Aa
At a loss? cant absorb synthroid
Hello to All!
I had a TT and parathyroids removed in nov '07 since then things for me have been pure hell... After having complications with the operation over a month in the hospital ....needing a trach ... paralyzed vocal cords...several EMG's, I am now not able to absorb synthroid? (which is the name brand)
I have tried every does at this point from the low dose of .25mcg and on up. (.25 - .50 - .75 - .100 - .125 - .150 - .175 - .200 - .250 - .300 - .350 - .400) The last attempt was .400mcg with .25mcg of cytomel, at which point my TSH did come down slightly but not near enough (I think it was 11.38), I was tested for celiacs and sent to a gastro doc... all which came back negitive in antibodies... they ruled celiacs out??? so the next step the enod did an absorbtion study, where i took a gram (1000mcg) of synthroid, and drew my blood every 15 minutes for 1 hr then every 30 min for 2 hrs then 1 every hour for 4 hrs... (this was a long day)... never the less... nothing :( ! At this point I was still on the .400mcg for another 4 weeks, just saw endo and we discussed going to injection depending how my labs looked... so TSH test came in and i am sitting 107.3<--- thats a heck of a jump... I take my meds as perscribed and dont miss a dose, SO NOW, monday I go for an endoscope with biopsys to try to determine the issues at hand, also got synthoid bumped up from .400 to .800 mcg ..
I am at a total loss, I am tired of being tired! My hair is very brittle, nails flake, dry skin, RAPID weight gain, some loss not near enough,
I am 28 yrs old and also have underlying issues, I have fibro, JRA, and deal with depression (is it any wonder)
I had a TT and parathyroids removed in nov '07 since then things for me have been pure hell... After having complications with the operation over a month in the hospital ....needing a trach ... paralyzed vocal cords...several EMG's, I am now not able to absorb synthroid? (which is the name brand)
I have tried every does at this point from the low dose of .25mcg and on up. (.25 - .50 - .75 - .100 - .125 - .150 - .175 - .200 - .250 - .300 - .350 - .400) The last attempt was .400mcg with .25mcg of cytomel, at which point my TSH did come down slightly but not near enough (I think it was 11.38), I was tested for celiacs and sent to a gastro doc... all which came back negitive in antibodies... they ruled celiacs out??? so the next step the enod did an absorbtion study, where i took a gram (1000mcg) of synthroid, and drew my blood every 15 minutes for 1 hr then every 30 min for 2 hrs then 1 every hour for 4 hrs... (this was a long day)... never the less... nothing :( ! At this point I was still on the .400mcg for another 4 weeks, just saw endo and we discussed going to injection depending how my labs looked... so TSH test came in and i am sitting 107.3<--- thats a heck of a jump... I take my meds as perscribed and dont miss a dose, SO NOW, monday I go for an endoscope with biopsys to try to determine the issues at hand, also got synthoid bumped up from .400 to .800 mcg ..
I am at a total loss, I am tired of being tired! My hair is very brittle, nails flake, dry skin, RAPID weight gain, some loss not near enough,
I am 28 yrs old and also have underlying issues, I have fibro, JRA, and deal with depression (is it any wonder)
COMMUNITY LEADER
You have attached to a very old thread and none of the previous posters participate in the forum any longer.
One doesn't absorb TSH. TSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary to stimulate the thyroid to make its hormones. I assume that since you had cancer, you had your thyroid removed?
Your symptoms indicate that you are still hypo (not enough medication). TSH neither causes nor alleviates symptoms... it's strictly a messenger from the pituitary to the thyroid and if no longer have a thyroid, it's totally irrelevant, even though doctors may tell you otherwise.
Is TSH the only test you're getting? You should also be getting tested for the actual thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4. If you aren't, ask you doctor. Without adequate levels of Free T3 and Free T4, your symptoms won't be alleviated.
It won't hurt to chew your pills. I take an added T3 med that I chew, as it seems to work better for me. I had one, that I dissolved in a teaspoon of water, because it tasted too bad to chew.
There is a gelcap on the market that contains T4 (levothyroxine sodium). It's designed to dissolve better and be more readily absorbed than pill type medications. It came on the market in May 2009 and I've been on it since Aug 2009. I do like and have done well on it, but the cost has skyrocketed to more than triple what I'd been paying last year, so I will probably try a different med when my supply runs out.
Anyway, you need to have FT3 and FT4 tested, if you haven't already. If you have current results, please post them, with reference ranges, so we can better recommend a course, of action for you to discuss with your doctor.
One doesn't absorb TSH. TSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary to stimulate the thyroid to make its hormones. I assume that since you had cancer, you had your thyroid removed?
Your symptoms indicate that you are still hypo (not enough medication). TSH neither causes nor alleviates symptoms... it's strictly a messenger from the pituitary to the thyroid and if no longer have a thyroid, it's totally irrelevant, even though doctors may tell you otherwise.
Is TSH the only test you're getting? You should also be getting tested for the actual thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4. If you aren't, ask you doctor. Without adequate levels of Free T3 and Free T4, your symptoms won't be alleviated.
It won't hurt to chew your pills. I take an added T3 med that I chew, as it seems to work better for me. I had one, that I dissolved in a teaspoon of water, because it tasted too bad to chew.
There is a gelcap on the market that contains T4 (levothyroxine sodium). It's designed to dissolve better and be more readily absorbed than pill type medications. It came on the market in May 2009 and I've been on it since Aug 2009. I do like and have done well on it, but the cost has skyrocketed to more than triple what I'd been paying last year, so I will probably try a different med when my supply runs out.
Anyway, you need to have FT3 and FT4 tested, if you haven't already. If you have current results, please post them, with reference ranges, so we can better recommend a course, of action for you to discuss with your doctor.
I am also having trouble absorbing tsh... I had thyroid cancer a year ago and I have been on so many different doses. I am really tired, my hair is falling out in handfuls, my skin and hair are dry, can't lose weight for nothing. I was reading that maybe people like me should chew the tablet instead of swallowing it because it gets absorbed better. I tried it this morning and I will do it till my next visit... I was on armour too but now back on the generic of synthroid.... my tsh is 0.01 I am worried of what is going to happen to me with 0 tsh
It is somewhat mind boggling that you took 1,000mcg of Synthroid and none of it showed up in your blood over the first four hours, when it should rise dramatically.
That says you have an absorbtion problem.
It would be interesting to see your Free T4 and Free T3 levels if you could post them.
That says you have an absorbtion problem.
It would be interesting to see your Free T4 and Free T3 levels if you could post them.
The pituitary and hypothalamus work *on* your thyroid by telling it to produce more (or less) hormone. If your TSH keeps climbing there may be a reason why your pituitary is not getting feedback from your synthetic hormones (Synthroid).
Just a guess but worth checking out.
Just a guess but worth checking out.
this is a good thought i am going to have to look into this alot more,,, but please anymore ideas are always welcome....
unless i am not reading this right i am guessing that this gland works with the thyroid? right? i dont have any part of mine left?
what about being tired all the time? I know they claim once my levels get to where they need to be that will make a difference?
Yes i am getting the other levels checked too, i believe they are "close" to where they need to be. i will get that information and post it as soon as i locate the test papers
unless i am not reading this right i am guessing that this gland works with the thyroid? right? i dont have any part of mine left?
what about being tired all the time? I know they claim once my levels get to where they need to be that will make a difference?
Yes i am getting the other levels checked too, i believe they are "close" to where they need to be. i will get that information and post it as soon as i locate the test papers
They pituitary produces TSH - that's how it interacts with the thyroid and regulates the body: http://www.endocrineweb.com/thyfunction.html
It's worth discussing with your endo to check and see if the pituitary and hypothalamus are working correctly. Ask about a brain CT/MRI
It's worth discussing with your endo to check and see if the pituitary and hypothalamus are working correctly. Ask about a brain CT/MRI
By sublingual I mean under the tongue.
You are getting Free T4 tests and Free T3 tests as well I assume. We all sort of assumed that, I guess.
You are getting Free T4 tests and Free T3 tests as well I assume. We all sort of assumed that, I guess.
You're just not absorbing it at all.
Have you talked about sublingual? Your intestines may be really messed up and you're not absorbing any of the med, but sublingual might deliver the medication into the blood stream.
Like maybe Armour?
Just a thought.
I hope you solve the problem soon.
You may have to go to injections if your TSH rises much higher.
Have you talked about sublingual? Your intestines may be really messed up and you're not absorbing any of the med, but sublingual might deliver the medication into the blood stream.
Like maybe Armour?
Just a thought.
I hope you solve the problem soon.
You may have to go to injections if your TSH rises much higher.
not that i know of? what is that function? i will mention this to the endo with a phone call in the morning. i am willing to do about anything right now, as i am not looking forward to a daily injection...
I wish I had some words of wisdom for you. . .or any kind of answers at all, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you & I hope everything works out for you.
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