Hi everyone. I haven't been on for a while. I have been diagnosed with hashimotos about 3 years ago & have been trying to find a doc to listen to me & my symptoms. I'm in the U.S. & have to say I'm pretty unimpressed with our medical personnel.
I am due for testing & have asked for what I have has before TSH, free t3, free t4 & antibodies. My doc says no. Money is tight right now due to some personal things. So me paying out of pocket is limited. But I will do what I can. .I have been told I have an allergy to synthroid. I can take a natural medication like armour but docs here do not like to use it. I was put back on the synthroid which is not helping. Hair falling out, brain fog, joint pain & major anxiety. Doc says joint pain is not caused by thyroid issues. Any suggestions?
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We are consulting with doctors and endocrinologists in these 'modern' times that seem to know nothing at all about how to treat patients who have hypothyroidism. I believe most doctors have no knowledge at all about how best to restore good health to hypo patients. You need TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. I think, as money is tight, maybe TSH and FT4 and FT3 might be sufficient but others will respond
That's the reason most on this forum source their own thyroid hormone replacements and self-medicate and many recover their health.
I cannot take synthroid (levothyroxine in the UK) and I improved when adding T3 to T4, but now take T3 only. This has also been removed from prescribing as it has risen in price by 6,000% by the pharma companies. It was withdrawn without notice too which caused panic amongst patients. It is a disgraceful action by the medical profession with no thought of patients at all.
Most endocrinologists, worldwide, have turned against NDT through lies and misinformation by, I assume, big pharma and it is lies, lies and more lies. NDT has been in use, safely since 1892 and has saved thousands of lives too. Patients were diagnosed upon clinical symptoms alone and given NDT, increasing slowly until symptoms were relieved. Nowadays all they look at is TSH and T4 which tells nothing at all.
Even in the UK the main organisations have made False Statements in order to withdraw NDT and one of our Advisers (USA) wrote the following and for the next three years requested a response before he died of an accident and they never did. You cannot rebut the truth.
Some of our members know where to source NDT some of which are lower priced than Armour- I don't but if you would like to know, you can put up a fresh post of where to source some and then your post will be closed to answers on the forum but you will be sent a private message.
We should have no clinical symptoms when optimally dosed with thyroid hormones which make us feel well.
Have you tried a different brand of synthroid? Just a thought! I was given a brand of levothyroxine which caused me severe joint pain. I changed to a different brand with different fillers and within days my joint pain had eased considerably.
I don't really agree with your doctor. Joint pain was a symptom of my being hypo. But the wrong brand of levothyroxine made mine so much worse - I could hardly walk! My allergic reaction was due to acacia, one of the ingredients in the tablet I was taking.
Now eight months into treatment and my joint pain and many other symptoms have completely gone away.
I don't know anything about synthroid. Is it possible for you to get it in a different form? I really hope you get the help you need. Perhaps a different doctor or a pharmacist could advise you?
Right, I've just been looking up Synthroid and now know it is a brand of levothyroxine containing acacia, a well-known allergen. Would you believe it? Hopefully a change of brand will help. Fingers crossed!!I
You need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested. All these often too low
Joint pain is often low vitamin D
As you have Hashimoto's then very likely low vitamin levels and very often gluten intolerant as well
Suggest you try strictly gluten free
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels. Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
There are doctors here in the US that will listen but apparently you don’t have one . I highly recommend finding another doctor a functional doctor sometimes instead of an M.D. you can find a DO. Not sure if you live near city or not or what state you live in there’s some great functional doctors in Oklahoma. You might also find a nurse practitioner they can prescribe medication and usually listen.
I’ve been to those doctors that insist on prescribing Synthroid and there’s no talking to them. I have even presented research publications and papers on the good effects of T3 and you know I have persuaded one or two doctors but even then it was begrudgingly and they insisted to test the blood every 3 to 6 months - it’s just not worth it .
You mentioned that money was tight and I don’t know if you have insurance or if you’re paying cash. Functional doctors are covered by insurance and so are nurse practitioners. Many times functional doctors are less expensive if you’re paying cash as are nurse practitioners.
Many people find sources of T3 to add to the Synthroid . I don’t have any of those but I have seen them here. The sources are from bovine as I recall and if so some are concerned about bovine sources of T3 being less effective less strong .
I have been taking NatureThroid for a long time but it does require a prescription. It took me a while to find a doctor that would write that prescription but when I did it was so worth it! Another thing you might try is selenium -selenium helps convert the T4 to T3. 200 MCG’s a day is what I take. Might also try digestive enzymes my doctor says the reason why people can’t take T4 alone is because they can’t convert it to T3 and that it’s a stomach problem. I think there’s more to it especially if you have an auto immune disorder like Hashimotos. nevertheless the digestive enzymes have helped me.
I wish you well please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you find a functional doctor. Again you can source nonprescription T3 but you’ll have to get those answers from some of the others here on HealthUnlocked. You do need T3 one way or the other whether it’s by prescription, by non-prescription sources, or by trying some of the vitamins that help you convert it yourself. please let us know and share with others what you found out.
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Could someone with low FT3 do ok on Levothyroxine only? 
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