Thyroid info/treatment

[faith63]

Advise anyone, I have Hashimot'o's. Does anyone know how to tell if hyper labs[the free's and tsh] and hyper symptoms ,are a die off of cells from an attack or was I over medicated? I went hyper while at 105 mgs Armour. Dr. made me way cut back to 45 mgs. I went totally hypo. again. Finally back up to 90mgs. Some improvements, but I think I want to go up again, based on symptoms. But ,doc say's my labs are perfect! He said he treated "people not Labs" He's afraid that i'll "go toxic again". My current symptoms are cholesterol over 400, headaches, hair loss, I have to spend 13 hours in bed or I'm sick. Blurred vision,bleeding receding gums,distention and slow digestion,constipation ,body pain and 25lbs. of odd,lumpy swelling that came on in a few months in 2010! many more symptoms and this is an improvement! My latest labs from December are TSH 1.60,[ range up to 5.5,] free T3 3.2 [range 2.1-4.4,] freeT4 0.6 [range 0.6-2.7.]  I believe they are low. How can I get proper afford able treatment in Cincinnati area? T
Thank you, Emily

[faith63]

I just looked up the Valsalva Maneuver and It has to do with a very deep exhale, which is very interesting because I have noticed that my diaphragm got very weak with this hypo t and the stomach distention.  I have trouble even blowing my nose and can't exhale well since this started. This is probably putting pressure near the heart?

[faith63]

Thanks.  Yes, I was on HRT when I went hyper.  Started it about 2 months before I got any treatment for thyroid.  It's the bio identical type of HRT at such a low dose. Doc hasn't mentioned a special T4 test,this all just complicates things, but so does going off them now.  Oh, I was on propranolol when I lost a bunch of weight [I believe I went hyper for awhile] I do know it can mess with the T3.

[goolarra]

If the symptoms were there before you started the BHRT, it's probably a pretty good indication that they didn't cause them.  However, I know one of the side effects of HRT is weight gain/inability to lose.

I have read that HRT has an effect on thyroid tests and that there's a specific FT4 test you should get if you're on HRT.  Apparently, estrogen binds thyroid hormones.  You might check the archives.

I'd say it would be best to stay on your HRT until after the test.  That way, only one thing will have been changed since your last labs...the 15 mg increase.  You should also talk to your doctor before discontinuing in case there are any special considerations.  Perhaps it would be worthwhile to d/c the BHRT after these labs without increasing Armour???  It's possible that d/cing HRT will in effect be an increase in thyroid meds if they are interacting...just a thought.

Which brings to mind another question...were you on HRT when you went hyper at 105 mg?

[faith63]

Hi again, It has been suggested that maybe some symptoms may be the result of BHRT.  I can say the symptoms were there before I started them, but could they be stopping me from losing the weight and that awful acne? My dosage of Vivelle patch is 0.05, 2x a week and progesterone cream is 24mg. nightly. They are both low dosages.  What effect does the estrogen have on the thyroid tests?  Would like to get off them.  Should I wait to have current [90mg] labs done, in 2 weeks or wean off now, then have labs done?  So confusing.  They are expensive and don't do anything much. Blood says I'm still post menopausal. Don't have the $ to do saliva testing frequently. Your opinion is most helpful.  Thanks!

[faith63]

It has been raised 15mg since those labs.  Then it took all this time to get him do abs, then they were booked up!  It may be in a better range, but I don't feel so good. I did have some muscle pain and the doc said to rub some Valsalva on it.  Good stuff!  Doc's do make tons of money and it's crazy considering most are pretty worthless. I'll keep in touch if that's ok.  Thank you so much for everything ,I'll let you know if those exercises relieve things, still need to research them.

[goolarra]

If it doesn't make a difference in how you feel, then it's probably not worth doing, especially since it's a hassle for you in terms of food.  In 90 mg, you're still getting a pretty fair amount of T3...some people feel it much more than others.

Hopefully, your doctor will raise your dose again.  If so, ask him if you can have labs again and see him sooner than you  did this time.  That is a long wait between appointments.

That's $800 an hour...$200 for 15 minutes!  Ridiculous, isn't it?