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Hypo-Thyroid Seborrheic Keratosis?
Hello, I have been slightly hypo thyroid most of my life and wanted to try to get off my thyroid medication. Saw an Endocrinologist, who said I could stop slowly and see how I feel. Well, I tappered down and have been without any for 2 weeks and now I broke out with seborrheic Keratosis all over my neck and chest and have developed arthritis in my hand. Are these new problems due to my stopping my Thyroid Med?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Even sub-clinical hypothyroidism can become a lifelong condition.
It's not true that synthroid or other thyroid medications cause osteoporosis or other loss of bone or that getting off from it will preserve the bone. I've had osteopenia for a lot of years (well before hypothyroidism) and have actually rebuilt bone, with a program of calcium, vitamin D and exercise, in spite of being on both T4 and T3 thyroid hormones. I take my T4 and 1 T3 tablet first thing in the morning and 1 T3 tablet with lunch... I need the medication and it's become a habit that I don't forget.
Your labs were within the normal ranges (look very good, by the way) because of the medication. If you've only been off the medication for 2 weeks, it's too soon to retest, as it takes several weeks to get all the T4 out of your system.
It's not true that synthroid or other thyroid medications cause osteoporosis or other loss of bone or that getting off from it will preserve the bone. I've had osteopenia for a lot of years (well before hypothyroidism) and have actually rebuilt bone, with a program of calcium, vitamin D and exercise, in spite of being on both T4 and T3 thyroid hormones. I take my T4 and 1 T3 tablet first thing in the morning and 1 T3 tablet with lunch... I need the medication and it's become a habit that I don't forget.
Your labs were within the normal ranges (look very good, by the way) because of the medication. If you've only been off the medication for 2 weeks, it's too soon to retest, as it takes several weeks to get all the T4 out of your system.
My hypothyroidism has always been classified as Sub-Clinical - I do not have any auto-immune conditions or Hashimoto's - but because I always felt "not quite right" because of it, my doctor put me on Synthroid in my mid 30's. Then in my mid 50's, I developed Lichen Slerosus (LS) and I asked my doctor to add low dose Cytomel to my Thyroid meds - which resulted in resolving the LS. I'm 56 now and my recent DEXA showed significant bone loss and I'm now classified as pre-osteoporotic (-2.3). I want to get off the Synthroid, if I can, to preserve my bone density and see if my body can do without all the thyroid meds. Also, it's somewhat complicated to be taking 3 timed pills every day - I sometimes forget to take them all and at the correct times.
Before I stopped taking the Synthroid, my Labs were all within normal ranges as follows:
* TSH 2.240 uIU/mL Ref Range: 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL
* Free T3 4.0 pg/mL Ref Range: 2.6-4.8 pg/mL
* Free T4 1.17 ng/dL Ref Range: 0.7-1.53 ng/dL
I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow to see what the TSH, FT3, & FT4 are now.
Before I stopped taking the Synthroid, my Labs were all within normal ranges as follows:
* TSH 2.240 uIU/mL Ref Range: 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL
* Free T3 4.0 pg/mL Ref Range: 2.6-4.8 pg/mL
* Free T4 1.17 ng/dL Ref Range: 0.7-1.53 ng/dL
I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow to see what the TSH, FT3, & FT4 are now.
COMMUNITY LEADER
They could be. What is the cause of your hypothyroidism? Do you have Hashimoto's? If so, your thyroid medication is for life.
Please post your current thyroid related labs, so we can get a better idea of where you are. Be sure to include reference ranges with any lab results. You should be getting tested regularly for TSH, Free T3 and Free T4.
Why do you want to get off your thyroid medication?
Please post your current thyroid related labs, so we can get a better idea of where you are. Be sure to include reference ranges with any lab results. You should be getting tested regularly for TSH, Free T3 and Free T4.
Why do you want to get off your thyroid medication?
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