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Help with Numbers - Hoshimoto's Diagnosed
I am new to this site and appreciate any help you can provide. I am 57, in great health except this Hoshimoto's. We just moved and Stress seems to have taken a toll. I am irritable, exhausted, can't sleep, am very sensitive and cry at the drop of a hat, and am depressed. Well...that doesn't very good does it. I have been hypo for years and my counts were in good shape from taking Synthroid all these years. After the move and this stress, I began really feeling bad so I went to a CO and he suggested I have tests run. I went to a CO that specializes in Thyroid but isn't an MD. The Endocrinologist I went to last year spent 10 minutes with me and was absolutely no help in answering my questions or concerns.
Here are some of the results:
TSH 1.756 (0.30-30.)
T3 Uptake 30.5 (28-36)
FT4 1.08 (1.0-1.5)
TT3 85.1L (100-180)
FT3 2.7L (3.0-4.4)
RT3 17 (7-24)
FT3/RT3 Ratio 1.58 (1.6-2.2)
Antithyroglobulin Ab 43.7 (<40)
Thyroid Peroxidase Ab 121 (<35)
Triglicerides 35L (75-100)
Cholestrol Total 211 (150-200)
HDL 90 (55-100)
Total Chol/HDL Ratio 2.3 (<3.1)
VLDL 7 (<40)
LDL 114 (<99)
The CO has me on a Gluten Free diet and a week into it, I feel worse than before. I am really struggling just getting through the day and at whit's end. I am begging for a ray of sunshine because right now I feel hopeless.
Thanks in advance..
Here are some of the results:
TSH 1.756 (0.30-30.)
T3 Uptake 30.5 (28-36)
FT4 1.08 (1.0-1.5)
TT3 85.1L (100-180)
FT3 2.7L (3.0-4.4)
RT3 17 (7-24)
FT3/RT3 Ratio 1.58 (1.6-2.2)
Antithyroglobulin Ab 43.7 (<40)
Thyroid Peroxidase Ab 121 (<35)
Triglicerides 35L (75-100)
Cholestrol Total 211 (150-200)
HDL 90 (55-100)
Total Chol/HDL Ratio 2.3 (<3.1)
VLDL 7 (<40)
LDL 114 (<99)
The CO has me on a Gluten Free diet and a week into it, I feel worse than before. I am really struggling just getting through the day and at whit's end. I am begging for a ray of sunshine because right now I feel hopeless.
Thanks in advance..
Meant to mention that I now have two doctors in the Charlotte area, recommended by a fellow member. Sending PM with info.
Please post your latest test results for Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, along with their reference ranges shown on the lab report.
What is the dosage of Naturethroid?
How do you know you have extreme adrenal fatigue? Do you have any other symptoms besides hair loss?
What is the dosage of Naturethroid?
How do you know you have extreme adrenal fatigue? Do you have any other symptoms besides hair loss?
Hi, I started on Naturethroid about a month ago and I have been experiencing major hair loss especially in my bangs area. Is this common with Naturethroid? I am on the Hashimotos Autoimmune diet and I am trying to heal my leaky gut thus taking lots of supplements from my Functional doctor too, e.g. Selenomet, Adaptocrine, fish oil, S-Acetyle, Biotagen, and many more. Can one take too many supplements. I also have extreme Adrenal Fatigue. MY MAIN CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS WHETHER TO STOP THE NATURETHROID!!!!! I took Synthroid for years and had no problem with that but changed as this is only T4 and it appeared that my body was unable to convert T4 to T3. I then added Cytomel (T3) to my Synthroid but this caused hair loss so I then dropped both and started on Naturethroid which has both T4 and T3 but the hair loss has now become really bad. I would value your thoughts on this. I am desperate.
Interesting report -- pity he is so far away. Desperate to find good doctor here in Charlotte.
Hi, So did you give up n the holistic doctor? I am supposed to see him again today but I don't know whether to cancel or not. Thoughts? Have you been tested for GlutenIntolerance? Can a Gluten free diet help with Hypothyroidism?
Sent PM with name of a doctor worth checking out. Also some suggestions on how to evaluate prospective doctor. To retrieve PM, just click on your name and go to your home page. Then click on messages.
Hi, thank you sooooooooo much. you have no idea how much I appreciate your input.
You have no idea how much I appreciate your input. I have been feeling so hopeless and the wonderful people on this site have been so helpful. I just took my temperature and it is 97.6 vs the optimal 98.6 so yes that is a factor. I will stop taking my Synthroid until I can get an appoitment with an Endrocronologist. Is there a method to find a good Endrocronologist. I am having the hardest time finding anyone who knows what they are talking about and will do the necessary tests. the one I saw last year rushed me out of her office in 10 minutes and woudn't answer all my questions and refused to measure my free T3 even though I said that the research I did stated that this is a very important factor. On my last Endo visit to Dr. Kashnap at CMC Blythe Blvd on 11/22/11 my levels were Vit B12 >1000pg/mL (Ref Range (239 - 931), TSH 1.360 ulU/mL, Ref Range (0.465 - 4.680), T4(Free 1.01 ng/dL, Ref Range (0.62 - 1.94). Only after I got home and was desperate and phoned the office and spoke to Kashnap's nurse did Dr. Kashnap answer a few more questions. The doctor had rushed me out the office after 10 minutes refusing to answer the rest of my questions. The answers I got from the nurse when I phoned the office after my nurse were as follows:-
- She would be prepared to now do the free T3 test if I wanted to set another appointment but said that ofte this does not have implications on what medication pt should take. She said it is better to change medication depending on how patient is feeling e.g, if brain fog try to do foll:
- reduce Synthroid T4 (even though my T4 levels were in range)
- Begin taking Cytomel (which would inc T3) to see if this would help with brain fog/memory problems.
- She also wanted me to cut B-12 in half. I asked her why this was as the information I had researched said one cannot te too much B-12. Nurse said that some B-Vitamins can cause neurological problems if you take too much but she was not sure if this applied to B-12 vitamin.
Because all this info was second hand and an afterthought due to me phoning back after the appointment I did not know what to believe and I had lost total confidence in the doctor so I ended up not taking any of her advice and just staying with what I had been taking. In retrospect, with the new info I have found recently I would have been better off starting on the T3 (Cytomel and reducing the T4 to see if that helped with brain fog. I am still not sure if I should reduce my B vitamin intake as she said it can cause neurological damage even though research I read said you can't take too much vitamin B.
To summarize, it sounds like the Cytomel may be the answer from what you say. right? Thanks again for all you help.
However, by this
- She would be prepared to now do the free T3 test if I wanted to set another appointment but said that ofte this does not have implications on what medication pt should take. She said it is better to change medication depending on how patient is feeling e.g, if brain fog try to do foll:
- reduce Synthroid T4 (even though my T4 levels were in range)
- Begin taking Cytomel (which would inc T3) to see if this would help with brain fog/memory problems.
- She also wanted me to cut B-12 in half. I asked her why this was as the information I had researched said one cannot te too much B-12. Nurse said that some B-Vitamins can cause neurological problems if you take too much but she was not sure if this applied to B-12 vitamin.
Because all this info was second hand and an afterthought due to me phoning back after the appointment I did not know what to believe and I had lost total confidence in the doctor so I ended up not taking any of her advice and just staying with what I had been taking. In retrospect, with the new info I have found recently I would have been better off starting on the T3 (Cytomel and reducing the T4 to see if that helped with brain fog. I am still not sure if I should reduce my B vitamin intake as she said it can cause neurological damage even though research I read said you can't take too much vitamin B.
To summarize, it sounds like the Cytomel may be the answer from what you say. right? Thanks again for all you help.
However, by this
Hello
I wanted to share that when your thyroid is not balanced it can cause many symptoms. I cried everyday, sinus issues leg pain, memory ( which is still bad). I ave been to three endo of which none seem to show much concern. One of my endo's actually dismissed me from his practice ( really). I will encourage you to try and not expect to much. This anticipation some times causes great disappointment. The folks here have really helped me. I actually go to my current endo with the info I learn here. Don't get me wrong there are some docs out there who care and if your blessed enough to find one then good for you. But I want to add that you will get better. Hashimotos takes a long time to come about and a long time to heal. Keep your stress level low. Take a great multivitamin, with b12, vitamin d and have your iron, vitamin d, and calcium checked. I never thought I would feel a little better. I have a ways to go and more medicine adjustments to go through but I can say I have some goods day. Remember your doctor doesn't always know how to help. you will possibly get more help here. Oh by the way, I tried the holistic route and when you have hashimotos you will most likely needs meds. And treat soon because you could become more ill. Take care!.
I wanted to share that when your thyroid is not balanced it can cause many symptoms. I cried everyday, sinus issues leg pain, memory ( which is still bad). I ave been to three endo of which none seem to show much concern. One of my endo's actually dismissed me from his practice ( really). I will encourage you to try and not expect to much. This anticipation some times causes great disappointment. The folks here have really helped me. I actually go to my current endo with the info I learn here. Don't get me wrong there are some docs out there who care and if your blessed enough to find one then good for you. But I want to add that you will get better. Hashimotos takes a long time to come about and a long time to heal. Keep your stress level low. Take a great multivitamin, with b12, vitamin d and have your iron, vitamin d, and calcium checked. I never thought I would feel a little better. I have a ways to go and more medicine adjustments to go through but I can say I have some goods day. Remember your doctor doesn't always know how to help. you will possibly get more help here. Oh by the way, I tried the holistic route and when you have hashimotos you will most likely needs meds. And treat soon because you could become more ill. Take care!.
I also wanted to give you this link to some info that I think will give you some good insight into the kind of roadblocks you will run into with most doctors when you try to get proper testing and treatment for hypothyroidism.
http://hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
http://hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
You definitely need to find a good thyroid doctor that will test and treat as I described. I don't have a member recommended doctor for that area. the best I can suggest is an Endo that you might want to consider. I'll send info by PM.
These are some great recommendations and I will follow your direction. Right now it is hard to get through the day without crying all the time. I am desperate and the memory problems are really bad.
No, I was dx about 10 or so years ago but have only had sx like brain fog in last 2 years.
Wow, I thank you from the bottom of my heart fo the time and the detail you put into your response. I am a wreck and I just can't stop crying. I am seeing a holistic chiropractic doctor who takes blood tests, has got me on Gluten free diet which I hate, and makes me take pure liquid fish oil which makes me wat to gag for the next hour. I am not sure whether to continue with him or not. Thoughts? I am going to see an Endrocronologist too if I can find one who will measure free T3 too. the last one would not and rushed me out of her office in 10 minutes when a had a myriad more questions to ask. Thoughts re holistic guys?
Wow, I can't thank you enough for your insights and detail. I could not get my last Endrocronologist to do a Free T3 test so I am looking for someone who will do this test. I am working with a Chiropractor who calls himself The Thyroid Specilist and does a bunch of blood tests and puts you on a Gluten free diet, etc but I have been feeling twice as bad since I have been on this diet. I am so incredibly confused as to whether to go the holistic route or try to find a decent Endrocronologist who will do the free T3 test and spend more than 10 minutes with me. Have you heard much about the holistic route of going Gluten free, etc?
Hi, I have been dx with Hashis for about 10 years now but only started having sx over the past 2 years and right now it is unbearable with major memory problems.
From those test results and your symptoms, you need an increase in meds to get your Free T3 high enough in the range to relieve symptoms. Many of our members, myself included, say that symptom relief required Free T3 in the upper third of its range and Free T4 around the middle of its range. A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results, and especially not just TSH results.
Since your Free T3 is lower in the range than Free T4, it appears that you may have a problem adequately converting the T4 to t3, so you should ask your doctor about adding some T3 to your meds. This could be either a desiccated T4/T3 combo type like Armour Thyroid, or just add some T3 med, like Cytomel. Your doctor is doing the necessary testing. Now you need to find out if he will treat you clinically, as described. If not, you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.
Since your Free T3 is lower in the range than Free T4, it appears that you may have a problem adequately converting the T4 to t3, so you should ask your doctor about adding some T3 to your meds. This could be either a desiccated T4/T3 combo type like Armour Thyroid, or just add some T3 med, like Cytomel. Your doctor is doing the necessary testing. Now you need to find out if he will treat you clinically, as described. If not, you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.
Check your basal temperature throughout the day. If, like myself, it is lower then 98.6, mine was usually in the low to mid 97's and you are experiencing a number of other hypo symptoms, water retention, exhaustion, hair loss etc. while on Levothyroxine - it more than likely indictes that you are not converting t4 to t3. This is a direct result of you taking Levothyroxine, which is an artificial artificial t4 only med. Levo med depends on your body being able to convert tthe t4 into the T3 your body requires , however, more than likely, like myself, your body is mistakingly converting to RT3, reverse t3 which your body cannot utilize, instead of T3 in your body. Levothyroxin depends on your own body to convert t4 to t3, alot of Hashi people start or eventually stop converting while on artificial t4 medication.
Look up RT3 dominance from taking levothyroxine on the internet, it will give you more info. If this is what is causing your problems, check your temperature 3 times daily, then you have to consult your doctor to look into this - it may require going off T4 meds completely as you are not able to convert- the longer you are on t4 meds the worse your problems will become. Once you are off of the T4,the T4 which results in RT# dominance will clear out of your system. During this time or after a while off of the Levo, synthetic t3 Cytomel, will or should more than likely be prescibed to give you the T# your thyroid requires - then you will be more than likely switched to aT4-T3 combo med or simply stay on T3 cytomel meds.
Trust me, I know how you are feeling and it took me a long time to figure it out. I tried the Wilson's temperature syndrome proticol but it made me worse because my weak adrenals could not handle the amount of natural T3 they called for to be increasingly taken each day - it made me even more hypo with lower temps!!!
Currently, I have stopped taking any thyroid meds for a week to get rid of the RT3 in my system then will go on synthetic t3 cytomel for a while. Your first primary indication that this is your problem is indicated by a consistently low basal body temperature, now that I stopped taking Levothyroxin my temps are back to normal while the RT3 no longer is dominating my system. Taking my emperature answered all the questions I had for my worstening symptoms over the months.
Check all of this out on the web. Let me know if your temperature as I suspect is consistently low - if it is - this is your problem trust me!! Hope I was of some assistance.
Look up RT3 dominance from taking levothyroxine on the internet, it will give you more info. If this is what is causing your problems, check your temperature 3 times daily, then you have to consult your doctor to look into this - it may require going off T4 meds completely as you are not able to convert- the longer you are on t4 meds the worse your problems will become. Once you are off of the T4,the T4 which results in RT# dominance will clear out of your system. During this time or after a while off of the Levo, synthetic t3 Cytomel, will or should more than likely be prescibed to give you the T# your thyroid requires - then you will be more than likely switched to aT4-T3 combo med or simply stay on T3 cytomel meds.
Trust me, I know how you are feeling and it took me a long time to figure it out. I tried the Wilson's temperature syndrome proticol but it made me worse because my weak adrenals could not handle the amount of natural T3 they called for to be increasingly taken each day - it made me even more hypo with lower temps!!!
Currently, I have stopped taking any thyroid meds for a week to get rid of the RT3 in my system then will go on synthetic t3 cytomel for a while. Your first primary indication that this is your problem is indicated by a consistently low basal body temperature, now that I stopped taking Levothyroxin my temps are back to normal while the RT3 no longer is dominating my system. Taking my emperature answered all the questions I had for my worstening symptoms over the months.
Check all of this out on the web. Let me know if your temperature as I suspect is consistently low - if it is - this is your problem trust me!! Hope I was of some assistance.
Have been on Synthroid for years for Hypo and now all but TPO seems to be in check. I was just diagnosed with Hashi's. Thyroid Peroxidase Ab 121 (<35). It looks like I have all the traditional symptoms to go along with this diagnosis as well.
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