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Is it bad to stay on low dose for too long?
I was treated for hypothyroidism in 7/2013, the doctor started me on 30mg of Armour then about 2 weeks later upped it to 60mg. In 12/2013 I had labs drawn and my doctor freaked asking if I had hyper symptoms I said no to each one. He put me on Levo and a T3 med which gave me bad heart palpitations so he told me to get off on all thyroid meds that I wasn't hypothyroid. I asked him about my low heart rate (50) he said that was fine that he had the same heart rate. I asked about my swollen tongue, he said he didn't know what that was about but he'd run tests to find out after the meds were out of my system. I had horrible heart palpitations when I stopped the meds that I went back on the 30mg of Armour and have been on it since then.
My husband was laid off 12/31/2013, he got a job in CO (we were living in TX) so we had to relocate, 3/2014. I have an appt set for June 6th.
I read on STTM that staying on a low dose will make you even more hypothyroid than when you weren't on meds, I don't feel that at all. I was getting heart palpitations more than once a day and now it's possibly once or twice a week.
If I go off of the Armour how long before it's totally out of my system and what effects will I experience when coming off?
Thank you in advance. :)
My husband was laid off 12/31/2013, he got a job in CO (we were living in TX) so we had to relocate, 3/2014. I have an appt set for June 6th.
I read on STTM that staying on a low dose will make you even more hypothyroid than when you weren't on meds, I don't feel that at all. I was getting heart palpitations more than once a day and now it's possibly once or twice a week.
If I go off of the Armour how long before it's totally out of my system and what effects will I experience when coming off?
Thank you in advance. :)
COMMUNITY LEADER
Okay, I apologize for being such a stickler, but we have to have accurate information in order to know what's going on so we help you; if something doesn't sound realistic we have to question.
Now that we have you back to a living, breathing person, as opposed to someone who has died from hypothermia (lol), we can address what's going on.
Your body (skin) feels much warmer than your inner self feels... My husband used to not be able to touch me because my skin was so hot, yet I didn't feel hot... that was back in my peri-menopause days, so that might be something to think about, as well... you're about that age.
As to the thyroid issues... rule of thumb for someone on thyroid med is to have FT4 at about the mid range level and FT3 in the upper half to upper third of its range... Your latest FT4 is only at 30% of its range. The previous FT3 was only 31% of its range and the last testing only had Total T3 which was below range. If Total T3 is below range, we can pretty well figure that FT3 will be, as well, since about 90-95% of the TT3 will be bound by protein and won't be available for use.
Cold intolerance is one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism, so I guess we'll welcome you to the club... lol
The first thing you need is new labs to see where your levels are now, then you'll need to have an increase in med.
Forget the idea that you've done "damage" by staying at a lower dose; the only damage that's done is that you're still hypo and that can be remedied with adequate medication, as soon as you get retested and your doctor increases your med.
I'm "assuming" that your new doctor will order new blood work, since your last was in Dec. Your latest TSH was pretty low, so if your current one is, as well, you can figure the doctor might freak.... stay calm and pay attention only to the FT3/FT4 levels; if they are low in the ranges, you have issues... Be prepared to point out that FT3 and FT4 are more important than TSH and that TSH tends to be suppressed when one is on a T3 med, like Armour. If you have found a good doctor, you won't have to point these things out, because s/he'll know them, but many still lean on TSH.
Now that we have you back to a living, breathing person, as opposed to someone who has died from hypothermia (lol), we can address what's going on.
Your body (skin) feels much warmer than your inner self feels... My husband used to not be able to touch me because my skin was so hot, yet I didn't feel hot... that was back in my peri-menopause days, so that might be something to think about, as well... you're about that age.
As to the thyroid issues... rule of thumb for someone on thyroid med is to have FT4 at about the mid range level and FT3 in the upper half to upper third of its range... Your latest FT4 is only at 30% of its range. The previous FT3 was only 31% of its range and the last testing only had Total T3 which was below range. If Total T3 is below range, we can pretty well figure that FT3 will be, as well, since about 90-95% of the TT3 will be bound by protein and won't be available for use.
Cold intolerance is one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism, so I guess we'll welcome you to the club... lol
The first thing you need is new labs to see where your levels are now, then you'll need to have an increase in med.
Forget the idea that you've done "damage" by staying at a lower dose; the only damage that's done is that you're still hypo and that can be remedied with adequate medication, as soon as you get retested and your doctor increases your med.
I'm "assuming" that your new doctor will order new blood work, since your last was in Dec. Your latest TSH was pretty low, so if your current one is, as well, you can figure the doctor might freak.... stay calm and pay attention only to the FT3/FT4 levels; if they are low in the ranges, you have issues... Be prepared to point out that FT3 and FT4 are more important than TSH and that TSH tends to be suppressed when one is on a T3 med, like Armour. If you have found a good doctor, you won't have to point these things out, because s/he'll know them, but many still lean on TSH.
I wear my robe or a sweater all day and have two comforters on me during the night. I also wear wool socks to bed cause my feet get so cold. I'm considering making myself gloves cause my hands are freezing too. The strange thing is that I can be freezing but my husband laughs saying that I'm his space heater so he can move close to me when he feels cold. So wish I felt that. LOL
My temp will fluctuate between 95.6-96.5* I don't think I've ever (in the last year) had it come close to 97* even during ovulation. I was using a basal digital thermometer but I also tried an ear thermometer at the same time and that would read 97.6 while basal temp was 96.6* I ordered a non-mercury glass thermometer to make sure the digital isn't giving a false reading. Waiting for it to come in the mail.
LOL! I'm sorry, I got my numbers confused. Talking too much about my pulse.
You're right! My basal temp is 95-96.
You're right! My basal temp is 95-96.
COMMUNITY LEADER
If your "normal" body temperature were 65-66, you'd be in a constant state of hypothermia, which sets in at about 95° (35° C). At 91° amnesia sets in; at 82° loss of consciousness can occur; below 70° death can occur. Body temperature of 65-66 would cause a state of trauma, at the very least, if you could even live with that, let alone function. Are you using a basal thermometer?
Normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100.
The T4 in your system is not what you took this morning; it's actually what you took a few days ago. I always take my T4 med before labs and have never had a false high FT4; I never take my T3 med, prior to labs, as that works quickly and leaves the body in a few hours.
The code for the "thyroid antibodies" might include both TPOab and TGab, but I think, typically, they have to be ordered separately
Normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100.
The T4 in your system is not what you took this morning; it's actually what you took a few days ago. I always take my T4 med before labs and have never had a false high FT4; I never take my T3 med, prior to labs, as that works quickly and leaves the body in a few hours.
The code for the "thyroid antibodies" might include both TPOab and TGab, but I think, typically, they have to be ordered separately
I've had an enlarged tongue for decades so I'm use to it. My tongue extends past my teeth on both sides. It decreased somewhat so now it's about perhaps 1cm on each side past my tongue. I no longer have sleep apnea which is good. My issues with breathing is not due to my tongue but due to CNS depression of the respiratory centre of the brain (the severe bradypnea I talked about). I do have a feeling like there is a lump in my throat but that is due to my thyroid gland.
Just to add, the total measurements of thyroid hormone measure what is bound and unbound (free). Total T3 is still used but more useful for hyperthyroidism. Total T3 can be low for various reasons including hypothyroidism, starvation, stress, acute illness.
Just to add, the total measurements of thyroid hormone measure what is bound and unbound (free). Total T3 is still used but more useful for hyperthyroidism. Total T3 can be low for various reasons including hypothyroidism, starvation, stress, acute illness.
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