Englishgal, Docs in the states are not so far removed from what you experience with yours-I went undiagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism for 20 years until I got help, and was always told I was fine with a TSH of 3.5-4.8 all those years (snip)
Me too, so I just wanted to let Englishgirl know, I agree that doctors across the pond are not necessarily superior when it comes to the thyroid. In fact, it seems like most of them basically glazed right over that area in med school because when it comes down to anything more significant than a standard TSH, they dig in their heels. If you're lucky, they then refer you to an endo or someone who is willing, but usually, you yourself have to ask.
Not *every* doctor, mind you, but a good few from what I understand.
Ironically, it was my gynecologist who actually insisted I get my thyroid tested. And I *still* put it off for three months because I'd been told for so many years that my thyroid was "normal"! At that time my TSH came in at 6.4 and antibodies were close to 2000. And even given *that*, when I started feeling bad again halfway through this past year I was put off because I "couldn't" be out of range. Well, I'm back up to almost 6 on TSH...but I only know because I all but begged the doctor in tears for more tests! We've come a long way, baby. Not...
I have been feeling this way literally for 30 years. How scary is that? Exactly at menarche, I suddenly ballooned up 20 pounds out of literally nowhere and suddenly could not get enough sleep. AND my mother had been DXd hypo when *she* was 13 (I was 12 when I started having symptoms--unbelievably heavy, awful, painful and very long period, at least 7-9 days; mental fog; anxiety; depression; exhaustion but insomnia; odd swelling). And the docs here in the States STILL basically guffawed at the humor of me, a silly hypochondriac patient, asking for anything as "weird" as thyroid testing.
Sorry to take the thread and run with it, LOL. You can have it back now. (Graciously handing Englishgirl's thread back)
"Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow"
Joined: Apr 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 109 Location: Peachtree City, Ga
Re: LOOKING FOR GOOD IRON MEDICATION « Result #3 Today at 1:23pm »
I have taken Floradix tabs (they are little pills) and they have been wonderful for me. No problems with constipation or tummy pain. Always take some vitamin C with your iron, it helps with absorption-somewhere I read that we only absorb about 7% of the iron we take, so don't be scared or put off by the higher dosages recommended. It took me 10 months to raise mine from 18 to 60. But, I took it slower than most. Blessings, Tamara
"Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow"
Joined: Apr 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 109 Location: Peachtree City, Ga
Re: self medicate how much more do i need « Result #4 Today at 1:16pm »
Englishgal, Docs in the states are not so far removed from what you experience with yours-I went undiagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism for 20 years until I got help, and was always told I was fine with a TSH of 3.5-4.8 all those years until I developed nodules. Then I was told the understanding of lab values had changed and that if you were symptomatic with a TSH of 2.5 or more you were hypothyroid (I guess nodules made me "symptomatic", I must have just been whining all those years I suffered before). With synthetic meds, it will take a while to get it right. Since those of us on natural meds absorb those meds at different rates, your experience on a dosage of synthetics equal to what you were taking might not be right. It could be you will absorb them too well or not well at all; thus having to work with dosages for awhile. I would give it a couple of months, try till the Spring. I called RLC labs just a few moments ago to check on availability of Naturethroid (equivalent to old Armour) and they are still on back order with hopes to get some out in December sometime, but that means our pharmacies won't see it until January. You may not be able to get it until March when production really kicks up. I'm afraid Armour and Thyrolar may be gone the way of the dinosaur here, Forest Labs has been really up in the air with all of this. Canada produces "thyroid" which is the same as old Armour. Thailand produces "thiroid" which doesn't need a script and scares the heck out of me because so many in the states here are taking it-it seems to be slightly stronger than the old Armour, and I wouldn't advise taking it in the least. Google "Mary Shoman" and her site will come up, she's an advocate here in the states for natural thyroid meds, and her site keeps all of us pretty up to date on what's going on. Good luck!
"Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow"
Joined: Apr 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 109 Location: Peachtree City, Ga
Re: NEW LAB RESULTS HELP PLEASE « Result #9 Today at 12:49pm »
Your T4 is in the tank; that would result in lingering symptoms of hypothyroidism as it reflects how the whole feedback loop is working. Even though your TSH is good, your T4 is below mid range and that means you are still hypothyroid. Good luck trying to convince your doc of that. Your ferritin is still too low; it needs to be between 60-90 to feel good and can present symptoms of fatigue itself. Are you losing hair? That is another symptom of low ferritin. Vitamin D could really use a push upwards! have you thought about supplementing D3? Carlson's makes a vitamin D3 drop, with 2,000 I.U.'s per drop-it's an easy way to get your D and highly absorbable-it brought mine up from 32 to 80 in 4 months. What is EOS? Never heard of that before........ Blessings, Tamara
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass by, it's about learning to dance in the rain."
Joined: Dec 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 8,685 Location: East Tennessee
Re: Test results « Result #11 Today at 12:44pm »
12.5 is a tiny dose, so it may not make a big difference in your TSH yet. Anytime you start a new dose or increase your dose, you may have an increase in symptoms for a short time. They usually only last for a week or two until your body adjust. Hopefully with a little more time, things will smooth out for you.
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass by, it's about learning to dance in the rain."
Joined: Dec 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 8,685 Location: East Tennessee
Re: Would anybody be willing to send good vibes? A « Result #12 Today at 12:39pm »
Any good doctor should be willing to work WITH you on your health issues. It takes good communication between you and him to know exactly what is going on and how to treat it. Good luck, and I have my fingers crossed.
"Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow"
Joined: Apr 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 109 Location: Peachtree City, Ga
Re: CHANGE OF MEDICATION « Result #13 Today at 12:36pm »
I take my Armour this way: 15 mg. at 7 a.m., 15 mg. at 10:30, and 15 mg. at 1:30. So many patients take their dosages divided, it just depends on what your doc and you decide is best. Blessings! Tamara
Re: Very interesting, informative site?? « Result #14 Today at 12:34pm »
I mean is there enough time in a day to read and digest this article? That lady did her homework, and she is on a mission with an agenda, no doubt about it. Good clinical info, and accurate.
This Armour Thyroid issue is so emotionally charged. People bash Abbott and Synthroid, yet it is Armour who can't satisfy and supply their happy patient population. I just don't know much about this, and I certainly have nothing invested emotionally in Armour. But I do like pork, bacon...well you know what I mean.
Not sure I noticed much about foot pain in the article, it was once quite a problem for me, but the Synthroid seems to have eliminated the symptoms. Actually I wasn't always on synthroid. But I don't argue with people about things that work for them, unless of course it is just goofy dangerous.
"Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow"
Joined: Apr 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 109 Location: Peachtree City, Ga
Re: Tom question « Result #15 Today at 12:32pm »
Thank you, Tolson. It's very nice to have someone here who understands and can speak to heart issues and hypothyroidism. And, you really are "walking the walk" with all the rest of us here!
Your sense of humor really makes me laugh!
Thank goodness you didn't think on Myxedema too much-I can't imagine how you were feeling at a TSH of 12 something. Blessings! Tamara
Re: Very interesting, informative site?? « Result #16 Today at 12:30pm »
I picked through the first few pages- reading what interested me but she has a letter that she wrote about her history at the end that will condense the story for you.
Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 881 Location: In
Re: Very interesting, informative site?? « Result #17 Today at 11:59am »
Oh my! I just scanned her stuff, but I'm tella ya............WOW! Kinda over whelming, but if a person has the time to just sit down & read it, she knows her stuff.
Im going to have to read this a little at a time. Amazing though.
Loved the part about 'How to talk with your Dr" I see how that works
Thanks tamara, There is much talk here about ferritin and I never got the connection until I read your post here. ferritin and Iron may be more of an issue for women than men.
But your explanation makes perfect sense.
Myxedema is nasty and looking back on it I should have been pretty scared, but brain fog interrupts that process.
"Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow"
Joined: Apr 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 109 Location: Peachtree City, Ga
Re: Tom question « Result #21 Today at 10:48am »
Tolson is right on the theory of how to raise your meds-some people (like me) have to go even slower, at 10-12 weeks between dosage changes to allow your body to adapt and have time to adjust. I have to stay here at my measly little dosage of 45 mg. Armour for another 6 weeks before I can try to go higher, based on my TSH. Some doctors will have you adjust every 4 weeks with little changes, like 2-3 mg. changes in your dose until you reach your goal based on your TSH or free's, but mostly compounding pharmacies make those up for you based on your enlighted doctor's advice. I will be going to 52.5 mg. Armour next dose change from 45 mg., for 8-10 weeks to adjust, then on to 60 mg. or 1 grain based on what my TSH and free's are. Don't get discouraged; this takes time and patience. It has taken me 10 months to be able to go past 30 mg. Armour. I'm happy with my progress and ferritin level now and I have hope. I have hope for you, too! It's lousy feeling like you can't figure out your situation, and you feel hopeless. Please, hang in there!
"Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow"
Joined: Apr 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 109 Location: Peachtree City, Ga
Re: Tom question « Result #22 Today at 10:39am »
Gofiger, You sound like you are exactly where I was when I first started my journey with this disease 14 months ago. At 25 mg., panic attacks (although those were occurring before treatment, they only got worse after starting Synthroid), and increasing anxiety. I would hyperstimulate on 25 mg., the exact symptoms that Tolson describes, and ended up in an ER thinking I was having a heart attack. My Endo at University of Virginia tested my ferritin level and said it was fine at 18 (unsure on lab ranges, they vary) but it came back low normal. It wasn't until I dropped down to 12.5 mg. of Synthroid with the doc's approval that I still hyperstimulated and began with the myxeda swelling, which was severe for me. Back up to .25 mg Synthroid (which doc wanted me to do) and I ended up almost in Myedema Coma. I never knew what it was in Synthroid that threw me for a loop; I never wanted to find out after that experience, probably some sort of allergy,too; but that's when I came here and LuLu, who used to be a moderator here, let me know very quickly after posting my story that it was my lousy ferritin level that was keeping the T4 and T3 from reaching my cells where it belonged; and that the meds were building and floating in my blood, causing hyper symptoms at low doses of meds. She helped me with so much advice on building my iron stores (ferritin) and 4 weeks ago I reached a level of 60-that magic level where they say you can tolerate thyroid meds well. At that point, I tried to raise again and I was successfully able to do so. I'm still very hypothyroid, with symptoms, but no swelling and no hyper symptoms. I went looking to see if you had posted your ferritin level somewhere on your posts, and couldn't find it. Do you know what it is? Sorry for the long post, but I do truly understand! Blessings, Tamara
Re: chan ging to natural dessicated thyroid hormon « Result #24 Today at 9:55am »
You might like to read an article that I ran across. I can't verify that all info in it is correct but it is very informative about the many angles and complications of this disease. It is listed under, "Gail's thyroid tips".
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