islandmonkey Member

Splitting the dose is a matter of personal preference - some like it, some don't find it makes a difference. That's a pretty high free T3 for such a low free T4....did you take your pill before your labs that day, or did you take it after your labs?

I cook it like rice, then eat it for breakfast as a hot "cereal", with almond milk and strawberries. I'm also a fan of a cold quinoa salad, especially in the summer!

You're on a T4-only med. Has the doctor ever tested your free T3? How are you feeling - any symptoms of hypo still?

It sucks that you had to beg, BUT it's good that you were able to get it! Wow, that's a crazy low Vit D level. It will probably take a few months just to get it up to a decent range, but again it's great that your GP is taking it seriously and treating you. Hopefully the gluten-free helps bring down your antibody levels!

Well put! The only thing I'd add on TSH is that it responds differently to hormones from meds than it does to hormones from your thyroid itself. Therefore, once you're taking meds TSH becomes even less useful, because it can be quite suppressed in people taking meds -- if an uneducated doctor is using TSH as a stand-alone…

I'm not surprised on the jittery! To me that's classic "overmedicated with T4-only meds". Do you have the latest results from your free T3 and free T4? Ideally your free T3 should be in the top of the range your lab uses, and your free T4 should be about mid-range. If you're in the US that means your free T3 should be…

What meds are you on? If you're on a T4-only med like Synthroid or Levothyroxine, I'd try to find a doctor who will prescribe Nature Thyroid or Armour. These meds have both T3 and T4, and T3 is critical for being "not hypo". Many people on T4-only meds can have a "good" TSH and even a "normal" free T4, but their free T3 is…

^^^^ All of this. I'm about to fly 2 hours away to see my old doctor, to properly have my thyroid levels treated.

I REALLY think you need a new doctor, one who will treat you properly. You should be on thyroid meds NOW with a TSH that high and with all your symptoms! Your current doctor is clearly waiting for you to get worse before he/she will treat you. Which is INSANE. Please, please find a new doctor who will properly treat you…

It's generally a loss of hair on the outer 1/3 of your eyebrows that is classic thyroid symptom (hypo or hyper).

I was hyperthyroid, so the soy helped keep it suppressed - if you're hypothyroid you should avoid it anyway. Was just using that example to illustrate that goitrogenic foods CAN have a big impact. :)

It's good that they're keeping your TSH suppressed - cancer cells will snap up any little bit of TSH they find, which is why they keep it suppressed. Now, just because your TSH is low that doesn't (necessarily) mean you are hyperthyroid. Often people on thyroid replacement can have a low/lower TSH, because TSH responds…

As DebbyLee posted certain foods are considered goitrogenic. Cooking breaks this down somewhat, but having a bit of these raw now and then shouldn't make a huge difference. That said, I personally noticed a big difference when I was hyperthyroid, that soy would help me to keep it under control. Each person is different,…

Also, make sure the specialist tests you for graves - both TSI antibodies and anti-TSH receptor antibodies. The thyroid scan you mention is likely the iodine uptake test - this can also confirm whether it's graves disease or some other form of hyperthyroid. Be aware that doctors will often push you into a permanent…

Do you know if you have graves disease? (autoimmune cause of hyperthyroid) I agree that I would wait a bit longer before you push yourself too much, mostly to keep your heart rate down. I wouldn't give up on exercise entirely though, especially if it's graves - keep it light with walks, maybe some gentle yoga, and just…

TSH is a pituitary hormone that moves in the opposite direction as your thyroid hormones, so a high TSH = hypothyroid. There's a lot of controversy over the top of the range for TSH, but the old upper limit of 5.0 has long been suggested as WAY too high (i.e. very hypothyroid). In 2002 the professional recommendation was…

I don't necessarily think it's bad to try supplements and others things first - I would just suggest getting semi-regular labs so you have a sense of whether it's working, and how well it's working. I would request free (not total) T3 and free T4, probably every 8 weeks or so. TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid one,…

It sounds like you're just on supplements and not on thyroid medication? What vitamins did they put you on? It's unlikely that just vitamins would bring you out of hypothyroid. Did they also test for antibodies to see if you have autoimmune thyroid disease? Is Doctor #3 just testing your TSH? TSH is a pituitary hormone,…

Ok, WOW - if that doctor won't take those levels seriously you need to find someone who will. I know a lot of people who have been on 10,000 IUI daily with levels that low (under doctor supervision). Yikes, I'm really thinking you need a new doctor. If they said your levels are "rising" that means they are only testing TSH…

Wow, that's very negligent that they didn't discuss how to take it! You want to take it on an empty stomach - first thing when you want up then wait 30-60 mins before eating, or at night (3 hours after eating). You also want to take any other pills or supplements at least 4 hours after your thyroid meds, especially calcium…

It depends on the degree of hypo, and on your particular body. Many people feel they are able to manage it somewhat successfully by keeping their immune system calm - through stress management, yoga, accupuncture, gluten-free diet, etc. This keeps the antibodies down, and without those attacking your thyroid it's sometimes…

I was hyperthyroid on and off for 20 years. Just recently had a total thyroidectomy as anti-thyroid meds were no longer working; plus had a cancerous nodule. For all those with hyperthyroid please check out ALL of your options before agreeing to radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment! It's the rare person who doesn't regret…

I was going to ask the same thing - how do you feel? Because honestly, your levels look great on that last dose. It sounds like they're trying to adjust your meds just on TSH which isn't very helpful, especially since once you're already on meds it breaks the feedback loop between your thyroid blood levels and your…

All I can do is reiterate that "within normal range" and "optimal" are not the same. Many people still feel symptomatic and awful while they are "within normal range" because they're at the bottom of the range. Your thyroid would normally produce about 80% T4 and 20% T3. With half yours gone you're already behind on T3…

Here's a good link that lists all the fillers - looks like Nature Thyroid would probably be fine for you? http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/armour-vs-other-brands/ Have you been tested for Hashimoto's antibodies? With the gluten intolerance I'm wondering if you have autoimmune thyroid disease.

If you ask your doctor's office for a copy of the labs "for your record" then you have a trail. It's a good idea just in case you ever move or switch doctors for any reason - I would write your dosage at the top too so you know what you were on when you got the labs done. And maybe even how you were feeling at the time.

Where exactly is your free T3? If it's not at least above the mid-point of the range it's too low. Also - I totally got the jitters when my free T4 was too high, and still had hypo symptoms (cold, sleep issues etc) because my free T3 was too low. I'm firmly convinced that people who think they have "gone hyper from meds"…

Did you have a thyroidectomy, and RAI, for your cancer treatment - and if so how long ago? What meds are you currently taking? If it's a T4-only med like Synthroid or Levothyroxine you may not be on the right meds. I had my thyroidectomy 3 months ago (as treatment for graves but "incidental" cancer found), and can tell you…

I was hypothyroid due to anti-thyroid meds, as treatment for graves, and successfully lost 18 lbs. It's definitely possible, if your meds are right then you're "just like anyone else" and eating well and exercising should work. People tend to gain weight on synthroid because it's not the greatest thyroid treatment, or at…

What are your specific food intolerances? Most meds have talc, sugar and other things people can be sensitive to - I would contact the manufacturers of Nature Thyroid and Armour to confirm what the fillers are (and any dyes). As well, a lot of people respond well to Erfa's Thyroid (Canada's dessicated med), because it's…