Update on me

[Elizabetha3]

I have an update. I am on Synthroid 200 MCG. I have more energy, and am even losing weight. (13 pounds so far). My 'numbers' still show I should be on a higher dose yet. I am pleased the Endo prescribed name brand. I've had hypo thyroid for 20 years.

[Heloise]

Hi Elizabetha, good news about feeling better after 20 years. They make it such a struggle. I'm wondering which one of the thyroid tests was low enough to make your endo feel you need an increase. Do you know? They should probably put more emphasis on your FT3 test. They certainly should not use the TSH test unless it is over 01.5 or so.

[Elizabetha3 in reply to Heloise]

Hi Heloise ~ TSH July 2017 was 7.6...Dec 2017 TSH was 3.08 (still high)..

Free T4 in July 2017 was .44... Dec 2017 I believe it was 0.5

T3 81nhd in Dec 2017 (too low)

I am nervous to take another blood test (in two weeks). I won't lower my dose. My energy level is okay, however, other than HYPO thyroid, I am overall healthy. Would prefer another increase. The 200 MCG I started in Dec, should show a valid reading by now. Thank you for your concern.

[Heloise in reply to Elizabetha3]

I can't tell anything about those results without the range to go by. Do you know if the FT4 is H or L but it did go up slightly in Dec. So you have had an increase from those tests, right? What were you taking before going to 200 mcgs. of Synthroid.? I don't think you should increase until you see new results. Have you checked any other hormones. Estrogen dominance or insulin resistance can have an impact on how well your thyroid hormones work. Sometimes progesterone can help.

[Elizabetha3 in reply to Heloise]

Hi Heloise ..I left a msg yesterday. I don't know where it went..T4 normal range in USA is 4.5~11.2.. mine was 0.5..TSH normal range .4~4.0...mine was 3.08 (the high end of 'normal')...T3 normal range 100~200nhd..mine was 81.. I was on 175 synthroid MCG in Oct..increased to 200 synthroid MCG Dec 2017.. I do more bloodwork in a couple of weeks.

[Heloise in reply to Elizabetha3]

Elizabetha, I'm in the U.S. as well and been here at TUK for several years. The NHS there is pretty awful but I don't think the U.S. is much better at treating this. Over the years we've had wonderful instruction far superior to the GPs or Endos because functional doctors get to the root of the autoimmune disorder. My treatment at your age was the same. I still haven't had both antibody tests. I started on Synthroid but forced my doctor to put me on Armour. This is porcine desiccated thyroid which contains the elements we humans have as well. Synthroid has ONLY T4. Usually I try to encourage people to get off Synthroid. Your two grains of Armour which was the first ever treatment for thyroid back in the 1880's, is kind of equal to your 200 mcgs. of T4 so I'm rather surprised since it contains T3 which is more active than T4 and helps with weight loss.

Is that a mistake? 0.5 FT4...........3.08 TSH. Not very good for 175 mcgs. But now on 200 mcgs and you have lost 13 pounds in three months? It seems you ARE doing better on Synthroid so we can't argue with that, at least not until you get new results.

This is really complicated and takes more than juggling T4 and/or NDT. We have antibodies on our brain and digestive issues mount if we don't get things right. There are many good books and websites. I like Stop the Thyroid Madness (STTM) or Izabella Wentz but perhaps you are already following someone. So much more to know now about this condition.

[Elizabetha3 in reply to Heloise]

Re levo..was on 175 in 2011~2012, then that Doc retired..new Doc lowered me to 150 levo, and on came the weight, and out went my energy...so, 30 pounds later.... As of Jan 2017, I changed my insurance altogether (US)..New Primary Care Dr started at ground zero. Since I was 60, she sent me out for a wide range of tests from head to toe. She referred me to Endo May 2017 cuz my #'s were off, and I refused to take anything less than 150. Endo was TOO PRUDENT.. started me on Armour 90, then 120. I was a lethargic mess. Had never heard of Armour.. I just knew I was faint, and that's when, by the Grace of God, I came across Health Unlocked.. I had written all this last night.. I guess it got lost in cyberspace..

[Heloise in reply to Elizabetha3]

How long were you on Armour?

[Elizabetha3 in reply to Heloise]

I was on Armour for 4 hellish months. I ended up with the same symptoms I had in 1998, when I discovered I had low thyroid, very faint and foggy. You are a wealth of info! I don't need to follow anyone else; I'll follow you! lol...Not sure what TUK stands for, since u said you were also in the states. I imagine UK is United Kingdom, or what the acronym NDT is..in 1998, I started on synthroid (have no idea what strength, 1??, maybe 112) Then I was switched to levo about five yrs later, same strength.. I think it was because levo was cheaper. I am writing you by going off my written notes I've kept since starting at the Endo in May 2017. I have a print out, I can't seem to locate..Since synthroid has T4, and increases thyroid function and energy, perhaps that is why I was switched to Synthroid. All I know is I'm very happy that it has been increased to 200....What is the formula, or what is meant by 'grains?' You said two grains of Armour is kind of equal to my 200mcg's... Is there a difference between mcg and MCG (lower case verses capital letters)?.. I'm confused on that, but it doesn't take much to confuse me..My notes say T4 converts to T3, so perhaps the synthroid 200 will bring my numbers up on both T4 and when it converts to T3. ..in 2017, I was only on synthroid 175 for 8 weeks Oct to Dec..Nurse said my numbers had 'improved.' Improved I said..My T3 readings werent on the chart/graph, T4 was in the negative, and the TSH was no where near the optimal number. Then I had a Doc appt in Dec.. 200MCG synthroid is where I am now. I will have to read up on Antibody tests. Also, thank you for the heads up on the book Stop The Thyroid Madness. I will look into getting the book. How long have you had hypothyroid? Do you work in the medical field, cuz you sure are well informed. We differ on our experiences re Armour vs Synthroid... Where in the states are you? I'm on the west coast.. Take care, Elizabetha3

[Heloise in reply to Elizabetha3]

I'm on the East coast in NY, Elizabeth. How do you feel about learning when it comes to this? I've always been very inclined to soak this up and began following Walt Stoll 18 years ago on his website. He was an MD for decades but began seeing that it was veering off helping the patient to satisfying the pharmaceutical companies. I found that out myself.

I think I've had adrenal problems all my life and often this is the beginning of thyroid conditions because they work hand in hand. I hope you'll watch the video I'll post. Dr. John Bergman is very similar to Dr. Stoll and, hey, he is in Huntington Beach I think or is it Santa Rosa. Many functional doctors begin as chiropractors or nutritionists and a few are GPs. I don't have any that are close to me in NY state.

I think menopause is a big factor because of the other hormones involved. You'll discover that your adrenal glands not only make all three steroids but the sex hormones as well and what does it use to do that? Cholesterol; the stuff doctors say is so bad. We usually have high cholesterol markers with being hypo but don't worry. It's the unsaturated fats that cause the problems. Doctors are too busy prescribing statins to notice I guess. There is estrogen in food and also in the pesticides they use on food. I've used progesterone cream off and on for years to balance things. They don't notice but estrogen is also a problem for men.

If you do well on Synthroid I won't try persuading you otherwise and Clutter is very great on this board and has no thyroid but takes T4 and T3 I think. She knows her stuff. The problem is that Synthroid (all the throids) are T4 only. NDT or natural desiccated thyroid hormone from pigs contains the same elements as we do but not quite the same ratio so really Nothing replaces human thyroid. NDT contains T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin. There is not a lot of info about calcitonin but is probably important. Everything the body does has a reason and it's always smart. But when you take T4 your body has got to make those into T3, etc. and that is done by your liver and kidneys. If you are healthy and haven't lived on processed food, inorganic food, white flour and sugar you probably are in good shape but most of us are not. Sugar is a huge problem and maybe you've heard the word gluten. Gluten is very hard on the stomach lining and another cause of leaky gut. I hate to flood you with all this because it sounds overwhelming but it all affects your thyroid. Many thyroid patients also become diabetics and we can see the relationship. I'll add that NDT contains a high ratio of T4 (4 to 1) but it is natural. The T4 drug is synthetic if that matters.

You can use the STTM website for a lot of information as well. Keep posting, you will help others.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/n...

youtube.com/watch?v=SDphVgA...(Not working as expected?)

[Heloise in reply to Elizabetha3]

Sorry I didn't even answer this: "What is the formula, or what is meant by 'grains?' You said two grains of Armour is kind of equal to my 200mcg's... Is there a difference between mcg and MCG (lower case verses capital letters)?.. I'm confused on that, but it doesn't take much to confuse me..My notes say T4 converts to T3, so perhaps the synthroid 200 will bring my numbers up on both T4 and when it converts to T3. ..in 2017, I was only on synthroid 175 for 8 weeks Oct to Dec..Nurse said my numbers had 'improved.' Improved I said..My T3 readings werent on the chart/graph, T4 was in the negative, and the TSH was no where near the optimal number. Then I had a Doc appt in Dec.. 200MCG synthroid is where I am now. "

I'm not sure why Armour and other NDTs are measured in grains but they are also 60 mcgs (sometimes 65 but Armour is 60 mcgs) I thought one grain of NDT was equal to 100 mcgs. of Synthroid but I see that Clutter told you it was more like 75 mcgs. I'll try to find those equivalencies. So when you took 120 of Armour you were on two grains which I thought was equal to 200 mcgs. of Synthroid.

As far as mcgs or MCGS, they are the same thing.....microgram. A mcg is 1/1000th of a milligram so 1000 mcgs are equal to 1 mg.

I do think you will find the right dose and possibly the addition of a little T3 will make an optimal replacement for you and if you want to improve your diet getting on good fats like coconut oil, avocado and staying away from inflammatory fats like canola and vegetable oils. I'll tell you as you age you have got to take more control of your health but we need to make sure your thyroid hormone is right!

[Elizabetha3 in reply to Heloise]

Thanks again Heloise

[Elizabetha3 in reply to Heloise]

Hi Heloise..I'm in Southern CA, south of Hunington Beach. You again, gave me a wealth of info! Being on Armour 90, for 2 months, then on 120 for another couple of months is what I believe is responsible (for lack of other words) for screwing up my whole system. I will watch the video tomorrow. You are so kind.

[Heloise in reply to Elizabetha3]

Oh, I have a lot more, lol. You know what, Dr. Bergman is in Huntington Beach I think! He knows everything about the body, you have to take notes if you want to learn from him but he's also very entertaining.

[Elizabetha3]

Armour was the medication I hadn't heard of for hypothyroidism. For me, the doc cut eh medication in half. It wasn't until I got on Health Unlocked, that I learned a wealth of information. I knew I was on a WAY wrong dosage, as I started to get split second fainting (which were the signs I had that led the doctor to check my thyroid in 1998, discovering hypothyroidism ) . Good luck to all of you on your journey to find the right medication for your metabolism. Blessings, and stay safe. Elizabetha3