**Hypothyroid Support Group**

tulip07

Thanks for the link to the facebook group! It does look informative. I sent a request to join the group!

abcwhite10

Sorry, this is lengthy.
It's good to read about this from another person's perspective rather than just medical info. I have a long family history of hypothyroid and thyroid cancer. I was diagnosed with cold nodules on my thyroid about 3 years ago. For a period of time (about May of 2010 untl Sept at which time I quit losing - assumed it was a plateau) I was feeling absolutely fantastic! I lost nearly 40 lbs with what seemed to be little extra effort. I was running more and eating healthier but even at that, it seemed too good to be true. I have always been active and had relativiely decent eating habits. I attributed this fantastic feeling to the weight loss, which I am sure part of it was. Well.....fast forward a bit to this past May and the insomnia and night sweats began, followed by tiredness which has become exhaustion, moodiness, now the funny feeling in my head, and now I feel like i can't even run anymore! It's like it's painful or like I'm running through wet cement. I have gained back about 12 pounds and feel like crap. I switched family dr's when all mine seemed to want to do was put me on anti depressants because my TSH was "normal". I switched to a new female dr and she has re-tested all my bloodwork along with a pile more. My cholesterol has been rising (from 5.08 to 6.10 in just 3 mos!!), my TSH is rising, fasting bloodsugar borders on hypoglycemic, and my insulin levels are quite low. She very strongly suspects it is hypothyroidism but doesn't want to mask anything else that could possibly be going on and has referred me to an endo, and is wanting my nodules biopsied. I couldn't be happier about finding a dr that is willing to listen and explore....................but in the meantime while I am waiting for answers, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can make myself feel better? It doesn't seem to matter when I go to bed it's a chore to get up! I used to go to bed at 10 or 10:30 and get up at 4:30 and go for a run, now I go to bed at 9 or 9:30 (and sometimes have already fallen asleep on the couch) and don't get up until 6. It's so frustrating and my hubby just doesn't get it. He figures if I just do more, I would feel better, that I'm tired because all I do is sleep. I hate that I could go from feeling so good (now I wonder if I was hyperthyroid at that time) to so rotten in such a short time!! Any advice.......anyone??

tulip07

abcwhite- So sorry to hear about the ups and downs! It took about 6 months to get a diagnosis for me and a year after diagnosis, I am just now getting back to normal levels.

I went to my PCP asking for the thyroid test in April 2010 and got diagnosed as hypo in October 2010. During those 6 months- I was slightly hypo, asked to repeat tests in 2 months, then I was slightly hyper, then repeated tests, this time I was extremely hypo (TSH = 120) which is when they diagnosed me as hypo with Hashimotos. So it's very possible you may be going through something like that. Now a year later, although feeling MUCH MUCH better, I am still struggling with getting to normal TSH levels. I was put on Synthroid by the endocrinologist last October which helped some but I was still only about 50% of what I was before. Anyway, fast forward to now, I am now seeing a different doctor (an osteopathic physician) who tested my Vitamin D levels and my adrenal gland functions which also turned out to be very low. I am now on Armour, Vitamin D and DHEA (for Cortisol/Adrenal gland function) and feeling sooooo much better. I believe both the Vitamin D and DHEA are temporary until my levels are in the normal range. Can you get your doctor to check these levels too? It looks like being deficient in these 2 also have similar symptoms as hypothyroidism. I am sure there are other conditions with similar symptoms but this is based on my experience.

Did your doctor check your antibodies too? Also if they haven't tested already, make sure they are checking your Free T3, Free T4 levels (my osteopath also tested my Reverse T3) along with your TSH levels. TSH levels apparently don't mean much! Oh another great way to see if you are hypothyoid - check your basal temperature (early morning temp) for a few days and see if it's lower than normal temperature. That would indicate you are hypothyroid and/or that your body is functioning at a lower temperature and hence all bodily functions have slowed down.

My doctor thought all the ups and downs (hypo, hyper and then hypo again) in my TSH levels before were likely due to my antibodies increasing during the time and my body trying to adjust/fight back(?) I had trouble explaining to my husband too that I was not being lazy and that something was happening to my body. It was hard for him to understand what was going on with me, but I forwarded some articles to him and kept him true to what I was feeling and I think he eventually got it. Also please see if a good quality multi-vitamin will help you? I tried the new chapter (organic) women one daily for a little bit and that seemed to help until my TSH got really high.

Good luck! I hope you get your answers soon. Please keep us posted.

Hilarious92

Hi all!

I am 18 and in college, and just about 3 weeks ago I was screened for hypothyroid, as I gained 30 lbs in 2 years with no change in diet or exercise. The test came back and I have been diagnosed as having an under active thyroid! I am just glad that the doctors found out what was wrong before this got too far =]

I have just started taking levothyroxine (25 mcg) 1 1/2 weeks ago. I was on the energetic side for the first time in quite awhile for the first few days, but in the past 2 days I have been feeling just like I did before I started the medication.

My doctor is switching me to Synthroid (instead of generic levothyroxine) because I have been experiencing dizziness and heart palpitations.

Can anyone tell me what I should be expecting? I am thinking that the replacement is working so far, as I have found that my hair is coming out in bigger clump/strand things in the shower! If anyone could please tell me what their experience has been with either Synthroid or levothyroxine and just examples of how long it took you to feel normal again, that would be so great!!

I look forward to finally reaching my goals and being to get help here and hopefully help others!!

misslyssa319

i guess one of the benefits of being diagnosed at 13 is i've never had anyone tell me i'm not hypo! i'm never going to be anything other than hypo the rest of my life. and finding out was a total fluke. i got bitten by a spider and my ankle swelled up so my mom took me to the hospital to get it lanced. i was on my stomach with my head turned trying to watch what the doc was doing and another doc asked my mom if i was tired alot. she said yes and he told her to bring me back the next day for a blood test. well a week later i found out i had hashimoto's thyroiditis and would need to take meds the rest of my life.

Gottastop

Hi all, I was diagnosed in 2003 with hyperthyroid & was treated with Radioactive iodine; my Dr said I would probably go back to normal; I didn't I went hypo. I gained about 25lbs in 3 months, lost a lot of hair. & was finally put on Synthroid early 2004. And I still don't think it works right.
I got pregnant with my first son 7 months after the Radioactive Iodine & was actually told I might have to get rid of him (after 4 yrs of trying to get pregnant & multiple miscarriages) because he might be too 'affected' by the RI....(He was born 2005 & he's normal thank you very much).
I switched Endo's during my pregnancy because the first didn't want to up my Synthroid during my pregnancy
We kept my Synthroid dosage level elevated though & I was considered normal, I still didn't feel normal, or like my old self but having a baby & job was blamed.
I got pregnant with my second in 2007. So I had 2 littles under 3, again didn't feel normal but having 2 kids & a job was to be blamed.Then it was stress.
my youngest turns 4 today, I am 8lbs shy of being my heaviest. I went to my endo yesterday & I was emphatic with I don't feel normal, this is not me. I have insomnia like crazy, it takes me forever to fall asleep (I get maybe 4hrs a night) I am exhausted by 11am, I have aches & pains all over & it's TOUGH to get motivated to exercise. She went into the whole kids being young again & me overeating & was honestly surprised that I knew I've ate less than 1700calories for the past 6 wks days & most is high fiber foods & not prepackaged junk. She said we'll run some tests & we'll see. I got 7 vials of blood drawn yesterday (!!!) I normally get 2, maybe 3.

I have yet to find a dr who is willing to prescribe anything else besides Synthroid. The state & health insurance here is very much Western Medicine, so I feel a little stuck

tulip07

Your story sounds a lot like mine. They blamed my little kids, work, stress, guessed I was over-eating, not exercising enough instead of listening to me and my symptoms. I was always in a brain fog and exhausted 2 hrs after waking up in the morning. That cannot be normal and cannot be because of my kids!

Good to know your new doc is running more tests. Where are you located? Try to find a doctor who is into alternative medicine even if he's not an endocrinologist. My doctor is 45 minutes away from where I live and not an endocrinologist and just a very very good doctor. Everyone asks me how come I don't see one of the many endocrinologists within 10-15 minutes of where I live. I just tell them, I have felt crappy for long enough that I will drive a few hundred miles if I can find the right doctor

It's my opinion that doctors who are into alternative medicine (they usually have accupuncture and other alternative therapies in their practice) are more inclined to listen to the patient and diagnose the whole body instead of just the thyroid, listen to your symptoms and try other medicines. I have already said this on this thread but will repeat for you. Armour thyroid has really helped me (with little help from Vitamin D and DHEA), so I would say, insist on trying Armour or a combination of Synthroid (or other T4 only medication) with additional T3 medication. Synthroid is T4 only and a lot of people have problems converting T4 to T3 well and T3 is what can be readily used by your body at any given time and not T4.

I hope that helps a little.

PS: I was soooo happy to read that you kept your pregnancy and your little boy turned out to be normal after your RI !!

tulip07

Hi all!

I am 18 and in college, and just about 3 weeks ago I was screened for hypothyroid, as I gained 30 lbs in 2 years with no change in diet or exercise. The test came back and I have been diagnosed as having an under active thyroid! I am just glad that the doctors found out what was wrong before this got too far =]

I have just started taking levothyroxine (25 mcg) 1 1/2 weeks ago. I was on the energetic side for the first time in quite awhile for the first few days, but in the past 2 days I have been feeling just like I did before I started the medication.

My doctor is switching me to Synthroid (instead of generic levothyroxine) because I have been experiencing dizziness and heart palpitations.

Can anyone tell me what I should be expecting? I am thinking that the replacement is working so far, as I have found that my hair is coming out in bigger clump/strand things in the shower! If anyone could please tell me what their experience has been with either Synthroid or levothyroxine and just examples of how long it took you to feel normal again, that would be so great!!

I look forward to finally reaching my goals and being to get help here and hopefully help others!!

Hillary, Sorry to hear you got diagnosed with thyroid issues so early. But please know once you have found the medication and dosage that works for you, it's really as simple as taking a pill every morning. If the Synthroid dose works for you they say it takes about 4-6 weeks for your levels to get normal or get settled to a particular number. You will start feeling like yourself again with no hypo (sluggishness etc) or hyper (heart palpitations etc) symptoms! You need to get blood work done after about 6 weeks (at least that's what my doctor does) after you change medication or dosage.

christybrooker

I've been on the hypothyroid meds for about a month now. My pharmacist told me that it was very important to take the meds on an empty stomach. She said the meds will attach to fats if there's food and just pass right though without getting absorbed. I'm glad she told me as I always take vitamins and meds with food.

kat05317

Hey everyone!
I was diagnosed back in 1999 by my ob/gyn. The biggest difference I can tell is that if I am off my meds for to long I am completely exhausted and my hair falls out a lot! On the meds (I've taken synthroid & levothyroxine) I am not near as tired and my hair does not fall out as much. It takes a couple of weeks back on the medication for me to feel better. (my current dose is .125mcg)
I have a couple of questions for everyone;
1. What all should the doctors be testing for when they retest your levels? I know TSH is one but what else?
2. Is it neccessary to see an endo doc? (right now my only regular doc is an ob/gyn but I only see her once a year!)
3. Has anyone heard not to take supplements containing magnesium at the same time as your meds? I take a vitamin but it is a couple hours later and Ive just wondered why.
Thanks guys!
Good Luck to everyone!

tulip07

Hey everyone!
I was diagnosed back in 1999 by my ob/gyn. The biggest difference I can tell is that if I am off my meds for to long I am completely exhausted and my hair falls out a lot! On the meds (I've taken synthroid & levothyroxine) I am not near as tired and my hair does not fall out as much. It takes a couple of weeks back on the medication for me to feel better. (my current dose is .125mcg)
I have a couple of questions for everyone;
1. What all should the doctors be testing for when they retest your levels? I know TSH is one but what else?
2. Is it neccessary to see an endo doc? (right now my only regular doc is an ob/gyn but I only see her once a year!)
3. Has anyone heard not to take supplements containing magnesium at the same time as your meds? I take a vitamin but it is a couple hours later and Ive just wondered why.
Thanks guys!
Good Luck to everyone!

1. My doctor tests for TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 levels. At one point, he also tested my Reverse T3 level.
2. I believe if your symptoms and levels are under control then your regular doc can treat you. My PCP asked me to see an endocrinologist because 1. she was young and inexperienced in treating this condition and 2. my levels were not under control. So I think it depends on how comfortable you and your doctor are with how your treatment is going. Also, until your levels are normal, you will be seen multiple times in a year. But once they are normal, most doctors only need to see you once a year and test your thyroid levels once a year. Again that also depends on the doctor.
3. The general idea is that thyroid meds are best absorbed on an empty stomach. Food or Vitamins interfere with the absorption, so thyroid meds should usually be taken first thing in the morning as soon as you wake up. Some people even say that certain foods interfere with the absorption so it's best to avoid them. But my doctor said do not change how you take your vitamins and food intake because of the thyroid meds. And that he will adjust the dosage according to my diet and food intake. His thought was if you have always taken say 150mcg with your breakfast or with other vitamins/supplements and your symptoms and levels are under control that means you are okay (it would probably mean your body is absorbing say, 125 or 100mcg. So if you started to take your medicine on an empty stomach then you would need to reduce your dosage since more medication will be absorbed on an empty stomach). It made sense to me!!

I always take my thyroid meds first thing in the morning. With my new Armour medication, my doctor asked me take 1 (60mg) tablet first thing in the morning and 1/2 a tablet around 3-4 PM and that seems to be working well for me so far.

misslyssa319

morning everyone! i was told early on to take my meds alone with water only. juice, soda ar anything else inverferes with med absorbing into your system. and don't take with any other suppliments. what at least an hour in between

i go through cycles of hair loss. i just had my dosage changed and it started again. too bad weight's not falling off instead of our hair!

i know some women have problems with fertility when hypo but i've had 3 babies with no problem. (if i didn't get my tubes tied i probably woulda had babies forever!) they keep a closer eye on you and check the babies after they ar born. luckily my two teen girls never developed it.

you should usually get tested every 6-8 weeks. it takes some time to find just the right dose and what ths level is best for you. i was in the "normal" range and still ended up in the hospital. usually not necessary to see an endo unless that is what you prefer.

tulip07

Yep, I take my morning thyroid medicine immediately after I wake up with 16oz of water. That's at least an hour or hour and half before I eat or drink anything else!

abcwhite10

So......I saw the endo yesterday and found out a few interesting things. One - that I have either developed a heart murmur or have always had one and has gone undetected. She can see and feel the nodules on my thyroid which is new since the last specialist looked 2 years ago, or else just one person is more in tune than the other. She doesn't seem to think that I am hypo, and that I am on my way to being hyper - which is the total opposite of what I am feeling. I couldn't seem to get through to her that my lifestyle (as in less activity and having started to gain back weight - 12 lbs grrr) has changed as a result of my overall feeling of crappiness......not that I have started to feel crappy because I changed my lifestyle. I tried to make it clear that I have lost nearly 40 lbs and was running anywhere from 10 - 15 miles + per week + whatever other exercise (slowpitch, volley ball, some P90X - although not daily like youre supposed to, bike riding and jsut general all the time busy) I could fit in, to running only a couple times a week and now the freaking dishes feel like the biggest chore in the world! I went for a run a couple days ago and I felt like I was running in water, like I had that burning in my muscles like it was the first time I had used them in ages??? Anyways, she is running all kinds of other tests - a cosyntropin - which from what I understand is the way my body produces cortisol, my rheumatoid factor, a coeliac screen, some tests for lupus, and some other autoimmune tests, along with routine stuff and my TSH again. She is also sending me for another ultrasound and possibly a biopsy of the nodules (last time i was to have that done I was told because of the location and small size of the nodules it was too difficult) So here is to hoping for some answers of some sort!!!!

geekymom57

The pharmacist always reiterates that I should take the med on an empty stomach and not to drink/eat anything for at least an hour. That included any vitamins, supplements, etc.

I am currently treated only by my family practice physician. She has my TSH levels tested about 6 weeks after she makes a dosage change to see what it did and then about 10-12 weeks after the levels are within the "normal" range to see if it's stabilized.

I did ask to be retested early about 2 months ago after going about 12 weeks at net calorie amounts that should have been producing about a 1.5 a week--in that period I lost about 5. It turned out my TSH levels had gone up quite a bit and were well beyond the "acceptable" range. That's one of the benefits of diligent MFP logging--it helps me figure out if a lengthy stall in weight loss is likely due to eating more than I eralize or possibly a sign that the TSH levels are up again.

Gottastop

So......I saw the endo yesterday and found out a few interesting things. One - that I have either developed a heart murmur or have always had one and has gone undetected. She can see and feel the nodules on my thyroid which is new since the last specialist looked 2 years ago, or else just one person is more in tune than the other. She doesn't seem to think that I am hypo, and that I am on my way to being hyper - which is the total opposite of what I am feeling. I couldn't seem to get through to her that my lifestyle (as in less activity and having started to gain back weight - 12 lbs grrr) has changed as a result of my overall feeling of crappiness......not that I have started to feel crappy because I changed my lifestyle. I tried to make it clear that I have lost nearly 40 lbs and was running anywhere from 10 - 15 miles + per week + whatever other exercise (slowpitch, volley ball, some P90X - although not daily like youre supposed to, bike riding and jsut general all the time busy) I could fit in, to running only a couple times a week and now the freaking dishes feel like the biggest chore in the world! I went for a run a couple days ago and I felt like I was running in water, like I had that burning in my muscles like it was the first time I had used them in ages??? Anyways, she is running all kinds of other tests - a cosyntropin - which from what I understand is the way my body produces cortisol, my rheumatoid factor, a coeliac screen, some tests for lupus, and some other autoimmune tests, along with routine stuff and my TSH again. She is also sending me for another ultrasound and possibly a biopsy of the nodules (last time i was to have that done I was told because of the location and small size of the nodules it was too difficult) So here is to hoping for some answers of some sort!!!!

My thyroid is DEAD due to the RI I took. But my tissue is still there. I was in for 4 biopsies over a 2 yr span (The 2nd came back 'inconclusive') my Endo says that sometimes it's just a freak of nature. Your body has nothing better to do than attach a fluid pocket to some useless tissue (I asked if she could biopsy my cellulite off my butt too at that point LOL) I just happen to be one of those ppl that I get a nodule every once in awhile & then it goes away. I bruise really easy & the biopsies hurt like heck so now if I have a nodule in the same area 2 visits in a row (I go every 6 months) then we ultrasound & biopsy; luckily she will do the ultrasound & biopsy the same day.

Gottastop

I Live in Ohio & they are very strict when it comes to alternative medicine & what they will cover insurance wise.
Typing up my story I realized how long it's been since I've been me AND my Endo called today & wants to LOWER MY DOSAGE. HELLO I can not stay awake in the afternoon to get my oldest off the bus, something is wrong (Oh yeah, that brain fog sucks!)
But I am just over the high end of normal. She left a message so I didn't get to ask for my numbers but this is the straw that's broken my back.
We had to switch insurance this last go around so I'll be making calls either tomorrow or Monday & find someone else & yeah, I don't mind a 45m drive; it's when they are over an hr that I mind, but I'm going to start looking.

How do they test for reverse T3?

Your story sounds a lot like mine. They blamed my little kids, work, stress, guessed I was over-eating, not exercising enough instead of listening to me and my symptoms. I was always in a brain fog and exhausted 2 hrs after waking up in the morning. That cannot be normal and cannot be because of my kids!

Good to know your new doc is running more tests. Where are you located? Try to find a doctor who is into alternative medicine even if he's not an endocrinologist. My doctor is 45 minutes away from where I live and not an endocrinologist and just a very very good doctor. Everyone asks me how come I don't see one of the many endocrinologists within 10-15 minutes of where I live. I just tell them, I have felt crappy for long enough that I will drive a few hundred miles if I can find the right doctor

It's my opinion that doctors who are into alternative medicine (they usually have accupuncture and other alternative therapies in their practice) are more inclined to listen to the patient and diagnose the whole body instead of just the thyroid, listen to your symptoms and try other medicines. I have already said this on this thread but will repeat for you. Armour thyroid has really helped me (with little help from Vitamin D and DHEA), so I would say, insist on trying Armour or a combination of Synthroid (or other T4 only medication) with additional T3 medication. Synthroid is T4 only and a lot of people have problems converting T4 to T3 well and T3 is what can be readily used by your body at any given time and not T4.

I hope that helps a little.

PS: I was soooo happy to read that you kept your pregnancy and your little boy turned out to be normal after your RI !!

tulip07

Well once again what you said sounds exactly like what happened to me. About 4-5 months ago, the endo I was seeing tried to lower my dosage when I was still feeling hypo (same as you, exhausted, wanted to nap at my desk at work, the brain fog, the works!). He left me a message too and I never called him back. Instead I found this new doctor.

About the alternative therapies, this doctor is still a regular doctor with a family practice, he is just someone who is open to alternative therapies. Since he is a DO (an osteopathic physician, who still had to go to medical school) he accepts my insurance (I live in Pennsylvania, our insurance situation isn't that great either). My insurance probably doesn't cover any of the other therapies like accupuncture that they offer at their clinic, but all my regular doctor visits to get my thyroid levels under control are still covered. Reverse T3 is also tested just like TSH, through blood tests. When I told him that my TSH was borderline hyper but I am feeling all the hypo symptoms is when he tested for Vitamin D, adrenal gland function and also switched me to Armour thyroid because he thought my body is not converting T4 to T3 efficiently and I needed the T3 that Armour has. Armour thyroid is cheaper than Synthroid and is covered by prescription coverage, it's just that endos don't prescribe it for some reason.

harleigh67

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spottedlee

Yep, I take my morning thyroid medicine immediately after I wake up with 16oz of water. That's at least an hour or hour and half before I eat or drink anything else!

An hour? I was told 30 min wait. When I asked if that mean no coffee for that long, they told me that I can have coffee as I wait for food

FYI, I am taking 50mcg Levothyoxine.
I was diagnosed just a few months ago after being told that my thryrod was normal for so many years. I gave up on it about 10 years ago. When I read on the internet that about 5 years ago the testing method was revised, I asked my doc about it and she confirmed the change and I agreed to be tested for the umpteenth time,, guess what? LOW! just as doctors suspected for last 30 some years. Oh well

kat05317

Thanks for the info, I have never heard of a reverse t3 before. I've taken my meds on an empty stomach for years, usually right after I wake up and before I start getting ready. Its at least another hour before I eat anyway so I guess it's always worked for me. I have just wondered why they tell you to take them on an empty stomach and no vitamins or anti-acids for a couple of hours after. I guess it did not occur to me that it would cause problems with your body absorbing your meds.
Thanks!

misslyssa319

Add Me

did you mean add you to the group (it's open) or as a friend? :huh:

Gottastop

I was told a half hour too, One time I was told 20minutes. I just don't want to chance it & I typically get so busy with the kids it turns into at least an hour before I eat & baby you better believe I have coffee (w/ milk or half & half) within a half hour of waking up. LOL I am NOT a morning person

Yep, I take my morning thyroid medicine immediately after I wake up with 16oz of water. That's at least an hour or hour and half before I eat or drink anything else!

An hour? I was told 30 min wait. When I asked if that mean no coffee for that long, they told me that I can have coffee as I wait for food

FYI, I am taking 50mcg Levothyoxine.
I was diagnosed just a few months ago after being told that my thryrod was normal for so many years. I gave up on it about 10 years ago. When I read on the internet that about 5 years ago the testing method was revised, I asked my doc about it and she confirmed the change and I agreed to be tested for the umpteenth time,, guess what? LOW! just as doctors suspected for last 30 some years. Oh well

misslyssa319

insomnia has hit again. o joy...:yawn:

KatiePeca

Hi everyone. I was just told today that I have underactive thyroid, and I have a script for Synthroid I'll start today. I'm hoping that getting this under control will help me with my weight loss and also with the hair loss I've been experiencing. I'm looking forward to reading more in this thread when I get the time, but in the meantime can anyone tell me if you've had success jump starting weight loss once you started meds for your thyroid?

Thanks

Katie

geekymom57

Hi everyone. I was just told today that I have underactive thyroid, and I have a script for Synthroid I'll start today. I'm hoping that getting this under control will help me with my weight loss and also with the hair loss I've been experiencing. I'm looking forward to reading more in this thread when I get the time, but in the meantime can anyone tell me if you've had success jump starting weight loss once you started meds for your thyroid?

I read your message just after calculating in my head what my average weight loss has been since starting MFP in late March and the phrase "jump start" doesn't apply in my case. I've been on various doses of Synthroid for the past 3.5 years and the MD is having a hard time stabilizing the TSH levels. I stalled for a good 8 weeks with losing nothing on 1200 calories, with only a few days in that period where my calorie deficit was less about 600. I got my TSH level checked a few weeks early and it turned out it had spiked up again. After increasing the dose again, I lost about 3 pounds and now I've been stuck again for about the past 3-4 weeks.

Other people's experiences will vary, but for most of us it's probably not going to be the magic potion that leads to instant results. I just know now that when I really stall it makes sense to ask to have my level rechecked, since I go up and down so much.

samhradh

Hi there,
I dropped in at the start of this thread but have not posted until now.

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism over 10 years ago, and it has been manageable until i turned 40.
Now however i am crashing big time, all the classic symptoms, cold, grumpy, hair loss, insomnia, lack of libido, depressed.
Attended the GP this morning to get the results of the last blood work , i think my meds need adjusting, he is reluctant to do this as he feels that he does not have enough knowledge about the condition, and has refereed me to an Endocrinologist.

I know this is the right course of action, but it could take months to get an appointment, and i just have to put up with feeling crappy until then.
i am tempted to self medicate and just take 50mg extra a day just to see if that improves my symptoms.
current prescription is Eltroxin 100mg for 5 days & 150mg for 2 days.
these are the current levels:
TSH 0.148 mU/l
free T3 4.7 pmol/l
free T4 19.4 pmol/l

cholesterol is also high at 6.66 mmol/l but thats a great improvement from 6 months ago 8.80.

so really i am asking for all your knowledge and experience, would you adjust your meds or just wait it out for the specialist it could take up to a year to get seen by the Endo

Oh i have always taken my meds last thing at night, just wondering if this is not the best approach since reading all the above posts.

As to my weight i am fat because i eat crap and don't exercise, now that i am trying to make more healthy choices and do some exercise the weight is going at an ok rate i think.

Just so you know i am from Ireland.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post.
Sam

tulip07

Sam, No I absolutely wouldn't change the dose myself especially if you have not been told to do that or if you have no experience doing that. I don't know what Eltroxin is but (as far as I can tell) your numbers indicate you are Hyper right now and not Hypo. So if Eltroxin is thyroid hormone T4, your endo may want to reduce your dose and not increase it. Or may change you to another kind of medicine that adds T3 along with T4 (which is what they did with me). More reason not to change the dosage yourself!

I am in the US, and I was in a similar situation as you and couldn't imagine waiting months for an endo appointment. One Friday I was feeling so bad that I could hardly get up from the sofa. We called each and every specialist in my area and found one endocrinologist about an hour away with an appointment because of a cancellation. They saw me the following Monday. Can you try something like that? Or maybe find another family doctor who is more experienced and willing to treat you before your endocrinologist appointment. Either ways it's just WRONG that it takes a year before you can get a specialist appointment where you are!!

And yes, try to take your meds first thing in the morning for a couple of days and see if you feel any better(?) I think this is something every doctor recommends so you could do that even before your visit to the endocrinologist.

sunnyrunner23

Bump so i can read later

samhradh

tulip,
thank's a million for your advice, i kinda knew not to tamper with the meds.
I will switch to mornings from tomorrow and see how that goes.
I so don't understand the numbers and the www is so full of conflicting information, hence my post , i knew that there would be knowledgeable real people on MFP who could give so sound advice.

I am going to try to get a private appointment ( €200) with an Endo even though we are broke at the minute, as they say your health is your wealth, and i just can't go on like this for much longer.

Sam