Re: Advice/experience please!

[Guest guest]

I hear you! This sounds like one of my posts I have had enough, I stopped my levo and told the doctors they need to find something else I felt so ill,

Michele

From: xxsarahxx_40 <xxsarahxx_40@...>Subject: Advice/experience please!thyroid treatment Date: Monday, 16 June, 2008, 8:34 AM

How does everyone feel at every dose increase? Do we not feel better until we are on the correct dose of levo? I started on 50mcg and am now on 150mcg ( 3 days nows) I am so sick of not feeling 100% and other symptoms seem to crop up, I have stomach ache/bloating, leg ache, needing to use the loo more,lower back ache, almost like a water infection feeling, just generally an uncomfortable feeling.If this increase doesnt do anything then I am considering armour but have no idea how to go about that, do we have to put up with this forever?Its nearly been 2 years since I was diagnosed with Hashimotos.

Sent from .

A Smarter Email.

[Guest guest]

-Hi ,

Firstly, the results of a thyroxine increase won't fully come through

for at least 4 weeks, more like 6. I know it's really really tough

having to keep waiting. I'm sorry, I can't remember details that

you've posted before - have you also looked into adrenal fatigue?

Lower back pain might indicate that. It's worth doing the

questionnaire in the files to get an idea of whether this is an issue

for you. If your adrenals aren't working properly, your body won't be

able to use the thyroid hormone.

xJanet

>

> How does everyone feel at every dose increase? Do we not feel better

> until we are on the correct dose of levo? I started on 50mcg and am now

> on 150mcg ( 3 days nows) I am so sick of not feeling 100% and other

> symptoms seem to crop up, I have stomach ache/bloating, leg ache,

> needing to use the loo more,lower back ache, almost like a water

> infection feeling, just generally an uncomfortable feeling.

> If this increase doesnt do anything then I am considering armour but

> have no idea how to go about that, do we have to put up with this

> forever?

> Its nearly been 2 years since I was diagnosed with Hashimotos.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

First get checked out in case it is a water infection, second do the

adrenal questionnaire. Thirdly consider askling for Armour or T3 and to go

private if that is what it takes. You shouldn't have to put up with it.

Subject: Advice/experience please!

How does everyone feel at every dose increase? Do we not feel better

until we are on the correct dose of levo? I started on 50mcg and am now

on 150mcg ( 3 days nows) I am so sick of not feeling 100% and other

symptoms seem to crop up, I have stomach ache/bloating, leg ache,

needing to use the loo more,lower back ache, almost like a water

infection feeling, just generally an uncomfortable feeling.

If this increase doesnt do anything then I am considering armour but

have no idea how to go about that, do we have to put up with this

forever?

Its nearly been 2 years since I was diagnosed with Hashimotos.

------------------------------------

Messages are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always

consult with a suitably qualified practitioner before changing

medication.

[Guest guest]

Hi

You need to make a list of all your symptoms and check out your signs.

Take these to your GP and tell him you would like a referral to an

endocrinologist as you know that you are not regaining your health on

levothyroxine and you need somebody who is experienced in these matters.

Always remember this is YOUR health and you should be very assertive and

let the GP know that you mean business in trying to find the cause of

your continuing symptoms.

You must also appreciate there are several conditions that can actually

stop your levothyroxine from working. These are

1) Low adrenal reserve. You should do the adrenal questionnaire that you

will find in our FILES. If you score high, then try to get the kit from

NPTech Services for the 24 hour adrenal salivary profile. This will tell

you where your cortisol and dHEA are at four specific times during the

day. Once you get that result back, then you can decide what form of

treatment you need to boost your adrenals. Low adrenal reserve stops

your levothyroxine from being absorbed by your body. Your GP sadly, will

not know about this.

2) You could be suffering with Candida Albicans. Tonight when you go to

bed, take up a glass of water and first thing in the morning, before

taking a drink, spit into the top of the water. After a while, if you

see stringy tendrils floating down to the bottom of the glass or the

water is cloudy, this is an indication you have Candida. If, however,

the water stays clear, then you do not have it. Do also the Candida

questionnaire that is in our files and see how you score. Candida also

stops the levothyroxine from working and again, sadly, doctors are not

aware of this condition and its association with hypothyroidism either.

3) Have you had your ferritin (STORED iron) tested recently. If not, ask

your GP to test this. The usual reference range is 20 to 200 in women.

If yours is very low, then your GP will give you some elemental iron

such as Ferrous Sulphate to build up your ferritin level. Low ferritin

stops levothyroxine from working . If you do need iron, take it at least

3 hours away from your thyroid hormone replacement.

4) You might not be converting the inactive hormone levothyroxine into

the active hormone triiodothyronine (or T3 for short). T3 is the hormone

that is needed to get into every cell to make your body function. If you

are not converting, you will get all the symptoms and signs of untreated

hypothyroidism. Ask your GP to test your Free T3. If the local

laboratory refuses to do this, then you can get it down through NPTech

Services. Details of NPTech Services are also in our files.

There are other conditions such as mercury toxicity, if you have amalgam

fillings and also low Vitamin D.

You will see there are many things you have to eliminate to get to the

root of the problem as to why the levothyroxine doesn't work for you.

Tell your GP you need to see an endocrinologist to see whether you need

a combination of levothyroxine (T4) and Lyothyronione (T3) or even

natural thyroid hormone Armour.

Unfortunately, for some of us, it is hard work finding out what is

wrong, but please be patient, and take one step at a time in eliminating

the above. The answer is there.

Luv - Sheila

>

> How does everyone feel at every dose increase? Do we not feel better

> until we are on the correct dose of levo? I started on 50mcg and am

now

> on 150mcg ( 3 days nows) I am so sick of not feeling 100% and other

> symptoms seem to crop up, I have stomach ache/bloating, leg ache,

> needing to use the loo more,lower back ache, almost like a water

> infection feeling, just generally an uncomfortable feeling.

> If this increase doesnt do anything then I am considering armour but

> have no idea how to go about that, do we have to put up with this

> forever?

> Its nearly been 2 years since I was diagnosed with Hashimotos.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Please read the message I have just posted in response to and

follow what I have written there. Just shout if you want to ask some

questions, take things easy, one step at a time, and you will eventually

find some answers. You are very early on in this awful 'game' of trying

to get yourself well, but I am afraid that in many cases, you have to

take your health into your own hands if you suffer hypothyroidism and

all the NHS do is to put you on a dose of levothyroxine and leave you to

it. For some, it is good, for others' you ahve to go down a different

road, and you could be one such person.

What did your GP say when you told him you need something else? Have you

asked for a referral to an endocrinologist - a person who is a

specialist in thyroid disease. Your GP is not such a specialist and you

must fight for your rights. We will help you all we can.

Luv - Sheila

>

>

> I hear you! This sounds like one of my posts I have had enough, I

stopped my levo and told the doctors they need to find something else I

felt so ill,

> Michele

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks

I do feel that the levo must be being absorbed by my body as my blood results have got slowly better over 2 years, surely that is a sign that I am heading in the right diretion? If I wasnt absorbing then they wouldnt improve?

Some of it could be my body adapting to the increased doses everytime, i still havent stabalised on the right dose yet

From: campaigner77 <sheilaturner@...>Subject: Re: Advice/experience please!thyroid treatment Date: Tuesday, 17 June, 2008, 7:20 AM

Hi You need to make a list of all your symptoms and check out your signs.Take these to your GP and tell him you would like a referral to anendocrinologist as you know that you are not regaining your health onlevothyroxine and you need somebody who is experienced in these matters.Always remember this is YOUR health and you should be very assertive andlet the GP know that you mean business in trying to find the cause ofyour continuing symptoms.You must also appreciate there are several conditions that can actuallystop your levothyroxine from working. These are1) Low adrenal reserve. You should do the adrenal questionnaire that youwill find in our FILES. If you score high, then try to get the kit fromNPTech Services for the 24 hour adrenal salivary profile. This will tellyou where your cortisol and dHEA are at four specific times during theday. Once you get that result back,

then you can decide what form oftreatment you need to boost your adrenals. Low adrenal reserve stopsyour levothyroxine from being absorbed by your body. Your GP sadly, willnot know about this.2) You could be suffering with Candida Albicans. Tonight when you go tobed, take up a glass of water and first thing in the morning, beforetaking a drink, spit into the top of the water. After a while, if yousee stringy tendrils floating down to the bottom of the glass or thewater is cloudy, this is an indication you have Candida. If, however,the water stays clear, then you do not have it. Do also the Candidaquestionnaire that is in our files and see how you score. Candida alsostops the levothyroxine from working and again, sadly, doctors are notaware of this condition and its association with hypothyroidism either.3) Have you had your ferritin (STORED iron) tested recently. If not, askyour GP to test

this. The usual reference range is 20 to 200 in women.If yours is very low, then your GP will give you some elemental ironsuch as Ferrous Sulphate to build up your ferritin level. Low ferritinstops levothyroxine from working . If you do need iron, take it at least3 hours away from your thyroid hormone replacement.4) You might not be converting the inactive hormone levothyroxine intothe active hormone triiodothyronine (or T3 for short). T3 is the hormonethat is needed to get into every cell to make your body function. If youare not converting, you will get all the symptoms and signs of untreatedhypothyroidism. Ask your GP to test your Free T3. If the locallaboratory refuses to do this, then you can get it down through NPTechServices. Details of NPTech Services are also in our files.There are other conditions such as mercury toxicity, if you have amalgamfillings and also low Vitamin D.You

will see there are many things you have to eliminate to get to theroot of the problem as to why the levothyroxine doesn't work for you.Tell your GP you need to see an endocrinologist to see whether you needa combination of levothyroxine (T4) and Lyothyronione (T3) or evennatural thyroid hormone Armour.Unfortunately, for some of us, it is hard work finding out what iswrong, but please be patient, and take one step at a time in eliminatingthe above. The answer is there.Luv - Sheila>> How does everyone feel at every dose increase? Do we not feel better> until we are on the correct dose of levo? I started on 50mcg and amnow> on 150mcg ( 3 days nows) I am so sick of not feeling 100% and other> symptoms seem to crop up, I have stomach ache/bloating, leg ache,> needing to use the loo more,lower back ache, almost like a water> infection feeling, just generally an

uncomfortable feeling.> If this increase doesnt do anything then I am considering armour but> have no idea how to go about that, do we have to put up with this> forever?> Its nearly been 2 years since I was diagnosed with Hashimotos.>

Sent from .

A Smarter Email.

[Guest guest]

- the poiont of taking thyroid hormone replacement, whether it is

synthetic levothyroxine or natural Armour thyroid is that the

replacement should be making you well. You are NOT treating the blood

tests, you are treating you. You should not still be having the

symptoms you are on 150 mcgs T4 - and we are very well aware that blood

results within the range mean absolutely nothing. You should tell your

GP about these remaining symptoms and look to the other possible causes

of your body not being able to absorb the thyroid hormone replacement.

These things, sadly, won't rectify themselves without a little push

from us.

Luv - Sheila

>

> Thanks

> I do feel that the levo must be being absorbed by my body as my blood

results have got slowly better over 2 years, surely that is a sign that

I am heading in the right diretion? If I wasnt absorbing then they

wouldnt improve?

> Some of it could be my body adapting to the increased doses

everytime, i still havent stabalised on the right dose yet

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Yes I am aware of why I am taking thyroxine and to be fair this time 2 years ago I felt awful, I am better now than I was so it is doing something. Incidently I have only been on150mcg for 4 days so do not expect to feel any different for a while yet, I dont believe we should have to do a doctors job for him, its really hard work!

From: campaigner77 <sheilaturner@...>Subject: Re: Advice/experience please!thyroid treatment Date: Tuesday, 17 June, 2008, 4:42 PM

- the poiont of taking thyroid hormone replacement, whether it is synthetic levothyroxine or natural Armour thyroid is that the replacement should be making you well. You are NOT treating the blood tests, you are treating you. You should not still be having the symptoms you are on 150 mcgs T4 - and we are very well aware that blood results within the range mean absolutely nothing. You should tell your GP about these remaining symptoms and look to the other possible causes of your body not being able to absorb the thyroid hormone replacement. These things, sadly, won't rectify themselves without a little push from us.Luv - Sheila>> Thanks> I do feel that the levo must be being absorbed by my body as my blood results have got slowly better over 2 years, surely that is a sign that I am heading in the right diretion? If I wasnt absorbing then they wouldnt

improve?> Some of it could be my body adapting to the increased doses everytime, i still havent stabalised on the right dose yet> > > >

Sent from .

A Smarter Email.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It is terrible that we poor patients have to look after ourselves, whilst our GP's sit back knowing that they know nothing whatsoever about hypothyroidism, nor do they know what to do if their patient is in a fairly high dose of T4 and is still getting many of the symptoms. Their level of training is abysmal - but then, when it is Big Pharma who is holding the whip, what chance do they have.

Can you get your last thyroid function tests so we can see what is really happening. Can you also check our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk and check out 'Associated Conditions' that you will find under 'Hypothyroidism'. You could also go to the Home Page of this forum website and click on FILES and scroll down until you find both the Adrenal questionnaire and the Candida Questionnaire and see whether you might be suffering with either of these. Also, do you have low ferritin (stored iron) because if you have any of these, your thyroid hormone replacement simply will not be able to be absorbed, and this could be the reason you are feeling so rotten.

Luv - Sheila> Hi> Yes I am aware of why I am taking thyroxine and to be fair this time 2 years ago I felt awful, I am better now than I was so it is doing something. Incidently I have only been on150mcg for 4 days so do not expect to feel any different for a while yet, I dont believe we should have to do a doctors job for him, its really hard work!