Need Help

[jsals22]

I am a 30 year old male. I was diagnosed w Hasis about 6 months ago after a year and a half of seeing general practitioners complaining of fatigue, depression,low energy. Looking back my TSH steadily rose but was until  I found competent GP that ran test on antibodies to confirm. I was happy bc I knew what was wrong and from what I read and understood I would take meds and feel better as my mother has same condition. Saw my first endo and was placed on 50mcg of Levo w in first two weeks started feeling better then about a month in my face (which was slightly puffy as symptom of Hypo) ballooned up and couldnt even recognize myself along w losing all strenght and was even more fatigued. Contacted endo and all she did was up my dose and just felt worse. Got another opinion and was switched to Synthroid after D/C for about two weeks and puffiness went away and returned to somewhat normal and also lost around 12lbs for no reason. So on Synthroid same thing, puffiness in face increased the more I took. Went back to endo to discuss and she wouldnt acknowledge symptoms and all she wanted to do was increase dose  thought it was allergy perhaps. At my wits end decided to go another endo for another opinion. Upon first blood test w this endo my TSH was at 9.00 which it doubled in matter of 2.5 months along w my test levels being cut in half from last bloods. She recommended Synthroid so started w 50 mcgs again and sure enough symptoms came back extreme edema in face to the point couldnt even look at myself and so puffy and full of pressure it deterred from day to day activities. Contacted endo and expressed concern and she switched me to Armour which same thing more i took the more the edema puffiness increased. Was prescribed 30 mcgs or Armour. I am currently taking around 15 mcgs a day and puffiness has been better but energy is down along w constipation and other hypo symptoms returned. Really dont know what to do at this point. Any input would be great. Havent touiched on everything but tried to give best overview.

[Barb135]

You could also be having a reaction to fillers/binders in the medications.

You might ask your doctor about trying Tirosint, which is gel cap and has no fillers/binders, so is hypoallergenic.

I agree that you need to have Free T3 and Free T4 tested, along with adrenal function. Unfortunately, just an AM cortisol is not sufficient.

[Gibbon1]

I hope you take this seriously, but one of the complications of treating hyporthyroidism is if a person also has hypoadrenalism.  When both are low they kind of balance each other. But when you start treating with synthroid, the adrenals can't keep up with the increased metabolism.

Your endocrinologist should test your AM cortisol, if it's low or 'low normal' you need to rule out additions disease. (It's not uncommon that a person with one autoimmune endocrine disease has another)

Also should check your testosterone levels as well as the AM Cortisol.

Could be something else. Do have these checked if they haven't.

[flyingfool]

Please post your blood lab results along with reference ranges.

TSH is a screening tool at best and COMPLETELY inadequate to adjust medication. In fact it is just short of worthless once you start medication.

You MUST demand if you don't already have them to be tested for the two thyroid hormones your body actually uses.  These are FREE T4 and FREE T3.  The "free" tests are different than "total".  As the free tests only measures the amount of hormone that is isolated and "free" from being attached to a protein molecule. Once attached the hormone becomes biologically inert or useless.

A Dr who is prescribing a medication with a T3 component in it such as Armour borders on malpractice in my opinion if they are not testing you for Free T3.

What other symptoms do you have other than the edema?