Sara, was Re: Speaking of Meetings

[Guest guest]

- yes, I showed antibodies in 2 tests. Can't tell how bad it is

from

reading the board's posts. My lab tests had a lab parameter of <2 on

both, and

I was 46 on the peroxidase and 10 on the thyroglobulin. Other folks

seem to

have very different lab parameters, and their results are in the

1000s, like

yours, so I don't know what to think of my results.

I felt so bad yesterday (5th day on the switchover) that I called the

doc again

and told him I wanted to go back to my Levoxyl 69mcg. He was

supportive

and we decided that I might go on up to 75mcg, or even slightly

higher, to try

to feel a little better for now. I think it was just too much of a

drop in the T4 for

me - only 19mcg in the .50 grain of the combo med. I did feel much

better

within an hour after taking my old med again, and I did finally sleep

again all

through the night last night, so I'm glad I made the decision. I

think if I'm still

sleeping ok I will go to 75mcg this weekend and see if it helps a

little more.

Maybe even higher to 81.5 to see what happens, as long as I can sleep

and

don't get buzzed. We discussed eventually just adding T3 to my

Levoxyl after

some time has passed, as that might be better for me than doing a

total

switch. Maybe as I feel better I can accept more T3. Then maybe we

will know

better what amount of combo I need to go to--or not. I will also ask

him about

adrenal health, as I'm sure mine are exhausted. I already had the

book on

Adrenal Fatigue, so I will look at it for ideas. Ferratin was ok, 112

(10-232

range). Various iron thingies a bit low but he wasn't worried. Does

the cortisol

relate to the adrenals? My results were fine, he said, but I find it

very hard to

believe after so many years of stress. He also said testrosterone

very low and

wanted to start me on meds, but I said no for now. Want to get the

thyroid thing

fingured out.

Will just take it easy and try to catch up on sleep and then see what

the

increase in T4 does. I will let you know.

Thanks for your support! - Sara

> Hi, Sara,

>

> I'm sorry you're feeling awful. It is not uncommon for that to

happen when

you have thyroid disease. Please refresh my memory. Do you have the

high

antibodies which indicate Hashimoto's or Graves? If you have antibody

activity going on, you'll probably feel like crap. I know I

definitely do. And if

your adrenals are weak, which it sounds like is certainly possible,

and

furthermore, if you've been undermedicated on synthroid or levoxyl or

another

one of those T4's only for a long time or even if you've been

hypothyroid for a

long time, it is definitely going to take some time to feel better.

>

> I switched from Levothroid to Armour last June. I've had to build

my dose up

very gradually because I was chronically hypothyroid for a long time,

plus I

have extremely high antibody counts in the thousands. I also think I

have

some troubles with weak adrenals and I have low ferritin and low B12.

The

way I understand it is, if your cells have been deprived of the

correct amount

of thyroid hormone for a long time, or if your adrenals are weak and

your iron

is low, your cells have been damaged and just can't start absorbing

that T3 at

once. I think it's a gradual process for people who have been sick

for a long

time. Little by little, as cells begin to accept the thyroid and

things begin to

heal, then the adrenals will improve, you can increase your dose, and

things

will get better. Now I'm rambling but in answer to your question,

with the

switchover to T4/T3, I've had some good days here and there -- better

for a bit,

then worse, then better for a time, then worse again ... but overall,

improvement since before the Armour.

>

> No, it's not fun but it gets better so try to hang in there and

have a lot of

patience. Especially if this has been going on a long time! Have

you had

your ferritin level checked? And yes, I would definitely request

adrenal testing

if I were you. And take it easy. Good luck!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for letting us know how you're doing, Sara! The important thing is you made a decision and if you feel better then it's probably the right choice for you! If your testosterone is low, supplementing it can help the thyroid hormones too. All those hormones -- thyroid, adrenal, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all work together and support each other. That is stating it simplistically I know, but you might want to try the testosterone if the T4 alone doesn't do the trick for you. You might not need T3 if you convert well.

Be well.

-----Original Message----- My results were fine, he said, but I find itvery hard to believe after so many years of stress. He also said testrosteronevery low and wanted to start me on meds, but I said no for now. Want to get thethyroid thing fingured out.Will just take it easy and try to catch up on sleep and then see whatthe increase in T4 does. I will let you know.Thanks for your support! - Sara

[Guest guest]

Thanks for letting us know how you're doing, Sara! The important thing is you made a decision and if you feel better then it's probably the right choice for you! If your testosterone is low, supplementing it can help the thyroid hormones too. All those hormones -- thyroid, adrenal, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all work together and support each other. That is stating it simplistically I know, but you might want to try the testosterone if the T4 alone doesn't do the trick for you. You might not need T3 if you convert well.

Be well.

-----Original Message----- My results were fine, he said, but I find itvery hard to believe after so many years of stress. He also said testrosteronevery low and wanted to start me on meds, but I said no for now. Want to get thethyroid thing fingured out.Will just take it easy and try to catch up on sleep and then see whatthe increase in T4 does. I will let you know.Thanks for your support! - Sara

[Guest guest]

Thanks for letting us know how you're doing, Sara! The important thing is you made a decision and if you feel better then it's probably the right choice for you! If your testosterone is low, supplementing it can help the thyroid hormones too. All those hormones -- thyroid, adrenal, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all work together and support each other. That is stating it simplistically I know, but you might want to try the testosterone if the T4 alone doesn't do the trick for you. You might not need T3 if you convert well.

Be well.

-----Original Message----- My results were fine, he said, but I find itvery hard to believe after so many years of stress. He also said testrosteronevery low and wanted to start me on meds, but I said no for now. Want to get thethyroid thing fingured out.Will just take it easy and try to catch up on sleep and then see whatthe increase in T4 does. I will let you know.Thanks for your support! - Sara