Doctor is recommending 25 mg levothyroxine for 1 month because my TSH is 3.5. But should other tests be done first like T3 and T4?
Not too impressed because she’s also recommending a statin despite the ASCVD risk calculator showing a 1.7% risk in the next 10 years. Say what?!
Anyone else following a low carb lifestyle had recent blood tests?
Me, but I still take a low dose statin because my good cholesterol had been slowly decreasing and my glucose had been rising from 80s to over 110 fasting probably because of the decades of Hashimoto and Synthroid. My doctor said they are all inter-related. My total cholesterol is very low and even prior to the low dose statin was below 200 and with the low dose statin is 160 and my good cholesterol is no longer falling…not rising but not falling. . With the statin now for 5 years everything has stabilized. I eat 1600 calories a day and keep the carbs at less than 30% which also keeps my weight stable plus or minus 5 lbs and BMI at the high end of normal. I am tall with an athletic build of bigger bones but My metabolism is majorly impacted and in hibernation! I do Ok with low carb and higher protein. Fats don’t impact me. I am not a meat fan so keeping the protein up requires creativity. The gym and weight bearing is unfortunately a must for me to maintain my numbers. It is a battle of aging combined with Hashimoto.
I just said to my younger doctor this week that aging is not for the faint of heart and the thought of the gym til I die depresses me lol. The food thing I can handle no problem.
Yup. The interplay of cholesterol and tsh is interesting…I’m being sarcastic. Dr wants me on statins, I am resisting, working more soluble fiber foods into my daily diet to see what that does.
Also reading a book recommended to me here, “Cholesterol Clarity”.
Thyroid issues are quite common these days. I was diagnosed in 1985 when I had a very large goiter. The endocrinologist performed a needle aspiration to test for cancer. Benign. He started me on Synthroid and told me if it didn’t reduce by 50% in six months, I would need my thyroid removed. The medication did the trick, and I’ve been taking it since. Over the years I’ve had the dosage tweaked when the need is indicated by blood work.
I reserved Cholesterol Clarity yesterday at the library.
Physician here. Had thyroid function testing as part of an infertility workup decades ago, not the cause. Later needed thyroid replacement. Testing will include following the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and the thyroid hormone levels. To keep it simple (and not get into trouble with erroneous specific info that can change) here’s what happens. The tests show which part of the system isn’t working well. They can also test for the cause (not for me because diagnosis was years ago and knowing won’t change anything). Eons ago in the Midwest (the goiter belt) we got iodine pills with our school snack. Iodine is needed to make the hormone and lacking away from the sea- the reason iodized salt is sold. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a major cause- immune system. Now a test for that.
The test results most often will show that the TSH is high but the thyroid isn’t responding to it well. The body has both T3 and T4 (slightly different chemical compounds- one converts to the other). Replacement is begun with synthetic hormone usually (more reliable amounts than in ages ago preparations) to keep the TSH and T3/4 levels in the normal range. The exact ranges will depend on the lab normals. The medicine needs to be taken a time before/after food as that can change absorption, hence the hour or more before/after meals- convenient to do so earlier in the morning. The blood test will continue- perhaps yearly or more often as indicated. Changes can be made as the years progress.
Great drug- replacement, with no side effects one sees with most drugs. Lab results useful, no need to wait for symptoms or even for results to be outside normal ranges if they are heading the wrong way and close to limits.
I found generics to work as well as brand name Synthroid (btw, easier to say/write than levothyroxine). Walmart offers many different amounts as a 3 month supply $10 drug- cheap.
For me, the generics did not work as well as Synthoid…but I only post that to help others who might notice a difference between the different manufacturers. I’m more stable on synthroid and spent an awful year or so bouncing up and down on whatever generic my prescription refill service sent. But it is also possible that had the service sent the same manufacturer consistently I would have stabilized. I’m also very sensitive to increases and decreases in my TSH and generally know ahead of the confirming blood test. My former doctor used to play a game with me and ask me what I thought my TSH back in the paper records day. More often than not I was very, very close. I’m just someone who is really in tune with my body and what’s going on and I absolutely know if I’m running high or low over my optimal TSH feeling level. Hard to say about the various “brands” but I just don’t take chances and pay the upcharge for Synthroid and prefer being nice and stable. It’s an incredibly manageable condition thank goodness.
Thyroid testing is so logical. TSH up and T4 down, even within normal but a change from usual may mean the pituitary is trying to stimulate the thyroid with lesser effect and time to increase the dose. Physicians will know. The pills come in all sorts of dosages. btw- look at the GoodRx website for pricing- could be cheaper than insurance.
Guessing lab results can be fun. Back in residency doing anesthesia standby for pediatric heart caths it was fun to guess the O2 saturation by eyeballing the sample before it was sent to the lab. Those babies/kids with congenital heart disease had blood ranging from bluish to red. My color sense was good- very close.
My sister developed an enlarged thyroid while pregnant, decades ago. He Ob/gyn pretty much ignored what she told him–of course it was a man–about how lousy she felt while pregnant (her third pregnancy–after all, what do women know?). My mother, an RN, saw it immediately when she walked into the house within 2 weeks after giving birth. She was quickly diagnosed, and ultimately had
her thyroid removed. A section during surgery did not reveal cancer, so they left the peripheral nodes in place, since if they can produce naturally it is preferable. Alas, a more thorough examination of the grapefruit-sized tumor–it enveloped the nerves to her vocal chords, and had pushed her esophagus to one side–revealed cancer, so they had to go back and remove everything. Her endocrinologist had her on a high dose of synthroid that was supposed to discourage any thyroid cells from growing. She had a friend whose dr she consulted who suggested that she go off of it entirely, do a regimen of radioactive iodine to kill off and remaining cells, and then go on a lower dose. This worked well for her, and in fact she became unexpectedly pregnant and has her fourth child after a miscarriage.
But my observation is that being totally dependent on thyroid medication is not easy and not pleasant, although certainly doable.
Huh- the above. Taking one small pill each day is no big deal and an easy test for the correct dosage. No pill side effects either. About the most benign regimen I can think of.
Yes benign, but not necessarily easy or stable. As I said upthread, I was diagnosed at age 9 and have only rarely had periods of stability in my entire life. There are unpleasant consequences of having a dosage too high or too low - my dosage is off right now, and I’m dealing with chronic diarrhea, among other things. So for the people who are able to get a correct dosage easily, it’s really not big deal at all. But that’s not everyone’s situation, unfortunately.
Yes, mine fluctuates and has been difficult to keep constant. I think I have 4 different strengths
in my drawer tight now. I do lab work at least two times a year.
This it the one med I worry about having with me/stored/accessible in an earthquake .
And THAT is the major bummer about taking this easy, cheap medication. Without it, we’d die. So we have to plan to not be without it.
I’m glad I have extra, just in case. I should probably stash some in my car, actually…
Actually heat and cold is bad for most Rx, so keeping extra in your car is likely a very bad idea. I keep extra of my meds in my home but not in my car which can get very hot and degrade medications. You can double-check with your pharmacist and ask him/her for suggestions.