Dose Advice

[karenms]

Thank you in advance for your advice.  I am very sensitive to ANY change in Synthroid.  When my TSH goes much below 2 or so, I do not feel good.  I was taking 112 mg of Synthroid and my TSH was .79.  I was feeling overstimulated, which I do when I am on too much medication.  I did something stupid and did not take any medication for a week.  In just 1 week, my TSH, with no medication went from .79 to 5.4.  So, I started slow and began taking 50 mg of Synthroid.  After 1 week, I was feeling better, but cold.  I had my TSH tested and my TSH is now 18.  Obviously, I need an increase.  I tried to increase to 88 mg of Synthroid, and within days, I began to feel bad.  Aching legs, aching back, headache, etc.  I did not have any of these symptoms on the lower dose.  I am so confused.  I also take iron and vitamin d.  Thank you so much.

[Smilerdeb]

The usual way of starting off on T4 med is 50mcg then increase by 12.5mcg every 2-3 weeks ...each time getting labs done to ensure you dont go drug induced hyper.
Taking baby steps is a good and successful way of doing it.

My TSH has to be between 2.3 and 2.5 or I feel like cr@p.
To most...that is Hypo......to me it is Heaven.

Get the 50mcg tablets and cut one in quarter to get the 12.5mcg dose with one full 50mcg.
Take it from there and see how you go.
I too..am super drug sensitive.

[dpleiman]

In the early stages of Hashimotos you can fluctuate from hyper to hypo very quickly and frequently. It really stinks but you HAVE to stay on a consistent dosage for at least 6 weeks even if you feel like crud.. Trust me I know and even currently I feel like total **** but i'm sticking to my docs advise even tho i feel like ****.. You should be going for blood checks every 6 weeks after you've been on a particular dosage for that duration. It takes a few weeks for your body to react to a certain dosage and you'll never know which dosage is best for you if you don't stick to one for an extended period of time even when you feel ups and downs on it.. That's what i've had to do and i'm still trying to get it figured out.. I hate it because i'm very sensitive to the changes as well, even tho 0.5 - 5.0 is "within normal range" it doesn't mean that i don't have symptoms even being "within normal range"... Stick with one dose "you may fluctuate many time from hypo to hyper during that time" but you have to stick to your guns and be consistent until it gets figured out.. Hope you feel better soon..  

[TamraW]

Honestly, you should not be experimenting with your thyroid meds. You should have your endocrinologist do this. Your should not adjust your levels on your own from week to week. If you are on 50, then you need to give your body time to adjust before jumping again. This is something that you and your endo should resolve. Your TSH might be responding to this juggling act.

I'm a hypocrite for saying this, because I myself am impatient, but slow and easy....

Take care...
:) Tamra