Wellness

[Annabellethecat66]

As some of you might remember in May I went to Denver to help my adult daughter when she had 1/2 of her thyroid removed. They took 1/2 of the thyroid and the mass that was inside of it. The mass was the size of an orange and had grown into the sinus area and down her throat.

She healed really well from the operation. She also was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue when she was 12 years old at Children's Hospital. (She is now 34 and has always been able to control her Chronic Fatigue with very small bouts of it).

The Endochronologist she had could not help her. She could not work, sometimes could not move. She found another Endochronologist. He is amazing.

My point for mentioning this is that he told her that he didn't like generic thyroid medicine. He said that the generic form of it is 20% less than the non-generic thyroid medicine.

He told her he didn't want her to take the generic.

I (as well as does my other daughter) takes the synthetic medicine. Some prescription plans do not cover generic medicines. I am lucky, I can afford to pay for the difference. When I go back to my Dr I intend to tell him that I no longer want to take the synthetic medicine.

I don't know if there is a difference. I do know that generic is not always the same as the real medicine. I repeat it is not always the same.

How do I know? Well I'll tell you about two personal times I've encountered this. Years ago my cardiologist wanted me to take a medicine that would make my heart muscle constrict better. He wrote me a prescription and said generic was fine. I said, "What are the drawbacks from taking the medicine?" He said, "Well, some people have a cough (like a long time smoker). I said, "Nope. I won't take it then". He said, "Wait a minute". He does in his 'closet' and hands me tons of little bottles (samples) and said, "Here is the real medicine. It does not give the cough". I never took any of the medicine. When I went back he said, "Keep doing what you're doing". I said, "I never took any of it". He said, "Well, your heart muscle is working way better, so don't worry about it".

I'm not going to talk about the other instance except to say it was along those lines.

Here's what I think. If you take something. If you think it works. If your Dr thinks it helps you in your life. Continue taking it. Why in the world would you not take it?

Some people say they've taken the synthetic for 45 years. It works for them. Why not keep taking it if you know it works. Everyone is different.

The reason I'm going to talk to my endochronologist about changing over is because I'm having problems that might be due to the low dosage of medicine (I also have to have my thyroid removed). It will change anyway.

There is nothing wrong with someone posting what their Dr told them. I like to read what other Drs say and what all of you say. It helps to inform me.

Let's not attack others for posting information. However, the OP needs to be careful how they post something in that it doesn't make people who take the medicine feel like they are failures for taking what works for them.

Phew! Now my fingers hurt. Incidentally, my daughter's surgeon (she's a genuine Thoratic Surgeon, not just a surgeon) said that 38% of females have some form of thyroid problems. I asked my Dr and he said yes that's about right. That is a very high number.

[addiegal]

Annabelle, are you taking name brand thryoid medicine? Like Synthroid or Levoxyl? If so it is a synthetic as is the generic levothroxine. The generics are synthetic as are the brand names such as Synthroid. All generics can have a variable allowed by the FDA either weaker or stronger than the name brand. I think it is 10 or 20%. I always ask that my prescription be written for name brand only. A lot of people take the generic levothyroxine as well as liothyroxine (T3) and do fine on it but I just don't want to take the risk. It is just my decision. I feel good with what I am taking so don't want to rock the boat ! The choice is desiccated thyroid or synthetic name brand or generic. There is a levothyroxine name brand called Tirosint which is a gel capsule with no fillers, pure levothryoxine.

[herbsmom]

I have been on Synthroid and Cytomel for many years. The only problem I had was when CVS changed me to generic because there was a temporary "stability problem" with Synthroid, or so they said. I strangely got muscle pain in my thigh. After a couple of months, I was back on Synthroid and the pain went away. My endocrinologist was not happy I had been switched, even temporarily, without his clearance. Moral of story: avoid generic, if possible!

[Nightowlz]

On 6/21/2014 annabellethecat said:

As some of you might remember in May I went to Denver to help my adult daughter when she had 1/2 of her thyroid removed. They took 1/2 of the thyroid and the mass that was inside of it. The mass was the size of an orange and had grown into the sinus area and down her throat.

She healed really well from the operation. She also was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue when she was 12 years old at Children's Hospital. (She is now 34 and has always been able to control her Chronic Fatigue with very small bouts of it).

The Endochronologist she had could not help her. She could not work, sometimes could not move. She found another Endochronologist. He is amazing.

My point for mentioning this is that he told her that he didn't like generic thyroid medicine. He said that the generic form of it is 20% less than the non-generic thyroid medicine.

He told her he didn't want her to take the generic.

I (as well as does my other daughter) takes the synthetic medicine. Some prescription plans do not cover generic medicines. I am lucky, I can afford to pay for the difference. When I go back to my Dr I intend to tell him that I no longer want to take the synthetic medicine.

I don't know if there is a difference. I do know that generic is not always the same as the real medicine. I repeat it is not always the same.

How do I know? Well I'll tell you about two personal times I've encountered this. Years ago my cardiologist wanted me to take a medicine that would make my heart muscle constrict better. He wrote me a prescription and said generic was fine. I said, "What are the drawbacks from taking the medicine?" He said, "Well, some people have a cough (like a long time smoker). I said, "Nope. I won't take it then". He said, "Wait a minute". He does in his 'closet' and hands me tons of little bottles (samples) and said, "Here is the real medicine. It does not give the cough". I never took any of the medicine. When I went back he said, "Keep doing what you're doing". I said, "I never took any of it". He said, "Well, your heart muscle is working way better, so don't worry about it".

I'm not going to talk about the other instance except to say it was along those lines.

Here's what I think. If you take something. If you think it works. If your Dr thinks it helps you in your life. Continue taking it. Why in the world would you not take it?

Some people say they've taken the synthetic for 45 years. It works for them. Why not keep taking it if you know it works. Everyone is different.

The reason I'm going to talk to my endochronologist about changing over is because I'm having problems that might be due to the low dosage of medicine (I also have to have my thyroid removed). It will change anyway.

There is nothing wrong with someone posting what their Dr told them. I like to read what other Drs say and what all of you say. It helps to inform me.

Let's not attack others for posting information. However, the OP needs to be careful how they post something in that it doesn't make people who take the medicine feel like they are failures for taking what works for them.

Phew! Now my fingers hurt. Incidentally, my daughter's surgeon (she's a genuine Thoratic Surgeon, not just a surgeon) said that 38% of females have some form of thyroid problems. I asked my Dr and he said yes that's about right. That is a very high number.

Good to hear your daughter is doing well after having half here thyroid removed. My sister had half hers removed over 40 yrs ago & had the other half removed about 10 yrs ago or so. She takes Synthroid & they keep her TSH at 0 since she had cancer. She was told she cannot take the natural thyroid which is not true from what I have read. One of my aunts had her thyroid removed & had damage to her vocal cords & had to see a speech therapist. She was not doing well for a long time. Her voice is really raspy now. We only have 1 endo in town & he refused to see me. I asked the receptionist that called & told me why & she quietly said he does not like dealing with patients taking the natural thyroid. I think the doctors are just lazy & only want to look at the TSH because they don't know how to deal with the other tests I ask for or just plain don't want to since they think all you need is the TSH. If these doctors were hypothyroid & having problems I think things would be different.

[Nightowlz]

On 6/21/2014 herbsmom said:

I have been on Synthroid and Cytomel for many years. The only problem I had was when CVS changed me to generic because there was a temporary "stability problem" with Synthroid, or so they said. I strangely got muscle pain in my thigh. After a couple of months, I was back on Synthroid and the pain went away. My endocrinologist was not happy I had been switched, even temporarily, without his clearance. Moral of story: avoid generic, if possible!

My sister takes Synthroid & she also had to take a generic because there was a problem with Synthroid. Her levels were all out of whack. Not much you can do if the pharmacy does not have it.

[emmysmom]

On 6/21/2014 annabellethecat said:

As some of you might remember in May I went to Denver to help my adult daughter when she had 1/2 of her thyroid removed. They took 1/2 of the thyroid and the mass that was inside of it. The mass was the size of an orange and had grown into the sinus area and down her throat.

She healed really well from the operation. She also was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue when she was 12 years old at Children's Hospital. (She is now 34 and has always been able to control her Chronic Fatigue with very small bouts of it).

The Endochronologist she had could not help her. She could not work, sometimes could not move. She found another Endochronologist. He is amazing.

My point for mentioning this is that he told her that he didn't like generic thyroid medicine. He said that the generic form of it is 20% less than the non-generic thyroid medicine.

He told her he didn't want her to take the generic.

I (as well as does my other daughter) takes the synthetic medicine. Some prescription plans do not cover generic medicines. I am lucky, I can afford to pay for the difference. When I go back to my Dr I intend to tell him that I no longer want to take the synthetic medicine.

I don't know if there is a difference. I do know that generic is not always the same as the real medicine. I repeat it is not always the same.

How do I know? Well I'll tell you about two personal times I've encountered this. Years ago my cardiologist wanted me to take a medicine that would make my heart muscle constrict better. He wrote me a prescription and said generic was fine. I said, "What are the drawbacks from taking the medicine?" He said, "Well, some people have a cough (like a long time smoker). I said, "Nope. I won't take it then". He said, "Wait a minute". He does in his 'closet' and hands me tons of little bottles (samples) and said, "Here is the real medicine. It does not give the cough". I never took any of the medicine. When I went back he said, "Keep doing what you're doing". I said, "I never took any of it". He said, "Well, your heart muscle is working way better, so don't worry about it".

I'm not going to talk about the other instance except to say it was along those lines.

Here's what I think. If you take something. If you think it works. If your Dr thinks it helps you in your life. Continue taking it. Why in the world would you not take it?

Some people say they've taken the synthetic for 45 years. It works for them. Why not keep taking it if you know it works. Everyone is different.

The reason I'm going to talk to my endochronologist about changing over is because I'm having problems that might be due to the low dosage of medicine (I also have to have my thyroid removed). It will change anyway.

There is nothing wrong with someone posting what their Dr told them. I like to read what other Drs say and what all of you say. It helps to inform me.

Let's not attack others for posting information. However, the OP needs to be careful how they post something in that it doesn't make people who take the medicine feel like they are failures for taking what works for them.

Phew! Now my fingers hurt. Incidentally, my daughter's surgeon (she's a genuine Thoratic Surgeon, not just a surgeon) said that 38% of females have some form of thyroid problems. I asked my Dr and he said yes that's about right. That is a very high number.

I never posted with the intent that one form of the medicine was better or worse. I wanted others to know there are other options besides synthroid, which IS synthetic and Armour is NOT~ Alot of us cannot take synthetic meds, I am one~

[Campion]

I'm suffering the effects of 50 years of synthetic which did not work well (only 40 pct of people can convert the t4 in Synthroid to active T3 form) and it wrecks the bones.

There is not a great alternative, as most doctors don't want to prescribe Armour as it requires more titration of the dose. I got hosed, medically. Totally healthy except for the thyroid and ended up with myriad of problems all due to Synthroid.

[Annabellethecat66]

That makes sense. I didn't mean to infer you were posting that they shouldn't take the medicine their Dr prescribed. I guess I was saying (I thought I did) that if their medicine worked for them, why would they stop taking it?

I guess in all of my bla blaing I didn't make myself clear.

[emmysmom]

On 6/21/2014 Nightowlz said:

On 6/21/2014 annabellethecat said:

As some of you might remember in May I went to Denver to help my adult daughter when she had 1/2 of her thyroid removed. They took 1/2 of the thyroid and the mass that was inside of it. The mass was the size of an orange and had grown into the sinus area and down her throat.

She healed really well from the operation. She also was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue when she was 12 years old at Children's Hospital. (She is now 34 and has always been able to control her Chronic Fatigue with very small bouts of it).

The Endochronologist she had could not help her. She could not work, sometimes could not move. She found another Endochronologist. He is amazing.

My point for mentioning this is that he told her that he didn't like generic thyroid medicine. He said that the generic form of it is 20% less than the non-generic thyroid medicine.

He told her he didn't want her to take the generic.

I (as well as does my other daughter) takes the synthetic medicine. Some prescription plans do not cover generic medicines. I am lucky, I can afford to pay for the difference. When I go back to my Dr I intend to tell him that I no longer want to take the synthetic medicine.

I don't know if there is a difference. I do know that generic is not always the same as the real medicine. I repeat it is not always the same.

How do I know? Well I'll tell you about two personal times I've encountered this. Years ago my cardiologist wanted me to take a medicine that would make my heart muscle constrict better. He wrote me a prescription and said generic was fine. I said, "What are the drawbacks from taking the medicine?" He said, "Well, some people have a cough (like a long time smoker). I said, "Nope. I won't take it then". He said, "Wait a minute". He does in his 'closet' and hands me tons of little bottles (samples) and said, "Here is the real medicine. It does not give the cough". I never took any of the medicine. When I went back he said, "Keep doing what you're doing". I said, "I never took any of it". He said, "Well, your heart muscle is working way better, so don't worry about it".

I'm not going to talk about the other instance except to say it was along those lines.

Here's what I think. If you take something. If you think it works. If your Dr thinks it helps you in your life. Continue taking it. Why in the world would you not take it?

Some people say they've taken the synthetic for 45 years. It works for them. Why not keep taking it if you know it works. Everyone is different.

The reason I'm going to talk to my endochronologist about changing over is because I'm having problems that might be due to the low dosage of medicine (I also have to have my thyroid removed). It will change anyway.

There is nothing wrong with someone posting what their Dr told them. I like to read what other Drs say and what all of you say. It helps to inform me.

Let's not attack others for posting information. However, the OP needs to be careful how they post something in that it doesn't make people who take the medicine feel like they are failures for taking what works for them.

Phew! Now my fingers hurt. Incidentally, my daughter's surgeon (she's a genuine Thoratic Surgeon, not just a surgeon) said that 38% of females have some form of thyroid problems. I asked my Dr and he said yes that's about right. That is a very high number.

Good to hear your daughter is doing well after having half here thyroid removed. My sister had half hers removed over 40 yrs ago & had the other half removed about 10 yrs ago or so. She takes Synthroid & they keep her TSH at 0 since she had cancer. She was told she cannot take the natural thyroid which is not true from what I have read. One of my aunts had her thyroid removed & had damage to her vocal cords & had to see a speech therapist. She was not doing well for a long time. Her voice is really raspy now. We only have 1 endo in town & he refused to see me. I asked the receptionist that called & told me why & she quietly said he does not like dealing with patients taking the natural thyroid. I think the doctors are just lazy & only want to look at the TSH because they don't know how to deal with the other tests I ask for or just plain don't want to since they think all you need is the TSH. If these doctors were hypothyroid & having problems I think things would be different.

Can you go to an internist or family doctor to monitor your thyroid? To get the armour?

[emmysmom]

On 6/21/2014 Campion said:

I'm suffering the effects of 50 years of synthetic which did not work well (only 40 pct of people can convert the t4 in Synthroid to active T3 form) and it wrecks the bones.

There is not a great alternative, as most doctors don't want to prescribe Armour as it requires more titration of the dose. I got hosed, medically. Totally healthy except for the thyroid and ended up with myriad of problems all due to Synthroid.

Sorry Campion, this is why I posted. My friend has had issues as well.