Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
Okay, I have had hypothyroid for the past 20 years....some years on medication, and some they pull me off because my numbers are alright they say. My numbers have been really off for the past three years, and Synthroid wasn't doing the trick so they put me on Armour. I finally went to an endo, as I heard this one was great, etc. However, she only tested my TSH...and when I went in to see her she said "I wonder why I didn't write down to do the T3 and T4.....red flag there. I take 90 mg of Armour every day.....and my numbers are still low and I still have fatigue and continue to gain weight despite working out and eating fairly well.
Here is my question...she said she doesn't think I need my dosage increased, and wants to do more blood work to rule out other things. She said maybe Cushings Disease. I looked it up and I see some of the symptoms are common, but I have always had a full face, so I don't know if that is a problem or not. I have middle aged weight gain around the middle (I am 49) and not sure if that is coincidence or that.
My question: Why is it so hard to figure out how to help someone with an underactive thyroid?? Does Cushings typically go hand in hand with this problem?
Thanks!!
Here is my question...she said she doesn't think I need my dosage increased, and wants to do more blood work to rule out other things. She said maybe Cushings Disease. I looked it up and I see some of the symptoms are common, but I have always had a full face, so I don't know if that is a problem or not. I have middle aged weight gain around the middle (I am 49) and not sure if that is coincidence or that.
My question: Why is it so hard to figure out how to help someone with an underactive thyroid?? Does Cushings typically go hand in hand with this problem?
Thanks!!
My former endos tried to blame my symptoms on anything but the thyroid yet they had no idea how to medicate properly.
The only way to know what you need re dose would be to look at your labs....TSH, FreeT3 and FreeT4.
Feel free to share your results here and we'll show you how to interpret them. You'll need to post the reference ranges for the FreeT3 and FreeT4 since different labs use different ranges and your results can only be properly interpreted within the context of your lab's ranges.
Uh, I don't think it's hard to figure out how to treat someone with hypothyroidism.......it's really common sense.
However, I know it's very difficult to find a doctor who can properly treat any type of thyroid disease......I had to kiss 4 toads before finding my prince(ss).
As I mentioned already, my former endos refused to believe my thyroid was to blame.
My current doctor works with me but, I was the one who identified my optimal levels and who pushed for every dose adjustment.
When my FT3/FT4 levels fall within my optimal range of levels....within the normal range, I am free from symptoms.
I continue to get regular labs and whatever (small) dose adjustments are needed to maintain my optimal levels.
This keeps me feeling awesome......I'd like to help you figure out how to accomplish this for yourself.
Knowing how to interpret your labs is step one.....