Hi, new here

[megs4413]

diagnosed with hashi's in 2002 after being symptomatic for years. Went on a low dose of synthroid (50mcg) and didn't change dosages until first pregnancy in 2004. back to the regular dose and no problems between pregnancies and during 2006 pregnancy. about 4mos postpartum, went hyPER and had "acute thyroiditis". ended up in the ER from the swelling, doc called it "thyroitoxicosis" (?). they took me off the synthroid and put me on prednisone and naproxen to take down the swelling. redrew labs after 4 weeks and levels went back hyPO. TSH in July was 20.6. the endo i was seeing canceled 3 appts in a row because of "illness" and didn't let me know what my levels were. I have been feeling like **** and having a lot of trouble. i can feel the nodule i had years ago is back in my right lobe. the swelling is still bad and my neck is quite hard on the right side. my primary doc prescribed synthroid after she saw my TSH had been so high back in july and no one did anything about it. i started 150mcg of synthroid today. it made me feel really shaky, dizzy, etc to take such a high dose of synthroid all at once. i have not heard back what my TSH was when i went to the doc last week (more than two months after my levels had been 20.6).

i'm wondering if I should gradually increase the synthroid? It felt terrible today....I'm also shocked at how high a dose that is. I was on such a low dose before all of this happened...I'm also wondering if I should have the T3 and T4 levels checked. My primary doc only orders TSH every time. I demanded to have a thyroid ultrasound because of the nodule (it's painful). I will hear results from that tomorrow, but the tech said there was definitely a nodule in the middle of the right lobe.

any advice is appreciated. i'm quite confused and frustrated and it takes at least a month to get an appointment with an endo. the endo i saw came highly recommended but he really dropped the ball. i can understand that he was sick and couldn't keep the appointments, but he could have at least seen my labs and wrote me the script before it got this bad. glad i found the forum!

[msfergy]

Request them to do antibodie test, and possible remove some of the thyroid to help the discomfort. Keep us updated.

[megs4413]

sounds a lot like me. i haven't had antibodies drawn in years, though. my throat/neck always feels tight and i'm always in pain. lots of muscle weakness and joint pain as well. my test results came back today and my TSH was 2.3??? down from 20.6 without treatment???? i had a thyroid scan done on saturday and i do have a nodule in my right lobe and lobe enlargement....i just don't know what to do and i'm suffering in the meantime.

[msfergy]

Yes I agree with DLA and yes you do need ultrasound and uptake on your thyroid, i have multinodual and goiter. My pcp never sent me to have ultrasound or uptake till this yr when i got really really sick, i have had real high antibodies since 2005 so i found out and now having left lobe taken out the 24th to be tested and see what exact diagnose they come up with. My throat always feels tight and i have pain in the back of my neck as well.

[DLA]

Yes, your primary should take you up small doses at a time.  You should have started with a small amount and worked your way up every 6 weeks after new tests.  You have to go up gradually or you will experience the hyper symptoms.  My PCP did this to me also, it's not fun.  It's really not their fault, they are not trained in thyroid like an endo is suppose to be.  But I would call my PCP and tell him/her how you are feeling and that you need to start with a lower dose.

Agree that your endo dropped the ball on this, s/he should have at least referred you to someone else for treatment until s/he got back.