tsh 233 fear of med switch!

[barbie747]

I won't bother you guys with the fact that I've had chronic anxiety since I was nineteen, but this thyroid problem is not helping. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid in 2003 and placed on 50 mcg of levothyroxine. My my tsh was 133 at the time was14.992 T4 was 5.6 T3 uptake was 27 Free thyroxine index was 1.5. I did not follow directions did not take meds. This was because I knew I would not be able to afford getting my blood monitored and also I feared being on a lifetime medication I might not be able to buy.I waited until 2007 then TSH was 133 I was put on 50-75-100 micrograms of levothyroxine;after 6 months, I had a tsh of 89 then the dr. said we had it going the right way and he raised the doseage to 125 I remained on this dosage and finally last year he said the TSH was normal. In the beginning, I was very tired my hair was falling out, I began to notice swelling in my hands, feet, and legs... and then my abdomen then finaly my eyelids and face. I forced myself to continue on with college and helping raise three grandchildren until it was more than I could handle. With the last increase up to 125 mcg of levothyroxine, I began to panic about whether I might be getting to much medication. I ran out of medication and simply did not take any for about two months. In April I was beginning to see all of my symptoms return My eyes were nearly swelled shut and I was unable to get through a day with out a nap. When I say nap, I mean four or five hours. It was weird because at night, I could not sleep more than an hour or two and that was right before dawn. Well, I had found a website which told all the benefits of natural thyroid versus synthetics so I went in June to an ER in Galveston Texas. I told the Dr. I felt like something was killing me and that I was well learned about thyroid conditions and wanted to try Armour. I was placed on it 30 mg. about six weeks ago and for the first couple of weeks I felt as if a miracle had happend. then the swelling and other problems began to return. On last check, (six weeks ago my TSH was 240 they did not check T3 or T4). Last week I went to the ER. and to the Primary Care Dr. at the Health Department The Dr. did a TSH test and it was 233. Now he said to start taking levothyroxine again at 100 mcg a day for a month. I tried to discuss some of my anxiety issues but the Dr. just said, " we test tsh and I want you to take the medicine." I am afraid of what the med will do because of my chronic anxiety." What I wanted was for him to test The T3 and T4 levels to see exactly where they are but he said it was not routine. Now I do not know and I am having problems getting to an endocrine specialist. So does anyone know if there is a problem with transitioning rapidly to a different med? I know I have to take something but because I have had so much difficulty keeping my blood monitored, I am afraidI I might get too much. At this moment I feel ashamed and embarrassed but I've about worried my poor hubby to death. He doesn't know what to do to help me. I am threatening to leave my whole family because I am sick and don't know what to do. All of the swelling, with everything else is making me think I may be developing kidney or heart failure. I am thinking of going back to the ER and trying to get them to test everything. To top it all off, I have begun to have spells where I will just reach for something on my nightstand and it feels as if my muscles are being torn from my ribcage.   These spells happen in the shower when I turn to reach and wash my back also. I do not have insurance so it has been especially difficult. The medical center is a four hour drive away and local Dr. does not even want to do the test I know I need.   I was told that if I was denied medicaid then denied indigent care then I could apply for help at the hospital. Don't know exactly what to do. The whole process could take another two months. Anyway I'm afraid to do anything because I don't know what is going on. In the beginning, I knew I would not be able to get blood test monthly. I was petrified at the prospect of having to take lifelong medications because I knew I might not be able to afford them. I also knew that where I live there are no good Dr,s I will probably just go back to The ER in Galveston with all my paperwork and see if I can get something done. Thank you everybody for listening I love you all and will pray that each of you gets better real soon. Sorry, to babble, it's a long story that everyone around here is tired of hearing about. The thing that burns me up is that everyone tells me be my own advocate and when I try the health care professionals just get angry. They tell me some people just don't want to get well. They expect a person just to blindly follow their orders. If anyone is out there please give me some advice.

[flyingfool]

Also know that your anxiety problems may DIRECTLY be BECAUSE of your low Thryoid.  You are worried how the thyroid meds will make your anxiety worse.  When in fact MANY, MANY people find that once their Thyroid blood levels are stabilized their anxiety issues disappear or are minimized a great deal.

You do NOT need to have blood tests every month. Most T4 Thyroid meds take 6 to 8 weeks to even have an effect.  So at soonest every 2 months would be needed. And then as you get your medication dosage figured out, you may be able to space out the tests even further.

You NEED to be on meds. you will NOT EVER feel better until you do.  You sound SOOO Hypo your fear of getting too much medicine is most likely unfounded.  Dr's tend to be if anything overly cautious.

Yes switching meds and even dosages can dramatically affect a person and side effects.  This is just another reason to start off slow and be patient to slowly ramp up medication dosage.

I have heard but know no specifics that the drug companies themselves have programs that may allow financially limited folks to get the medicine at a discount.

Low Thyroid is or can be a nearly if not totally debilitating disease.  In fact if get too low it can be life threatening coma.  This is NOTHING to play around with.  Thyroid affects the metabolism and is basically can be thought of as a speedometer of the whole body.  It regulates how fast and efficient many, many things operate within the human body.

You need medication and get this under control.  I can not stress that enough!

[Super_sally888]

Hello,

you definitely need to be taking thyroid meds.

Armor is one option, but 30 mcg sounds like way too low.  Your dose needs to be adjusted (increased by 30 mcg per adjustment), at the smae time they should be testing your TSH (optimal is 1 - 2), Ft3 and FT4 (both should be mid range or higher).

The armor may work better for you than T4 meds only (levothyroxine).  

However, please know you must take meds.  If you don't take thyroid meds you may well die.

Please follow this up for your and your family's sake.