there with hypothyroid who can share their experiences positive or negative once they got on e-cigs.

 

[Caesarea]

According to my doctor it has had no effect at all. But I smoked cigarettes for 48 years and that is prolly enough to put the thyroid out of action forever.
I would guess that it depends on the degree of the condition. Best to find another doc to ask. If you have regular blood work done any changes will show up there.


Best,

C.

 

[Ladycats]

I saw a mention in another thread about smoking & thyroid function. I'm hypothyroid and on a (to me) high dose of levoxyl right now. I really had no idea that smoking had any effect on this (my doctor is not the most informative), but if quitting will help me get on a lower dosage that'd be a big side benefit to me.

I'm wondering if there's anyone out there with hypothyroid who can share their experiences positive or negative once they got on e-cigs.

You know what .... I didn't even think about it ... I'm hypothyroid too ... and my (new) doctor just lowered my dose this week, after getting this year's results back .... it had been a year since I had blood work done, and it's been a year (today) since I started vaping ... so maybe ....... He wants to re run blood work in 8 weeks.

 

[tbl35]

Thanks for the input (and congrats on 1 year, ladycats)! I'm due for blood work & a visit with the doctor, so I'll make sure & mention it to her that I've stopped smoking and see if she wants more frequent testing for a bit.

 

[Katmar]

Please keep everyone posted about your result. Be interesting to see if quitting analogs helps thyroid issues also!!!

 

[Madame Psychosis]

Please keep everyone posted about your result. Be interesting to see if quitting analogs helps thyroid issues also!!!

I'm working on a literature review as I was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism less than two weeks ago, believe it or not (it would explain a lot of things)... ...so I'm glad to see this thread and am interested in all the experiences people have had.
It appears that quitting smoking can reveal thyroid problems, even though cigarette smoke is quite thyrotoxic.

 

[Katmar]

I'm working on a literature review as I was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism less than two weeks ago, believe it or not (it would explain a lot of things)... ...so I'm glad to see this thread and am interested in all the experiences people have had.
It appears that quitting smoking can reveal thyroid problems, even though cigarette smoke is quite thyrotoxic.

Was just reading info on how often hypo is overlooked by doctors. The standard levels are misleading. You get a tsh test done, and, if it's within "normal" limits, well, nothing is wrong with your thyroid, when, in reality, if it is high normal, further testing should be done.

 

[Caesarea]

I'm working on a literature review as I was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism less than two weeks ago, believe it or not (it would explain a lot of things)... ...so I'm glad to see this thread and am interested in all the experiences people have had.
It appears that quitting smoking can reveal thyroid problems, even though cigarette smoke is quite thyrotoxic.

I'll be really interested in seeing what you find. I had a rough time when I went down to zero nic, but I can't find out what actually happened. Too many confusing factors.

Best,

C.

 

[AlexTM]

I'm hyperthyroid, so I did check that. There's something in analogs called Thiocyanate, and it does up your thyroid function, which was good for me, not so good for you. My blood works were better already after just a bit over 3 weeks of vaping and no analogs.

Check those two abstracts:
The effect of nicotine on thyroid function in rats. [Metabolism. 1998] - PubMed result
Examination of antithyroid effects of smoking prod... [Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1992] - PubMed result

 

[Caesarea]

Thanks for the articles, Alex. I'd welcome any more info.

 

[Katmar]

Ales, do you have anything more recent? Maybe less abstract??lol, too technical and short.

 

[Ladycats]

Thanks for the input (and congrats on 1 year, ladycats)! I'm due for blood work & a visit with the doctor, so I'll make sure & mention it to her that I've stopped smoking and see if she wants more frequent testing for a bit.

Thanks Tbl I'm really glad you started this thread .... I honestly didn't even think about one, having anything to do with the other, lol never claimed to be the brightest bulb in the pack I know exactly when and why my thyroid problems came about, it was longggg before I had even heard about e-cigs/vaping ... mine was due to 2 (failed) pituitary surgeries ....... it certainly will be interesting to see if getting off cigarettes and vaping instead is helping to bring my levels back up ....

 

[Iris]

It appears that quitting smoking can reveal thyroid problems, even though cigarette smoke is quite thyrotoxic.

That was the case for me. I quit smoking July 1, 2006 by using the patch for 3 weeks and then nothing but willpower. By December 2006 I had gained 14lbs and had quite a few hypothyroid symptoms. My TSH came back around 162 (normal is between 1 and 5). Synthroid has that under control now, but the stress of the month that December made me pick up smoking again. Going back to smoking had no effect on my TSH. And still fighting the weight monster.

Just starting vaping a few days ago to get off the analogs again. For good.

 

[AlexTM]

That was the case for me. I quit smoking July 1, 2006 by using the patch for 3 weeks and then nothing but willpower. By December 2006 I had gained 14lbs and had quite a few hypothyroid symptoms. ...

That is exactly what one would expect – Thiocyanate makes the thyroid work more, so it keeps weight somewhat down. No more analogs -> slight hypthyrosis -> more weight. And the thyroid is not exactly the fastest reacting endocrine system in the body, so it usually takes a while for it to get back to normal levels. TSH takes even longer, T3 and T4 are usually the levels you need to watch out for, as they react much faster.

Allegedly, the weight gain from hypothyrosis disappears again, mostly, when the thyroid gets back on track. Unfortunately, most people also eat more when they stop smoking, and that weight gain lasts.
I did find, though, that vaping helps with that, too – because I have something that tastes good in my mouth all day long (and lots of it sweet stuff) I eat even less sweets and snacks than before. So in my 5 weeks of vaping, I did not gain anything, and may have even lost a little bit. (My weight, like most peoples, fluctuates by around two kilos anyway, so I need a few more checks on the scales in the fitness studio to be sure.) Over Christmas time, that sure ain't bad.

 

[CaptJay]

Interesting thread (which I stumbled upon) - I'm currently hypERthyroid too - not something that runs in my family at all and I;m on methimazole; which is ok but I did try NOT using it for a couple weeks and felt fine - while on it if I miss one though I get 'shakey hands' which I don't like at all. I'm waiting for restock of the 510s this week so i can go ahead and dump the cigs - I've been a smoker since I was around 19 or 20 and favor the lightest kind you can buy (ultra lights) which isn't a big amount of nic (just a big amount of the crappy bits).
I've developed a cough now (late night and early morning) and decided this was it Im giving up and going e-cig and began to lurk here From reading these posts though I'm also going to be keeping an eye on my thyroid and see if that changes.
Thank you for a thought provoking topic!

 

[a2dcovert]

This is something I hadn't thought of. Maybe this would explain the sudden weight gain that a lot of people experience when quitting smoking? I know the health professionals say that is due to the taste buds returning to normal and people naturally start eating more. That claim has always seemed suspicious to me. Too many people I know have quit smoking and gained a lot of weight. And, of course when they started back to smoking, as many do, the weight didn't drop back to pre-cessation levels.

 

[AlexTM]

Presumably, the weight gain has both those reasons. Many quitters, used to taste something a lot of time, do start eating more. But even if you don't, you can expect some weight gain.
Which, in turn, might be somewhat less likely with vapes, because you do taste something a lot of the time. I know that I eat even less sweets and snacks when I vape.

 

[smellrose]

I, too, am hypothyroid and have been for quite a few years. I haven't had a cigarette since Jan 4th and have been feeling pretty good. As for my levels, I had them checked the week I quit, but that would be too soon to tell. I've been taking Armour Thyroid for years and this past year, there has been a rash of natural desiccated thyroid shortages. Needless to say, I have been taking whatever we could find, so my levels are still stabilizing from that mess. I should be getting my blood work checked in a couple of months, so we'll see what happens after being off the smokes.

As for weight gain, so far I've stayed pretty stable. I may have gained a couple, but I attribute that to the holidays! Last time I quit cold turkey, I gained 5 pounds the first 2 weeks. It was part of the reason I went right back to it. It'd be great to keep this post going, very informative

 

[smellrose]

I am hypothyroid as well and have been for quite a few years, all of which I have been a moderate smoker(4-5 cigs/day, more on weekends). I quit smoking on Jan 4th, so I'm not sure how it will affect my levels just yet. I did have my blood work done the week I quit. I've been taking Armour Thyroid for years, but this past year, natural desiccated thryoid has been in short supply, which has sent me scrambling to find whatever I could. In the mean time, my levels have been all over the board trying to find a stabile prescription. Hopefully now, it has stabilized and next blood work will tell me more.

As for weight gain, I may have gained a couple of pounds, which I have since worked off. But, I blamed that more on the holidays than anything else! Last time I quit, I gained 5 pounds in the first 2 weeks, which led me back to smoking again. Hopefully this time will be different! I hope we can keep this thread active, it is very helpful

 

[nicotime]

Me too...hypothyroid for years and still had all the symptoms even on .2 mg Synthroid and blood work was "in range". My biggest change was when I demanded to be put on natural Armour or Naturethroid after reading at stopthethyroidmadness.com. The difference was like night and day. I have much more energy now and most of the other symptoms are gone or lessened. But like smellrose said there is the nightmare of supply now because the FDA had to screw things up. People have been using Armour for about 100 years but NOW its deemed a problem. Almost ANYTHING you put in your body effects the thyroid, just how much nic does I dont know. Another good place to check is here;
Thyroid Disease - Dear Doctor: Synthroid Vs. Armour? -- A Patient's Letter -- Thyroid Disease