Looking for support/advice/suggestions

[marcal]

OOPS. I will try again. I have had Hypothroidism for several years and have been on many different doses and types of thyroid medicine. I have never had my syptoms undercontrol. I have continued to have intolerance to cold, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin,etc. I have went to Endos but have relied on my gp. to monitor. I am so tired of "them" not listening. I try very hard to plead my case but all they react to is the lab work, which has always indicated hypothoridism and throw pills at it. For some unknown reason this past fall I begin to have jitters and all the ugly side effects that go along with too much medicine. Since then my medicine level have been jumped around and even switched from generic to name brand only. My labs continue to get increasingly worse. I even had my doctor question me to see if I was actually taking my thyroid medicine. ( I swear, I haven't missed a dose) I have been so upset over this and if you show any frustration with the situation and the fact the doctors are not listening to what you are telling them...then they want to put on antidepressants. I have no problem with antidepressants. My problem is with the fact I am trying to get them to figure why I am having problems with all this medicine. Everytime they increase my dose, I cannot tolerate it and if I stay on a dose I can tolerate my labs are really bad. Where can I find the answers I am searching for and how do I get the doctors to listen. Just a side note, I do not have alot of options as to who treats me with insurance I have and the area I live in. Any suggestions would be welcome

[gimel]

Agree with most of what you said.  But, mental issues with Synthroid????   Please provide a reference for that.

[marsutt]

Each thyroid medicines have different fillers.  Your body can react different each filler.  Synthroid contains gluten and lactose.  Levoxyl does not contain gluten of lactose.  Synthroid is also known to cause mental issues, but again it could be the fillers in the meds.  Find the meds and dosage you are comfortable with and stick with it.  The doctors do not know what works for you until you tell them and then they will still guess at what to prescribe next.  After 3 doctors, I had to learn on my own what would be best for me.

[marcal]

My most recent TSH as of Monday..was 74.13 and my T4 was "normal". My current dose of Levoxyl .025MG. I have tried since October to increase my dosage to.05 but every time I make the switch, I am plagued with jitters and heart palpations and such angst, I feel like I am jumping out of my skin. I also suffer fibromyalgia, RLS, PLM, chronic fatigue,insomnia...and the list goes on. I know there has to be a common thread here. I know the answer is out there. I just talked to the nurse tonight and she said I have to increase my meds no matter how it makes me feel. I just can't imagine there is no other answers. I am just tired of all the medical people acting like I have the answers. I just have the problems and the questions. the worst part of it is how rotten I feel much of the time and the toll it is taking on my family. All I want is to feel like myself again. It has been a long time but I do still remember what it felt to feel good. Thanks for the support

[KelDC]

From what I've read/heard, you should always be on the name-brand thyroid medicine (if it's Synthroid, check their website for coupons!).  The generics do not always have consistent levels of medication in them - which, of course, really messes up how much you are actually getting each day.  

I'm sorry you are having such a rough time.  You will find lots of support and advice here.  Just remember that no one knows you better than you, so keep pushing for the right answers.  

Good luck!