New here - ? about Hypo & depression - undertreatment?

SongofJoy · 08-29-2002, 03:31 AM

Hi! I just found this site and have been reading for about 2 hours! I have been so amazed at what I've been reading! I have been on Armours Thyroid, 1 gr, for about 6 years. Never had my dosage changed because my lab tests always say I'm within normal ranges on TSH, T4 and T3. In fact, I just had new tests done in July and still normal, although I haven't actually seen the numbers. I will find out tomorrow (later today lol) because I'm curious after what I've read on here.

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif I've wondered more than once over the past 6 years if I should have my dosage increased just because of symptoms. We've moved once in that time and I've seen five different Drs in the same time, and even went to an endo. once 2 years ago. Most recently, in July, a Dr. suggested I start taking a low dose of Prozac because I have actually been experiencing mild depression for over a year.

I haven't done it because I really don't feel good about doing that AT ALL! I also continue to have somewhat low body temperature, hair loss, insomnia, fatigue, although none of these are as bad as they were when I was first diagnosed.

Anyone care to make suggestions? Should I suggest (or demand

) that we try increasing my dosage a little even though my levels are "normal"? I'll check back and let you know my actual test results whenever I can get a copy of them. Thanks for all your help and encouragement in what I've read already! This is a great message board!

Meep · 08-29-2002, 09:48 AM

Depending on what your lab results look like, it may be perfectly OK to ask for a dose increase, especially if your T3 and/or T4 are low in the range. You can phrase it something like this when you ask your doctor.

"I still have a few symptoms of hypothyroidism, even though my lab results are 'normal'. Would there be any harm in trying a small dose increase as long as we still keep my results in the normal range?"

When you mention that you have the symptoms, still, hand the doctor a list of your symptoms, or print out the checklist from the Information Archive thread (http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum118/HTML/000005.html). A reasonable doctor would grant you that request, feeling comfortable that you aren't planning on going overboard and that you are clearly interested in being as healthy as you can be.

SongofJoy · 09-03-2002, 02:26 PM

I'm finally back to post my blood test results. Anyone who wants to comment on them, feel free. I'm not sure I understand what they all are for. Here goes:
T4 level was 6.2 -- range 4.5 to 12.0
T3 uptake was 0.92 -- range 0.72 to 1.24
FTI (what is this?) was 6.7 -- range 5 to 12
TSH level was 1.60 -- range 0.49 to 4.67
T4 Free level was 0.8 -- range 0.7 to 2.2

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

ArtfulD · 09-03-2002, 05:37 PM

Welcome, SongOfJoy. It looks like your test results were as Meep suspected -- your Free T4 is on the low end of the lab's reference range, and your TSH is a little higher than optimal. Recent studies have shown that many people, particularly women, feel best when their TSH is at or around 1.00 -- your value of 1.65 may be too high for your personal needs.

So it sounds like a small increase of your Armour may help you feel better. Glad you avoided taking the Prozac. If the depression is related thyroid levels, it should be corrected when you are balanced, and the Prozac may not have helped in that case.

There is a post in the Information Archive thread that helps explain the various blood tests and what they mean (Page 1, 12/31/01). You may find it helpful in interpreting this and future tests.
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SongofJoy · 09-08-2002, 11:41 PM

Well, I went to my Dr. on Friday (he's a Family Practitioner) to discuss my hypo-thyroidism with him. I told him some of the things I've been reading about here on these boards, the symptoms I'm still having, the mild depression (and the Prozac recomendation), etc. Then I asked about increasing my dosage of Armours Thyroid to see if maybe it would help me feel better. At first he was hesitant and just wanted to send me to an endocrinologist. But then he thought about it and said "why not?"

So, starting Friday, we upped my dosage from 60 mg to 90 mg, and he went ahead and scheduled an appointment for me to see an endocrinologist in late October. We'll do blood work again about a week before that appointment, and he said if I am feeling better and my levels are still within normal ranges, I can cancel the appointment if I want to. Then we'll do blood tests again in another two months just to see if my levels remain stabilized. I'm encouraged that he was willing, and I hope I'll begin feeling better in a few weeks. I'll post an update when I notice the changes I hope are forthcoming. Thanks for the encouragement you have been for me. This message board was really a God-send for me!