My Endo made me stop taking Melatonin.
I forget why, but he was sputtering and made me quit.
When you have Hashimoto's the course of the disease can follow varying paths. Some people have very little trouble and others have thyroiditis frequently and have a lot of problems staying on one dose for a long period of time.
It's hard to predict from person to person. Eventually, when you have gotten your T4/T3 levels where they need to be to stay healthy, you will still want to get your thyroid bloodwork done every three months, or six months at the most.
You cannot live normal or healthy with a hormone deficiency. Your body NEEDS T3, and you will not be healthy without the correct amount.
A rough rule of thumb for someone taking synthetics, which you are, and which is fine, is this;
Free T3 about two thirds up on the lab limit scale. It MUST be above midrange, but you don't want it clear at the top. Your Free T4 can be below midpoint on the lab range, but not clear at the bottom. Ideally it will be at midrange or above, but not clear at the top. Your TSH should be between 0.5 and 1.5, for most of us. Some people feel better a little higher or lower, but the TSH should be below 2.0 for most of us.
Some people have a hard time getting to a strong enough dose without developing symptoms of hyperthyroidism. I don't know why that is, but there are a half dozen ladies here having the same problem.
I don't know how to help with that. The doctors usually don't, either, or these women would not be STILL having this problem.
I would say, if you can get your Free T4 close to the middle and your Free T3 above the middle, but at least two points below upper limit, the TSH will either be correct, or you can ignore it.
You don't need TSH to survive.
You need Free T3 to survive. That is what feeds your cells.
You could try Armour if the doctor would entertain such an idea. Maybe the synthetic T4 just doesn't agree with you. It works well for most people, but if you are having trouble reaching a theraputic dose, a different form of the drug may help.
Here's another thought.
Have you had adrenal testing?
If you have adrenal fatigue (the medical field does not recognize adrenal fatigue) or adrenal insufficiency as well as a thyroid condition, treating the thyroid problem first will actually make you worse. You either treat the adrenal issue first, or treat them both at the same time.
That may be worth exploring. It is common to have stress on the adrenals when you have a thyroid problem.
It is possible you have a vitamin D deficiency, which does not pertain to your dosing problem, but it is very common. Correcting a vitamin D deficiency will improve thyroid function and also decrease depression. It will also help with calcium absorbtion.
Thanks for the quick replies. My T4 and T3 came into range but on the low side to mid side, never on the upper ends. TSH always above range. Had reverse T-3 done and it does not appear to be an issue.
I take the medicine in the morning on empty stomach w/ full glass water. Again I feel too many symptoms of hyper mixed in with the muscle fatigue and weakness.
Do people live normally or comfortably with an elevated TSH and free hormones in the normal range? I also heard that people w/ Hashimoto's get ups and downs as the thyroid gland struggles to work at times.
Other supplements are multi-V every couple of days w/ calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and melantonin. Additionally recently started taking MSM/Glucosamine and DHEA as blood tests were low. Other meds are Lunesta, occasional Ativan.
Again any thoughts are appreciated.
Additionally, although I regret taking them, is it more beneficial to rotate sleep aids so that one does not get dependent?
Somehow you need to get your TSH closer to 1.5 or 1.0, assuming your Free T4 and Free T3 come into line as well.
Are you getting Free T4 tests run? Have you had a Free T3 test run lately?
Finding a TSH that is comfortable IS the end goal, but not if 30.0 is comfortable.
What medications are you taking, including supplements?
EXACTLY how do you take your thyroid med?
I think most would advise you to get your TSH to a comfortable level for you! Im still trying to da that right now and there doesn't seem to be an easy or quick way! I suffered from BAD insomnia when I first became hypo. It would be 3 in the morning befroe Id sleep... Im afraid to tell you that I didn't find ant quick fix for that! I just had to put up with it...I did rub a cream to my pluse points (neck, wrist, timple of forehead) I wont say it did the trick but I did seem to sleep a tad bit better. It was called sleep easey.....I to still suffer from anxiety with obsessive thoughts, its like my mind wont shut down or something..... Im just hoping it will resolve when my levels are normal.
Jen