I was just diagnosed with low thyroid because my thyroid was sluggish. He only tested for TSH but I wished he had tested for T3 and T4 as well. I was prescribed Synthroid and for me the drug worked right away. I wasn't cold anymore, I actually felt some energy something I haven't had for a while. Has your husband tried mustard for leg spasms. Swallowing a few squirts of yellow mustard before bed is supposed to help from what my Doctor told me to try a few years ago and for me it worked.

Thanks, Cherryfizz. I've gotten relief from ordinary leg cramps with pickle juice, so mustard is probably in the same ballpark. (Talk about your mixed metaphores!)

DH's MD's nurse says the order is for: TSH Reflex Free T-4

IDK if that is 'full range' or still missing something...like T-3?

The test that was missing when I was experiencing hyperactive thyroid symptoms was the one for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). My thyroid numbers were all at the high end of normal, no PC or ophthalmologist or my ENT thought to measure TSH. I didn't have any. My thyroid was spinning along at a high rate of speed and I was showing weight loss, irregular heart beat, proptosis of my eyes when I had no hormone simulating it to do that. We blocked my thyroid function (drugs, not radiation). By 'we', I mean the endocrinologist I finally was able to form a relationship with and why I'd never let a primary care treat thyroid ever again. That was early 90's, and right on predicted timeline I swung full circle to Hashimoto's about 10 years later. My endo knew it before I did.

I take synthroid to make up for the now lack of thyroid function from the Hashimoto's. We test levels once a year. I feel good. I've had no side effects at all from the drug and its not expensive.

From what I gather from discussions on Thyroid issues it's very different from hyper to hypo thyroid. Those of us with lower levels are easily treated with synthroid. It has to be upsetting to have such troubles and doctors can find no 'fix' for your husband.

Does the doctor think your DH's thyroid might be overactive? Or underactive? Synthroid and Armour are prescribed to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). My DH's thyroid gland was removed in his twenties because it was so hyperactive. They may have left a piece of it; I don't recall. For the rest of his life he took Armour dessicated thyroid. He had nothing but negative things to say about Synthroid. Doctors love to prescribe it, though, and he had to be firm about his refusal to take it.

When he was in the nursing home at the end of his life, the doctor they use ignored my request (of course) to give my DH only Armour, and as a result he ended up in the ER. I don't know the details on that, but I guess he had excellent reasons for refusing the Synthroid.

They will need to test his Free T4, Free T3 and TSH. Some people do better on Armour. It has T4 and T3 in it, along with small amounts of lesser thyroid hormones. Synthroid is straight T4. It's up to the body to convert the T4 into useable T3 hormone with Synthroid. Those who can not do this on their own are prescribed Cytomel as well--this is T3 hormone.

It's best to start with seeing the lab results and dose him with an estimated proper dose of replacement to get him into the mid-range on the reference ranges. He doesn't know where his body performs best on the lab ranges, so it's really a guessing game until he has been on a certain dosage for some months and cross check his symptoms to the lab ranges. Unless a homerun has been hit with the initial dose guess, it can take a year or so to find the proper dose of replacement thyroid medication as the body and medication need time to even out with each other.

They like to dose the eldery a little on the low side of things out of caution. Even slight overdosing for the individual (while still being within the lab normal ranges) can cause high heart rate, especially in the elderly.

I hope he feels better soon. FWIW, when my thyroid levels swing a little on the low side I can get RLS, which resolves when dosage is adjusted. I've known people who had RLS so bad they were on several medications for it. When their thyroid dose had been adjusted upward, RLS spontaniously disappeared. It would be nice if it was this easy in your dh's situation.

morz8 -- I will remember you caution about dealing only with endocrinologists.

arcy -- Thanks for the commiseration. All this 'doctoring' is a pain, and it only increases DH's problems with anxiety.

Alisande -- I appreciate your cautions. This confirms what I'd heard before about using the natural product, not Synthroid -- although Cherryfizz has had a positive reaction from Synthroid.

Sea Sea -- Yes, I agree that he should have more than just the TSH, but that's all the neurologist and his primary will do...so far. Resuts have come back 'normal'.

Thing is, he still has the extreme restless limbs, and sore eyes, and is exhaused during the day. I was so hoping we'd happened on something we could work with!

Thanks, all. Sorry to bang on about it.

Well darn Chisue. Only a TSH result doesn't get most people anywhere. Lots of people are sitting inside the normal range and not well. More investigation should be done, but...Patients have resorted to buying their own blood tests from retailers which then supplies a lab slip to places such as Quest or LabCorp. Our family uses those services because our deductable is shockingly high. It costs us a lot less to buy our own lab slips than have it done the traditional way (this does not apply towards our deductable). Long winded way of saying one *could* order the Free T4 and Free T3 on your own--the lab will throw in the TSH too, so now everyone is happy. ; )

We currently use HealthOneLabs which has contracted in our part of the world with Quest labs. It's online and the lab slip is delivered via email to you. You in turn print it out and bring it to the lab. (tell them upfront labs are pre-paid) When results are in, you will be able to see them in your online portal. Print that out and bring it to your dr. Same tests. Good luck. I know it's frustrating to go through this.

Chisue, what do you mean by "sore eyes"?

Sea Sea -- I'll tell DH about the lab option. Thank you. I suppose we could also consult an endocrinologist. Maybe I can persuade our primary to order a T-3. What was done was supposedly "TSH Reflex T-4". It came back as TSH in the mid-two's.

Patriciae -- DH has seen two different opthalmologists (SP? I mean the MD's). He's supposedly 'fine', but he's been unable to read for more than a few minutes because his eyes 'get sore'. He's had four different prescriptions for reading glasses to no avail. He's required reading glasses since college, and the prescription has seldom changed to any significant degree. Now, nothing helps. He's learned to like audiobooks over the past several months.

He takes four prescriptions.

One is Rexulti 1MG for anxiety. Previously he took a.related med, Abilify 1MG for 11 years with great success. (Yes, these can sometimes *cause* spasms, even TD, but nothing else worked.)

Three are BP meds: Amlodipine Besylate 5MG; Bisoprolol 5MG; Olmesartan 40MG. His BP is excellent; I think the pulse is low (50-60).

He also takes: A multipule vitamin; Vit D-3; Magnesium Glycinate 400MG; and Turmeric 1000MG. The Turmeric 'eats' iron; he has a mildly elevated iron count, down from a count that was a concern a year ago.

You're all very kind to try to help. This is a lot for me to deal with, along with monthly infusions for Multiple Myeloma (Darzalex) and oral Revlimid (just reduced to 5MG from 10MG due to sore tongue).

Any of you 'youngsters' reading here...take heed. Enjoy your health while you have it!

Make certain, if you go that route, it is the FREE T4 and FREE T3 that is tested. T3 and or T4 tests will not reveal all there is to know. There is no reason in this day and age to not test FT4 and FT3 unless the patient is a pre-pubescent child. Period. The 'free' in the name refers to free and unbound thyroid hormone. This is what is needed to know. If there is nothing out of the ordinary with the FT lab results, then you know this tree is not one to be barked up at. Other 'trees' can and should then be investigated. However, no one will know unless the tests are run.

You do have my sympathy. It's a rough road to travel, and one with a fair bit of pushback too from some doctors--for reasons that just don't make sense to me as the studies are there, been conclusive, available to read...not good reasons for push back on this topic of basic thyroid testing, but I digress.

I hope you can take time and care for yourself too, as you have a lot to deal with health wise and have been very stoic from what I've read here.

The endocrine system is complicated and many doctors don't like that. It doesn't stay the same in that what worked before may not work now. Underlying immune system issues can cause havoc and chasing down what they are is in its infancy. The reason I asked about sore eyes is that the immune attack that causes problems with the thyroid in some cases can attack the muscles that back and control the eyes and can be responsible for bulging eyes or just soreness in the muscles. It can indeed make it hard to read and gives false high eye pressure values. Thyroid values can be "normal". I can get episodes of swollen eyes which is why I know this. I also have RLS and occasional episodes of rapid heart beat etc. It is really aggravating. I am told there is only one good endocrinologist locally and she wasnt seeing any more patients. The one I saw was garbage. Everyone seems to present differently so I suppose there is that. Good luck.

prickly -- Thank you for bringing up the 'tired all the time' part of this. DH isn't sleeping in the daytime, but is lying down for an hour or more every afternoon. Sometimes he says he feels 'wired' at night. Doesn't that sound contridictory? TOO tired. TOO wired. All in one 24 hour period?

Sometimes I think I'm going nuts trying to help him find some resolution!

My son-in-law suffers from this, Chisue. Though he’s never been a ’good’ sleeper, since his stroke he doesn't sleep well at all and is usually very tired during the day. But must continue working, of course.

i hope your husband finds even a partial solution, very soon.