posted
Hi No LLMD right now as it is unfeasible so this question is really about ways I can find thyroid support on my own.
My Quest Diagnostics thyroid tests have come always back normal. Then again, all of my Quest tests always come back as normal. I swear, it's Aetna's way of keeping a thumb on the patient. Abnormalities only ever show up when other labs do the testing. But my thyroid has never been tested at another lab, unfortunately.
And although the test came back within the normal range, I have many of the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism - Coarse and thinning hair, dry skin, slow body movements, inability to tolerate cold, constipation, thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows, puffy face, hands, and feet, weight gain, swelling of the legs, poor muscle tone.
I've talked to my Primary about the issues but until something changes in the tests, it's unlikely she will prescribe anything for it.
Every six months or so I gain about five pounds and am now the biggest I have ever been, despite going hard at the gym 3-4 times a week. And despite eating healthier than ever before. Having to buy basically a new wardrobe every six months to a year is way too costly but everything just gets tighter & tighter. Ugh!
What alternatives are there to prescription meds for thyroid support?
Thanks
-------------------- ---------- Danni Posts: 311 | From Glen Mills, PA | Registered: Jan 2009
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lymeinhell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4622
posted
Often times, a sluggish thyroid is from iodine deficiency. Look up Iodoral.
-------------------- Julie _ _ ___ _ _ lymeinhell
Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed. Posts: 2258 | From a better place than I was 11 yrs ago | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I got worse from iodine in vitamin pills, but I have hashimotos. By the way, LDN lowers hashimotos antibodies.
The normal range is way way too wide, normal TSH is around1. What are your numbers, TSH , ft4, TPO Ab?
Most thyroid forums for those who are hypo can tell you the same things, tests are not picking up hypothyroidism until they get very ill, since the ranges are way too wide.
Also, check the stop the thyroid madness website and forum
Posts: 366 | From Europe | Registered: Nov 2008
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Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149
posted
Iodine. Start slow, low doses (not 12 mg).
-------------------- --Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together). Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
n.northernlights - according to Quest, these are all within range: Past TSH numbers have been 1.03, 0.83 and most recently, 0.726. The free T4 number was 1.3 The free T3 number was 270 The THyroid Peroxidase AB number just says <10
What is LDN and is lowering the Hash antibodies good? I will definitely check out the website you suggested.
Catgirl, I just ordered the Iodoral and will ease my way into it to see if it makes any impact.
-------------------- ---------- Danni Posts: 311 | From Glen Mills, PA | Registered: Jan 2009
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Can you please post the lab ranges for these tests?
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Sometimes the tsh comes into the right range but your body still can't convert T4 to T3 and that is why sometimes adding cytomel a few times a day may help things along.
I did better with Nature Throid vs Armour. Just as cheap to buy and it has a little more T3 in it.
I do take Iodoral everyday.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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posted
I take Armour thyroid daily - I break a 60mg tablet in half and take 30mg in the am and pm. I started with 30mg once a day.
We're all different and we have to find out what works for us, re all the advice given here!
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Sammi Below are the ranges for the four tests:
TSH 1.03, 0.83 and most recently, 0.726 - Range [0.35-5.5] The free T4 number was 1.3 - Range [0.8-2.3] The free T3 number was 270 - Range [230-420] The Thyroid Peroxidase AB number just says <10 - Range [<35]
Robin & Faithful Thank you for the suggestions about Armour Thyroid, Nature Throid and cytomel. I will do some reading up on these but it's unlikely my primary would prescribe without the test results to support it. I will talk to her about it though.
-------------------- ---------- Danni Posts: 311 | From Glen Mills, PA | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
Quest's lab reference range for TSH is now 0.35 to 5.5? Are they kidding? When I had my TSH tested through Quest back in 2011 the reference range was 0.40-4.50 which is pretty ridiculous as well! Seems like they skew these ranges towards sick patients more and more. . .
Posts: 35 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2012
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
xoxoxox although your results are in the normal range, they are low normal. There is a lot of room to work within the "normal" range.
I am not a medical professional, but based on your results and symptoms I think you might benefit from treatment. From experience, I know I feel best when my results are in the upper 1/3 of the range. My doctor knows this too. When they have been below this, he has increased my dose. I have been steady now for a long time.
It can be very difficult to find a good thyroid doctor, but it is not impossible. These sites may be a good place to start.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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Ellen101
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posted
I am so confused with all this. These were my results Free T3. 2.85 Free T4 1.19 Thyroglobulin antibody <20 Thyroid peroxidase 224
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Ellen, can you please post the ranges for these tests? Each lab can be different.
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Ellen101
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posted
Free T3 2.85. (2.30-4.20) Free T4. 1.19. (0.71-1.42) Thyroglobulin antibody <20. Range- <=40 Thyroid peroxidase 224. Range <35
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
Here's my test results prior to starting Armour thyroid:
T3 - 82 normal range: 87-167ng/dL So, clearly lower than normal range
TSH 3rd generation - 2.93 normal range : .400 - 4.500 mlU/L So, in the middle of normal
With test results like that, I have had a remarkable response to thyroid supplementation - I feel more present, and I can feel time passing now.
Symptomatically, do you feel any of that - that you feel dissociated or that you don't have a good sense of time passing?
Your tests appear to use different parameters than mine, and by them, you appear normal, except I have a question about the last one, thyroid peroxidase 224 - did you mean to type that it should be greater than 35?
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Ellen, it looks like you could have Hashimoto's due to your antibodies being over 35. Hashimoto's shows that your body is attacking the thyroid. Some people who have Hashimoto's have results in the normal range, but treatment is warranted. This happened to me.
As I replied to the other poster, there is room to work within the normal range. Do you have hypothyroid symptoms? Is your doctor treating you?
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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Ellen101
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posted
Sammi I am on .75 levothyroxine
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
My physician swears by the Armour Thyroid also.
Fatigue is a giant issue for me. Testing of my thyroid levels proved them to be low.
I have been on the Armour Thyroid for maybe two weeks now.
It is too early to see any changes or to be able to tell if it is helping at this point. Time will tell.
Thewino
-------------------- Wrinkles only go where the smiles have been --J. Buffett
All of my replies should not be taken as medical advice as they are my opinions only and I am not a physician. Posts: 55 | From Florida | Registered: Oct 2012
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posted
Was on armour for two months withou impact. Doc suggested synthroid (levothyroxine) 100 mcg since my numbers weren't moving.
Everyone is slightly different, and many endo docs won't even look at T3 levels, but depend more on the TSH.
Isn't it amazing how much wider the normal ranges are getting at most labs?
-------------------- 'Hope' is a thing with feathers, that perches in the soul-- Emily Dickinson Posts: 160 | From Indiana | Registered: Nov 2012
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