Hypothyroidism
18 years ago
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- 18 years ago
- 18 years ago
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Q for those with hypothyroidism
Comments (15)What Amy said - 5.2 is no longer "borderline". When I was dxed in the mid-90s, a TSH of 10 was "borderline" - needless to say, since I'd been in the 7s and 8s since high school, my hypo had gone untreated for at least 15 years. When I was dxed 5 was a "target" TSH reading! Hypothyroidism runs in my family big time, so I knew what the score was, just the folks with the letters after their names didn't listen. My endocrinologist prefers to keep women under 2.0 unless they're showing significant hyper symptoms (I do best around 0.8-1.1, depending on the season - I prefer to run a little hyper in the winter), although so many women are so used to how their bodies have been behaving in the hypo state that normalizing feels hyper to them. It does sound like the titration is being done a little too fast if at all; except for emergencies, medications should always be titrated so that the lowest effective dose can be used and side effects minimized, rather than following a formula in a book. I had a tough time with levothyroxine - I get a nasty combination of hypO and hypER symptoms. See, your thyroid produces multiple hormones; levothyroxine contains ONLY the T4 hormone, and theoretically your body is supposed to convert the T4 into T3 (which is the form your body actually uses) and other adjunct hormones like T2. Mine doesn't, so I ended up with T4 toxicosis and T3 deficiency. (Do not allow your doctor to treat purely by TSH. Insist that "free T4" and "free T3" tests be done frequently as they allow tighter control and more accuracy.) I take Armour Thyroid, which contains the full range of "minor" hormones, but had to fight for it for a long time because it's considered "old-fashioned" and "outdated" compared to the "new" Synthroid and the like. Side note: do not take large amounts of kelp/dulse or megadoses of iodine (which is what most "thyroid support" supplements contain) without the "OK" of a medical professional. Not every thyroid issue has anything at all to do with iodine, and if you have one of those conditions dumping a load of iodine into the system can be like the proverbial gasoline on bonfire. Iodine-deficiency hypothyroidism is very rare in the Western world. Rosewitch, levothyroxine is the generic name for Synthroid....See MoreHypothyroidism + Males.
Comments (19)The problem about actually going myself is coverage. I am an attending in a teaching clinic and with no doctor on the premises 14 people cannot see patients. I can get coverage if I can get another Dr. to cover for me, which means I need to know in advance. I technically have compensated sick or personal days but I can't use them because I am there or I have to have someone covering for me. I can take off from private practice, but then I have no income, and since patients are scheduled months in advance, they need to be rescheduled. Patients reschedule and cancel regularly but when the doctor does it to them, some people get furious. One of my practices is 25 miles from where I live so its a matter of taking 4 hours off for a single appointment in that practice. In the practice I am in in the city, I could take off but my physician is not in the practice that day. I know those are excuses but its not like working in corporate and calling out or taking personal time. It really throws a lot of things out of balance. The First Phone call I made when my mother died was to try and get coverage for my next clinic....See MoreMeghane and others, help: Cushings, Hypothyroid & kidney failure.
Comments (1)I can't help much with the meds but can tell you I owned a miniature poodle that always had elevated alkphos (in the 600's) for years and one vet finally told me that it was just normal for my dog. He was diagnosed with Cushings in his final 2 years but I was never convinced the tests were accurate since my dog never had 'true' cushings symptoms. The symptoms he did have, and died from, were more indicative of a brain tumor. I wish you the best with your little gal....See MoreWho here has suffered from hypothyroidism?
Comments (14)I take my levothroxine pill every morning for my hypothyroid. It took about a year of adjustments to find the right dose. Others are correct that it should be taken after a fast ( first thing in the morning. With a glass of water only. You should not eat or drink anything (including tea or coffee for an hour. Do not take other meds for at least an hour either unless the doctor oks it. One thing not mentioned is calcium. Calcium blocks the body's ability to absorb it properly so eating calcium rich foods is best done later in the day. (I miss my cottage cheese at breakfast *sigh*). Another thing to avoid is soy. Non-fermented soy like soymilk, tofu, soy nuts and edamame are not your friend if you are hypothyroid. Taking the medication properly and on schedule really makes a difference. I wasn't even aware I was hypothyroid. Ithought being tired was me just getting older. LOL My doctor discovered it during a battery of tests done during my my first bout of sudden hearing loss....See More- 18 years ago
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