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Still have symptoms, but taking Synthroid
Hi, I take .50 mcg of Synthroid, but still feel tired, crazy thoughts, not hungry too much, moody, rage, very bad emotional periods, and much more. Do you think this means I need an increase in Synthroid?
What is happening to me? Please help!!
What is happening to me? Please help!!
Let me verify first...your FT4 is 0.04. Is that correct, or it it 0.4? Also, what's the range? Reference ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.
So, you are taking huge doses of levo, but your TSH refuses to go down, and your FT4 refuses to go up.
Has your doctor ever tested FT3? How do you feel? Do you have lots of hypo symptoms?
The very first thought that comes to mind (although you've probably thought of this, I'll throw it out anyway) is an absorption problem. Do you take your meds on an empty stomach and not eat or drink anything for half to one hour after? Do you take all other meds/supplements at least four hours away from thyroid meds? Do you have any known gastro-intestinal issues that might be stopping you from absorbing the meds in your gut?
So, you are taking huge doses of levo, but your TSH refuses to go down, and your FT4 refuses to go up.
Has your doctor ever tested FT3? How do you feel? Do you have lots of hypo symptoms?
The very first thought that comes to mind (although you've probably thought of this, I'll throw it out anyway) is an absorption problem. Do you take your meds on an empty stomach and not eat or drink anything for half to one hour after? Do you take all other meds/supplements at least four hours away from thyroid meds? Do you have any known gastro-intestinal issues that might be stopping you from absorbing the meds in your gut?
Ii have been battling hypothyroidism for 10 years and has never been in the normal range. The lowest that is have ever been is 23. I am currently taking 350mcg 5 days a week and the other 2 days I take 525 mcg. My last tsh was 77 anad my free t4 was .04 which has the endocrynologist stumped. I have had hashi test done which was ok. If you know so much about hypothyroidism, please let me know what else I need to have the dr check.
Thanks.
Thanks.
I know what your talking about,one side of your body feels weird,had it for months,went to hospital for two days,after many,many tests,dr told me it was from anxiety,so now when I get that feeling I do deep breathing and it goes away.I also have a bad thyroid,so maybe it is related,it is weird though but don't worry too much.
I am on medicine sinds one and a half weeks and feel much more energy. I also felt somewhat anxious and when I go to sleep I feel as if my attention is drawn to the left side of my body. As if I am more aware of that side, as if it is bigger. Real funny and weird. Anyone felt this way too?
I'm glad to hear that you've done your research...the more of us that do, the better (hopefully) thyroid disease will be understood. However, I'd like to correct a couple of misconceptions.
Synthroid (or any other thyroid replacement hormone - TRH) is not causing the symptoms you mention. This often appears to be the case for two reasons.
#1 - TRHs, like Synthroid, take four to six weeks to reach a stable level in the body. During that time, symptoms can continue to get worse since FT3 and FT4 are still low. Furthermore, symptoms often are not alleviated until several weeks to several months after FT3 and FT4 levels have reached their proper levels FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.
#2 - Thyroid is hugely misunderstood in the medical community. Often doctors increase TRH until the patient is "in range" on FT3, FT4 and TSH. Since these levels may not be adequate for an individual, many patients are left hypo (complete with the symptoms you describe) because their doctors are UNDERtreating them. Your friends should make sure their doctors are testing FT3 and FT4 as well as TSH. Then they should insist on TRH increases until their symptoms have been relieved. TSH is a very poor diagnostic in evaluating thyroid status...it's a pituitary hormone. T3 and T4 are the actual thyroid hormones.
There are many other reasons why Synthroid may appear to exacerbate symptoms...conversion issues, etc...but that's another day.
Iodine deficiency...if you are truly deficient in iodine, ingesting iodine can improve thyroid function. However, if you are not, it will not help your thyroid. Iodine deficiency is virtually nil in the U.S. (and actually in most of the world). Unless you are very "pure"...never eating out, using uniodized salt, never eating prepared foods, etc., there is little chance that you are iodine deficient.
You should insist on more testing. As I said, TSH is a very poor diagnostic. Have you had FT3 and FT4 tested? These are much more important than TSH. You might also consider antibody testing (TPOab and TGab) to see if the cause of your thyroid problems is Hashi's, an autoimmune disease). It's the most prevalent cause of hypo in the U.S.
If you don't have hypo symptoms, that's very positive. However, if you do, then I think all your arguments against taking TRHs are a bit moot. Most hypos have suffered and felt like absolute cr@p for months or years before being diagnosed. The prospect of having to take a pill for the rest of your life becomes a bit less daunting under those circumstances. Preserving your own "natural" thyroid function doesn't mean a thing if that function is not adequate to keep you well.
If I were you, I'd make sure FT3 and FT4 were tested. I'd also keep my eyes open for hypo symptoms. You could possibly have had one of the "temporary" forms of thyroiditis, you could have been iodine deficient (unlikely), but if your thyroid dysfunction was caused by a permanent condition, it is likely to keep getting worse...sometimes very slowly, sometimes faster.
I have to admit, I would not be talking to anyone with a TSH of 8.5 about myxedema coma...that's ridiculous. But being hypo is not good for your general health...it can effect every part of your body. And furthermore, it can make you feel like you're going to die. As my dad used to say...feel like you're gonna die, but afraid you won't...
Synthroid (or any other thyroid replacement hormone - TRH) is not causing the symptoms you mention. This often appears to be the case for two reasons.
#1 - TRHs, like Synthroid, take four to six weeks to reach a stable level in the body. During that time, symptoms can continue to get worse since FT3 and FT4 are still low. Furthermore, symptoms often are not alleviated until several weeks to several months after FT3 and FT4 levels have reached their proper levels FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.
#2 - Thyroid is hugely misunderstood in the medical community. Often doctors increase TRH until the patient is "in range" on FT3, FT4 and TSH. Since these levels may not be adequate for an individual, many patients are left hypo (complete with the symptoms you describe) because their doctors are UNDERtreating them. Your friends should make sure their doctors are testing FT3 and FT4 as well as TSH. Then they should insist on TRH increases until their symptoms have been relieved. TSH is a very poor diagnostic in evaluating thyroid status...it's a pituitary hormone. T3 and T4 are the actual thyroid hormones.
There are many other reasons why Synthroid may appear to exacerbate symptoms...conversion issues, etc...but that's another day.
Iodine deficiency...if you are truly deficient in iodine, ingesting iodine can improve thyroid function. However, if you are not, it will not help your thyroid. Iodine deficiency is virtually nil in the U.S. (and actually in most of the world). Unless you are very "pure"...never eating out, using uniodized salt, never eating prepared foods, etc., there is little chance that you are iodine deficient.
You should insist on more testing. As I said, TSH is a very poor diagnostic. Have you had FT3 and FT4 tested? These are much more important than TSH. You might also consider antibody testing (TPOab and TGab) to see if the cause of your thyroid problems is Hashi's, an autoimmune disease). It's the most prevalent cause of hypo in the U.S.
If you don't have hypo symptoms, that's very positive. However, if you do, then I think all your arguments against taking TRHs are a bit moot. Most hypos have suffered and felt like absolute cr@p for months or years before being diagnosed. The prospect of having to take a pill for the rest of your life becomes a bit less daunting under those circumstances. Preserving your own "natural" thyroid function doesn't mean a thing if that function is not adequate to keep you well.
If I were you, I'd make sure FT3 and FT4 were tested. I'd also keep my eyes open for hypo symptoms. You could possibly have had one of the "temporary" forms of thyroiditis, you could have been iodine deficient (unlikely), but if your thyroid dysfunction was caused by a permanent condition, it is likely to keep getting worse...sometimes very slowly, sometimes faster.
I have to admit, I would not be talking to anyone with a TSH of 8.5 about myxedema coma...that's ridiculous. But being hypo is not good for your general health...it can effect every part of your body. And furthermore, it can make you feel like you're going to die. As my dad used to say...feel like you're gonna die, but afraid you won't...
A year ago my doctor did a gateway panel blood test on me. My TSH was at 5.2 so she gave me some samples for Synthroid at .88 to start me out. I asked how long I was going to be taking this drug –because I don’t take drugs with out research and really good cause– when my doctor told me I would be taking this drug for the rest of my life, I could not accept that. So I went home and did my research. I may not have believed every thing I read, but enough of it seemed to be saying the same things. What I read scared me. A lot of women were having an adverse reaction to taking Synthroid. It seemed to enhance the symptoms they were feeling already.
Fatigue and weakness
Low basal temperature ( cold intolerance)
Dry and coarse skin
Hair loss
Cold hands and feet
Weight gain
Insomnia
Constipation
Depression
I know a few women personally who had no problems till their doctors put them on Synthroid. A lot of them gained weight and were cold all the time, when nothing had changed in their lives save taking Synthroid.
The next time I got tested almost swayed me. My TSH had gone up to 8.4. That scared me almost more than the fear of having my first prescribed drug to put on a list. I made an appointment with a specialist and did more research. I looked up how the thyroid(s) works, what can put it off its track, and what I might be missing in my diet. Well turns out there were two things that could have been affecting my thyroid. A month before the first blood test I had a tooth filled. That tooth was done wrong and I had the worst tooth ache that did not stop. So, I had been taking the max dose of ibuprofen, and I don’t normally take pain killers. When I went back to the dentist they said they could not find what was wrong, and referred me to a specialist. I was put off with them since they did the filling.
The second reason that could have caused this increase in my TSH levels was a deficiency in iodine. I have lived most of my life on the coast, so moving inland could have decreased in intake of iodine. Here is a good starting place to research this information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine_deficiency
I started taking small amounts of kelp, and adding seaweed/kelp to my soup. Which by the way, does wonders for the taste of the soup. I also bought salt with iodine. Kelp is just like eating an orange, it is not a drug nor a, “vitamin”.
This is my story, it may help someone. I am not a ‘medical’ person. I am some one who likes to control my own body. If I had done as my doctor told me the first time, with out thought or question I would be taking a drug I did Not need for the rest of my life. I have only had health insurance these past three years, for the first time in my life. I do not know what might happen; I might not always have it. What do I do if I can not get these drugs, or do the testing. I am appalled that there was not more testing done to find out what was causing my thyroid to misbehave. Both my personal doctor and the specialist said the same things to me. They used scare tactics, saying words like, infertility and Myxedema coma. That I think was one of the main reasons I got angry and refused to be bullied.
Once you start taking drugs like Synthroid, I think it shuts off your thyroid. And then it is really hard to restart it back up. I do not believe it is impossible, but the longer you have shut off your natural hormone maker, the less likely you will be able to get it going again. By taking this drug you are replacing the natural hormones and telling your thyroid it does not need to make any more. So it stops. Like the milk flow of a mother. Yea I know, that the best example I could come up with.
My body knows how to take care of its self, if I just give it the right tools. If my body if out of sorts then I do not feel like my mind can be as efficient.
Thank you for listening. Hope I don’t upset to many people. This is something I do care about. Good luck to any one who has to deal with this problem in their lives.
Fatigue and weakness
Low basal temperature ( cold intolerance)
Dry and coarse skin
Hair loss
Cold hands and feet
Weight gain
Insomnia
Constipation
Depression
I know a few women personally who had no problems till their doctors put them on Synthroid. A lot of them gained weight and were cold all the time, when nothing had changed in their lives save taking Synthroid.
The next time I got tested almost swayed me. My TSH had gone up to 8.4. That scared me almost more than the fear of having my first prescribed drug to put on a list. I made an appointment with a specialist and did more research. I looked up how the thyroid(s) works, what can put it off its track, and what I might be missing in my diet. Well turns out there were two things that could have been affecting my thyroid. A month before the first blood test I had a tooth filled. That tooth was done wrong and I had the worst tooth ache that did not stop. So, I had been taking the max dose of ibuprofen, and I don’t normally take pain killers. When I went back to the dentist they said they could not find what was wrong, and referred me to a specialist. I was put off with them since they did the filling.
The second reason that could have caused this increase in my TSH levels was a deficiency in iodine. I have lived most of my life on the coast, so moving inland could have decreased in intake of iodine. Here is a good starting place to research this information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine_deficiency
I started taking small amounts of kelp, and adding seaweed/kelp to my soup. Which by the way, does wonders for the taste of the soup. I also bought salt with iodine. Kelp is just like eating an orange, it is not a drug nor a, “vitamin”.
This is my story, it may help someone. I am not a ‘medical’ person. I am some one who likes to control my own body. If I had done as my doctor told me the first time, with out thought or question I would be taking a drug I did Not need for the rest of my life. I have only had health insurance these past three years, for the first time in my life. I do not know what might happen; I might not always have it. What do I do if I can not get these drugs, or do the testing. I am appalled that there was not more testing done to find out what was causing my thyroid to misbehave. Both my personal doctor and the specialist said the same things to me. They used scare tactics, saying words like, infertility and Myxedema coma. That I think was one of the main reasons I got angry and refused to be bullied.
Once you start taking drugs like Synthroid, I think it shuts off your thyroid. And then it is really hard to restart it back up. I do not believe it is impossible, but the longer you have shut off your natural hormone maker, the less likely you will be able to get it going again. By taking this drug you are replacing the natural hormones and telling your thyroid it does not need to make any more. So it stops. Like the milk flow of a mother. Yea I know, that the best example I could come up with.
My body knows how to take care of its self, if I just give it the right tools. If my body if out of sorts then I do not feel like my mind can be as efficient.
Thank you for listening. Hope I don’t upset to many people. This is something I do care about. Good luck to any one who has to deal with this problem in their lives.
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