Aa
Recently diagnosed, just started Synthroid
For quite some time I've just felt bad. Tired, havent been thinking right, and some fairly decent depression with a real lack of motivation. I finally went in for routine check up and the blood work came back with a TSH of 6.11. We waited 6 weeks to retest and it came back at a 5.6. He left the option for medication up to me, and I thought if it could help with these symptoms, maybe I should just go for it. I got my prescription, and its for .1MG of Synthoid. I have taken it for 2 days.
The problem is this. After more and more studying, I've realized he doenst seem to have any interest in finding out WHY this is going on. I have no history of this in my family, and Im concerned that perhaps it was dietary. I used to eat a LOT of soy products, which I know can have an adverse effect. After the first diagnosis, I cut out the soy, and the numbers did drop. I dont know if its a coincidence or not. I am just worried that by starting it, I am setting myself up for a lifetime of this medication, that perhaps I dont really need. Its a big worry for me. I just wanted to get some feedback from people who were maybe in this same range at first. I read other peoples symptoms and how severe they are, and I start to think that maybe I really wasnt so bad off. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
The problem is this. After more and more studying, I've realized he doenst seem to have any interest in finding out WHY this is going on. I have no history of this in my family, and Im concerned that perhaps it was dietary. I used to eat a LOT of soy products, which I know can have an adverse effect. After the first diagnosis, I cut out the soy, and the numbers did drop. I dont know if its a coincidence or not. I am just worried that by starting it, I am setting myself up for a lifetime of this medication, that perhaps I dont really need. Its a big worry for me. I just wanted to get some feedback from people who were maybe in this same range at first. I read other peoples symptoms and how severe they are, and I start to think that maybe I really wasnt so bad off. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
We've had others on this site who have had a difficult time jumping from zero to starting with 100mcg of T4 though if I recall correctly. I was just trying to minimize that possibility.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Taking a T4 medication twice a day does no good; you're still getting the same amount.
Splitting doses only works when dealing with a T3 component because it's fast acting and is gone quickly. T4 meds take time to build in your system and stay for long periods.
Splitting doses only works when dealing with a T3 component because it's fast acting and is gone quickly. T4 meds take time to build in your system and stay for long periods.
100 mcg is a fairly large starting dose as well. Many people start out at 25 or 50 mcg. This is double that amount. While 100 mcg is by no means high dose ultimately fro many people, it is I think a bit high for someone to start on from nothing.
You may have some side affects from taking such a high dose. Some people can tolerate it, others can't. I personally would recommend that you take half a pill twice a day. And maybe even for the first week only take half a pill once a day, followed the 2nd week by adding in the 2nd dose. But you may want to call and talk to your Dr about it.
Synthroid is a pure T4 med and it is a "storage" hormone in that it stays in the bloodstream until the body needs Thyroid. The body ONLY uses free T3 hormone. SO the body must convert the storage free T4 hormone into Free T3 hormone to be used. As a result it takes about 6 weeks or so to build up the Free T4 in the bloodstream.
When you ask your Dr to test for the Free T4 and Free T3 do not be surprised if you encounter resistance. Especially for the Free T3.
If the Dr gives you some gruff, ask the Dr if your body's cells ACTUALLY use TSH or even Free T4 or does it use Free T3? If he/she does not know or answers anything other than Free T3 then find a new Dr. If your Dr ONLY believes in testing TSH, Find a new Dr.
Most people seem to obtain symptom relief when their FT 4 is in the MIDDLE of the range if not slightly higher AND, that means in addition to, their FT3 to be in the UPPER 1/3 of the range.
Remember that simply being somewhere "within range" is NOT good enough. At least not for most people. It is VERY common for people to be hypo and have symptoms and be in the lower part of the range. If you have a Dr who will only treat you by refreence range, try to find a new Dr. The real way to treat Hypo is by elimination of symptoms.
TSH is almost worthless other than a screening tool. After that reliance should be on the FT4 and FT3. TSH is often suppressed by taking Thyroid medication. Dr's seem to not understand this, and when the TSH drops low, they panic and reduce your medication without regard to your ACTUAL symptoms that indicate you are not Hyper but rather still Hypo. This is so common it is nauseating. And Dr.s keep patients not feeling well or downright sick by practicing either reference range endocrinology or Immaculate TSH belief. Do not let Dr's continue to keep you sick!
You may have some side affects from taking such a high dose. Some people can tolerate it, others can't. I personally would recommend that you take half a pill twice a day. And maybe even for the first week only take half a pill once a day, followed the 2nd week by adding in the 2nd dose. But you may want to call and talk to your Dr about it.
Synthroid is a pure T4 med and it is a "storage" hormone in that it stays in the bloodstream until the body needs Thyroid. The body ONLY uses free T3 hormone. SO the body must convert the storage free T4 hormone into Free T3 hormone to be used. As a result it takes about 6 weeks or so to build up the Free T4 in the bloodstream.
When you ask your Dr to test for the Free T4 and Free T3 do not be surprised if you encounter resistance. Especially for the Free T3.
If the Dr gives you some gruff, ask the Dr if your body's cells ACTUALLY use TSH or even Free T4 or does it use Free T3? If he/she does not know or answers anything other than Free T3 then find a new Dr. If your Dr ONLY believes in testing TSH, Find a new Dr.
Most people seem to obtain symptom relief when their FT 4 is in the MIDDLE of the range if not slightly higher AND, that means in addition to, their FT3 to be in the UPPER 1/3 of the range.
Remember that simply being somewhere "within range" is NOT good enough. At least not for most people. It is VERY common for people to be hypo and have symptoms and be in the lower part of the range. If you have a Dr who will only treat you by refreence range, try to find a new Dr. The real way to treat Hypo is by elimination of symptoms.
TSH is almost worthless other than a screening tool. After that reliance should be on the FT4 and FT3. TSH is often suppressed by taking Thyroid medication. Dr's seem to not understand this, and when the TSH drops low, they panic and reduce your medication without regard to your ACTUAL symptoms that indicate you are not Hyper but rather still Hypo. This is so common it is nauseating. And Dr.s keep patients not feeling well or downright sick by practicing either reference range endocrinology or Immaculate TSH belief. Do not let Dr's continue to keep you sick!
COMMUNITY LEADER
You're not the first person to be thrown a script for pills and expected to live happily ever after.
You need to be tested for more than TSH. TSH is a pituitary hormone and not necessarily indicative of thyroid function, as it varies radically, even within the same day.
You need to get the Free T3 and Free T4 tested. These are the actual thyroid hormones produced by the body. T4 is the storage form of hormone, and must be converted to T3 prior to use by the cells. Some of the T4 and T3 in your blood will be bound by proteins and will be unavailable for use; the rest will be "FREE". The FREE T4 test will tell how much T4 hormone is available for conversion to T3, while the FREE T3 tells how much hormone is actually available for use by the individual cells. Always be sure to specify FREE T3 and FREE T4.
You should also get tested for thyroid antibodies to determine whether or not you have an autoimmune thyroid disease, called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Hash's is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
With Hashi's, the body, for some reason, identifies the thyroid as "foreign" and produces antibodies to attack and destroy it. The destruction is usually (but not always) gradual, and as it progresses, thyroid function will decline and you will produce less thyroid hormones. There is no cure for Hashimoto's, though it can be managed.
While there are some thyroid issues that resolve on their own, medication is usually a life long thing.
The tests you need to get now, are Free T3, Free T4 to test actual thyroid function; Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyoglobulin Antibodies (TGab) to confirm/rule out Hashimoto's. It would also be to your advantage to get a thyroid ultra sound, to check for swelling/inflammation of the thyroid or nodules.
You don't necessarily need an endocrinologist, but you DO need a good thyroid doctor. Be aware that many endos specialize in diabetes and are not all that good with thyroid issues. If your primary doctor is willing to order proper tests and prescribe a variety of medications, including those that contain T3, you might be fine sticking with him; however, if he is not willing to order the right tests or prescribe other thyroid medications, you will need to run fast, because as things progress, he will keep you ill.
It would be best if you had Free T3 and Free T4, prior to beginning the medications, so you'd have a "baseline" level to start with.
It takes about 5-6 weeks for the medication to reach full potential in the body and you should retest every 5-6 weeks until your levels stabilize. Be sure to get Free T3, Free T4 and TSH *every* time, so you can see where your levels are.
You need to be tested for more than TSH. TSH is a pituitary hormone and not necessarily indicative of thyroid function, as it varies radically, even within the same day.
You need to get the Free T3 and Free T4 tested. These are the actual thyroid hormones produced by the body. T4 is the storage form of hormone, and must be converted to T3 prior to use by the cells. Some of the T4 and T3 in your blood will be bound by proteins and will be unavailable for use; the rest will be "FREE". The FREE T4 test will tell how much T4 hormone is available for conversion to T3, while the FREE T3 tells how much hormone is actually available for use by the individual cells. Always be sure to specify FREE T3 and FREE T4.
You should also get tested for thyroid antibodies to determine whether or not you have an autoimmune thyroid disease, called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Hash's is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
With Hashi's, the body, for some reason, identifies the thyroid as "foreign" and produces antibodies to attack and destroy it. The destruction is usually (but not always) gradual, and as it progresses, thyroid function will decline and you will produce less thyroid hormones. There is no cure for Hashimoto's, though it can be managed.
While there are some thyroid issues that resolve on their own, medication is usually a life long thing.
The tests you need to get now, are Free T3, Free T4 to test actual thyroid function; Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyoglobulin Antibodies (TGab) to confirm/rule out Hashimoto's. It would also be to your advantage to get a thyroid ultra sound, to check for swelling/inflammation of the thyroid or nodules.
You don't necessarily need an endocrinologist, but you DO need a good thyroid doctor. Be aware that many endos specialize in diabetes and are not all that good with thyroid issues. If your primary doctor is willing to order proper tests and prescribe a variety of medications, including those that contain T3, you might be fine sticking with him; however, if he is not willing to order the right tests or prescribe other thyroid medications, you will need to run fast, because as things progress, he will keep you ill.
It would be best if you had Free T3 and Free T4, prior to beginning the medications, so you'd have a "baseline" level to start with.
It takes about 5-6 weeks for the medication to reach full potential in the body and you should retest every 5-6 weeks until your levels stabilize. Be sure to get Free T3, Free T4 and TSH *every* time, so you can see where your levels are.
Thanks for that! The last part is interesting, as most the products I ate were products containing soy protein concentrates...so maybe it didn't have as much of an effect as I had thought.
I'm still concerned though...I feel as though I was just sort of thrown the pills, and that's the end of it. I've never been to big on people just being medicated, and it seems as though there has been zero effort to actually figure out why this has happened. Should I ask to see an endocrinologist?
I'm still concerned though...I feel as though I was just sort of thrown the pills, and that's the end of it. I've never been to big on people just being medicated, and it seems as though there has been zero effort to actually figure out why this has happened. Should I ask to see an endocrinologist?
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