Re: Hyper then hypo & synthroid

[Guest guest]

Hi Marcia,

iodine is an autoimmune disease trigger so it can trigger both hyper and hypo

symptoms. Which disease (hypo or hyper) that you have depends on which type

of TSH receptor antibody is predominating in autoimmune thyroid disease. I've

never heard, though, of the uptake test affecting the course of things.

I think you probably had Hashimoto's thyroiditis all along. It's not uncommon

to have hyper symptoms, especially in the early course of the disease. You

could also have had Hashitoxicosis. Here the periods of hyper symptoms are

more frequent although the patient has Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Without

antibody tests, there's no way to know for sure.

But back to your question. When I was on Synthroid and then switched to

generic levothyroxine, I quit converting T4 into the more active thyroid

hormone T3. I have charts over 2 years showing a steady decline in my FT3

level from the time I went on the generic product. Some people have this

problem while others tolerate the generic product fine. In my case, I ended

up asking to switch to Armour thyroid. This is a natural product made from

porcine glandular extract. Since taking Armour, I feel better than I ever

felt on Synthroid. Synthroid or levothyroxine is T4 alone whereas the

glandular extracts contain T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin, replacing all the

thyroid hormones.

[Guest guest]

I can tell u from my experience that if i am not taking my synthroid I

am a totally different person and not for the good. I can't even stand

myself. So I believe I could never go off of them. It would be great if

there was an alternative. I also suffer from severe depression and

take prozac at nite. I know w/o the thyroid meds i am even worst

w/depression. U see I had RAI about ten yrs ago to kill off some but

took too much and now pills for life. They gave me the lowest dose

possible also. I knew nothing and just took the doctors words.

hoping I learn alot on here.Would like to know how i could go off the

pills w/o ending up a _itch

for life instead of somedays.LOL!!!!!!! Beside meds aren't cheap either

Take for all the advice here.

Cath

[Guest guest]

I can tell u from my experience that if i am not taking my synthroid I

am a totally different person and not for the good. I can't even stand

myself. So I believe I could never go off of them. It would be great if

there was an alternative. I also suffer from severe depression and

take prozac at nite. I know w/o the thyroid meds i am even worst

w/depression. U see I had RAI about ten yrs ago to kill off some but

took too much and now pills for life. They gave me the lowest dose

possible also. I knew nothing and just took the doctors words.

hoping I learn alot on here.Would like to know how i could go off the

pills w/o ending up a _itch

for life instead of somedays.LOL!!!!!!! Beside meds aren't cheap either

Thanx for all the advice here.

Cath

[Guest guest]

Hyperthyroidism affects everyone so differently, but the same disease. I have been on antithyroid meds since 1/99. I've just relocated to WA state and my new doc put me on Tapazole. I had been taking PTU. Well I went downhill fast, fingernails, hair body size...I didn't get smaller boo hoo I got bigger. Well I complained and now I'm back to PTU which I had no problem taking and it is alot cheaper. I don't have insurance yet. I was suppose to go and meet with another endocrinologist as I have alot of nodules on my very large thyroid. I wanted to have my thyroid removed, but I will settle for the RAI. After working for the National Graves' Disease Foundation I know I will probably become symptomatic again in 15-20 years. Maybe not. Anyway, I've learned alot about this disease that was an added bonus after a near fatal car accident. I enjoy reading your posts and know that what is good for one may not be good for others. Glad to be here.

Liz in WA

-----Original Message-----From: irish_sweets@... [mailto:irish_sweets@...]Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 2:34 PMhyperthyroidism Subject: Re: Hyper then hypo & synthroidI can tell u from my experience that if i am not taking my synthroid Iam a totally different person and not for the good. I can't even standmyself. So I believe I could never go off of them. It would be great ifthere was an alternative. I also suffer from severe depression andtake prozac at nite. I know w/o the thyroid meds i am even worstw/depression. U see I had RAI about ten yrs ago to kill off some buttook too much and now pills for life. They gave me the lowest dosepossible also. I knew nothing and just took the doctors words.hoping I learn alot on here.Would like to know how i could go off thepills w/o ending up a _itchfor life instead of somedays.LOL!!!!!!! Beside meds aren't cheap eitherThanx for all the advice here.Cath

[Guest guest]

Hi!

I curious about the Armour. I know it comes from animals, so I'd wonder about

an allergic reaction (I'm allergic to the world practically). Do you have any

allergies? Do you know if that is a concern with that drug? By the way, on my

antibodies, they are in the " borderline " area - they are there but negligible.

I don't remember the exact count off the top of my head. I do think you are

right on the hashitoximosis. My endo thought I had it, but the antibodies were

not there, but they showed up a few months later as borderline.

I'm so bummed because I thought once my levels got back to normal I could just

go off the drugs (no one told me that - I just made the presumption).

Thanks to everyone for all the help! I'm so impresssed with the knowledge base

here - I just wish I could reciprocate!

Marcia

hyperthyroidism wrote:

Message: 1

Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 22:05:35 EST

From: daisyelaine@...

Subject: Re: Hyper then hypo & synthroid

Hi Marcia,

iodine is an autoimmune disease trigger so it can trigger both hyper and hypo

symptoms. Which disease (hypo or hyper) that you have depends on which type

of TSH receptor antibody is predominating in autoimmune thyroid disease. I've

never heard, though, of the uptake test affecting the course of things.

I think you probably had Hashimoto's thyroiditis all along. It's not uncommon

to have hyper symptoms, especially in the early course of the disease. You

could also have had Hashitoxicosis. Here the periods of hyper symptoms are

more frequent although the patient has Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Without

antibody tests, there's no way to know for sure.

But back to your question. When I was on Synthroid and then switched to

generic levothyroxine, I quit converting T4 into the more active thyroid

hormone T3. I have charts over 2 years showing a steady decline in my FT3

level from the time I went on the generic product. Some people have this

problem while others tolerate the generic product fine. In my case, I ended

up asking to switch to Armour thyroid. This is a natural product made from

porcine glandular extract. Since taking Armour, I feel better than I ever

felt on Synthroid. Synthroid or levothyroxine is T4 alone whereas the

glandular extracts contain T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin, replacing all the

thyroid hormones.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

>

> Message: 1

> Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 22:05:35 EST

> From: daisyelaine@a...

> Subject: Re: Hyper then hypo & synthroid

>

> Hi Marcia,

> iodine is an autoimmune disease trigger so it can trigger both

hyper and hypo

> symptoms. Which disease (hypo or hyper) that you have depends on

which type

> of TSH receptor antibody is predominating in autoimmune thyroid

disease. I've

> never heard, though, of the uptake test affecting the course of

things.

>

> I think you probably had Hashimoto's thyroiditis all along. It's

not uncommon

> to have hyper symptoms, especially in the early course of the

disease. You

> could also have had Hashitoxicosis. Here the periods of hyper

symptoms are

> more frequent although the patient has Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Without

> antibody tests, there's no way to know for sure.

> But back to your question. When I was on Synthroid and then

switched to

> generic levothyroxine, I quit converting T4 into the more active

thyroid

> hormone T3. I have charts over 2 years showing a steady decline in

my FT3

> level from the time I went on the generic product. Some people have

this

> problem while others tolerate the generic product fine. In my case,

I ended

> up asking to switch to Armour thyroid. This is a natural product

made from

> porcine glandular extract. Since taking Armour, I feel better than

I ever

> felt on Synthroid. Synthroid or levothyroxine is T4 alone whereas

the

> glandular extracts contain T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin, replacing

all the

> thyroid hormones.

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

__

> Hi All

I was diagnosed with graves about 13 yrs ago. I took the radioactive

iodine treatment. It took about 5 yrs before my thyroid became

inactive & I've been on synthroid or the generic since. I was told

I'll ALWAYS have to take it. Without out it my periods are heavier,

my hair & skin is dry and I'm extremely tired._ Every 2-3 yrs the

dosage has been increased because the symptons seem to come back. I

also now have a weight problem that I have to battle daily. I wish

computers & chats had been around back when it first started. This

group is great!

Bonnie________________________________________________________________

______

[Guest guest]

Hi Marcia,

I've heard comments here and there about allergic reactions to Armour, but

I've never read anything in the medical literature regarding this, despite

the fact that it's been around way longer than synthetic levothyroxine.

I have allergies to dogs, cats, horses, and birds and I've had anaphylactic

reactions to several foods and bee pollen. But I haven't had any problems

with Armour.