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Hypothyroid Symptoms--Help
Hi,
I have been experiencing for a long time fatigue, lot of hair loss and increase in my weight
I got the lab report today and doctor said I have Hypothyroid symptoms and prescribed me with synthroid. Currently I am not taking any medicines.
My Free T4/T3 are in the range but not sure why TSH is high. I thought TSH is just an indicator
Please help me and let me know what is going on..I am just thinking to take synthroid or not
Here are the results
TSH -- 5.38
Free T4 -- 1.0 (Range 0.8-1.8)
Free T3--- 3.2 (Range 2.3-4.2)
Antobodies
TPO AB ---13
TG AB --- < 20
I have been experiencing for a long time fatigue, lot of hair loss and increase in my weight
I got the lab report today and doctor said I have Hypothyroid symptoms and prescribed me with synthroid. Currently I am not taking any medicines.
My Free T4/T3 are in the range but not sure why TSH is high. I thought TSH is just an indicator
Please help me and let me know what is going on..I am just thinking to take synthroid or not
Here are the results
TSH -- 5.38
Free T4 -- 1.0 (Range 0.8-1.8)
Free T3--- 3.2 (Range 2.3-4.2)
Antobodies
TPO AB ---13
TG AB --- < 20
Best Answer
Thanks so much for the detailed information. I like the idea of keeping track everything and will do it
I will go on Synthroid for now and wait to see till next blood work which is due in next 6 weeks
I will go on Synthroid for now and wait to see till next blood work which is due in next 6 weeks
Thank you all for very informative information..
Doctor asked me to start with the following
25mcg on Synthroid (Branded one and not Generic)
5000mg for D3 (Got from Walmart)
5000mg Biotin (Got from Walmart)
B12 (Not sure how much mg whether to get tablet or sublingual)
Started taking Synthroid from today on empty stomach i,e first thing in the morning
Right now my worry is about 2 things
1) Lot of Hairfall...How to control this asap
2) Will there be any other side affects (heart issues etc)due to Synthroid in long time as some other forums/people are talking about taking the Natural Dissective Thyroids which has (T1/T2/T3/T4)
Doctor asked me to start with the following
25mcg on Synthroid (Branded one and not Generic)
5000mg for D3 (Got from Walmart)
5000mg Biotin (Got from Walmart)
B12 (Not sure how much mg whether to get tablet or sublingual)
Started taking Synthroid from today on empty stomach i,e first thing in the morning
Right now my worry is about 2 things
1) Lot of Hairfall...How to control this asap
2) Will there be any other side affects (heart issues etc)due to Synthroid in long time as some other forums/people are talking about taking the Natural Dissective Thyroids which has (T1/T2/T3/T4)
there is no cure, meds for life. As for meds, it is personal preference. regardless, I agree with everything above also. Start out small and gradually increase after testing every 4-6 weeks so your body doesn't go into over react which is hard on you. It takes time to tweak everything and patience is mandatory whether you like it or not. Your tsh isn't that high and mine wasn't either at first and weight gain all of a sudden when I was always skinny all my life and exhaustion was my first real signs too....so it should take but 2-3 months to get you to the right dosage but some people it may take up to a year if they don't respond well to a certain medication after a couple of months or it you have to add t3 and re balance everything out....but it is very important to exhale, and just take it one step at a time because the thyroid controls so much in the body and important to take your meds.
yes your b12 and d3 is extremely low. I hope she told you what dosage of d3 to take daily. I had to take 5000mg daily for almost a year to get mine up to 60 and I took a b complex vitamin vitacost (online brand) that was great that got my b12 up there . vitacost brand is much better than over the counter brand bec the b12 in it is the more expensive easy to absorb kind and walmart has the cheap kind in it for example but cheap at vitacost.com
Important to get d3 and b12 up to par.
when you do start thyroid meds, take on a empty stomach first thing in the morning with water and then wait a hour to eat or coffee so wont block ;absorption etc....and don't take vitamins or calcium for 4 hours or probiotics for 4 hrs.
yes your b12 and d3 is extremely low. I hope she told you what dosage of d3 to take daily. I had to take 5000mg daily for almost a year to get mine up to 60 and I took a b complex vitamin vitacost (online brand) that was great that got my b12 up there . vitacost brand is much better than over the counter brand bec the b12 in it is the more expensive easy to absorb kind and walmart has the cheap kind in it for example but cheap at vitacost.com
Important to get d3 and b12 up to par.
when you do start thyroid meds, take on a empty stomach first thing in the morning with water and then wait a hour to eat or coffee so wont block ;absorption etc....and don't take vitamins or calcium for 4 hours or probiotics for 4 hrs.
BOTH your B-12 and D3 are low. very low on the B-12,
many countries the bottom end of B-12 range STARTS at 500. many people don't seem to feel well until their B-12 is up to about 800.
D3 should be at least 30 and probably even better to be 50 to 60.
Also the rule of thumb many people have found here is that in order to feel well they need to have BOTH of the following.
1) Free T4 to be in the MIDDLE of the range (50%). Your FT4 is only at 20% of the range.
AND- that means in addition
2) Free T3 to be in the UPPER 1/3 of the range (66.7%). Your FT3 is only at 47.4% of the range.
This is a rule of thumb and every one feels well at different blood labs. But the rule of thumb appears to be MUCH better target to shoot for than the so called "normal" range.
So you can see like many people that you still remain hypo while still within range but low in range. Your TSH also indicates that your pituitary gland (brain) also believes that your body is Hypo and is asking your thyroid to produce more hormone.
Your test results seem also to indicate that your body is converting the T4 into T3.
All things would indicate that you should start to get a starting dosage of thyroid hormone. And since it appears at this point that you are converting the T4 into T3, then the most common protocol would be to start on a synthetic T4 medication. Common brand name of Synthroid or Levothyroixine. There are many generics under various names but they are all T4 as the active ingredient.
Most common starter doses of T4 is under 50 mcg. Usually 12.5 or 25 mcg being most common. I would question your Dr if they prepose any dosage larger than 50 mcg to start out with.
Also FYI many people when first starting out taking thyroid medication will actually feel WORSE initially. This is because your body was doing everything it could to try to make up for the lack of thyroid. And once you add it back in. It sets off a ripple effect and your body has to readjust to this added hormone and make adjustments. Which can lead to some additional temporary symptoms that make it appear like the medicine is making you sick and many people will want to quit. Which ultimately keeps them sick. Some people have no problems what so ever, other people are VERy sensitive and must be extremely conservative and increase dosages very very small increments.
many countries the bottom end of B-12 range STARTS at 500. many people don't seem to feel well until their B-12 is up to about 800.
D3 should be at least 30 and probably even better to be 50 to 60.
Also the rule of thumb many people have found here is that in order to feel well they need to have BOTH of the following.
1) Free T4 to be in the MIDDLE of the range (50%). Your FT4 is only at 20% of the range.
AND- that means in addition
2) Free T3 to be in the UPPER 1/3 of the range (66.7%). Your FT3 is only at 47.4% of the range.
This is a rule of thumb and every one feels well at different blood labs. But the rule of thumb appears to be MUCH better target to shoot for than the so called "normal" range.
So you can see like many people that you still remain hypo while still within range but low in range. Your TSH also indicates that your pituitary gland (brain) also believes that your body is Hypo and is asking your thyroid to produce more hormone.
Your test results seem also to indicate that your body is converting the T4 into T3.
All things would indicate that you should start to get a starting dosage of thyroid hormone. And since it appears at this point that you are converting the T4 into T3, then the most common protocol would be to start on a synthetic T4 medication. Common brand name of Synthroid or Levothyroixine. There are many generics under various names but they are all T4 as the active ingredient.
Most common starter doses of T4 is under 50 mcg. Usually 12.5 or 25 mcg being most common. I would question your Dr if they prepose any dosage larger than 50 mcg to start out with.
Also FYI many people when first starting out taking thyroid medication will actually feel WORSE initially. This is because your body was doing everything it could to try to make up for the lack of thyroid. And once you add it back in. It sets off a ripple effect and your body has to readjust to this added hormone and make adjustments. Which can lead to some additional temporary symptoms that make it appear like the medicine is making you sick and many people will want to quit. Which ultimately keeps them sick. Some people have no problems what so ever, other people are VERy sensitive and must be extremely conservative and increase dosages very very small increments.
Thanks for your response.
Yes she checked and my vitamin D and B12 was also low. She recommended to take supplements.
Also I am not on any medicines but she recommended to start on synthroid 25mg. This is the first time I got all the tests done through her due to weight and increase in hair loss
Vitamin D -- 24
B12 --- 240
The doctor is an endocrinologist and I went to her for the first time.
Anyone suggests any good doctors in Northern Virginia area, USA ?
Let me know should I start taking synthroid or go for armour or can be cure anyother way naturally.
Yes she checked and my vitamin D and B12 was also low. She recommended to take supplements.
Also I am not on any medicines but she recommended to start on synthroid 25mg. This is the first time I got all the tests done through her due to weight and increase in hair loss
Vitamin D -- 24
B12 --- 240
The doctor is an endocrinologist and I went to her for the first time.
Anyone suggests any good doctors in Northern Virginia area, USA ?
Let me know should I start taking synthroid or go for armour or can be cure anyother way naturally.
if you don't feel like you are being treated properly, always shop around for a dr with word of mouth or asking on the site in your area......the right dr will make a world of difference from everyone elses post I have learned. A thyroid can influence everything from your heart to hormones to muscles to energy to weight....so important to take the meds and get another test in 4-6 weeks and it may take that long b4 you start feeling any better but you may notice immediately in the first week, everyone is different
did he check your vitamin d deficiency which is common with fatigue.
were you on meds with the test?
your tsh is working overtime to make your t3t4 so you need a low dose gradually which will help how you feel but your b12 and vit d levels may be low also.
my dr checked my hormones also bec so much can influence the thyroid and I was low in everything making me feel even worse.
are you going to a bio identical dr, or gyn? that was my first dr.
my first test was similar to yours and I felt so weak...and was started on natural thyroid compounded which was like armour but now my dr has me on synthroid and it can be a rollocoaster trying to get just at the right dosage....I think I need t3 now added....bec I am having the muscular skeletal weakness.....in feet and upper arms....
were you on meds with the test?
your tsh is working overtime to make your t3t4 so you need a low dose gradually which will help how you feel but your b12 and vit d levels may be low also.
my dr checked my hormones also bec so much can influence the thyroid and I was low in everything making me feel even worse.
are you going to a bio identical dr, or gyn? that was my first dr.
my first test was similar to yours and I felt so weak...and was started on natural thyroid compounded which was like armour but now my dr has me on synthroid and it can be a rollocoaster trying to get just at the right dosage....I think I need t3 now added....bec I am having the muscular skeletal weakness.....in feet and upper arms....
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Some people even find as noted above of the adjustment of initially starting to take thyroid that their hair loss becomes WORSE. Which understandably concerns the patient and they want to stop to prevent going what they believe will be bald.
In terms of prioritizing of the body, hair loss is WAY down the foodchain. Therefoer when the body becomes stressed one of the first things a body might do is shut down the lowest priority item. Which for some people is hair loss. And accordingly, even when getting back on the road to recovery, the body will start to bring other more critical items back on line, which means that the hair loss which is way down on the list may take time to recover.
This is not true for all people but is known to happen to some. You will have to persevere and push through it if it happens to you.
Heart effects typically is more a result of the thyroid levels not being correct. Palpatations or skipped beats tend to occur when thyroid too low, and racing fast heartbeat (tachichardia) when thyroid is too high. Again these are rules of thumbs and many symptoms with thyroid can cross over. So I'm only trying to relate what may happen.
I have no problem with natural dessicated thyroid. However it seems to work best for people who need some T3. At this point given your blood labs and the appearance that you are seeming to convert T4 into T3 it would make sense to try the T4 only and see how your blood levels react to the dosage and subsiquent increase dosages to get a better understanding of how your body reacts. Also MANY Dr's absolutely do not believe in NDT and will not prescribe it. In fact that would seem more the rule than the exception. If at some later point along the journey that it would be indicated that you need more T3, then you can also supplement with a synthetic T3.
As far as T1 and T2. Of all the years reading here and other places no one has been able to determine what those molecules do. I'm sure God put them there for some reason but so far it seems that the dominating hormones are T4 and T3.
The bottom line about what medication is "best" is a personal decision. Any combination can work well. What works for one person may not work as well for another. So there is a potential for trial and error so the best medicine is the medicine or combination of medicines that work FOR YOU.
The standard practice now in general is to start out with straight synthetic T4. Then if that doesn't work, IF you can convince a Dr. to give you some T3 to add it. This is generally a pretty steep uphill battle because Drs in medical school are taught that TSH is the holy Grail. And that NDT is totally unreliable and T3 by itself is dangerous. So Dr's tend to stay away of anything with T3 including NDT as they possibly can.
My advice is to relax and see what the snthetic T4 does for you. Don't expect miracles. Because it takes T4 6 weeks to stabilize in your system and the starter dose may be a far cry from where you ultimately end up in terms of dosage. But you have to get to the ultimate point over a period of time and small increases and retesting every 6 weeks or so.
I know it is a painful process.
You need to write every symptom you are having. And write down every dosage you are on during those times. It is imperative that you be tested for FREE T4 and FREE T3 every time and that you demand written results of your lab results. I personally keep all of this in a spreadsheet.
In this way you have a track record of the dosage, how you are feeling directly correlated to your blood labs. This is worth its weight in GOLD to enhance your arguments with your Dr about dosages and also in the event you have to change Dr's or move away etc. Some people have been devestated when they are optimized and feel great, and then they move to a new city or state or their Dr retires and the new Dr "flips out" at the labs or the dosage (especially if you are taking any T3 and the TSH is suppressed) and refuses to prescribe what dosage you feel great on. Sending the person on a roller coaster ride of hell! Having this written record at least you have a fighting chance to "prove" to this new Dr with some real evidence that you and your past Dr are right and the new Dr is wrong. But even then many people have lost that argument (ask me how I know, my wife is going through tis EXACTLY right now! It is NOT fun let me tell you!)