Thyroid

[topgirl26]

Thank you all for your advice, I am so confused and dont understand thyroid it's all to complicated for me, totally fed up with it the doctor said I can go on HRT if I wanted to take the risk because I feel tired, tearful dont know if it thyroid or post menopause, or depression, its driving me mad not knowing what's going on, I will take the meds again tomorrow, again thank you for your help

[RedApple Administrator]

topgirl26, We do understand how difficult it is to get your head around all this when you're so poorly. Please do keep taking your thyroid medicine because without it, you will become even more unwell.

[serenfach]

Think of your thyroid as your bodies engine. The hormone it produces drives everything - skin, hair, heart etc. If this hormone is low, everything slows down and will eventually stop. If it is too high, everything goes into hyperdrive! You need just the right amount of meds (and it takes a while to find the right amount for you) to feel well.

HRT is low risk, it replaces a hormone that you used to have. There were many horror stories when it was first introduced, most have now been debunked. Personally I think it was a male way of controlling us and not allowing us to live a full life. Nothing wrong with giving it a go.

In the meantime, if you have any results (you are legally entitled to the ones the GP has - just ask), bung them up here and we can help further.

You are not alone. We have all been there. You have a whole army of hormonal women behind you! Hug.

[topgirl26 in reply to serenfach]

Thank you

[Easylover]

If you add anything at all, you won't be able to know what's what. I did that but now only one thing at a time. Thyroid, Thyroid, Thyroid. How you FEEL is more important than labs! Hang in there. Life is hard when you're hypothyroid. Peace be with you.. I swear most doctors don't know anything. There is more knowledge on this site. I'm on NDT. Natural desiccated thyroid. It has t3 and t4. It's not perfect but it used to be. I think our age changes things and also ever stopping taking our medicine can ruin us for a least a year. please always take your thyroid medicine. ALWAYS. ask the doctor to test you T3 then post it. Low T3 can make you tired n hair fall out. Also, many here can help you boost your vitamin levels. I don't have all the answers and I keep trying. Please don't give up then you have nothing.

[Easylover]

The body likes consistency. Take your thyroid hormone the same time everyday and wait an hour before food or drink. What are you taking? How many milligrams and when?

[topgirl26 in reply to Easylover]

Thank you I am taking 75mg of levothyroxine purple packet

[Easylover in reply to topgirl26]

Hi, maybe NDT or add T3 seems you need it by what pennyannie is saying! You could read up on old post about raw Thyroid , Armour and Thyroid S NDT. Stop the Thyroid Madness. Com etc

[pennyannie]

Hello Topgirl :

Looking back 2 months ago your results from last September show a T4 at just 60% - with a T3 reading at 4.50 - no range :

both of which are too low - and it's too low a level of T3 that causes these upsetting symptoms.

Can you ask for a dose increase in T4 - Levothyroxine - your TSH is low but still in the range ?

We usually feel best when the T4 is up in the top quadrant of it's range with the T3 tracking just behind at around 60/70 % :

Do you have any readings there for ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D as these need to be maintained at optimal levels for any thyroid hormone replacement to work well ?

Are you taking anything for the depression ?

[topgirl26 in reply to pennyannie]

Yes I do done in March, I am on paroxetine for depression, and blood pressure tablet also, statins

[pennyannie in reply to topgirl26]

Levothyroxine is a ' fussy ' hormone and needs to be taken well away from anything else -

and you need a dose increase in T4 to raise your T3 and T4 as currently they are too low.

Statins should not be prescribed - until hypothyroidism this is optimally medicated - as then the cholesterol usually resolves itself - and in your case your hypothyroidism is not optimally treated :

I hope the Paroxetine works well for you - and you haven't any of the side effects - and suggest this is taken well away from your Levothyroxine - is this a new drug for you -could it have any bearing on when you started to feel worse ?

[topgirl26 in reply to topgirl26]

The paroxetine work really well, it was increased to 40 as I was feeling tearful all the symptoms, I dont know how I feel at the moment, re what is causing it I have now cut them down to 20ml, I said to my doctor what if the bloods come all back normal she said cross that bridge when we come to it, no mention of thyroid increase, she does not seem interested that it is thyroid,

[pennyannie in reply to topgirl26]

Well - maybe that is because your thyroid hormones are in the range - somewhere -

and she sees this as her job done - but both T3 and T4 are too low in the ranges to give you back your wellness.

How long have you been on the Paroxetine - do you think it may have a bearing on when you started feeling worse and as you are now ?

[topgirl26 in reply to pennyannie]

I have been on this for over a year now 20mg and felt good on it, but now gettin brain fog, cant concentrate much, tearful tired very emotional etc, that's been the last few months to be honest I dont know anymore, it comes and goes one minute I will wake up and feel good and want to get on with my garden etc and feel good in my self, this might last for a few days then I will wake up tired tearful exhausted I have told the doctor so she ordered a blood test including all vitamins ferritin iron etc they dont know what to do, just rang doctors re blood done on Monday there has been a cyber attack at the hospital so all test cannot be done, so made another appointment with drs for 12 June, going to ask about increase for thyroid and HRT thank you so much for your advice

[pennyannie in reply to topgirl26]

I read that some of those who are hypothyroid and then start HRT - find they need to increase their Levothyroxine as it seems thyroid hormones can drop off when some forms of HRT are taken.

Sorry I can't be more specific about if it's certain brands of HRT - that causes some to increase their Levothyroxine dose .

[Easylover]

It takes time for meds to work. With each change a minimum of 6 weeks...sometimes longer. Straight T3 is different if you can get it. Some do better on NDT than straight T3. We're all all different. Or some do better on one brand compared to another.