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What happens if I quit taking levothyroxine?
I was diagnosed with Graves at 27. In a years time I had a complete thyroidectamy(?). I have been taking levothyroxine ever since. What would happen to me if I just quit taking the medicine all together? I hate taking a pill everyday and sometimes to get refills for up to a week. Just curious......
I'm scared because I'm on it and if I don't get a full schedule for college then I won't have medical insurance and therefore won't be able to afford it so I won't be able to take the medicine. Should I talk to my counselor and see if it counts as special needs or no? I want to be able to take classes so that I don't get sick or die. Dying is my worst fear.
The thyroxine that you mention is the same thing as T4, just another name. So, the idea that you need to take T4 to help the thyroxine, is false.
If you are taking thyroxine and still have symptoms, then I would suggest that it is due to either your dosage is too low, or that your body is not converting the T4 to T3 adequately and you need to add a source of T3 to bring up your Free T3 level as necessary to relieve symptoms. Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.
I fully realize that in the UK it is hard to find a doctor that will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing for Free T3 and Free T4 and then adjusting those levels as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by TSH levels. But that is what is usually needed. So if you cannot find such a doctor within the NHS system, then you may have to consider going private. If you should decide to look for a good thyroid doctor, if you will give us your location, I have knowledge of a few doctors, and I could see if any are in your area.
If you are taking thyroxine and still have symptoms, then I would suggest that it is due to either your dosage is too low, or that your body is not converting the T4 to T3 adequately and you need to add a source of T3 to bring up your Free T3 level as necessary to relieve symptoms. Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.
I fully realize that in the UK it is hard to find a doctor that will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing for Free T3 and Free T4 and then adjusting those levels as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by TSH levels. But that is what is usually needed. So if you cannot find such a doctor within the NHS system, then you may have to consider going private. If you should decide to look for a good thyroid doctor, if you will give us your location, I have knowledge of a few doctors, and I could see if any are in your area.
hey guess what i discovered that too you would never guess in the U.K. we only get given thyroxine and in America its thyroxine and t4 or t3 coz apparently ive read in books that most people need the t4 to help the thyroxine work?which is awful coz ive been on just thyroxine for 2yrs and have all yhem symptons you mentioned and also apparently to another site really no point taking thyroxine unless on t4?so im confused why drs havnt given me this combination?i can only presume its because it costs more so i just ordered some from my chemist,and will treat myself coz that t4 and t3 is really important good luck
hey guess what i discovered that too you would never guess in the U.K. we only get given thyroxine and in America its thyroxine and t4 or t3 coz apparently ive read in books that most people need the t4 to help the thyroxine work?which is awful coz ive been on just thyroxine for 2yrs and have all yhem symptons you mentioned and also apparently to another site really no point taking thyroxine unless on t4?so im confused why drs havnt given me this combination?i can only presume its because it costs more so i just ordered some from my chemist,and will treat myself coz that t4 and t3 is really important good luck
you are exempt from having to pay for your meds for life now you have hypothyroidism,my dr gave me an exempt form,if you really desperate i have a backlogue of them i may as well give them to you they will only get binned they are 25mcgs and 50mcgs ket me know i send?they all in boxes of course
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