Hypothyroidism treatment

[pooh514]

I have been taking Synthroid for 25 years.  I was on 125 MCG until the latest TSH showed 5.10.  Now I'm taking 137 MCG for 10 days,  and I look and feel nervous, aggitated and just not good.  I've noticed some hair loss lately.  I want to try Armour but my Dr. doesn't seem to think it is easy to regulate.  I'm looking for a good Endocronoligist but the one I was referred to does not take Medicare patients.....so, I have to continue my search.  My question is, could I take 125 MCG one day and 137 MCG the next on a regular basis.  My parents had a history of heart attacks and according to what I've read the Thyroid needs a balance to prevent further complications of a heart attack.  I've also had depression off and on, and that isn't my personality.  I live with headaches and have often wondered if Synthroid is a contributing factor.  Thank you.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Please talk to your doctor before making any changes, but, yes, many people alternate.  Also it may take 2-3 weeks to adjust to a new dose.  Too much thyroid medication does increase the risk of heart rhythm problems -- older patients who take T3 containing meds (such as armour) may be at higher risk for this.

[Kimemitch]

You are sure right about hard to find a knowledgeable doctor! Its just hard to find one that will listen to you!! I think I found one, he has no idea about the thyroid but he is going to work with me!! AMEN!!! We will see. You asked about how I found the cancer, oddly, this was the beginning of realizing doctors are just "practicing" medicine and most have such big egos that they refuse to believe you know anything about yourself or your body! I feel like I could write a book about imcompetence in the medical community. In 1994, I began to lose my memory and just felt odd, I went to the doctor 3 times and said something was wrong with me. I didn't even recognize the flower girl from my wedding whom I had known since birth. The doctor told me all labs were fine specifically my thyroid and that everyone loses their memory as they get older, I was 32 years old. Luckily, a doctor at the university I attended, showed me how to feel my thyroid because I had a small cyst which was biopsied and found benign. So about 2 weeks after my last doctors appointment, I was on a business trip. When I woke up in the hotel room, I was unable to get out of bed, overwhelming fatigue, something made me reach up and feel my thyroid. I felt a lump. I immediately returned home and to the same doctors office. He came in the room, was clearly annoyed, felt my neck, said it was a gland, but he would send me to a surgeon. Annoyed back I said send me. The surgeon ordered the biopsy and a week later they were operating. It was unbelievable! Needless to say I am very untrusting of the medical community. I just found out in 2007, after years of complaining again that something was wrong, that my parathyroids were knocked out during my surgery 13 years earlier!! Again, unbelievable. Basically I was getting the same treatment! You are fine!! Now I am really just pushy, Keep copies of all my labs which I highly recommend everyone do!! Its so important to be able to look at the numbers for yourself. Write on the lab results what you were taking at that time and when you started it, if its been a change in dosaging.   Boy, am I rattling!! I drank coffee this afternoon and its showing!!

[Kimemitch]

One more thing, just make sure you are consistent in whatever you are doing for at least 6 weeks before you have any lab works so you can get a more accurate reading on your levels. Then you will know exactly what alternating is doing. Just thought i should mention that! Have a great day.

[Kimemitch]

It might take a few days for it to slow down. If it really gets too bothersome, I would even take a couple of days of the lower and then start alternating. Armour is T4 and T3 in "natural" form from desicated pig thyroid. The ratio is not as it is in our thyroid.  Don't quote me, but I think its something like 5 times more potent in T3 (or ratio of T4 to T3).   T3 is Cytomel is synthetic form of T3 that you can add to Synthroid (T4). I would definitely try cytomel first before venturing into armour as it is work to get it regulated. Just make sure they start you at the lowest dose as I think that's where I went worng. I am not sure but I do think TSH levels were lowered. Its not been an issue for me as I had my thyroid removed in 1994 due to cancer. And with cancer the protocol is to suppress tsh to below 1 which is suppose to prevent reoccurrence. I just had blood work yesterday and I am very anxious to see results. Hope that helps.

[Kimemitch]

Hi, Yes you absolutely can alternate. I did it for years as I was very sensitive to any change and had to do it very gradually. Everytime I adjusted downward I would have to either allternate or take one dosage say 137mg 5 days and then 150 on weekends.  My endo said it was perfectly fine.  I am now attempting armour and I must say, I am having a hard time regulating, mainly due to feeling hypo, but can't increase due to heart palpitations. Its been really hard for me to find someone to prescribe and then he didn't do it properly (dosaging, splitting etc). I am now attempting and thinking of going back to Synthroid with just a very small supplement of armour to get the T3. I am working my way up on Synthroid now from 25mcg to 50mcg while on a total of 75 of armour (split in 2 dosages). Have you ever considered Cytomel? You might have an easier time getting doctor to let you to eventually try. That is T3 and when I first tried it, i felt amazing, but again, my dosaging was started way too high and I started having heart Jumps so I stopped.  You might keep in mind too that it will take at least 6 weeks on synthroid to get a good lab reading, so if you start alternating give it a little time. Patience is so hard with this. I just increased today and I can hardly wait to start feeling better - I am so tired!! Good luck and hang in there!

[pooh514]

Thank you.  I know what you mean by exercising, dieting and wondering why nothing changes.  If I ate 1/4 of what my friends eat I would still stay heavy or gain.  I will continue my search for a good Endo and God willing I'll find one.  I have a friend who takes Armour and lost 20 lbs. and feels wonderful.  I live in a small town so my options of  convincing an MD that I should at least try Armour are slim.  They all seem to favor Synthroid.  I believe that not many MD's know a lot about Thyroid and think it's all in your head if how they choose to treat it doesn't work.

[pooh514]

Two minutes ago  I sent you a message, but I noticed an error when I typed your name.
Hopefully, you rec'd it.

[pooh514]

You have had an extremely difficult time and I sincerely hope it will soon be better.
When you mention incompetence, you are so totally right.  There are many excellent
Dr.s, but finding one for a specific problem is not easy.  I, too, had memory problems, depression, extreme fatigue, but I always contributed it to the side effects of Polio, which I had as a child.  I was told Post-Polio had the same symptoms.  It has always been my Thyroid and not only did I have the above problems, I gained weight and COULD
NOT lose it.  I now exercise until I'm half dead and I watch what I eat, but the biggest plus was the higher dosage of Synthroid, which I'm not sure I'll live through. ha  You are so right about keeping all Lab copies, and to educate yourself about any problems you may have.  I appreciate all and any advice I get, and "no" you weren't just rattling.  I have days when I feel really sad and don't know why, than again I feel fine......crazy! I had to literally talk my Dr. into giving me B-12 injections to help eliminate Migraines, which I've been blessed with also.  He said I didn't need B-12 but decided it wouldn't hurt me and I'm sure he was tired of me pleading my case.   After 5 years of the injections I
rarely have a Migraine. Once again, like everything else, it doesn't work for everyone.

[pooh514]

Mon./Tue. I took lower dose, yesterday higher, and it just buzzes me, but I think it will eventually be OK>  I have blood tests again in 7 weeks so I'll wait and see.  I do know I lose weight when I take the higher dose, but I'm not sure what's right anymore.  It really is difficult to find a Dr. that is actually good with Thyroid problems.  Thanks for your info.
How did you find out you had cancer?  Hope you have a happy day.

[pooh514]

Hi...Thank you for your response.   I am going to alternate dosages and hopefully this will help.  I had heart palpitations for two days and could hardly navigate when I started taking the higher dosage.  I'm in search of a Dr. that specializes in Thyroid and I would really like to try the Armour.  I am not familiar with Cytomel, in fact the Dr. has never mentioned that as an option.  What is your TSH level?  I read that in the past two years the normal range has changed from between 1-5 to 1-3.  Sorry about the being tired but
I do know exactly how you feel.  Take care.