Re: Thyroid med - new doctor says take it, specia... - Page 2

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

@violann wrote:
As I ALWAYS say- what you take to treat hypothyroidism is replacement for what is missing in your body, NOT a medication that makes your "sick" thyroid better.
Levothyroxin is a synthetic form of thyroid hormone.
So is Synthroid.
Armour Thyroid is natural thyroid from pigs. I do better on Armour than on synthetics, so I take Armour.

I took Armour Thyroid for a long time until the last reformulation. I switched to Erfa Thyroid from Canada after the Armour reformulation because my TSH went up over 60 & other labs were way off. I started having muscle spasms all over & could hardly walk. When Erfa reformulated & more then doubled their price I switched to Acella NP Thyroid.

January121 · ‎03-21-2010

@violann wrote:
As I ALWAYS say- what you take to treat hypothyroidism is replacement for what is missing in your body, NOT a medication that makes your "sick" thyroid better.
Levothyroxin is a synthetic form of thyroid hormone.
So is Synthroid.
Armour Thyroid is natural thyroid from pigs. I do better on Armour than on synthetics, so I take Armour.

@violann .... I also take Armour Thyroid since 1992 .... I cannot take the synthetic form of Thyroid Hormone.

LonestarBabs · ‎06-26-2011

@January121-- I totally agree. I am going to schedule an appointment with the endo for a recheck at the 6 mos point. Like I've said: specialists are specialists for a reason!

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

I've always taken levothyroxine, which is the generic for Synthroid. I started taking this about fifteen years ago. It took a little while to find the right dosage, but once we did I've never needed to change the dosage. It made a huge difference in how I felt when I started it.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

violann · ‎03-10-2010

Thyroid disease is NOT always predictable in terms of numbers. Several years ago, I took RadioActive Iodine which was supposed to STOP my thyroid gland from functioning, because I was SEVERELY hyPERthyroid.

I was living with a heart beat over 150 at rest, and had several other dangerous and unpleasant symptoms.

The RAI knocked out about half of my thyroid gland, but my test numbers, including TSH, remained normal. Several years later, my thyroid hormone had lowered to the point at which I needed supplemental thyroid. Subsequently, after a fair trial of synthetics, I went to Armour.

THEN, the darn gland bounced back yet again. Did't need hormone for a few years, and it was in that period that the disastrous reformulation occurred. So I missed it!

I've been dose stable for about two years now. My endo keeps me between the problems of too low thyroid (elevated cholesterol for example) and too high thyroid (increased risk for osteoporosis).

She goes by bloodwork scores AND physical symptoms (changes in hair, shaking hands, bulging eyes, dry skin, fatigue), and I'm comfortable with her management of my thyroid health.

jaxs mom · ‎04-18-2012

I always go by the specialist over the GP, always. They have the extensive specific training for your condition.

Don't Change Your Authenticity for Approval

jaxs mom · ‎04-18-2012

@LonestarBabs wrote:
I'm not on any meds -- I told the primary physician I wasn't going to take the med based on the endo's recommendation. She said fine, we'll check levels again in a few months.

Am I tired? Yes. I'm working on my PhD and acting as caregiver for my elderly mother. Tired happens!

I've got copies of both sets of labs. There were several thyroid levels checked, not just TSH.

Guess I'll take another blood test at the primary doc's office and see what that says again.

Of course, this is also the doc that said I had a UTI even though I was asymptomatic and the source bacteria could not be identified. Thus, I am suspicious of taking any new meds -- what was prescribed had horrible side effects! I didn't take that stuff, either.

I'd look for a new GP.

Don't Change Your Authenticity for Approval

LonestarBabs · ‎06-26-2011

@jaxs mom -- yes, I was thinking that same thing.

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

My GP missed my hypothyroid diagnosis after the first set of bloodwork because for some reason the lab listed the TSH at the bottom of the second page, not with the other T-1, T-3 etc. results on the first page.

When my symptoms got worse he reread the bloodwork and was shocked to discover my TSH was very high. We tried levo first and it did not help, so he put me on Synthroid which I have been on for 30 years now. I have only had to change the dosage once so I am pretty well regulated on it. I take 100 mcg a day first thing in the morning.

Unfortunately I now have several other autoimmune diseases, most specifically RA, so I'm exhausted all the time anyway.

To answer the OP's question though, I would always go with the specialist's recommendation than any GP.

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@LilacTree wrote:
My GP missed my hypothyroid diagnosis after the first set of bloodwork because for some reason the lab listed the TSH at the bottom of the second page, not with the other T-1, T-3 etc. results on the first page.

When my symptoms got worse he reread the bloodwork and was shocked to discover my TSH was very high. We tried levo first and it did not help, so he put me on Synthroid which I have been on for 30 years now. I have only had to change the dosage once so I am pretty well regulated on it. I take 100 mcg a day first thing in the morning.

Unfortunately I now have several other autoimmune diseases, most specifically RA, so I'm exhausted all the time anyway.

To answer the OP's question though, I would always go with the specialist's recommendation than any GP.

I recently saw my Rheumatologist and discussed chronic fatigue for the first time. She said let's first try sublingual vitamin B-12 and see how that goes .... duh! I think it's already helping!

In the end, it's all trial and error .....