Discussions that mention synthroid

I am wondering if I need T3 (although someone told me very few people do?).
What are the numbers to look at?
I've been on different Synthroid doses for a while. Although it's made a difference, I'm still having many hypo symptoms. My last TSH was 3.84 and the endo wanted to leave me there as "normal".
I can give you some # s if needed, but I don't know all the lab ranges.
I would also be interested in any stories re someone using T4 and T3 versus just T4, or anyone who went from Synthroid to Armour.
TIA :)

What stinks is I found this endo on the AACE website (which suggests the lower TSH range) so I thought he would be cool, but he left me as "normal".
Here is my history:
Feb 05 TSH 2.83 (I was seeing an ENT for chronic sinus and throat problems, didn't know anything about thyroids then)

Sept 05 (Reproductive Endocrinologist)
TSH 6.34
2 wks later
TSH 4.99
TgAB 105 (s/b <20)
TPOab 18 (s/b <35)
FT4 "high" @ 2.1
T3 Uptake 35 "borderline high"
(sorry that's all the info)

He put me on .100mg Synthroid for 2 weeks, TSH 0.01
Then .075mg for 2 wks - TSH 0.03
Then .05mg for 2 wks - TSH 0.03 still
Then off Synthroid for 2 wks - TSH 0.22
Off another 2 wks - TSH 8.34
On .05mg for 2 weeks - TSH 3.15
On it for 2.5 months after, TSH 3.84 (this is with new AACE endo)
The AACE endo ran a ACTH test and said that was normal and 3.84 was normal.
I begged to try .075mg so he said OK, for 5 wks, then re-test.
I haven't felt well since this all started in Sept. When I was 8.34 I was almost comatose and gained weight. When I was hyper prior to that, I lost weight suddenly
and was much more dizzy and nauseated, had a really red face, oily skin and hair, and would have black outs (and almost pass out).
Sooo, I've been on the .075mg for a few weeks and will be tested near the end of May.
I've been taking a multivitamin for two months (only used to occasionally) along with Selenium, Magnesium, Zinc, Super B Complex, and Borage Oil.

Quote from ttc1asap:

What stinks is I found this endo on the AACE website (which suggests the lower TSH range) so I thought he would be cool, but he left me as "normal".
Here is my history:
Feb 05 TSH 2.83 (I was seeing an ENT for chronic sinus and throat problems, didn't know anything about thyroids then)

Sept 05 (Reproductive Endocrinologist)
TSH 6.34
2 wks later
TSH 4.99
TgAB 105 (s/b <20)
TPOab 18 (s/b <35)
FT4 "high" @ 2.1
T3 Uptake 35 "borderline high"
(sorry that's all the info)

He put me on .100mg Synthroid for 2 weeks, TSH 0.01
Then .075mg for 2 wks - TSH 0.03
Then .05mg for 2 wks - TSH 0.03 still
Then off Synthroid for 2 wks - TSH 0.22
Off another 2 wks - TSH 8.34
On .05mg for 2 weeks - TSH 3.15
On it for 2.5 months after, TSH 3.84 (this is with new AACE endo)
The AACE endo ran a ACTH test and said that was normal and 3.84 was normal.
I begged to try .075mg so he said OK, for 5 wks, then re-test.
I haven't felt well since this all started in Sept. When I was 8.34 I was almost comatose and gained weight. When I was hyper prior to that, I lost weight suddenly
and was much more dizzy and nauseated, had a really red face, oily skin and hair, and would have black outs (and almost pass out).
Sooo, I've been on the .075mg for a few weeks and will be tested near the end of May.
I've been taking a multivitamin for two months (only used to occasionally) along with Selenium, Magnesium, Zinc, Super B Complex, and Borage Oil.

Try a good D.O. and forget all these idiot, over-payed endo's.

Yeah I don't know why he was throwing different doses at me so often, but I didn't know he was goofy at the time.
I called him (RE) on the same day as the endo and he wouldn't let me try .075mg b/c he didn't want me to go hyper. They also told me I was normal @ 3.15 and 3.84 :confused: So, I don't think I'll be going back to him. Then they asked when I'd do IUI and I said when I feel better!!!
Jeesh. I think he thinks we're all cattle. Sorry, you can't just throw medication at women and they'll all be fertile/well. How does anyone with a thyroid problem get pg through him? :confused:
I've been taking my vitamins around lunchtime or late afternoon, sometimes evening if I forget. I take my Synthroid an hour before breakfast.
Where are the endos/docs that are more knowledgeable on the thyroid? :confused:

Quote from ttc1asap:

anyone who went from Synthroid to Armour.
TIA :)

I switched from Synthroid to Armour in Janaury. So far, it's been the best decision I have made, along with dumping quite a few doctors. It's taken time and adjustment, but feel I am getting there and much more positive about the whole situation in general. Armour or natural thyroid is not best for everyone, or some poeple do just fine on T4 alone. I am not 100% against T4, but I never felt that better on it and really almost no improvement in symptoms. Of course, I was probably undermedicated though. You need to trust your body and what it's telling you. If you have any FT3, FT4 tests available post them and some of us will take a look.

My main improvement was my coldness was gone. And from the first day. I still get cold, but I am not freezing anymore and having coffee and hot cocoa all the time. I have many more improvements such as: eyebrows are growing back, hair loss is minimal, joint/body aches gone, can see better and clearer, body heat and wear deo now, sex drive keeps improving, memory is really good again, feet don't hurt, nails growing and healthier, skin cleared up and not so dry, lump in throat not there that often, not as thirsty, more active, sleep better and so on and on. I could really go on and on, but I don't want to type all night. JK! My Ft3 was in the bottom and never improved on T4 alone and wanted to try something different, finding a doctor to help was another story. A LOT don't like to work with natual thyroid, period. As I said, everyone is different and with different symptoms in some cases.

Trust you and nobody else on how you feel. If I trusted some previos . . drs. . I still be dragging my leaded feet around, feeling pretty miserable, and making my family dislike me more by the minute. Take care.

I found a bunch of doctors on my insurance plan that prescribe Armour. I would love to try it if nothing else works. I don't really know if this Synthroid dose is going to magically make me feel better in a few weeks. I'm thinking I should give it til June or so. :confused: :confused: It's hard to say if Synthroid is any good for me b/c of how the RE had me all over the place, and even had to take me off for a month b/c I was so hyper. I'm kind of mad at him for handling it the way he did, now that I know better :nono:
I have all the symptoms you mentioned - the worst are being cold, tired, dizzy, nauseated. I also wonder if it's affecting my fertility. I'm getting old, too, and need to have optimal health in order to conceive. Sigh.
I never sleep well, and never feel rested even if I do sleep all night. I have weird aches and pains all the time, and my legs are always restless. Sometimes in the AM they hurt really bad and are real stiff for 10-20 minutes or so. I get the throat lump here and there and am short of breath a lot. A lot of times it feels like my shirt is choking me but there's nothing near my neck.
My short-term memory is bad and used to be real sharp, I have a lot of brain fog. I also am near-sighted (may not be related) and am super-sensitive to sunlight (I have to wear shades even if it's cloudy b/c it's too bright out and people think I'm nuts)...etc. I could go on and on too lol.
I'm glad you are feeling better. I think I will be talking to a new doctor soon and pre-screening them re their views on TSH ranges and other levels.

Just a quick suggestion. I am hypothyroid and worked for a couple years to get my tsh and ft's in a good range. I have a friend though who could not get in the right range, she was either hypo on the .055mcg of synthroid and hyper on the .075mcg. Her DO put her on one .055mcg and then prescribed .025mcg and had her cut it in half. It worked out perfectly, she has been doing great on that dose. It really takes having a doc to work with you.

Glojer

For me, it was simple. I felt like crud on just Synthroid. Had a multi-tude of side-effects:
insomnia
moody to meloncoly to feeling like I was taking depressants
irratated, crabby
brain FOG
withdrawn, not feeling like me

the list goes on & ON. Sudies show that many patients feel better adding a

T3 to their medicine. I know I *DO :D*

The meds. issue is so individual for everyone! Trying to find just the right level of thyroid replacement meds can be really troubling, for both the patient and the doc. I switched to a new endo. in late February and he has no problem with prescribing Armour or Cytomel (t3 only pills).

I switched from Synthroid to an equivelant dose of Armour and my heart rate, and edginess, hyper feelings increased so much that I ended up in the hospital emergency room. We then tried a synthroid/cytomel combination and I still had some problems with heart rate. I am 52 and definately menopausal, so my hormones are out of whack all over my body. Many of my symptoms of hyopthyroid could also be attributed also to menopause-ie aches and pains, fatigue, etc. Also the rapid heart rate, (that could have been from the addition of t3 and caused the emergency room visit) could also be attributed to menopause. Or the heart rate problems could have been a separate issue all together and just coinsidental to the addition of the t3. I hate to give up on the Armour because it has helped so many people, but it seems that for now, the timing for me is not right to be successful with an addition of t3. I'm kinda afraid of it too, it really scared me to feel like my heart was pounding out of my chest, my hands and feet started to go numb, and I was violently shaking all over. I am back on synthroid only for now until the cause of the rapid heart rate can be definately determined, if at all.