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Asymptomatic hypothyroidism, can you skip the treatment?
by sunnymama, Feb 02, 2009 09:36PM
If there are NO symptoms of hypothyroidism, but TSH levels are high (T3/T4 normal), is it O.K. not to take Levothyroxine (or other thyroid treatment)?
Husband is happy, peaceful, energetic, healthy, in shape, etc.
Only "symptoms" of hypothyroidism are high cholesterol and peripheral neuropathy. Both are usually from something else and neither goes away when he takes Levothyroxine.
About 7 years ago, doc told him he had peripheral neuropathy (possible causes were B12 deficiency and hypothyroidism and beginnings of arthritis). No pain, but almost no feeling in hands or feet.
He was diagnosed with hypothyroidism because TSH was high (tests have shown as high as 20). He was given Synthroid, got to a dosage that lowered the TSH to normal (can't remember now). Neuropathy never improved, he doesn't like taking pills, he sees no point. He sometimes says he feels better if he doesn't take it. About 3 years ago, at my urging, he got a referal to an endocrinologist who said to try Cytomel. Our insurance didn't cover it without a note from the doctor, which the doctor never did and never returned calls (later read reviews about the doc, not one positive one). Husband says, forget about it.
Now new doctor, she wants him on it, he went back on it, slowly increasing the dosage. He wants off of it again, doesn't like taking pills, says he doesn't like the way he feels.
I really don't want to urge him to do anything I don't know enough about, but I am wondering what the benefit is of taking a medication based on test results, but his body is telling him the opposite.
Thanks.
Husband is happy, peaceful, energetic, healthy, in shape, etc.
Only "symptoms" of hypothyroidism are high cholesterol and peripheral neuropathy. Both are usually from something else and neither goes away when he takes Levothyroxine.
About 7 years ago, doc told him he had peripheral neuropathy (possible causes were B12 deficiency and hypothyroidism and beginnings of arthritis). No pain, but almost no feeling in hands or feet.
He was diagnosed with hypothyroidism because TSH was high (tests have shown as high as 20). He was given Synthroid, got to a dosage that lowered the TSH to normal (can't remember now). Neuropathy never improved, he doesn't like taking pills, he sees no point. He sometimes says he feels better if he doesn't take it. About 3 years ago, at my urging, he got a referal to an endocrinologist who said to try Cytomel. Our insurance didn't cover it without a note from the doctor, which the doctor never did and never returned calls (later read reviews about the doc, not one positive one). Husband says, forget about it.
Now new doctor, she wants him on it, he went back on it, slowly increasing the dosage. He wants off of it again, doesn't like taking pills, says he doesn't like the way he feels.
I really don't want to urge him to do anything I don't know enough about, but I am wondering what the benefit is of taking a medication based on test results, but his body is telling him the opposite.
Thanks.
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In your last sentence you say the doctor wants him on it. On Cytomel or Synthroid?
When was his last tests done? Do you have the results?
How is he feeling on the med? You say he doesn't like the way he feels??
We saw general doc today, she thinks he's "responding" to the Synthroid, but thinks maybe Cytomel would be better for him, but she referred him to a new Endocrinologist, which we will see in April.
On the Synthroid, he doesn't feel any different in terms of the numbness in hands/feet, but he also has commented that the Synthroid makes him feel tired (but it's not a big difference, otherwise he would just not take it).