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Is it possible to be close to ideal levels but still feel bad?
I am just wondering if it is possible that I should switch to a different brand of medication? I have not reached optimal levels but am certainly better than where I started, yet I feel absolutely no different? Could it be I need to switch to a different kind of medication? I am thinking of trying Nature-throid.
I agree with Barb135's November 2 post.
According to my doctor my TSH is just on the high side of normal, but he and the lab are using an old school reference range. I have various symptoms of hypothyroidism and feel uncomfortable even though it's not as bad as before when it was out of whack according to the old school reference range. I am getting bloodwork soon to try to find out if I may have an additional health issue such as perimenopause (I'll be 45 in a few days). I also wonder about possibly being tested for adrenal fatigue as I have been under chronic stress for years (health, home, and work). I also was diagnosed with tendinitis which is work related, but likely aggravated by my hormonal issue(s).
According to my doctor my TSH is just on the high side of normal, but he and the lab are using an old school reference range. I have various symptoms of hypothyroidism and feel uncomfortable even though it's not as bad as before when it was out of whack according to the old school reference range. I am getting bloodwork soon to try to find out if I may have an additional health issue such as perimenopause (I'll be 45 in a few days). I also wonder about possibly being tested for adrenal fatigue as I have been under chronic stress for years (health, home, and work). I also was diagnosed with tendinitis which is work related, but likely aggravated by my hormonal issue(s).
The doctor might not agree, but I'd say it is close enough. T4 builds up such that after 27 days, your serum T4 level should reflect about about 90% of the final effect of that dose.
do you think taking new labs after 25 days is long enough? anxious to get an update.
For low ferritin you take an iron supplement. Two good ones are ferrous fumarate and ferrous gluconate. I started with 28 mg of ferrous fumarate. I am currently taking 84 mg daily. It is also a good idea to take some Vitamin C with it to prevent potential for constipation.
Is selenium what I take for ferritin levels? I am taking so many supplements I forget what each is even for? Thank you so much for all of the informatin. I have asked my doctor to order the new labs including vitamin levels etc.
I'd get all those tests done again and take action to bring them up to a good level. Here is some good info on low ferritin.
"Low ferritin can cause negative reaction like palpitations, nervousness, and anxiety in someone starting thyroid hormone replacement. Someone described it like being shot out of a cannon. It is therefore imperative that ferritin not be at the bottom of the range before starting thyroid hormone medication."
Also, from another source.
"I frequent another board where the role of iron in the metabolism of thyroid hormone is discussed. Along with selenium, iodine, L-tyrosine, zinc and other vitamins/minerals/amino acids, iron plays an important role in the conversion of the less inactive T4 form of thyroid hormone to the more bio-active T3 form.
I've seen iron discussed a bit on this board but not so much about ferritin . I thought you might be interested in what I found. Ferritin levels often begin dropping before serum iron levels become critically low or before full-blown anemia becomes apparent.
Many hypothyroid patients find that having good ferritin levels improves their use of thyroid hormone (their own body's or supplemented). The range of 70-90 is quoted as optimal for hypothyroid patients. Someone on another board asked me if I knew of any research she could show her doctor to support this. He wanted her to stop supplementing iron when she raised her ferritin from 17 to 44.
Here's some of the research I found that suggests a minimal ferritin
range of 50-70 and an optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90. I have read that in Dr. Gillespie's book, "You're Not Crazy, It's Your Hormones", she advises a ferritin level of around 100. I haven't read her book, so I can't confirm the research basis for her recommendation, but the experience of many hypothyroid patient certainly bear her out.
Improving ferritin levels can be beneficial for both reducing or eliminating hair loss & unexplained fatigue. Both of those are also frequently associated with hypothyroidism."
"Low ferritin can cause negative reaction like palpitations, nervousness, and anxiety in someone starting thyroid hormone replacement. Someone described it like being shot out of a cannon. It is therefore imperative that ferritin not be at the bottom of the range before starting thyroid hormone medication."
Also, from another source.
"I frequent another board where the role of iron in the metabolism of thyroid hormone is discussed. Along with selenium, iodine, L-tyrosine, zinc and other vitamins/minerals/amino acids, iron plays an important role in the conversion of the less inactive T4 form of thyroid hormone to the more bio-active T3 form.
I've seen iron discussed a bit on this board but not so much about ferritin . I thought you might be interested in what I found. Ferritin levels often begin dropping before serum iron levels become critically low or before full-blown anemia becomes apparent.
Many hypothyroid patients find that having good ferritin levels improves their use of thyroid hormone (their own body's or supplemented). The range of 70-90 is quoted as optimal for hypothyroid patients. Someone on another board asked me if I knew of any research she could show her doctor to support this. He wanted her to stop supplementing iron when she raised her ferritin from 17 to 44.
Here's some of the research I found that suggests a minimal ferritin
range of 50-70 and an optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90. I have read that in Dr. Gillespie's book, "You're Not Crazy, It's Your Hormones", she advises a ferritin level of around 100. I haven't read her book, so I can't confirm the research basis for her recommendation, but the experience of many hypothyroid patient certainly bear her out.
Improving ferritin levels can be beneficial for both reducing or eliminating hair loss & unexplained fatigue. Both of those are also frequently associated with hypothyroidism."
Since those last labs I have been on the 30/70 increased dose for 21 days. I will re-test in a week and see where they are now. I am a bit afraid to increase the dose since I am experiening rapid heart rate/insomnia. A far as my B-12, Ferritin, etc. I have not had those re-tested since my original tests in April. I am asking to have those retested. I know at that time both my B12, D and Ferritin were all too low. I have been taking selenium, D3 and B12 supplements since about May.
Well, I would question the need t switch meds, rather than increase your dosage. Both your Free T3 and Free T4 are too low in the range. Free T3 typically needs to be in the upper third of the range, or as needed to relieve symptoms, while Free T4 is good around the middle of its range.
So I think I would push for an increase in your med and keep increasing until symptoms are relieved. And by the way, even when reaching a good level for Free T3 and Free T4, symptom relief may lag for a bit, while your body heals from being hypo for a while. Also, we haven't addressed Vitamin D, B12, magnesium, and ferritin. If you have been tested for those, please post, along with ranges.
So I think I would push for an increase in your med and keep increasing until symptoms are relieved. And by the way, even when reaching a good level for Free T3 and Free T4, symptom relief may lag for a bit, while your body heals from being hypo for a while. Also, we haven't addressed Vitamin D, B12, magnesium, and ferritin. If you have been tested for those, please post, along with ranges.
gimel- just read my notes, I am wrong, I was instructed to skip my meds the day of the blood work, which I did.
yes, she told me it doesn't matter. I think it was about 4 - 5 hours post medication that I had the blood drawn. She has agreed to switch me to Naturethroid. But she is recommending the same dose, seems like if I am going to a non-time released pill the dose should be lower?
FT4: 1.10 (.73-1.95)
FT3: 3.1 (2.3-4.2)
TSH: 0.1 (.5-4.7)
These were my last labs, I have since been on 30/70 compound (T3/T4 respectively) for 21 days with no symptom relief.
I am still experiencing extreme fatigue, very dry hair and skin, hair loss, disappearing eyebrows, weight gain/inability to lose weight, mild depression, joint and muscle aches.
I am also recelty since increasing my meds experiencing some occassional insomnia and pounding heart at night (I think becuase it is time released). I will get new labs in about a week.
FT3: 3.1 (2.3-4.2)
TSH: 0.1 (.5-4.7)
These were my last labs, I have since been on 30/70 compound (T3/T4 respectively) for 21 days with no symptom relief.
I am still experiencing extreme fatigue, very dry hair and skin, hair loss, disappearing eyebrows, weight gain/inability to lose weight, mild depression, joint and muscle aches.
I am also recelty since increasing my meds experiencing some occassional insomnia and pounding heart at night (I think becuase it is time released). I will get new labs in about a week.
COMMUNITY LEADER
No matter how "perfect" your numbers are, you aren't at optimal levels, as long as you still have hypo symptoms, unless there is another problem causing the symptoms. Have you had all the other possibilities checked out?
What are your current levels, with reference ranges? Exactly, what symptoms do you have and are they better than when you were first diagnosed?
What are your current levels, with reference ranges? Exactly, what symptoms do you have and are they better than when you were first diagnosed?
Unless there is an adverse effect from fillers/binders used in manufacturing the specific brand of med you are using, the thing that should affect you is the level of your biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4, and only occasionally Reverse T3. There are some other things that can affect how your body metabolizes the thyroid hormone, such as cortisol levels, and ferritin levels. You can also have symptoms related to low Vitamin D, B12 and magnesium.
What are your most current test results, and reference ranges for Free T3 and Free T4? If you have been tested for any of the others I mention, please post those. and ranges, as well.
What are your most current test results, and reference ranges for Free T3 and Free T4? If you have been tested for any of the others I mention, please post those. and ranges, as well.
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