Hypothyroid Patients?
I want to make a general question to all of hypothyroid patients:
User Comments
- When I was first diagnosed about 10 years ago, my TSH was 8.5 and I was immediately put on 75 mcg of Synthroid. About six weeks later it was upped to 88 mcg. (I can't remember all of my TSH levels on subsequent tests). Six months later I was on 100 mcg which controlled my levels for about seven years. About six months ago I had a bad respiratory infection, and evidently, it affected my thyroid because my TSH level was 7.5 again. My meds were upped to 125 mcg and that's where I'm at now.
- I had a thyroid infection 3 months after my daughter was born. That was 20+ years ago. It always had me wondering if this was the start of my thyroid problems I have today. TSH without treatment was 6.8. I started out on Levoxyl, which lowered TSH but did nothing for my hypothyroid symptoms. After a year, I added Cytomel to the Levoxyl. 75% of the symptoms went away. After 2 years I eventually switched to Armour thyroid and have been on it for 3 years. 95% of the symptoms are gone with the Armour. I will never take just T4 again and I will never go by the TSH to adjust my dosage. Th TSH is a lousy test for hypothyroidism. All it is, is a test to dose Synthroid......nothing more. It keeps so many people who are hypothyroid undermedicated. I just wish more would read up on it and if they have symptoms to find a doctor who will look at their free t4 and free t3 levels. Just in case you want to know my last TSH was 0.012....yes, consider hyper by many, but if you look at my free levels they are in range. Free T4 - 1.43, free t3 -350. Even in the Physicians Desk Reference, it states when a patient seem hypothyroid and the TSH is not elevated to test the free levels. For me, the free levels work well for adjusting my dosage of Armour, keeping me almost completely symptom free.
For those on T4 alone, the morning TSH should be below 2.0 to relieve symptoms. If its above 2.0, you are probably undermedicated. If after a year below 2.0, one still has symptoms chances are they need both T4 and T3.
I take both T4 and T3 in the form of Armour. My dosage is 3 grains (180mg) I've been on this dosage for 2 years.
Armour related links below for those interested. Also, some blood value links
- google it
- I would like to know your history.....your tsh level without treatment.
- http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/may2...
http://www.armourthyroid.com/
http://www.healthrecipes.com/armour_thyr...
http://www.altsupportthyroid.org/...
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/f...
- On 11/20/2003 I had a TSH of 23.6 and a Free T-3 of 219. This test was run by a Rheumy and I wasn't treated for any thyroid condition, instead was put on Humira for RA. In November 2005 an endocrinologist diagnosed Hashimoto's disease and put me on .075 Solxine. I have gained a total of 55 lbs in the last 3 1/2 years and my Soloxine was just upped to .1 last month. I will have my TSH checked next month.
- And for how long your tsh is controled,and wich is the amount of levothyroxine you take daily.....
- I was first diagnosed in December. My TSH at that point was 4.52 and FT3's and FT4's were on the low end. I started on 60mg of Armour and within 5 weeks, my TSH was .32 and Ft3's were on the high side, but FT4's were still low. I was feeling a lot better - no headaches and had an appetite again (which was completely gone at higher TSH)
- This is quite strange, I was only hypothyroid when I lived in S. Korea (1991-1999). I honestly can't remember the levels or the doseages...but when I came back toward the end (97) I took a vit. B6 or B12 or some kind of Bcomplex and it seemed to have taken care of the problem. I no longer need hypothyroid meds. I was at the time also going through an abusive marriage and maybe that stress was just eating away at my body. I also (2001-2004) was hypoglycemic for a short time...hmmmmm left my husband in Jan 2004...guess I finally got rid of what I needed to get rid of...wish my epilepsy went with him!
- My level was about 8.2 when I was first diagnosed. First I was on Armour and doing okay but my numbers just went up to 6.4 and the Dr. talked me into trying Levothyroxine, she felt it was better overall treatment and my #'s went right down. I just got tested 2 days ago and it was 0.74, I never have had it this low and thought the "norm"was between 2 and 4. Of course the nurse gives you the results on the phone, not the Dr. She said it was "normal". Biggest thing I suffer with is the difficulty of losing weight (even with the #'s in normal range). I am on 100mcg.