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Graves Lady and other friends- another question!!
I finally got an appointment with the specialist!!! It is for the end of December!! Anyway, this was a crazy process but I'm in! Here is my question: I was diagnosed with the Hashi's about 4 weeks ago and STILL have not taken the prescribed 25mg of Levoxyl samples that my Dr. gave me. Should I now take them since my appt. with specialist is so far away OR should I wait to begin the meds?
I have never taken anything before. WHat is your advice? I asked the nurse/secretary at the specialist office but they said they can not give any advice until they see me.
Can I go downhill fast if I don't take the meds? My TSH was 6.0 and I have the rest of the lab write up if you need it but I have no idea how to read it. Your thoughts? IF you say I should take the meds is there anything I should know? I read that I should drink a lot of water? Eat only after an hour ? Anything else?
I have never taken anything before. WHat is your advice? I asked the nurse/secretary at the specialist office but they said they can not give any advice until they see me.
Can I go downhill fast if I don't take the meds? My TSH was 6.0 and I have the rest of the lab write up if you need it but I have no idea how to read it. Your thoughts? IF you say I should take the meds is there anything I should know? I read that I should drink a lot of water? Eat only after an hour ? Anything else?
i also have Hashi's and my TSH levels were in that borderline range as well. i was put on 25mcg of levothyroxine just like you were prescribed and it pushed me to a very hyperthyroid status pretty quickly (i.e. my TSH levels were .0something). my hair also started falling out and i lose weight quickly, which for me was a very bad thing because i'm thin to begin with.
what i can tell you definitively is that your TSH test will be accurate only if you have remained unchanged for at least 5-6 weeks prior to the test. this could mean faithfully taking your meds OR it could mean taking no meds... but if you play around with stopping or starting meds and go back and forth immediately prior to testing, your TSH levels will not be entirely accurate. when i started my meds, my doctor refused to test me until at least 6 weeks later. she said my body needed that time to adjust to the new routine first.
if you are going to start your meds, you should start them now so your appt in december will be late enough to make your blood test worthwhile. if not, remain off the meds until after your appointment.
the nature of Hashi's is that you often swing back and forth between hypo and hyper as your thyroid progressively dies. it's not uncommon to get very different readings from one time to the next.
what i can tell you definitively is that your TSH test will be accurate only if you have remained unchanged for at least 5-6 weeks prior to the test. this could mean faithfully taking your meds OR it could mean taking no meds... but if you play around with stopping or starting meds and go back and forth immediately prior to testing, your TSH levels will not be entirely accurate. when i started my meds, my doctor refused to test me until at least 6 weeks later. she said my body needed that time to adjust to the new routine first.
if you are going to start your meds, you should start them now so your appt in december will be late enough to make your blood test worthwhile. if not, remain off the meds until after your appointment.
the nature of Hashi's is that you often swing back and forth between hypo and hyper as your thyroid progressively dies. it's not uncommon to get very different readings from one time to the next.
Thanks so much. I think I'll wait then to take the meds. until after I see a specialist for his/her thoughts.
You seem to be such a help to so many. Like a thyroid problem angel : 0)
This whole thing has been such a #*#&#&#*= if you know what I mean!!! WHY do Doctors not communicate more with their patients? WHY is there so much confusion about this all? WHY is it all so scary and confusing?? Also, it has made me way more compassionate to people who are going through worse problems = How difficult it all is even just trying to CALL a specialist as it is a pain in the you know what! IF you can get the people when they are not at lunch or off :0) Then, you have to go through this huge phone message process before you actually speak to a human who then can't really say anything. Then, you wait for a long time to get an appointment hoping they know what the H*** THEY are talking about and can actually meet your specific needs and understand your problem which you have not one clue about. The ask a nurse people are nice for those of you who want to talk to someone other than the message boards : 0) THanks again GL!
I think I need to Whine, and Wine! My heart does go out to people out there one and all who are suffering from something or scared/worried etc.. Truly. Hang in there.
You seem to be such a help to so many. Like a thyroid problem angel : 0)
This whole thing has been such a #*#&#&#*= if you know what I mean!!! WHY do Doctors not communicate more with their patients? WHY is there so much confusion about this all? WHY is it all so scary and confusing?? Also, it has made me way more compassionate to people who are going through worse problems = How difficult it all is even just trying to CALL a specialist as it is a pain in the you know what! IF you can get the people when they are not at lunch or off :0) Then, you have to go through this huge phone message process before you actually speak to a human who then can't really say anything. Then, you wait for a long time to get an appointment hoping they know what the H*** THEY are talking about and can actually meet your specific needs and understand your problem which you have not one clue about. The ask a nurse people are nice for those of you who want to talk to someone other than the message boards : 0) THanks again GL!
I think I need to Whine, and Wine! My heart does go out to people out there one and all who are suffering from something or scared/worried etc.. Truly. Hang in there.
Its not my place to tell you to take them or not. But I can tell you that the meds. will interfere with test. You might have to stop them which will set you back a couple months for testing.
6 is not all that high when taking into consideration that per AACE - American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 2006 amended guidelines, the US Government 2004 Guidelines, UK 2006 Guidelines, American Thyroid Association and The Endocrine Society - Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. September 23, 2004 .
"No routine levothyroxine treatment for patients with TSH levels between 4.5 and 10 mIU/L, but thyroid function tests should be repeated at 6- to 12-month intervals to monitor for improvement or worsening in TSH level. Early levothyroxine therapy does not alter the natural history of the disease,.......
TSH Higher Than 10 mIU/L Hypothyroidism Levothyroxine therapy is reasonable.
Data do not confirm clear-cut benefits for early therapy........."
The info. is based from/on many test done on thyroid patients.
If you decide to take the meds., yes drink a least 8 oz of water, take on empty stomach, this includes juices as well, and wait to eat after an hour.
Good luck.
6 is not all that high when taking into consideration that per AACE - American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 2006 amended guidelines, the US Government 2004 Guidelines, UK 2006 Guidelines, American Thyroid Association and The Endocrine Society - Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. September 23, 2004 .
"No routine levothyroxine treatment for patients with TSH levels between 4.5 and 10 mIU/L, but thyroid function tests should be repeated at 6- to 12-month intervals to monitor for improvement or worsening in TSH level. Early levothyroxine therapy does not alter the natural history of the disease,.......
TSH Higher Than 10 mIU/L Hypothyroidism Levothyroxine therapy is reasonable.
Data do not confirm clear-cut benefits for early therapy........."
The info. is based from/on many test done on thyroid patients.
If you decide to take the meds., yes drink a least 8 oz of water, take on empty stomach, this includes juices as well, and wait to eat after an hour.
Good luck.
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