Re: Newly diagnosed - hypo

[Guest guest]

If the doc is giving you a choice of thyroid meds, ask for Armour Thyroid. $ynthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, Levothroid and generic levothyroxine are all just synthetic T4. They are given with the assumption that everyone converts enough of the T4 (storage hormone) to T3 (active hormone). Armour is an extract of natural desiccated porcine thyroid glands and contains, T3, T4 and all naturally occurring thyroid hormones. Your doc has scored two points already, first by diagnosing you with an in-range TSH and also by ordering antibodies tests. If he really

gives you a choice of thyroid meds, you have a winner. Keep us posted. Ask him to test the following: serum ferritin, 8 am cortisol, estradiol, estrone, progesterone, testosterone, DHEAs. Folks who are hypothyroid are often low in their sex and adrenal hormones, too. Welcome to the group! jan dcarey1991 wrote: I was recently diagnosed with "subclinical hypothyroidism"My tsh was 4.48 (.3

to 3.0)normalThe doc wants to do the antibodies test next and then determine what meds to put me on.What questions do I need to ask? I have been suffering from quick weight gain (15 lbs since October 2005) tiredness, leg cramps and dry skin. thanksleLittle Elm

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[Guest guest]

Will your doctor be testing free T3,T4? It is normal for the doctor to

start you out on a small dose of a T4 like levoxyl or synthroid. I and

many others only need a T4 and so Armour is inappropriate for

us. If you do not respond symptom wise to the T4 the doctor selected,

he may switch you to another. If your tests continue to reveal

unacceptable levels or your symptoms continue, he may move to a T4/T3

combination such as armour. The question to ask is "May I have a copy

of the labs?" Each major step, that is change of medication, will take

6-8 weeks. So be patient.

dcarey1991 wrote:

I was recently diagnosed with "subclinical hypothyroidism"

My tsh was 4.48 (.3 to 3.0)normal

The doc wants to do the antibodies test next and then determine what

meds to put me on.

What questions do I need to ask?

I have been suffering from quick weight gain (15 lbs since October

2005) tiredness, leg cramps and dry skin.

thanks

le

Little Elm

-- Carole L. Henning

carole_henning@...

[Guest guest]

Doctors who prefer Armour generally start everyone on Armour and move folks to synthetics only as a last resort if the Armour does not work for that person. The reason for that preference goes beyond the need for T3 and has to do with the way natural thyroid hormone acts on the receptors, as opposed to synthetic T3 and T4. But yes, the majority of docs start everyone on synthetic T4. (And the majority of those docs leave everyone on synthetic T4 no matter how crappy they may feel.) What each person may need is highly individual. Carole Henning wrote: Will your doctor be testing free T3,T4? It is normal for the doctor to start you out on a small dose of a T4 like levoxyl or synthroid. I and many others only need a T4 and so Armour is inappropriate for us. If you do not respond symptom wise to the T4 the doctor selected, he may switch you to another. If your tests continue to reveal unacceptable levels or your symptoms continue, he may move to a T4/T3 combination such as armour. The question to ask is "May I have a copy of the labs?" Each major step, that is change of medication, will take 6-8 weeks. So be patient.dcarey1991 wrote: I was recently diagnosed with "subclinical hypothyroidism"My tsh was 4.48 (.3 to 3.0)normalThe doc wants to do the antibodies test next and then determine what meds to put me

on.What questions do I need to ask? I have been suffering from quick weight gain (15 lbs since October 2005) tiredness, leg cramps and dry skin. thanksleLittle Elm-- Carole L. Henning carole_henning@...

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[Guest guest]

I understand. Still, I wanted her to know what to expect and realize

that the doctor will probably point this out in this way or a similar

way. I also wanted her to know that every change takes 6-8 weeks before

the doctor will consider a change.

Jan wrote:

Doctors who

prefer Armour generally start everyone on Armour and move folks to

synthetics only as a last resort if the Armour does not work for that

person. The reason for that preference goes beyond the need for T3 and

has to do with the way natural thyroid hormone acts on the receptors,

as opposed to synthetic T3 and T4.

But yes, the

majority of docs start everyone on synthetic T4. (And the majority of

those docs leave everyone on synthetic T4 no matter how crappy

they may feel.)

What each person

may need is highly individual.

Carole Henning

wrote:

Will your doctor be testing free T3,T4? It is normal for the

doctor to start you out on a small dose of a T4 like levoxyl or

synthroid. I and many others only need a T4 and so Armour is inappropriate

for us. If you do not respond symptom wise to the T4 the doctor

selected, he may switch you to another. If your tests continue to

reveal unacceptable levels or your symptoms continue, he may move to a

T4/T3 combination such as armour. The question to ask is "May I have a

copy of the labs?" Each major step, that is change of medication, will

take 6-8 weeks. So be patient.

dcarey1991 wrote:

I was recently diagnosed with "subclinical hypothyroidism"

My tsh was 4.48 (.3 to 3.0)normal

The doc wants to do the antibodies test next and then determine what

meds to put me on.

What questions do I need to ask?

I have been suffering from quick weight gain (15 lbs since October

2005) tiredness, leg cramps and dry skin.

thanks

le

Little Elm

-- Carole L. Henning carole_henning@...

New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call

regular phones from your PC and save big.

-- Carole L. Henning

carole_henning@...

[Guest guest]

I guess the point we need to get across to le

is:

a) find a doctor open to all possible medications,

synthetic and natural, and--

make sure this doctor tests across the board,

including antibodies, TSH, free T4, free T3, et. al.

I know that we are all taking different combinations

of meds that work for us individually, but with

someone new, I think we should give them the bare

bones basics so they can make educated choices.

In my particular situation, I saw only

synthetic-centric doctors for the first six months,

until moving to a local endo who tried everything

before going the Armour route, and then he helped me

transfer to Dr. R.

What happened to me is that I became increasingly ill

on the synthetics, to the point where I stopped being

able to drive or work. It took me over a year to undo

all the damage caused by synthetic thyroid

replacement, and get back to plain ol' sick, versus

super-sick.

I wonder, occasionally, if I had seen much more

capable and flexible doctors, would I have ended up

housebound for almost two years? I don't know.

I've met people in the opposite situation, who went on

natural thyroid replacement, whose doctors would not

budge when they didn't respond to treatment.

All I hope for all of us is that we see doctors who

really want us to improve, no matter what medication

is used.

--- Carole Henning

wrote:

> I understand. Still, I wanted her to know what to

> expect and realize

> that the doctor will probably point this out in this

> way or a similar

> way. I also wanted her to know that every change

> takes 6-8 weeks before

> the doctor will consider a change.

>

> Jan wrote:

>

> > Doctors who prefer Armour generally start everyone

> on Armour and move

> > folks to synthetics only as a last resort if the

> Armour does not work

> > for that person. The reason for that preference

> goes beyond the need

> > for T3 and has to do with the way natural thyroid

> hormone acts on the

> > receptors, as opposed to synthetic T3 and T4.

> >

> > But yes, the majority of docs start everyone on

> synthetic T4. (And the

> > majority of those docs leave everyone on synthetic

> T4 no matter how

> > crappy they may feel.)

> >

> > What each person may need is highly individual.

> >

[Guest guest]

You said it beautifullly. Tip of the hat to you.

Courtenay wrote:

I guess the point we need to get across to le

is:

a) find a doctor open to all possible medications,

synthetic and natural, and--

make sure this doctor tests across the board,

including antibodies, TSH, free T4, free T3, et. al.

I know that we are all taking different combinations

of meds that work for us individually, but with

someone new, I think we should give them the bare

bones basics so they can make educated choices.

In my particular situation, I saw only

synthetic-centric doctors for the first six months,

until moving to a local endo who tried everything

before going the Armour route, and then he helped me

transfer to Dr. R.

What happened to me is that I became increasingly ill

on the synthetics, to the point where I stopped being

able to drive or work. It took me over a year to undo

all the damage caused by synthetic thyroid

replacement, and get back to plain ol' sick, versus

super-sick.

I wonder, occasionally, if I had seen much more

capable and flexible doctors, would I have ended up

housebound for almost two years? I don't know.

I've met people in the opposite situation, who went on

natural thyroid replacement, whose doctors would not

budge when they didn't respond to treatment.

All I hope for all of us is that we see doctors who

really want us to improve, no matter what medication

is used.

--- Carole Henning

wrote:

> I understand. Still, I wanted her to know what to

> expect and realize

> that the doctor will probably point this out in this

> way or a similar

> way. I also wanted her to know that every change

> takes 6-8 weeks before

> the doctor will consider a change.

>

> Jan wrote:

>

> > Doctors who prefer Armour generally start everyone

> on Armour and move

> > folks to synthetics only as a last resort if the

> Armour does not work

> > for that person. The reason for that preference

> goes beyond the need

> > for T3 and has to do with the way natural thyroid

> hormone acts on the

> > receptors, as opposed to synthetic T3 and T4.

> >

> > But yes, the majority of docs start everyone on

> synthetic T4. (And the

> > majority of those docs leave everyone on synthetic

> T4 no matter how

> > crappy they may feel.)

> >

> > What each person may need is highly individual.

> >

-- Carole L. Henning

carole_henning@...

[Guest guest]

Aw, shucks. Thanks!

--- Carole Henning

wrote:

> You said it beautifullly. Tip of the hat to you.

>

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice. The doctor gave me

copy of my first lab tests and ordered another test for antibodies

and TSH again.

My first results were:

t-4 free 1.1 (.8-1.8)

TSH 4.84 (.4-5.5)

He did mention that the new levels for hypothyroidism were in the .3

to 3.0 range and becuase I also have symptoms, he would test for the

antibodies. I asked what kind of meds I would taking and he

said " synthetic thyroid " .

When I get this second test result back, I will be a whole lot more

informed.

thanks for all your help!

le

>

> I was recently diagnosed with " subclinical hypothyroidism "

> My tsh was 4.48 (.3 to 3.0)normal

>

> The doc wants to do the antibodies test next and then determine

what

> meds to put me on.

>

> What questions do I need to ask?

>

> I have been suffering from quick weight gain (15 lbs since October

> 2005) tiredness, leg cramps and dry skin.

>

>

> thanks

> le

> Little Elm

>