Aa
How long after your numbers were within normal range did you start to feel better?
How long after your numbers were within normal range did you start to feel better?
I had silent thyroiditis starting August 2010 and my numbers are now normal in the normal range, but I still don't feel well. Why is this? The doctor acts like everything is alright now, but I do not feel well enough. I am worried that I have some kind of mental issue or something? I suspect the doctor may think I am depressed or something, but I am depressed with the fact that I cannot walk down the street without feeling tired or without any aches.
At what point is this some other issue than my thyroid?
How much longer should I give it for me to feel normal after my numbers (TSH, etc.) have stabilized?
I'm starting to get really depressed over this.
I had silent thyroiditis starting August 2010 and my numbers are now normal in the normal range, but I still don't feel well. Why is this? The doctor acts like everything is alright now, but I do not feel well enough. I am worried that I have some kind of mental issue or something? I suspect the doctor may think I am depressed or something, but I am depressed with the fact that I cannot walk down the street without feeling tired or without any aches.
At what point is this some other issue than my thyroid?
How much longer should I give it for me to feel normal after my numbers (TSH, etc.) have stabilized?
I'm starting to get really depressed over this.
Haha, thank you for the great advice, yet again. Ok, I will wait this out a bit longer. I read your response to my mom and she thought the part you wrote about hyperland was especially amusing. As long as I keep long some weight, I guess I can't complain too much. I had half of a plain baked potato for dinner and I am not even hungry. This is not very normal! Will keep you updated.
Another difficult question! How long symptom relief lags depends on many things, including how long you were hypo before starting meds.
All I can tell you, from experience, is that it's best to give each dose time to completely settle out in your system. Re-test after 4-5 weeks, re-evaluate symptoms, and adjust meds from there. When you start to try to hurry the process, you usually just cost yourself more time in the long run. I certainly wouldn't waste my life "like a miserable zombie" for a few months. I'd just give the dose time to settle (4-5 weeks).
You've only been on meds for 18 days. Your levels will continue to build for quite a while. If you adjust meds before the dose has time to settle, you are chasing a moving target and are apt to take a trip into hyperland, which is a special treat (no!).
All I can tell you, from experience, is that it's best to give each dose time to completely settle out in your system. Re-test after 4-5 weeks, re-evaluate symptoms, and adjust meds from there. When you start to try to hurry the process, you usually just cost yourself more time in the long run. I certainly wouldn't waste my life "like a miserable zombie" for a few months. I'd just give the dose time to settle (4-5 weeks).
You've only been on meds for 18 days. Your levels will continue to build for quite a while. If you adjust meds before the dose has time to settle, you are chasing a moving target and are apt to take a trip into hyperland, which is a special treat (no!).
"total symptom relief often lags behind a little." -- May I ask, approximately how long is this "behind a little"? A few weeks, a few months?
I am debating on whether to ask my doctor now for an increase in the dosage. I do not want just waste away my life like a miserable zombie for a few months and then have the doctor be like, "Hmm, gosh...ya know what, I think we should maybe increase the dosage of your Synthroid". I KNOW my body and I know that in a couple weeks even, this won't be much better than it is now.
I am debating on whether to ask my doctor now for an increase in the dosage. I do not want just waste away my life like a miserable zombie for a few months and then have the doctor be like, "Hmm, gosh...ya know what, I think we should maybe increase the dosage of your Synthroid". I KNOW my body and I know that in a couple weeks even, this won't be much better than it is now.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for such a thoughtful response. It calms me to hear this. I will def ask him to check the FT3 from this point forward. Yes, I lost the 10 lbs in the past 18 days. I have been eating considerably less as well, so that plays into it. Fatigue and anxiety all through my body are my chief complaints. I also have an exercise intolerance and irritability. Will keep you updated on my progress. I am trying to keep an optimistic mindset, however I know my body and I can tell that whatever misery I am feeling is not going to be suddenly disappeared in two weeks. That is a very frustrating feeling, it's like being in prison.
Your first question is a complicated one to answer. I
t takes an initial dose or a change 4-5 weeks to reach it's full potential in your blood. What's the range on your FT4, and when was the blood drawn?
Beyond that, most of us find that symptoms are not relieved until FT4 is at least midrange. FT3, which your doctor has not ordered, should be upper half to upper third of range. You should insist on FT3 from now on.
Also, if we've been hypo for some time, it takes our bodies time to heal. So, once FT3 and FT4 are optimal, total symptom relief often lags behind a little.
I don't think your doctor ought to be bewildered. Your FT4 is still too low (I'm assuming a range of about 0.8-1.8), and you have only been on meds for 18 days. The 25 mcg dose is still building in your blood.
Meanwhile, it sounds like your symptoms are better...10 lbs (was that just in the last 18 days?) is very impressive. Is fatigue your chief complaint right now?
t takes an initial dose or a change 4-5 weeks to reach it's full potential in your blood. What's the range on your FT4, and when was the blood drawn?
Beyond that, most of us find that symptoms are not relieved until FT4 is at least midrange. FT3, which your doctor has not ordered, should be upper half to upper third of range. You should insist on FT3 from now on.
Also, if we've been hypo for some time, it takes our bodies time to heal. So, once FT3 and FT4 are optimal, total symptom relief often lags behind a little.
I don't think your doctor ought to be bewildered. Your FT4 is still too low (I'm assuming a range of about 0.8-1.8), and you have only been on meds for 18 days. The 25 mcg dose is still building in your blood.
Meanwhile, it sounds like your symptoms are better...10 lbs (was that just in the last 18 days?) is very impressive. Is fatigue your chief complaint right now?
How long should you give a dosage level to kick in before trying something different?
I was started on 25 mcg of Synthroid on February 11. I know it's a very low dosage. My latest stats are as follows:
TSH 2.45
Free T4 1.1
To be honest, I still feel tired. Although, I've lost 10 lbs and lost my appetite. I originally suffered from silent thyroiditis diagnosed on 08/01/10.
How long should I wait before trying something different? Just want to make sure i am on top of things since my doctor acts bewildered when I tell him I am still not feeling so well.
Thanks, everyone.
I was started on 25 mcg of Synthroid on February 11. I know it's a very low dosage. My latest stats are as follows:
TSH 2.45
Free T4 1.1
To be honest, I still feel tired. Although, I've lost 10 lbs and lost my appetite. I originally suffered from silent thyroiditis diagnosed on 08/01/10.
How long should I wait before trying something different? Just want to make sure i am on top of things since my doctor acts bewildered when I tell him I am still not feeling so well.
Thanks, everyone.
goolarra: thank you so much for your information. I will do exactly as you say and I will get a different doctor if he refuses to give me meds. I am sick of feeling like this! I will update you next week after I meet with the doctor.
Sorry, I forgot to say that this is NOT as good as it gets! You might not feel 100% of your former self, but 99% is doable. Don't let up until your symptoms are resolved.
Thank you so much for your response. I have had the doctor do a full thyroid panel each time, but these are the only results I have now. I was never pregnant, so no postpartum. Also, never put on any drugs. I had this happen when I got off Adderall, an amphetamine like substance which I have learned can affect the thyroid. I have no family history of thyroid issues.
I asked Dr. Lupo on this website (he is an endocrinologist) about this and he said I am making a good recovery at this point.
However, I still feel fatigued and my hair is still falling out and I am depressed. At what point is this as good as it gets?
I asked Dr. Lupo on this website (he is an endocrinologist) about this and he said I am making a good recovery at this point.
However, I still feel fatigued and my hair is still falling out and I am depressed. At what point is this as good as it gets?
Well, obviously, your doctor puts way too much stock in TSH since he's only test FT4 twice. Your FT4 results are very low, although I'm guessing at range. It's usually in the vicinity of 0.8-1.8. You shoud check your lab's range to verify. As you can see, you're at the bottom of the range. Midrange is the recommendation (around 1.3).
Has your doctor had you on meds to support your thyroid since August?
Make sure your doctor tests FT3 and FT4 on 2/3/11. Insist on it.
Were you postpartum when diagnosed with silent?
Has your doctor had you on meds to support your thyroid since August?
Make sure your doctor tests FT3 and FT4 on 2/3/11. Insist on it.
Were you postpartum when diagnosed with silent?
Thank you for responding.
I was diagnosed August 1, 2010 with silent thyroiditis.
My stats are:
08/01/10 TSH 0.03
08/09/10 TSH 0.01
09/23/10 TSH 0.41
10/28/10 TSH 1.36 -- T4 0.96
12/6/10 TSH 3.80 -- T4 0.92
12/28/10 TSH 0.99
(these are all the ones I have right now)
I have a doctor's appt soon and will be tested again on 02/03/11.
I was diagnosed August 1, 2010 with silent thyroiditis.
My stats are:
08/01/10 TSH 0.03
08/09/10 TSH 0.01
09/23/10 TSH 0.41
10/28/10 TSH 1.36 -- T4 0.96
12/6/10 TSH 3.80 -- T4 0.92
12/28/10 TSH 0.99
(these are all the ones I have right now)
I have a doctor's appt soon and will be tested again on 02/03/11.
Ranges are flawed because many people that were actually hypo were included in the original "normal" population, and the ranges have never been adjusted for this. Therefore, just being in range is often not enough to relieve symptoms. We often find that the whole lower half of the range is suspect.
It sounds very much like you ae still hypo. Are you currently on meds? Were you on meds between August and now?
If you have FT3, FT4 and TSH results to post, please do so. Include reference ranges for FT3 and FT4 since they vary lab to lab.
It sounds very much like you ae still hypo. Are you currently on meds? Were you on meds between August and now?
If you have FT3, FT4 and TSH results to post, please do so. Include reference ranges for FT3 and FT4 since they vary lab to lab.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
If I were you, I'd get the results of your labs coming up this week and full results of the last two or three and compare them for a trend. If FT3 and FT4 are improving, that's great, and it's probably just a matter of time until everything stabilizes. However, if your levels seem to have stopped improving, you might want to consider the possibility that your hypo might have a cause other than or in addition to the Adderall. It might be a good idea to have antibody testing (have you already?) to see if Hashi's might be involved.
Have you talked to your doctor about going on a low dose of levo to make you feel better until your thyroid recovers? Silent thyroiditis is usually "temporary", but that can stretch into a couple of years in some cases. That's a long time to not feel well.
Doctors usually are impressed with numbers. I think the answer lies in the comparison of those recent labs. We know you're still hypo because of your symptoms and your FT4 results. Now, you need to figure out if you're still improving or if you're stalled. That will give you a good idea where to go with this.
Best of luck with your labs and doctor, and please let us know how it goes.