sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
I've been taking Nature Throid for awhile, my TSH is high (>4), free T3 is low, free T 4 is mid range. My labs consistently look like this.
Always have to beg my LLMD to increase my med. Sometimes he'll want to wait another month or to to recheck. Sometimes he'll increase it by 1/4 grain or 16.25mg. The adjustments are so slight they don't make much of a difference. I'm currently taking 2.5 grains. Would it be reasonable for me to ask to try 3 grains?
I have many symptoms: fatigue, wt gain, facial and orbital edema, shin edema, scalloped tongue, cold intolerance, dry skin, hair loss.
Unless I get these thyroid levels right I'm not going to feel better and I'm not going to be able to fight off these infections. I'm frustrated about this. My LLMD is the one prescribing, he's a great guy, just too cautious sometimes. Local docs don't want to work with me "until your Lyme is gone".
Has anyone done better switching from Nature throid to Armour? Is there a synthetic version combo with T3 and T4?
I should add, I'm on adrenal support supplements. My cortisol levels are super high in AM-Late night. So adrenals should not be holding back the thyroid, thyroid has more than enough cortisol support.
Any advice? I take my pill in the morning and wait 1hr to eat. I've also been chewing my pills because I heard it might help with absorption.
[ 06-30-2011, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: sammy ]
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Yeah, if your TSH is still over 4 you need to experiment with a higher dose or get a new endo.
A TSH over 4 is not optimal.
I use synthroid and cytomel. I prefer them over the naturals. It may be worth a try for you down the road.
Also check iron (ferritin) level at some point...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I am still learning here, i hope i am not butting in. My tsh is at 4.02 and that is after a month of 225 mg of sythroid. Is that something to be concerned about??
-------------------- Help I am being forced against my will to learn medicine!!! Posts: 164 | From WASHINGTON | Registered: Jun 2011
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posted
get the book Stop the Thyroid Madness. It will explain the connection with adrenal fatigue and thyroid. If you don't fix the adrenals first then the thyroid will not repair no matter what you get on.
Posts: 871 | From orange county, ca. | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
On nature throid tsh is useless. You only should go by free t-3 and free t/4. If you see an ND they will be a lot better help to you on natural thyroid...
Posts: 56 | From California | Registered: Mar 2010
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
I don't understand why a high TSH would be ignored. The pituitary produces more TSH when it senses low levels of T3 & T4.
So my body is saying I need more thyroid hormone but my doctor says no because all numbers are "within normal range.'
I'm feeling super frustrated right now. I hate having to fight and beg for good treatment.
Has anyone added thyroid supplements like "Thyro-Gold" or or RLC labs "Hypo Support formula" along with their RX thyroid meds and felt better? I'm considering trying one of these things to see if it might help.
It would be nice if my doc would treat based on symptoms instead of rigidly following lab results
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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quote:Originally posted by sammy: I don't understand why a high TSH would be ignored. The pituitary produces more TSH when it senses low levels of T3 & T4.
So my body is saying I need more thyroid hormone but my doctor says no because all numbers are "within normal range.'
I'm feeling super frustrated right now. I hate having to fight and beg for good treatment.
Has anyone added thyroid supplements like "Thyro-Gold" or or RLC labs "Hypo Support formula" along with their RX thyroid meds and felt better? I'm considering trying one of these things to see if it might help.
It would be nice if my doc would treat based on symptoms instead of rigidly following lab results
My thyroid doctor says that the TSH is just one indicator of what is going on. Free T3/T4 are what needs to come up if they are low. I take nature throid and feel best at a higher dose, and my doctor said to just increase as I feel I need to. Unfortunately, at the higher dose, I don't sleep so we are adding cytomel (generic) 1-3 times a day. It is working slowly. From what I know, adding cytomel or T3 will help the levels go up. I feel better on nature throid but everyone is different. I would find a different doctor and it doesn't have to be an endo. Many holistic or integrative doctors will prescribe thyroid meds and may be more open to trying other things to get your levels up.
The other thing that you might consider is having your adrenals checked. If they are not working well, it will be more difficult to get your thyroid levels in balance.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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quote:Originally posted by sammy: Is there a synthetic version combo with T3 and T4?
No, but there is if you take two drugs. When Armour didn't do anything for me, my LLMD switched me to Synthroid and Cytomel. I stayed on that combo until I was better and then switched to one grain of Armour, which is what I take now.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
[/qb][/QUOTE]No, but there is if you take two drugs. When Armour didn't do anything for me, my LLMD switched me to Synthroid and Cytomel. I stayed on that combo until I was better and then switched to one grain of Armour, which is what I take now. [/QB][/QUOTE]
If synthroid and cytomel made you feel better, why did you switch back to armour? Just curious.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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If synthroid and cytomel made you feel better, why did you switch back to armour? Just curious.
New doctor. My LLMD didn't want to keep prescribing thyroid when he was no longer treating me for Lyme and asked me to see a local doc. I picked an alternative practitioner who prefers natural, and so do I.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
Sammy, your cortisol cycle is off, it should be low in the evening, rise at dawn, peak at midday, but it does cycle so the adrenals are working, you do not have adrenal failure. Check your body temp 3 times daily and record it, and have a reverse T3 drawn. If Rt3 is high and your temp lower than 98.6 most of the time, there is a need for more T3. A TSH of 3.17 indicates some strain on the thyroid. Even American endocrinologists recognize this, though they are reticent to go beyond TSH reference ranges in thyroid treatment.
Posts: 442 | From Biddeford, ME | Registered: Nov 2007
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Thanks DoctorLuddite.
My temp is always low during the day (96-97). My reverse T3 was 181 (normal 90-350)
Do you think that supplementing with an OTC desiccated thyroid hormone would help in this case? At least until I can find another doctor to manage my thyroid. (this could take months...)
Also I have been taking supplements to support adrenal balance but my cortisol levels have not improved much since the fall. I'm taking Adrenal Essence (B6,B5, Cordyceps, Rhodiola, PABA, Panax ginseng) 2 caps in the AM.
I'm taking 225mg Ashwagandha in the evening, and 2 Seriphos capsules before bed.
Can anyone help me out? Thanks!
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
I know nothing about dessicated thyroid, can't advise there, do you supplement with vitamin D3 or know your 25 hydroxy D level?
Posts: 442 | From Biddeford, ME | Registered: Nov 2007
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
I take 5,000 IU vit D3 daily.
In March my vit D 25 hydroxy level was 61 (reference range 32-100)
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
For the first time since my thyroid was removed in 1993 I am having success with my thyroid meds! My very smart LLMD switched me to natural thyroid and has been steadily increasing the dosage. I am up to 180mcg.
For some reason I always seem to need more of a drug because of malabsorption. Test results are just a guideline and not cast in stone.
-------------------- DOCTOR: "I don't think you are sick." PATIENT: "We are all entitled to our opinions. I don't think you are a doctor." Posts: 697 | From Northern California | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
Have you been cheked for Hashimotos disease? My throid numbers have been normal for yeaaars and finally my doc did an anibody check and I have hashimotos. Just started taking thyroid medicine in past few months.
Posts: 4 | From US | Registered: Jun 2011
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