Another Newbie

[Tishy420]

Hi All. I was diagnosed with hypoT almost a month ago. Along with high cholesterol and gout. My TSH was 5.35, they did the ultrasound and I do have a goiter. They started me on Levothyroxine 50mcg. I also started on a statin for the cholesterol and allopurinol for the gout. I feel like I am left out in the dark with no flashlight! After being on the med for a month, my family doctor says he will test the blood in another six weeks. Shouldn't I be checked every six weeks until it's normal? I am still tired and run down, wanting to sleep all day long. I don't have a clue to what any of my other blood levels were, and feel like I need to find another doctor. I have had pain between my shoulder blade that wraps around to my sternum on the right side, and he prescribed a six day packet of prednisone, after trying muscle relaxers and ultram (which didn't even dent the pain). HELP!! Any advice to help me understand what is going on and what I should know will really help me out.
Thanks, Patti

[Tishy420]

My primary was only going to order the TSH and BMP. So, I knew I had to find another doctor or specialist. I'm hoping I found the right one! If not, I'll be looking again!
Thanks!

[flyingfool]

Don't expect an "endo" to quote "know" what's going on.  it seems most endo's today are focused on Diabetes and know little about Thyroid.

The key to a good thyroid Dr is that they will treat based upon symptoms AND will have no problem testing for both Free T4 and Free T3.  Even better if the Dr is open to treating with the use of natural dissected Thyroid and/or T3 meds over the majority who only will use a T4 medication.

If the Dr ONLY uses TSH run away. If they only seem to medicate to simply get you within a reference range say FT4 then also try to find another Dr.  Simply being "somewhere" within the so called "normal range" is NOT sufficient for many if not most people.  True symptom relief seems to come to most people when their FT4 is in the MIDDLE of the range AND their FT3 is in the UPPER 1/3 of the range.  being below mid range will frequently keep many people Hypo.  And all of this is TOTALLY independent of TSH.  TSH is absolutely unreliable to adjust dosage of medicine.  Not to mention that people on thyroid meds it is KNOWN (but not apparently to the vast majority of Dr's) that the medicine can suppress TSH rendering it useless.  And those Dr's who ONLY use TSH will almost assuredly keep a person Hypo or under medicated.

[Tishy420]

I found a couple Endo's that accept medicaid. One is Dr Hamilton Fish in Leesburg, but read bad reviews about him. And Endocrine Clinic of West Florida. I'll be giving my primary his name and number for a referral. I cannot wait to see someone who knows. I just had bloodwork done yesterday, so I'm hoping by the end of the week I will have the results and the referral! :)

[LazyMoose]

The pain specifically around your neck can be common while the thyroid is being 'fed' thyroid med while still hypo. Its usually accompanied with a very uncomfortable swelling feeling that can make it harder to swallow. Many here have reported this. And the throat/neck pain does go away when the med is at the right dose after , say several weeks to one month. Some even have a strep throat feeling. Drs do not know these symptoms, but over the years people here have mentioned this. Its usually worse at night, ibuprofen or a topical natural anti-inflammatory found at a heath / herb / vitamin store might help. And they don't stink like Ben menthol either.

Some have terrible all over body pain while hypo, if you dont get this consider yourself very lucky!

[Barb135]

It's not uncommon to have symptoms worsen for a while after starting on medication.  You may have some inflammation going on, which would make your thyroid swell, but it won't be caused from the levo.  

If you have Hashimoto's, it's not uncommon to get periodic inflammation.  That's caused by the antibodies attacking the thyroid.  Selenium supplements may help alleviate that.

[Tishy420]

Is it common for the thyroid to get bigger after being on levothyroxine for 8 weeks?

[Barb135]

I just sent you a PM.

[gimel]

Would the Tampa/Bradenton area be close enough for you to consider, in order to find a good thyroid doctor?

[Tishy420]

Thank you for your reply.
The doctor gave me the order for the blood work that is to be done in five weeks, and has only marked the TSH and BMP, No T3 or T4, no cholesterol. I will be looking for a new doctor today.

[Super_sally888]

Hmmm...  I think your doctor should get your thyroid levels normalised (testing FT3/FT4 as well) before even considering a statin.

High cholesterol is often caused by hypothyroid and should correct by itself when your levels normalise.

Statins also can cause muscle pain.  They are also not well proven to be beneficial in women.

Please research futher.  It may be sie to get another opinion.

[Barb135]

If the only thing your doctor is testing, is TSH - run, don't walk, to find another doctor. You need to have your Free T3 and Free T4 tested, along with thyroid antibodies to confirm/rule out Hashimoto's.

High cholesterol and body/muscle aches/pains are major symptoms of being hypo.  It took a while to do it, but my cholesterol normalized, once my thyroid levels got right, for me....

It takes at least 4-6 weeks for the medication to reach full potential, so your may not quite be there yet; however, you are correct -- you should retest every 6 weeks until your levels have stabilized.

Also, be aware that just because your levels reach the so called "normal" ranges, doesn't mean that's normal for YOU.  

If you were not provided a copy of your lab report, you should get one. All doctors in the US are required to provide copies upon request.  If the FREE T3 and FREE T4 levels were not tested, find a different doctor and make sure you get those done, or you will be kept ill.

You also need to get the thyroid antibody tests, Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGab) tested to confirm/rule out Hashimoto's, which is an autoimmune disease.  With Hashimoto's, the body sees the thyroid as "foreign" and produces antibodies to destroy it. As the destruction progresses, your thyroid will produce less and less hormones, so medication changes must be made to insure adequate hormones in your body.

If the free T3 and free T4 "were" tested, please post the result, with reference ranges for us to see.  When I get my lab reports, I always mark on them the medication I was on, along with any symptoms I had; this is a running record of my thyroid experience.