Hi there. So my doctor wanted me to retest my TSH level again. It came out 3.66. According to what I am reading, it shouldn't be any higher than 3... and some say 2. My Endo had refused to do the free T3 and 4, but I'm hoping he will change his mind.... or send me on to someone else. My mid afternoon body temp today is 96.8. Yesterday, it was 95,7! So, am I wrong to think that I am being under treated for my hypothyroidism?
Leah
TSH levels... Tex?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Nope, you are quite correct — you're being undertreated (probably significantly), based on your TSH and your temp.Leah wrote:So, am I wrong to think that I am being under treated for my hypothyroidism?
If you mention your low body temp, you'll probably get the same old BS that I got, when I pointed that out to my doctor. His response was, "Lots of people in the general population have low body temp, and they aren't diagnosed with hypothyroidism, so that low body temp doesn't mean anything".
Well doh! What it really means that many people are hypothyroid, and their doctors have failed to properly diagnose them.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Well, after e-mailing my doctor ( GP) and reiterating my body temp and hair loss, she is raising my Synthroid by 25 mcg. and I will retest in 6 weeks. They are still unwilling to do the other tests right now ( eye roll), but I am hoping that this at least takes care of these sumptoms.
Thanks for answering.
Leah
Thanks for answering.
Leah
That's probably not enough, but at least it's a step in the right direction. I'm guessing it will raise your temp roughly half a degree.
Good for her.
Keep us posted.
Tex
Good for her.
Keep us posted.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
My Endo is very well published Dr. Robert Fredricks. One of his findings involved absorption of thyroid meds in the gut and how hydrochloric acid in the stomach and digestive acids in the small intestines interfere with the absorption of thyroid meds. Some of this is why you are supposed to take them fasting. He takes a different twist and has done research and published his articles comparing taking meds orally with sublingually. There is much better absorption when taken sublingually. I have been doing this for years. It works best with Synthroid and Cytomel as they dissolve well they don't even taste bad, kind of sweet. Generic versions and desiccated versions don't really dissolve but become somewhat granular and the desiccated doesn't taste very good but you get used to it. He believes that even though they do not dissolve well it is better than just popping the pill. Once they become granular swallow with plenty of water. The first thing I do in the morning is pop my thyroid under my tongue. It should really help all of those who take thyroid to have better results.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
Robert Frost
Leah,
Yep, most doctors appear to be mesmerized by TSH results, and they simply aren't capable of looking any further.
There is no special sublingual form of thyroid supplements, you just use the tablets as if they were designed to be used sublingually. Before Forest Laboratories reformulated Armour (a few years ago), it worked much better sublingually than it does now. The revised version has a semi-hard shell, and many users have complained that it doesn't work as well for them as the original formulation. It's a shame that so many companies feel obligated to "improve" a perfectly good product until it doesn't work as well for many of their customers.
Tex
Yep, most doctors appear to be mesmerized by TSH results, and they simply aren't capable of looking any further.
There is no special sublingual form of thyroid supplements, you just use the tablets as if they were designed to be used sublingually. Before Forest Laboratories reformulated Armour (a few years ago), it worked much better sublingually than it does now. The revised version has a semi-hard shell, and many users have complained that it doesn't work as well for them as the original formulation. It's a shame that so many companies feel obligated to "improve" a perfectly good product until it doesn't work as well for many of their customers.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex,
The reason Forest Laboratories reformulated it was due to FDA interference. They began to change their product to use a different filler that was much less expensive and the FDA actually shut them down for a period of time. Because they are a natural product that the FDA would rather see disappear sot people would be required to by patent medicines. Forest Labs was forced by the FDA to reapply for a patent and reformulate their products to their standards. Most people I know have switched to Natuthroid.
The reason Forest Laboratories reformulated it was due to FDA interference. They began to change their product to use a different filler that was much less expensive and the FDA actually shut them down for a period of time. Because they are a natural product that the FDA would rather see disappear sot people would be required to by patent medicines. Forest Labs was forced by the FDA to reapply for a patent and reformulate their products to their standards. Most people I know have switched to Natuthroid.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
Robert Frost
I remember reading "rumors" about that, but I never checked it out. As I said, though, it doesn't pay to mess with a product that works well, and they shouldn't have been surprised at the FDA response, because surely they should have been aware of the FDA's attitude about old products that are essentially grandfathered by the laws, to circumvent the need for FDA approval. I'm sure the FDA is always on the lookout for an easy opportunity to "rein in" such products.
I may have to look into Naturethroid. I remember checking it out back when all the rumors about Armour were flying, in case I needed to switch, but I never ran out of Armour, so I didn't switch, at the time.
Tex
I may have to look into Naturethroid. I remember checking it out back when all the rumors about Armour were flying, in case I needed to switch, but I never ran out of Armour, so I didn't switch, at the time.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
-
ladyathome
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:08 am
My Osteopathic Doc only uses Naturethroid. She says it's more like the old Armour. She also thinks it's "cleaner" than Armour. I have tried to crush it and let it sit under my tongue, but I end up swallowing too soon I'm sure.
This site has lots of good info: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/
This site has lots of good info: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/
Tex,
When I was on Colchecine for my pericarditis I learned more about the crooks in the FDA. A few years ago the FDA decided that Colchecine (usually used for gout, but one of the primary treatments for pericarditis) had not been ever approved by by the FDA because it is older than the FDA. They found a lab that was willing to go through the process thus they had a patent. The generic form went away and the cost of the drug went from $0.36 to$6.00 a pill. I bought mine in in Canada!!!
When I was on Colchecine for my pericarditis I learned more about the crooks in the FDA. A few years ago the FDA decided that Colchecine (usually used for gout, but one of the primary treatments for pericarditis) had not been ever approved by by the FDA because it is older than the FDA. They found a lab that was willing to go through the process thus they had a patent. The generic form went away and the cost of the drug went from $0.36 to$6.00 a pill. I bought mine in in Canada!!!
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
Robert Frost
Yep, that sounds like the good old FDA. The agency was created to protect the consumer from unscrupulous companies selling snake oil, and it eventually evolved to the opposite extreme.
Now their goal appears to be to make sure that Big Pharma is guaranteed the right to maximize their profits at the consumer's expense. And a lot of the drugs they approve are only marginally better than placebos, which means that they are pretty close to snake oil.
Tex
Now their goal appears to be to make sure that Big Pharma is guaranteed the right to maximize their profits at the consumer's expense. And a lot of the drugs they approve are only marginally better than placebos, which means that they are pretty close to snake oil.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
-
MBombardier
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1523
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
I have discovered that when I leave my Armour pill out over night it is much easier to chew into a paste in the morning. I try to keep the paste under my tongue for a bit, but it doesn't really absorb in the short time I can stand it there. I generally swish it around in my mouth with some water and swallow it down.
One thing I do is wait at least half an hour before taking any other pills (like vitamins), and at least an hour before eating. In the afternoons, I make sure that I have not eaten for at least three hours before taking my afternoon dose, and then I wait at least an hour before eating.
One thing I do is wait at least half an hour before taking any other pills (like vitamins), and at least an hour before eating. In the afternoons, I make sure that I have not eaten for at least three hours before taking my afternoon dose, and then I wait at least an hour before eating.
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Please don't allow your doc to treat you based solely on TSH. We do our own labs through an internet service (not sure if I can provide the link or not) and get a full thryoid panel for about $100 (without insurance, but you can submit the claim after the fact to try for reimbursement). I have a problem converting T4 to T3 so my TSH always looks normal since the pituitary detects plenty of T4 and sees no need to increase TSH. I switched once to Naturthroid but didn't do great and that doc was out of state which made it hard to adjust doseage as needed. My current doc wants to try Armour soon. I need something that contains T3 and levothyroxine is not cutting it despite my allopathic doc increasing the dose every appt. I reiterate ladyathome's suggestion for stop the thyroid madness - that's been a great resource for us.
I tried to insist on the other tests, but the doc. wasn't going for it. Since I am a Kaiser patient, there is no reimbursement for anything. If I have to go out and find a natural doctor to do the test and prescribe the meds, I will, but I'd rather not incur that cost. I don't feel really bad ( my symptoms are minor), so I am going to see if the Levothyroxine works for me at a higher dose.
Leah
Leah