How long on meds before feeling better??

[Doreen313]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me how long I need to be on meds before my Hashimoto's levels off and I feel better?
I was dx'd Aug 2005 as hypo/Hashimoto's & had a visible goiter.  Endo has increased dose in past year from 25/50/75/100/125/1.5x 88's/and now 137 which I start tomorrow. Still having fatique, HUGE amounts of hair loss, body aches/pains, dx'd w/frozen shoulders, crazy mentrual cycle etc. The goiter has gotten much smaller, but he can still feel it with his hands. Ultrasounds were done last fall.  After seeing the endo last Friday, I received a script in the mail today with a note saying "test results show there is room for improvement".
How long should all of this take?  It seems like when the dosage is changed, I start to feel better, then back to square one.  He wanted me to wait 6 months before next appt but I said no, I wanted to come back in only 3.
I am only 46, but some days feel like 80; and I can't lose much more hair.  It's very frustrating.
Can anyone give me some insight on this, and maybe give suggestions to help the hairloss?
Thanks very much.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

It may take 3-6 months to stabilize.  If unstable the labs should be done every 2 months and re-eval until the dose is right.

[Julie65]

You may need to switch to a T3 combo.  I'm in the same boat - Hashimotos that never seemed to get "under control".  On Synthroid for about a year.  My TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 would all come out in the normal range, but I still felt crummy.  About three weeks ago, my doctor switched me to Armour.  It seems to work better for me.  You could try Armour or have your doctor supplement your T4 med with Cytomel (T3).  Good luck!

[charley1986]

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about the hair loss.  Dr posted here and said once levels are in good range it will take 2-3 months before hair, skin and nails are working well.  I was so upset by my hair loss that I went to pharmacy to get Rogaine but my pharmacist said that I am wasting my money b/c hair loss will not really get better with Rogain which is mainly for male pattern baldness.  He said that the huge hair loss will stop once thyroid issues are under control.  Sounds like you've been feeling bad for a while.  I can relate.  It is unbelievable what that little butterfly shaped thing can do!  I wish you the best - and hope you get stable soon and begin to see new hair growth....it's hard on us ladies - b/c appearance is so important to most of us.  I have always had healthy thick hair - and have people who envied my hair....now I am the one with the envy.

[Doreen313]

Thank you for your comments.  I've actually had symptoms for a few years... I just didn't know what the problem was and thought it all just came with growing older.
Is it "normal" to ask an endo for "T4 med with Cytomel (T3)", as you stated?  I'm not even sure what that is.  I printed some info online about hypothyroidism patients having greater risk for aches/pains/frozen shoulder , and brought it to him this last visit.  He's been poo-pooing everything, but seemed alittle more interested this time.  Hopefully the new meds with the higher dose will help.
Thanks again.

[Julie65]

Yes - your endo will know about T3 combo therapy.  It's definitely worth trying if you aren't having much luck feeling better on the T4 only.  Apparently, some people don't convert T4 to T3 very easily - so adding some extra T3 helps a lot.

[Doreen313]

Thank you for all of your comments.
I'm going to try to get my test results today from the endo.  He always mails me the new prescriptions, but never includes the test results.
One thing that confuses me is: what exactly is "normal" for TSH?  He keeps telling me I'm "in the range, with room for improvement".
Also, should the T3 and T4 results show on the paperwork?  I don't think I've ever seen them before.  I do know this time he tested me for vitamin D deficiency... said that could cause some of my problems.
Thanks to everyone again!