Possible interaction?

[MissMargaux]

Diagnosed with Hashimoto's 30 years ago - currently taking Synthroid 88 mcg. Developed severely debilitating (as in reduced to using a walker) polymyalgia rheumatica three months ago - currently on prednisone 15 mg. Despite regaining mobility, my energy levels are way down and I have a perpetual slight headache. Has anyone else experienced these?

[Marz]

Hi - do you have any thyroid test results you could share ? 88mcg is strange dose. Has it been decreased for some reason ?

Is your FT3 level tested ?

How is your B12 level ? Also Folate - Ferritin & VitD ?

[MissMargaux in reply to Marz]

I double checked and the Synthroid dosage is indeed 88 mcg, a pale green pill. I live in the US. My most recent tests on February 24 were: TSH = 4.65 (.50-4.30 uIU/mL) which is apparently High. T4 = 1.30 (.08-4.30 uIU/mL). I was not tested for T3. Vitamin B12 was 399 (200-1100 pg/mL); Vitamin D 25-OH, TOTAL = 14 (30-100 ng/mL) which is low and I've since increased the dosage. I haven't been tested for Folate - Ferritin.

For most of the 30 years since I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's I was on 100 mcg of Synthroid. In 2017 after test results my GP decided to reduce the dose. Since then I have gradually gained 10 lbs around the middle and have not been able to lose weight.

[Marz in reply to MissMargaux]

Will reply in the morning when I am less tired 😍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MissMargaux]

So you are under medicated and vitamins are low as direct result of now being hypothyroid

On levothyroxine TSH should be under 2, many find TSH becomes suppressed when adequately treated

Ft4 should be in top third of range and Ft3 at least half way through range

Getting levothyroxine increased back to 100mcg and retest bloods 6-8 weeks later

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip,)

Come back with new post once you get new results in 2 months

[helvella Administrator in reply to Marz]

AbbVie Synthroid is available in the following dosages:

25, 50, 75, 88, 100, 112, 125, 137, 150, 175, 200, and 300 micrograms.

rxabbvie.com/pdf/synthroid.pdf

To us in the UK, who traditionally had 25, 50 and 100, intermediate doses do look odd.

[Marz in reply to helvella]

Thank you ! Have seen that amount before so that now makes sense.

[HMBradley53]

Hi - I had been feeling the same way, incredible muscle pain my PCP tested everything ( Full Thyroid Panel and Vitamins ) and he put me on Naturethroid 65mg twice a day because my T3 was way at the bottom of the range and at one point my T4 was under. I have been on this does for about a year maybe and I feel great besides some of my Fibro issues I am working out again. You really need a full Thyroid Panel done and Iron and Vitamin Panel done as everyone suggests.

[Eliotf]

MissMargaux, please speak up about your feelings, pains, aches, etc. get both an endo specialist as well as a rheumatologist. Tell each of them what is going on. If they don’t help or are not willing to, get new doctor(s). There are other drugs that are better than the steroids. I am also in the USA. When we have one autoimmune disease, we have multiple. I have 4, that I know of - UGH