I am very sure we can help you get the testing and treatment needed. I'd like to start by having you post your typical thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report. Also, what is your daily dosage of Synthroid?
Most important is to find a good thyroid doctor. That does not necessarily mean an Endo. A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results. If you will tell us your location, perhaps we can suggest a doctor that has been recommended by other thyroid patients.
Levoxyl (T4) works fine for me, and I don't think I'm in any way unique. It doesn't work for everyone, but it does work for many.
Agreed...cells can only use T3. However, we currently have no test to measure tissue thyroid levels. Obviously, what we do have (FT3, FT4 and TSH) are inadequate.
Antibodies block the conversion of T4 to T3? Please provide a study that demonstrates this. With Hashi's, antibodies attach TPO and/or TG. This has what to do with conversion?
30% of women over 50 have Hashi's? Once again, documentation, please
T4 isn't worthless. It isn't for everybody, but it works for many of us. I've yet to hear that straight T3 works for anyone long term..
I totally agree that TSH is useless to monitor hypo patients. FT3 and FT4, however, can be useful, and symptoms are of utmost importance. Did I say that TSH was a good measure of thyroid status? I don't think so. If you knew what my TSH is, even though I am euthyroid, you wouldn't even make that accusation.
I'm not sure if goolarra will be available to respond to your post, so I'll jump in and if she sees your post, she'll respond as well.
We're very well aware that a lot of people don't do well on T4 only meds, but we also see a lot of people who do very well on them - I happen to be one who does, with just a small dose of added T3 because I don't convert well, and no, I don't live a stress free life and my thyroid journey hasn't been all sunshine and roses.
We also see a lot people who don't do well on Armour or other desiccated hormones, because they have too much T3 in them... There's no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't do well on them, since I do very well on just 10 mcg/day of added T3.
We all know that AACE and ATA have determined that Synthroid/T4 is the medication of choice and that's what most doctors prescribe. Getting something else, even a bit of added T3, can be harder than pulling hen's teeth for many people.
TSH monitors T4 levels only? Really? For many of us TSH doesn't correlate with either FT4 or FT3.
We're very well aware that TSH is a unreliable, archaic and irrational... we wonder all the time why AACE and ATA are so he!! bent on keeping it as the "gold standard" for thyroid testing, which keeps so many doctors from bother to pay attention to how the patient feels... We'd like more doctors to speak out against TSH being used as the gold standard.
As a physician managing 100's of thyroid patients, I really don't feel that levothyroxine or synthroid is a very good choice. I think synthroid is a great medication if you are under no stress....please find that person for me. Your body only has T3 receptors on the organs, and essentially no T4 receptors. So to work properly inactive T4 has to be activated to T3. Otherwise it has absolutely no benefit. Unfortunately stress significantly blocks this, as well as beta-blockers used for blood pressure, statins used for lowering cholesterol levels, antidepressants, amiodarone for controlling heart rhythm problems and of course the antibodies from Hashimoto's thyroiditis will block activation of T4. ( 30% of women over 50 have hashimoto's) Ok so the real question to ask is why would any one even give synthroid when there are so many issues that block its activation making it worthless. Low T3 syndrome, is extremely dangerous and patients feel exhausted. But the only way to correct it is to provide either straight T3 ( cytomel ) or some t3 , like in armour. Lastly, since TSH only monitors your T4 levels and not the amount of activated thyroid hormone, using TSH to follow patients is unreliable, archaic, and irrational. Why not just ask the patient how they feel? Dr C
There is a fair amount of resistance...Some flat out refuse, some will give it to you if you beat them up pretty good, others are okay with it.
Thanks everyone for your comments. Is it hard to get doctors to prescribe it? I've read that alot of doctors are against this med.
Greetings from Hong Kong
I have been using Armour thyroid for the past 7 months. Use 125mg Armour once per day and also take 0.5mg of Thyroxin per day. I am a South African living in Hong Kong. In South Africa I used to use Eltroxin 0.1 mg 3 times a day. Here in Hong Kong I seem to shift between Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid. I struggle to maintain weight. I weigh 44 Kilograms and find that I have tremors.
I do feel better since using Armour thyroid.
I would love to know what I can take to lesson these as people often ask me if I am cold. I often do feel verry cold and then the tremors are even worse.
I have been on Armour for about 6 months now. It does take some time to get your dose adjusted correctly but I also did a lot of reading on levothyroxine versus Armour and I went on the Armour website and found a doctor in my area that works with Armour. The other doctors do not want to work with it because most of them are involved with the companies that produce Levothroxine and in my opinion probably get kickbacks for prescribing it. Also, Newer doctors have been trained on strictly the newer meds. Armour has been being produced for over 100 yrs and doctors now a days don't know how to prescribe it. They think all you need is medicine with T4 only in it like Levothyroxine when I think a lot of people need both to get feeling back to normal and to have energy again and be able to lose weight. I also have seen that the levothyroxine has a list of side effects with it. The armour has no side effects as long as it is dosed correctly. I hope I was able to help. Good Luck.
There are any number of reasons...some of them founded, others not.
My endo's argument, which convinced me was this: Armour contains T4:T3 in a ration of about 4-5:1. The normally functioning human thyroid produces T4:T3 in a ratio of about 20:1. So, when taking Armour, you're getting a whole lot of T3, which can make it hard to regulate. Furthermore, most people do well on synthetics. If some T3 is needed, it's easier to regulate by adding some T3 as a separate pill. Also, if on Armour, be sure to have your free T3 monitored regularly.
Synthetic T4 is the therapy of choice for those just starting thyroid hormone replacement. If it doesn't work for you, you can always try something else.
The synthetic vs. natural issue can get quite heated at times. Both sides have their supporters and detracters. There's no doubt about one thing: there are some people who have been helped by each. The best thing we can all do is encourage our doctors to keep as many options open as possible.