Another Thyroid Thread.... (Redux)

[Blueberry]

Since the original post got lost in the "upgrade gone bad".....please forgive the repost.

I've been feeling abnormally tired for a very long time (~10 years). It got noticeably worse over the summer. It's been dismissed by docs as "modern life" "that's just how you are" "lose weight and you'll feel better." But - I haven't been able to lose weight to save my life despite an appropriate diet and exercise, I've been really tired, and I've been having terrible headaches and increasing joint pain (which I was attributing to my weight). I've also had lots of days where it's very hard to focus.

I saw my ObGyn recently, and she re-tested my thyroid function. TSH has been between 2.03 and 3.01 for me historically, and now it's 4.46. Thyroxine has been between .81 and .85, and is now .64. She has suggested that low dose treatment might be an option, but referred me to my primary care. Due to her limited schedule, I can't see my primary care this semester (she only has a few hours of appointments each day Mon-Thurs). I'm seeing another doc in her office on 9/21.

I want to go as armed as I can in terms of info. Someone already posted on the original thread (Thanks!!) regarding her experiences with a similar level/treatment. She also posted about the new standard (.3 to 3). I've done some research as well, which suggests that anything over 2.5 is "high".

So...has anyone else experienced symptoms at these levels? Have you been treated and, if so, did you notice a difference? Thoughts on seeing a primary care versus an endocrinologist?

Thanks so much for any and all insight. I'm hopeful that treating this will help me feel better and move on with my life in a healthy way (energy to exercise, diet and exercise working). It's odd - but I'm almost glad to have an explanation. I've just started classes, so I really don't need the extra fatigue.

[redrhodie]

My tsh was over 6, and I only started levothyroxine less than 2 weeks ago, but I already feel much better. I wish I was diagnosed sooner. I bet you will feel a big difference once you start the med. You're wise to get this under control before your symptoms get worse.

[girlontheroad]

Blueberry, if the tests and treatment for thyroid are not successful, what you describe sounds alot to me like fibromyalgia. I was very fortunate and got diagnosed with it quickly (which in the 90s is amazing) and treated it is not a problem. I was having severe headaches and I was exhausted. The not being able to focus is part of what is called fibrofog. Anyway, it might be just that it's what I'm familiar with but I thought I would throw it out there to consider if what you are trying doesn't help.

[indysteel]

I thought I'd post this year just instead of my older thyroid thread. I've now been on Synthroid for about 6 weeks at a very low dose. I had a blood draw on Friday and just heard the results. Prior to treatment, I was in the mid 4's. Now it's at .635, which my doctor described as "normal." I'm not sure I agree. I do feel better than I did prior to treatment, but at times, I feel slightly hyper. I sense in the middle of the night the most because I've been waking up at 4 for no reason and struggle to get back to sleep.

This is where I find my doc frustrating. I'm not sure why she'd call .635 "normal," without also asking me how I'm feeling. I talked just to her nurse, and quite honestly, I'm always hesitant to get into it with her. I'm tempted to take the drug on less than a daily basis and see if that alters my symptoms a bit. I hate chasing after a number every 6 weeks or so and wish there was a more fluid way to approach it. Since I'm just swinging from mildly hypo to mildly hyper, I'm not that worried about playing around with my dose a bit on my own. My blood will be retested in early October when I see her next as it is.

Any thoughts?

[maillotpois]

Since I'm just swinging from mildly hypo to mildly hyper, I'm not that worried about playing around with my dose a bit on my own. My blood will be retested in early October when I see her next as it is.

Any thoughts?

I self-adjust my medication pretty often. My weight fluctuates 20 pounds depending on how much I am riding, how well I am monitoring eating, etc. And since thryoid dosing is weight related, it has an effect. What about breaking the pill and taking half?

I let mine get out of control this year - I got sick and didn't ride in the spring, gained some weight, started feeling very tired and didn't even think about it. Had blood work done 2 weeks ago and TSH is 8! Working on upping the dosage, taking it at night when it won't be interfered with by morning latte, etc. I don't know why I didn't get it checked sooner.

Blueberry on your original question - I think if YOU Are having symptoms at those numbers you should treat it. I don't know that others' experiences are going to be as helpful - and it is certainly a jump from your normal range.

[indysteel]

I self-adjust my medication pretty often. My weight fluctuates 20 pounds depending on how much I am riding, how well I am monitoring eating, etc. And since thryoid dosing is weight related, it has an effect. What about breaking the pill and taking half?

I let mine get out of control this year - I got sick and didn't ride in the spring, gained some weight, started feeling very tired and didn't even think about it. Had blood work done 2 weeks ago and TSH is 8! Working on upping the dosage, taking it at night when it won't be interfered with by morning latte, etc. I don't know why I didn't get it checked sooner.

Blueberry on your original question - I think if YOU Are having symptoms at those numbers you should treat it. I don't know that others' experiences are going to be as helpful - and it is certainly a jump from your normal range.

Thanks for chiming in. I could split the dose pretty easily. It's a 25 mcg does (which is quite low as it is). I think I might start with taking 5 days of my regular dose and two at a half dose and see how I feel. I'd love to see how I feel at about a 1.0 TSH. If I could just sleep through the night, I'd be thrilled.

Of course, there's also a chance that I wasn't really in remission for my Graves' Disease and it's starting to rear its ugly head. I sure hope not.

Stupid thyroid!

[lisathew8lifter]

hello,
i have been on thyroid meds for years, and i was at 3.92 for TSH. i felt so much better after starting the meds and i lost weight and was able to keep it off for awhile. my tsh now is at about .16 and i'm not entirely sure how i feel about that. finding an endocrinologist that will listen to me is very difficult and i've already switched to the top doc here in MN. i don't feel like going through a bunch of bs to try to find another one, only to wind up with one i like less.