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...
Hi guys. Right I'm at a bit of a fork in the road I feel. To recap I've been on my current dose for the last 10 weeks. My ft4 is at 64% of the range and my ft3 is at 69%. As Mbutterfly highlighted for me my levels aren't optimal and after an initial jolt when the dose kicked in and I felt amazing (which always happens, grrr) I now feel horrible again.
As the docs in the UK don't get it the plan is that I hold this dose for another 3 months then I'd have to fight tooth and nail to get an increase. However I can't imagine just leaving things how they are for that long then having to wait another 2 months for the new dose to kick in - I'm incapacitated with fatigue daily and it's utterly miserable.
My private (non NHS doc) however has indicated to me that if I wanted to up my t4 dose by 12.5mcg then she won't stop me (she knows I have in the past sourced my own meds) but I don't think she wants to be seen to sanction it herself so the question is do I? I'm very tempted to order the extra dose in myself, then leave a few months, tell her what I've had to do at my next appointment and then get her to test my new levels.
My thinking is first and foremost I don't want to suffer any longer than I need to and that 3 months on a dose is plenty long enough to know what it's doing and 5/6 months is just ridiculous and cruel. However my doc argues that the meds accumulate etc.
What do we think you thyroid veterans do I tough it out for another 3 months or go maverick? Is 10 weeks long enough to have seen the full impact of my new dose? I blimmin hate these doctors. Thanks everso
As the docs in the UK don't get it the plan is that I hold this dose for another 3 months then I'd have to fight tooth and nail to get an increase. However I can't imagine just leaving things how they are for that long then having to wait another 2 months for the new dose to kick in - I'm incapacitated with fatigue daily and it's utterly miserable.
My private (non NHS doc) however has indicated to me that if I wanted to up my t4 dose by 12.5mcg then she won't stop me (she knows I have in the past sourced my own meds) but I don't think she wants to be seen to sanction it herself so the question is do I? I'm very tempted to order the extra dose in myself, then leave a few months, tell her what I've had to do at my next appointment and then get her to test my new levels.
My thinking is first and foremost I don't want to suffer any longer than I need to and that 3 months on a dose is plenty long enough to know what it's doing and 5/6 months is just ridiculous and cruel. However my doc argues that the meds accumulate etc.
What do we think you thyroid veterans do I tough it out for another 3 months or go maverick? Is 10 weeks long enough to have seen the full impact of my new dose? I blimmin hate these doctors. Thanks everso
I am not a thyroid veteran, but I think 10 weeks is definitely long enough for the effects of your medication to kick in. If you still have symptoms, then you should have an increase in my opinion. From personal experience, I waited too long between labs and I suffered from symptoms needlessly.
How can you get your own meds?
Thanks for your feedback. This is my thinking. I'm very conscious that I don't want to rush things and I know that the process requires bucket loads of patience but I really don't want to suffer any longer than necessary. It's ok for the docs saying wait months and months but they aren't living with the symptoms!
Re the meds there are a number of online pharmacies where you can purchase without prescription. I've never had any probs with them and have used numerous times (always with the knowledge of a doctor). Not ideal but to be honest nothing about the management of thyroid disease is huh.
Just a thought - the t4 I can get looks like it would be synthroid but I take levothyroxine. So I'd have to mix the two. Again not ideal but do we think this would be ok?
Let us know how it goes.
You guys are fab
Best of luck to you! Please keep us posted.