TSH of 5

[Diana1958]

I have taken Levothyroxine 50 mg for about 10 years.  I am 51 so I was getting menopause symptoms.  I was reading about using non-paraben cosmetics, non-aluminum deodorant, preservative free toothpaste and trying to eat more organic fruit and vegetables to ease hot flashes.  That has helped alot.  

I don't know why, but my body has kicked me off the Levothyroxine.  I went into hyperthyroid with the dose I had always been taking.  It got so I couldn't even take a crumb of it after being off for a long time.  I simply cannot tolerate any part of Levothyroxine.

After about 2 months of no meds, I now have trouble with tendonitis and didn't at all while being on meds, plus a few other signs of hypothyroidism.  I went and got blood tested and the results was 5.0 TSH,  normal T4 but not normal T3.

Doctor put me on Armour Thyroid 30 mg.  I was excited I didn't get those chest pains and high anxiety feelings right away.  I was on it for 3 days, then boom "hyperthyroidism" again.  I wish I knew what was up since I keep testing hypothyroid.

I don't have an appt. with an endocrinologist until February 5.  It is the first time I have gone to one.  I am not getting anywhere with my primary care doctor.  

Since I told him I am hyperthyroid again with the ARMOUR, he said don't take anymore and we will retest in 6 weeks.  I don't see anything changing with this plan.  I will be hypo again for sure with no meds.  Meanwhile, the tendonitis is destroying all my joints and I am now on light duty at work.  I work for the post office and that is a very physical job.  I don't want to hurt myself before I can get this problem solved.  I know the thyroid and tendonitis are connected.

Any ideas why I may not be able to take any kind of med, synthetic or natural?  Could it be he prescribed too high a dose for the Armour.  He didn't even want to try a smaller one to see what happens.  I am puzzled.

[Smilerdeb]

My first dose with thyroxin was 25mcg every SECOND day and I was Hypo after RAI.
It seems to be this may be the case for you or you may be allergic to some of the fillers in Levothyroxine. Maybe trying Synthroid would be better , not a generic brand.
I gradually worked my way up the ladder by 12.5mcg increases once a week then got to 62.5mcg 7 days a week and went hyper like you.
So I started from scratch again and instead of increasing by 12.5mcg (1/4 of a 50mcg tablet) every week...I went every 2 weeks before increasing.
I have now been on a steady dose although by the 5th week, I get hyper symtoms so cut out the 12.5mcg (1/4 tablet) when I feel like this.
My dosage is as follows:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday = 62.5mcg
Tuesday, Friday = 50mcg

Maybe you could try something like this.
Start on the 25mcg then increase by 12.5mcg every week.
Its a long hard road but worth the effort as I do feel good now.

I have had problems with going hyper a few times (I call them hiccups lol) but I always seem to get back on track easily now.
If you went hyper on dessicated..then dont even consider it.

Sometimes it takes up to 6 weeks to get a 'stable reading' and at other times ....sickness, stress (Boy I know that word! lol ) can trigger levels to 'go out of whack'.

Your Doc should be working with you on this.
Good Luck :)

[Barb135]

Some people are super sensitive to meds and have to be started at very low doses in order to keep from reacting to them.  You may need to start out very low and slowly work your way up to that 30 mg Armour.  

You said your TSH is 5.0 with "normal" T4, but not normal T3........first off, were those Free T4 and Free T3 or Total?  Secondly, what were the actual results - along with the lab's reference ranges?  

Keep in mind that just because a result falls into the *normal* range on the lab report, doesn't mean that's *normal* for you.  

Please post the actual sample results so members can comment more fully.