Aa
Should I get labs again so soon after starting synthroid?
Hi - I was just started on 25 mcg of synthroid about 20 days ago. At first I was feeling better but now I seemed to be more tired. I have posted labs etc before but TSH was normal (1.2) (it) but free t's were at the bottom of the reference range. Anyway, I go to my dermatologist in 3 days and was wondering if I should have her run labs again. The only reason I ask is that I am going out of town for 6 weeks July 1st and want to make sure I can feel the best I can. Is it too soon?
@goolarra
I've read many studies about autoimmune disease in families, in fact I read a recent study that said scientists have identified the actual allele that is affected in the DNA ! In my family there is Hashi's, ADHA, RA, Reynaud's, gout, and a running strain of depression. I've also read that different types show up in different family members and that sometimes it takes a challenge to the immune system to activate them.
As to the myxedema....of course the doctors said I didn't have that either even though my abdomen was so bloated that I looked 7 months pregnant and I developed what looked like cellulite all over my whole body and my ankles were overflowing my shoes and my blood pressure went from it's normal 116-120/ 68-72 way up to 196/98. and my weight went from lifetime 129 at 5' 8" up to 164. Yep, no myxedema. HA. I was pretty sure all they knew about myxedema was the psychosis part. funny how when I first went on T3 I lost 15 lbs. in 3 weeks, and then another 5 in the next few months...no change in diet or exercise. They just didn't know how to explain that. Obviously NOT hypothyroidism. Right ?
The feety thing ? I've read it can be a symptom of advanced hypo, who knows. At that time my BUN/creatinine and eGfr was off too but my doc said not to worry about it. Funny how all of that normalized w/ T3, even though I wasn't even close to what I'm on now.
And, yeah babe, my black sense of humor is what gets me through as well. Ya gotta have it !
@Tiredme
I've read that ALL of those things that you say run in your family are related to thyroid. My sister, who was very ill before they finally diagnosed her Hashi's and a gluten allergy, was at first mis-diagnosed as RA and then suspected Lupus. But no, it was Hashi's, and after going off gluten completely for a year she was able to re-introduce it into her diet and is stable on her meds and mostly fine. She started feeling unwell when she had her children....there's that tipping point for autoimmune again.
And as to Fibro, a friend of mine has it. I had her send me her labs and she had never been tested for FREE T3 and her FREE T4 was at the bottom of the range. She brought this to her doc's attention and they added some T3 and she immediately felt somewhat better and her depression lifted somewhat as well. Of course she is fighting the battle of TSH levels with her doc and her T3 and T4 still aren't optimum.
My ferritin and iron have always been OK, but I had pernicious anemia which, as long as I take sublingual B12 is kept in check. I know I've been slacking on my vitamin regime when I start getting bruises and don't remember bumping myself.
And thanks for the info on alopecia. I read about Lichen planopilaris. Doesn't sound quite right, thank goodness. I'll have to do further research.
OK, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, think I'll get out in it ! Here's to good health.
I've read many studies about autoimmune disease in families, in fact I read a recent study that said scientists have identified the actual allele that is affected in the DNA ! In my family there is Hashi's, ADHA, RA, Reynaud's, gout, and a running strain of depression. I've also read that different types show up in different family members and that sometimes it takes a challenge to the immune system to activate them.
As to the myxedema....of course the doctors said I didn't have that either even though my abdomen was so bloated that I looked 7 months pregnant and I developed what looked like cellulite all over my whole body and my ankles were overflowing my shoes and my blood pressure went from it's normal 116-120/ 68-72 way up to 196/98. and my weight went from lifetime 129 at 5' 8" up to 164. Yep, no myxedema. HA. I was pretty sure all they knew about myxedema was the psychosis part. funny how when I first went on T3 I lost 15 lbs. in 3 weeks, and then another 5 in the next few months...no change in diet or exercise. They just didn't know how to explain that. Obviously NOT hypothyroidism. Right ?
The feety thing ? I've read it can be a symptom of advanced hypo, who knows. At that time my BUN/creatinine and eGfr was off too but my doc said not to worry about it. Funny how all of that normalized w/ T3, even though I wasn't even close to what I'm on now.
And, yeah babe, my black sense of humor is what gets me through as well. Ya gotta have it !
@Tiredme
I've read that ALL of those things that you say run in your family are related to thyroid. My sister, who was very ill before they finally diagnosed her Hashi's and a gluten allergy, was at first mis-diagnosed as RA and then suspected Lupus. But no, it was Hashi's, and after going off gluten completely for a year she was able to re-introduce it into her diet and is stable on her meds and mostly fine. She started feeling unwell when she had her children....there's that tipping point for autoimmune again.
And as to Fibro, a friend of mine has it. I had her send me her labs and she had never been tested for FREE T3 and her FREE T4 was at the bottom of the range. She brought this to her doc's attention and they added some T3 and she immediately felt somewhat better and her depression lifted somewhat as well. Of course she is fighting the battle of TSH levels with her doc and her T3 and T4 still aren't optimum.
My ferritin and iron have always been OK, but I had pernicious anemia which, as long as I take sublingual B12 is kept in check. I know I've been slacking on my vitamin regime when I start getting bruises and don't remember bumping myself.
And thanks for the info on alopecia. I read about Lichen planopilaris. Doesn't sound quite right, thank goodness. I'll have to do further research.
OK, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, think I'll get out in it ! Here's to good health.
I know, I was thinking of asking her about that. One last ?. I am on a low dose (0.25 mcg) and the first 2 weeks I felt really good. Staying up later, anxiety - gone, fingers shaking - gone. Now we are over 3 weeks and I have seen those effects diminish and I am feeling tired and crabby again. I am afraid of upping my dose because I don't want to push to hyper (been there, done that - hated it). I do not feel in any way hyper now. Is it normal to feel good at first and then backslide? I wait one more week for a test.
According to Wikipedia, hypothyroidism is one of the causes of tellogen effluvium, but I've never heard of it before. So, perhaps that's the technical term for hair loss due to hypo or one of the causes of hair loss due to hypo??? IDK
If you have a relative with fibro, get them to have their thyroid numbers checked and make sure that their FT3 and FT4 aren't too low in the ranges. There are those of us that believe fibro is not a separate illness, but untreated hypo. It's interesting that fibro is often treated with thyroid hormones...
If you have a relative with fibro, get them to have their thyroid numbers checked and make sure that their FT3 and FT4 aren't too low in the ranges. There are those of us that believe fibro is not a separate illness, but untreated hypo. It's interesting that fibro is often treated with thyroid hormones...
Oh no - I don't have all these :). Close family members do. I have alopecia and thyroid. I would truly be a mess! Don't know what is in the water here in Seattle but I do know that we have one of the highest, if not the highest MS rate. ? Can tellogen effluvium be caused by low thyroid?
I come from a shallow gene pool. Alopecia, Hashi's, RA, Lupus, Fibro. I didn't stand a chance....
I think there's a genetic component in autoimmune diseases, and the interesting thing is that it seems to be the autoimmune element that gets passed down, not the specific disease. So, you'll see families that have both Hashi's and Graves' in them and others that have Hashi's, lupus and type I diabetes. My mother was both hypo (treated) AND had Alzheimer's...don't ever wonder what gave me that "sterling" sense of humor...it's how you don't spend all your time crying! LOL
I wonder if the funky feet had anything to do with the myxedema? Perhaps your body was trying to rid itself of toxins...
I wonder if the funky feet had anything to do with the myxedema? Perhaps your body was trying to rid itself of toxins...
Have you had your iron/ferritin tested? Some of the symptoms your list sound like they could be related to that. I was low and have been supplementing for a while (about 4 months or so - 65 mg elemental iron with vitamin C x 3 tabs daily at night) and my skin is less pale and the dark circles under my eyes are gone. I still have a ways to go (my ferritin level was 5...) and it takes a while. Last month my ferritin was 40.
Alopecia Areata is autoimmune so the cortisone is supposed to calm down the reaction. Parts of my (previously stick straight hair) have grown in curly. It is quite the sight. Have you been tested for Lichen planopilaris? It can cause hair loss and itching bumps. You can look it up, there is quite a bit out there on it.
Dear Tiredme,
It will be interesting to see what your FREE T3 is. Before I started taking it my skin was so dry that I was putting Cetaphil CREAM, the heavy one, on it at least 3 times a day with no relief. My scalp started itching like crazy and I was shedding hair everywhere and I also got little hard painful bumps on my head that weren't really pimples but weren't boils either....and that weird thing would happen in waves, coming and going. I had really really thick curly but individually fine hair, honestly it was almost too much, a lot like Bernadette Peters. But suddenly it was super dry and hay-like and limp, the curls went out of it and I started to notice my part widening. And of course the outer edges of my eyebrows started to disappear. But according to the endocrinologist I was "not hypothyroid". I was "just getting older and these things happen." The intense itching (without flaking or anything) continued and it got so bad that when I saw my shadow, I could see straight through my hair. I took Biotin and Silica and Evening Primrose Oil, which helped a little. If you don't know it, Evening Primrose helps prevent the testosterone conversion in the scalp that can be a cause of balding.....but vitamins are not a solution to this problem. My hair didn't start to grow back until I went on T3, and it was dramatic to see (because every time I would go to a new endo they would insist on lowering my meds because I "didn't need them" "was going to give myself a heart attack and dissolve my bones" etc.) how reactive my hair (and my period) was to changes in T3. I don't know why even the curl pattern would change back and forth, but it did, and I have long hair to the middle of my back so we're not talking "new growth". It's better now and my eyebrows, though thinner, have edges. But the hair on my crown still seems to be getting thinner and my bangs, once the curliest portion, are now mostly straight and if I lift the hair up I can see my scalp. It's very distressing...I'm afraid I'm going to end up looking like a clown in a bald cap ! So I will be very interested to see what your FREE T3 levels turn out to be. Why is the doctor giving you cortisone shots ? And how does it help ?
@ Goolarra,
I didn't say the T4 didn't rise at all, it's just that it rose slowly with seemingly a lot of medication. I was much more reactive to T3. Just (kind of randomly grabbing a test) here is a test report for last August 2011:
Dose 112 mcg levothyroxine, 37and 1/2 mcg Cytomel
I don't test TSH anymore because it's suppressed, still had symptoms
FREE T4 direct dialysis 1.4 ( .8 - 2.7 )
FREE T3 3.8 ( 2.3 - 4.2 )
(It's odd that on MORE Cytomel, my level was less than when I raised the T4 and lowered the T3. Getting the ratio right and getting the T4 to accept as much of the load as possible seems to be key for symptom relief for me.)
Recent test from this March 2012
Dose 150 mcg levothyroxine, 25 mcg Cytomel
(By this point had been tweaking both the T4 and T3 ratios gradually, so had been on other doses in between these tests)
Still having hypo symptoms at that dose. Had been on 35 mcg cytomel previous test, level was slightly out of high range, felt a little jittery. Had also been on lower level of T4 at that time. My adjustments to feel well were minute. No TSH test, suppressed.
FREE T4 direct dialysis 1.8 (.8 - 2.7 )
FREE T3 4.0 ( 2.3 - 4.2 )
Since I still had hypo symptoms (some myxedema, dyslexic typing, low mood, bloating) the Cytomel was raised to 30 mcg with the Levothyroxine remaining at 150 mcg. I can't find my last test, but it was perfect for me...the T4 right in the middle as above and the T3 at, I think, 4.1. Most hypo symptoms subsided. Finally. Oh, and my rT3 test came back at a ratio of 2.0. Go figure.
So who knows what kind of problem I have. I'm pretty sure there's a genetic component. My sister has Hashimoto's and my Mom died of what they said (but never autopsied) was Alzheimer's disease but which I'm now pretty sure was untreated last-stage hypothyroidism including depression, brain fog, myxedema psychosis, the hair loss, the super dry skin, the deep red rash on her lower legs (pemphagus) Her doctors said they didn't know what that was. Funny, I could find a picture of it online, said it was associated with hypothyroid. I asked over and over if her thyroid was OK, of course they only tested her TSH. And she had Reynaud's and there are other autoimmune associated things in my family that I now know all relate to thyroid.
I also had multiple incidences of whiplash and concussion as well as environmental exposure including to massive amounts of perchlorethylene, which goes straight to the thyroid. Kind of the trifecta for thyroid disorder. And I grew nodules on both lobes and lost my singing voice. Who knows ? I'm just grateful that I persisted with the blood tests, that my PCP believed I knew what I was doing and did what I asked her to, and that with the help of the forum I was able to do the right research.
By the way, here's a symptom I had that I haven't heard discussed ! I never have had body odor much and just wear cologne under my arms. Even when I don't, no noticeable odor unless I'm doing some very heavy lifting and even then, not offensive. So I was very surprised, before I was treated, that I developed a very funky odor, especially in my FEET ! GAaaah, it was awful ! I got the thick wet skin on them that is sometimes described, as well as the thick skin around my nails accompanied by "spooning" of the nails themselves and heavy ridging. And I became super super pale, I looked like a ghost. And of course I had the "Oprah bumps" under my eyes as well as a droopy eyelid. But I "didn't have hypothyroidism". R-i-i-i-i-g-h-t. Glad THAT's all gone away.
Thanks for all the help you've given me, Goolarra, not to mention your sterling sense of humor ! I appreciate it.
It will be interesting to see what your FREE T3 is. Before I started taking it my skin was so dry that I was putting Cetaphil CREAM, the heavy one, on it at least 3 times a day with no relief. My scalp started itching like crazy and I was shedding hair everywhere and I also got little hard painful bumps on my head that weren't really pimples but weren't boils either....and that weird thing would happen in waves, coming and going. I had really really thick curly but individually fine hair, honestly it was almost too much, a lot like Bernadette Peters. But suddenly it was super dry and hay-like and limp, the curls went out of it and I started to notice my part widening. And of course the outer edges of my eyebrows started to disappear. But according to the endocrinologist I was "not hypothyroid". I was "just getting older and these things happen." The intense itching (without flaking or anything) continued and it got so bad that when I saw my shadow, I could see straight through my hair. I took Biotin and Silica and Evening Primrose Oil, which helped a little. If you don't know it, Evening Primrose helps prevent the testosterone conversion in the scalp that can be a cause of balding.....but vitamins are not a solution to this problem. My hair didn't start to grow back until I went on T3, and it was dramatic to see (because every time I would go to a new endo they would insist on lowering my meds because I "didn't need them" "was going to give myself a heart attack and dissolve my bones" etc.) how reactive my hair (and my period) was to changes in T3. I don't know why even the curl pattern would change back and forth, but it did, and I have long hair to the middle of my back so we're not talking "new growth". It's better now and my eyebrows, though thinner, have edges. But the hair on my crown still seems to be getting thinner and my bangs, once the curliest portion, are now mostly straight and if I lift the hair up I can see my scalp. It's very distressing...I'm afraid I'm going to end up looking like a clown in a bald cap ! So I will be very interested to see what your FREE T3 levels turn out to be. Why is the doctor giving you cortisone shots ? And how does it help ?
@ Goolarra,
I didn't say the T4 didn't rise at all, it's just that it rose slowly with seemingly a lot of medication. I was much more reactive to T3. Just (kind of randomly grabbing a test) here is a test report for last August 2011:
Dose 112 mcg levothyroxine, 37and 1/2 mcg Cytomel
I don't test TSH anymore because it's suppressed, still had symptoms
FREE T4 direct dialysis 1.4 ( .8 - 2.7 )
FREE T3 3.8 ( 2.3 - 4.2 )
(It's odd that on MORE Cytomel, my level was less than when I raised the T4 and lowered the T3. Getting the ratio right and getting the T4 to accept as much of the load as possible seems to be key for symptom relief for me.)
Recent test from this March 2012
Dose 150 mcg levothyroxine, 25 mcg Cytomel
(By this point had been tweaking both the T4 and T3 ratios gradually, so had been on other doses in between these tests)
Still having hypo symptoms at that dose. Had been on 35 mcg cytomel previous test, level was slightly out of high range, felt a little jittery. Had also been on lower level of T4 at that time. My adjustments to feel well were minute. No TSH test, suppressed.
FREE T4 direct dialysis 1.8 (.8 - 2.7 )
FREE T3 4.0 ( 2.3 - 4.2 )
Since I still had hypo symptoms (some myxedema, dyslexic typing, low mood, bloating) the Cytomel was raised to 30 mcg with the Levothyroxine remaining at 150 mcg. I can't find my last test, but it was perfect for me...the T4 right in the middle as above and the T3 at, I think, 4.1. Most hypo symptoms subsided. Finally. Oh, and my rT3 test came back at a ratio of 2.0. Go figure.
So who knows what kind of problem I have. I'm pretty sure there's a genetic component. My sister has Hashimoto's and my Mom died of what they said (but never autopsied) was Alzheimer's disease but which I'm now pretty sure was untreated last-stage hypothyroidism including depression, brain fog, myxedema psychosis, the hair loss, the super dry skin, the deep red rash on her lower legs (pemphagus) Her doctors said they didn't know what that was. Funny, I could find a picture of it online, said it was associated with hypothyroid. I asked over and over if her thyroid was OK, of course they only tested her TSH. And she had Reynaud's and there are other autoimmune associated things in my family that I now know all relate to thyroid.
I also had multiple incidences of whiplash and concussion as well as environmental exposure including to massive amounts of perchlorethylene, which goes straight to the thyroid. Kind of the trifecta for thyroid disorder. And I grew nodules on both lobes and lost my singing voice. Who knows ? I'm just grateful that I persisted with the blood tests, that my PCP believed I knew what I was doing and did what I asked her to, and that with the help of the forum I was able to do the right research.
By the way, here's a symptom I had that I haven't heard discussed ! I never have had body odor much and just wear cologne under my arms. Even when I don't, no noticeable odor unless I'm doing some very heavy lifting and even then, not offensive. So I was very surprised, before I was treated, that I developed a very funky odor, especially in my FEET ! GAaaah, it was awful ! I got the thick wet skin on them that is sometimes described, as well as the thick skin around my nails accompanied by "spooning" of the nails themselves and heavy ridging. And I became super super pale, I looked like a ghost. And of course I had the "Oprah bumps" under my eyes as well as a droopy eyelid. But I "didn't have hypothyroidism". R-i-i-i-i-g-h-t. Glad THAT's all gone away.
Thanks for all the help you've given me, Goolarra, not to mention your sterling sense of humor ! I appreciate it.
It is a minuscule amount and I just started again last month after taking a year off. Good ? to ask doc though.
Red flag! I'd explore how those cortisone shots interact with thyroid function and thyroid meds. I have no idea what the dose of those shots is, but the whole endocrine system is interdependent. If your cortisol levels are adequate, you might be influencing thyroid function by increasing cortisol levels.
Hi - When I had my first kid 10 years ago, my thyroid went wack. Before I was even thinking about getting pregnant a doctor had decided to test me and, looking back at those labs, it was a little wack then. Anyway, after my kid was born, I went severely hyperthyroid for 8 months. They kept waiting for it to follow the normal post partum thyroiditis pattern and go hypo then return to normal. It never did. After about a year I was no longer hyper, but my TSH was always a little low (0.5 - 0.9 or so) and I never really felt as good as before kids (who does?). I have had every test, all antibodies - TPO was a little high once but not since and Anti Thy was a tiny bit high once, but not again. I have had bouts of thyroiditis (about 2 a year - I go hyper then gradually better). I had a biopsy a long time ago that showed lymphatic infiltration but nothing was ever really talked about. The last 2 years or so I have had chronic anxiety, just feel really jittery all the time but not worried if that makes sense. All drs. said it was mild hyper and pretty much live with it. Finally looked at all my old labs and saw my Free T4 was on the floor and my concentration was so bad I ran 2 red lights. Since starting synthroid, my anxiety has gone away which I find amazing. I am still tired but I think my concentration is better (couldn't be worse...). As for the hair loss, about 3 years ago I saw a bald spot and it went from there. I am now thinking that my alopecia areata may have been triggered by low thyroid. I am hoping it gets better because it has been really really bad in spurts the last 3 years. My hair also just look horrid. Every other test (and there have been many ATCH included) has shown me to be a very healthy person. When I go back to the doctor in about a 10 days, she will test them all Free T4, Free T4 - then I can see where to go from there. I tried Rogaine - too much hassle and I started to grow hair on my face even though the Rogaine never touched my face - I was extremely careful. So that was out. I get about 20 cortisone shots a month in my head and it seems to help a little. I really appreciate you saying that about your anxiety and hypo. It is never on the symptoms list but I sure seemed to have it.
I don't know why Synthroid never changed your test levels. It didn't even change FT4? That's very unusual, and I'd suspect some kind of an absorption issue if that were the case. Do you have Hashi's? I should know, but I'm sorry I don't remember.
In the usual progression of things on T4-only meds, FT4 levels will usually rise, and FT3 levels should rise with them. The tricky part is that many of us have found that it takes a while for conversion to kick back in after being hypo for a while, and the rise it FT3 lags the rise in FT4. My FT3 level continued to rise for several months on no change in meds with a stable FT4 level. So, given that (unlike your case) FT4 levels usually do rise, I think it's important to get FT4 to about midrange before determining a conversion problem.
Once FT4 levels are at midpoint, FT3 levels should be in upper half of range. If they're not, then it's definitely time to start looking at adding in some T3 meds. Of course, as I said, there is sometimes a lag, so this depends on your patience level.
"I'm now on quite a lot of medication and my TSH isn't really measurable anymore but I feel well. So I was under the impression that I had a conversion problem or possibly tissue resistance." You may very well have a conversion problem, but it's hard to say if you were never able to get your FT4 off the floor of the range. However, THR (thyroid hormone resistance) doesn't have to do with how much medication you have to take to feel well, but how high your FT3 and FT4 levels have to be to relieve symptoms. People with THR often have to have their FT3 levels several TIMES the upper limit of the range and take massive doses of T3 to feel even marginally normal. So, THR is indicated when FT3 and FT4 levels are high and hypo symptoms remain. Try to tell your doctor you're still hypo with your FT3 twice the upper limit of the range! THR is a genetic mutation.
You are on quite a high dose of meds. Do your FT3 and FT4 levels reflect that? If they don't, you have to wonder where all those meds are going... Do you have any gut issues or problems absorbing nutrients, vitamins, etc?
So, I wouldn't even think of THR unless the person had to be well above ranges to eliminate hypo symptoms. Also, with a TSH of 1.0 or below and low FT3 and FT4 levels, you have to think about pituitary involvement (secondary hypothyroidism).
Tiredme, I don't think any of these apply to you...just having a discussion with artfemme...don't go out and start researching all this stuff yet...it's very rare! LOL
In the usual progression of things on T4-only meds, FT4 levels will usually rise, and FT3 levels should rise with them. The tricky part is that many of us have found that it takes a while for conversion to kick back in after being hypo for a while, and the rise it FT3 lags the rise in FT4. My FT3 level continued to rise for several months on no change in meds with a stable FT4 level. So, given that (unlike your case) FT4 levels usually do rise, I think it's important to get FT4 to about midrange before determining a conversion problem.
Once FT4 levels are at midpoint, FT3 levels should be in upper half of range. If they're not, then it's definitely time to start looking at adding in some T3 meds. Of course, as I said, there is sometimes a lag, so this depends on your patience level.
"I'm now on quite a lot of medication and my TSH isn't really measurable anymore but I feel well. So I was under the impression that I had a conversion problem or possibly tissue resistance." You may very well have a conversion problem, but it's hard to say if you were never able to get your FT4 off the floor of the range. However, THR (thyroid hormone resistance) doesn't have to do with how much medication you have to take to feel well, but how high your FT3 and FT4 levels have to be to relieve symptoms. People with THR often have to have their FT3 levels several TIMES the upper limit of the range and take massive doses of T3 to feel even marginally normal. So, THR is indicated when FT3 and FT4 levels are high and hypo symptoms remain. Try to tell your doctor you're still hypo with your FT3 twice the upper limit of the range! THR is a genetic mutation.
You are on quite a high dose of meds. Do your FT3 and FT4 levels reflect that? If they don't, you have to wonder where all those meds are going... Do you have any gut issues or problems absorbing nutrients, vitamins, etc?
So, I wouldn't even think of THR unless the person had to be well above ranges to eliminate hypo symptoms. Also, with a TSH of 1.0 or below and low FT3 and FT4 levels, you have to think about pituitary involvement (secondary hypothyroidism).
Tiredme, I don't think any of these apply to you...just having a discussion with artfemme...don't go out and start researching all this stuff yet...it's very rare! LOL
PS
You also don't mention having had the two blood tests for Hashimoto's, which is auto immune. I've read that that thyroid disorder sometimes starts with pregnancy.
You also don't mention having had the two blood tests for Hashimoto's, which is auto immune. I've read that that thyroid disorder sometimes starts with pregnancy.
Hey there Goolarra. Question about tissue resistance/conversion problems. I'm confused now, from what you said. When I first started having symptoms, my TSH went from .89 up to 1.4 with symptoms (but of course I wasn't hypothyroid to endo) and my FREE T4 was at the low end of normal so therefore I was "fine". They didn't rest FREE T3 until a couple of years later. It, of course was also low normal when I bullied them into giving me the test.
I was put on Synthroid (later generic) because of nodules. It never changed my test levels much and I continued to feel worse. It was only with the addition of T3 that I started to feel better, but it still took a long time and lots of tweaking to get myself into the range where I and most most people feel good. Raising T4 alone didn't affect the T3 level much at all, only the addition of more T3. I'm now on quite a lot of medication and my TSH isn't really measurable anymore but I feel well. So I was under the impression that I had a conversion problem or possibly tissue resistance. I understand what you said up there about high T4 and T3 w/ symptoms + tissue resistance. So I guess that doesn't explain the amount of medication I have to take ? I'm on 150 mcg Levothyroxine and 30 mcg Cytomel now, and I finally seem stable and don't have to test again for 6 months - a year, depending on how I keep feeling.. Could you educate me a little more ?
@Tiredme
I also had the shaking hands and jitteryness that progressed into full-on panic attacks. It went away with medication for hypothyroidism, even before the medications were at optimum levels. And I lost over half of my very thick hair, most of it on the crown. It is better now but still much thinner on the crown and the dermatologist said I have female pattern baldness, a type of alopecia. But she doesn't understand about thyroid all that much and she never gave me any type of test to support her diagnosis. She just told me to use Minoxidil, which I am loathe to do. Luckily I have curly hair, which hides some of the damage. Did you have testing to determine your problem, or do you now think it's from your thyroid ? Your FREE T4 is at the bottom of the range. And I don't see a test for FREE T3 at all, which seems to correlate best with symptoms and how people feel. Have you had your FREE T3 tested ? If not, it would be helpful if your doctor could include that in your prescription for labs.
If your insurance plan covers labs at Quest or Lab Corps, those big companies are widely found. I see Quest is available in Hawaii, just Googled. If you had the blood drawn there then the results would be ready by the time you got back. FREE T3 takes a little longer to process than FREE T4 and TSH in my experience at Quest. I allow about a week - 10 days before I go to see my doc, anything less and I've found the FREE T3 not back yet.
Best of luck and happy vacation !
I was put on Synthroid (later generic) because of nodules. It never changed my test levels much and I continued to feel worse. It was only with the addition of T3 that I started to feel better, but it still took a long time and lots of tweaking to get myself into the range where I and most most people feel good. Raising T4 alone didn't affect the T3 level much at all, only the addition of more T3. I'm now on quite a lot of medication and my TSH isn't really measurable anymore but I feel well. So I was under the impression that I had a conversion problem or possibly tissue resistance. I understand what you said up there about high T4 and T3 w/ symptoms + tissue resistance. So I guess that doesn't explain the amount of medication I have to take ? I'm on 150 mcg Levothyroxine and 30 mcg Cytomel now, and I finally seem stable and don't have to test again for 6 months - a year, depending on how I keep feeling.. Could you educate me a little more ?
@Tiredme
I also had the shaking hands and jitteryness that progressed into full-on panic attacks. It went away with medication for hypothyroidism, even before the medications were at optimum levels. And I lost over half of my very thick hair, most of it on the crown. It is better now but still much thinner on the crown and the dermatologist said I have female pattern baldness, a type of alopecia. But she doesn't understand about thyroid all that much and she never gave me any type of test to support her diagnosis. She just told me to use Minoxidil, which I am loathe to do. Luckily I have curly hair, which hides some of the damage. Did you have testing to determine your problem, or do you now think it's from your thyroid ? Your FREE T4 is at the bottom of the range. And I don't see a test for FREE T3 at all, which seems to correlate best with symptoms and how people feel. Have you had your FREE T3 tested ? If not, it would be helpful if your doctor could include that in your prescription for labs.
If your insurance plan covers labs at Quest or Lab Corps, those big companies are widely found. I see Quest is available in Hawaii, just Googled. If you had the blood drawn there then the results would be ready by the time you got back. FREE T3 takes a little longer to process than FREE T4 and TSH in my experience at Quest. I allow about a week - 10 days before I go to see my doc, anything less and I've found the FREE T3 not back yet.
Best of luck and happy vacation !
It was a little low so I have been supplementing for a while and it is fine. Everyone else seems to be having a hot spring - we are 50 degrees and raining...
I lived in Seattle for a while...sun and Seattle are an oxymoron. But, speaking of which, have you had your vitamin D tested...sorry, can't remember.
Thank you :). Sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else. I really appreciate your, and everyone else's, nice replies. I feel better. It will all be fine :) - maybe if Seattle could get just a tiny bit of sun - it would be fine!
It's pretty "normal" to feel a little better and then backslide a bit. I don't know that you really backslide...it's more like at first you focus on how much better you feel, they you get impatient and start focusing on how much better you want to feel.
As long as you're on such a low dose and you increase slowly, if you are not really hypo, you can always discontinue meds later if you think you can. If you felt somewhat better after starting meds, it's a good indication that you did need them. Your FT4 wasn't really marginal, either. The ranges are very flawed, making the whole bottom half of the FT4 range questionable. So, your FT4 is really very low. Until you get to the ideal dose for you, you will have good days and bad days, but the good ones will start outnumbering the bad ones.
As long as you're on such a low dose and you increase slowly, if you are not really hypo, you can always discontinue meds later if you think you can. If you felt somewhat better after starting meds, it's a good indication that you did need them. Your FT4 wasn't really marginal, either. The ranges are very flawed, making the whole bottom half of the FT4 range questionable. So, your FT4 is really very low. Until you get to the ideal dose for you, you will have good days and bad days, but the good ones will start outnumbering the bad ones.
True, and that is what I will do. I think the problem is that I was feeling marginally better and now I am not. I think I have felt "off" for so long that I am impatient. Not to mention that, though through the years I have learned a good deal about thyroid stuff, I am afraid medicine won't work for me or I am not truly hypothyroid because my levels are so borderline. Maybe I just have a virus like the rest of Seattle right now and I am over thinking it :). I just want to energy to play with my kids and not have to rest so much! But all other labs point to perfect health so hopefully I can get back to what I used to be. Some of my old hair back would be nice too....
My point exactly...you only have not even 4 weeks before you leave...Hawaii...lucky you!
I think your doctor could write you a lab order before you go that you could take into any lab in HI. If that won't work, you can order tests online (no doctor's order required), and they will email the results directly to you. Of course, insurance does not pay for self-ordered tests. Either way, you could then communicate with your doctor by phone or email if you feel a meds change is in order.
You are scheduled for labs before seeing your regular doctor for your 5 week appointment, correct? Since your meds won't be adjusted before that anyway (your derm won't adjust them, will she?), why not wait until closer to your appointment with your regular doctor to get them when the current dose is fully stabilized?
I know it's a juggling act, but with a little planning, I think you can manage to get labs done once there fairly easily.
I think your doctor could write you a lab order before you go that you could take into any lab in HI. If that won't work, you can order tests online (no doctor's order required), and they will email the results directly to you. Of course, insurance does not pay for self-ordered tests. Either way, you could then communicate with your doctor by phone or email if you feel a meds change is in order.
You are scheduled for labs before seeing your regular doctor for your 5 week appointment, correct? Since your meds won't be adjusted before that anyway (your derm won't adjust them, will she?), why not wait until closer to your appointment with your regular doctor to get them when the current dose is fully stabilized?
I know it's a juggling act, but with a little planning, I think you can manage to get labs done once there fairly easily.
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