my most recent labs since, meds

babycakes17 · 08-18-2004, 07:55 PM

Hi, I was wondering what to think of these labs?. these are the most recent ones I have since I started synthroid a couple months ago.

TSH 2.95 7/15/04
Range lab has is 0.4-4.0

total T4 10.6 7/15/04, which is up from 7.8 on 6/14/04
lab range is 4.5- 12.5

FREE T4 1.2
lab range is 0.8-1.9ng/nl

Free T3 3.5
lab range is 1.5 - 4.1 pg/ml

shenacat · 08-19-2004, 07:27 AM

More importantly, how do you feel?

Your labs look ok, but maybe could use a little bump up.

babycakes17 · 08-20-2004, 06:09 PM

Hi, thanks for replying to my post.
I still feel like I did before I went on the synthroid.
I feel pretty tired, no energy left to do much after lunchtime. Pretty moody,no sex drive what so ever.Usual ready for a nap by 3pm and if I take no nap I'm ready for bed by 8:30 or 9:00 PM. I totally feel like some old lady instead of a 33 year old.

My end. said when I asked him how my TSH was he said it was fine and that it had gone down, but wouldn't give me a #.I got a copy of my results when I paid for the app. and made my next app. I think I'm going to try and get my results from now on before I go into the app. so I can be looking at them while I'm talking to the doctor.

I have to wait for my next app. for him to put me on something for my trigercerlides. they are almost 300. I'm probably a heartattack waiting to happen.

Thanks for your all your help and advice.

What do you mean when you say ,they could use a bump up?

shenacat · 08-23-2004, 02:41 AM

Most ppl feel best with a TSH around 1.0. Yours is a little elevated with that in mind. Your T4 could go up to 1.4+ (mid-range), your T3 looks ok. Maybe, you are just a little undermedicated.

bectaz · 08-23-2004, 11:58 AM

Hi I'm pretty new here but thought I'd let you know that I personally saw very little change with Synthroid. I researched and found a doc who RX'd Armour - - and only 2 weeks into therapy, feel better than I have in years.

(my hair loss is also finally slowing - - hopefully to a STOP!)

babycakes17 · 08-23-2004, 05:35 PM

Thanks girls for the replies. I'm going to ask my endo. to switch me to Armour or something else besides synthroid and see what he says. I have a app. on Sept. 2nd. But I was wanting him to give me something for my high triglycerides and cholesterol and he only like to prescribe one thing at a time. Which totally pisses me off because I have to keep going back every two weeks.

I'm trying to find another doctor because my present endo. doesn't make me feel very comfortable. He rushes through my app. and doesnt' seem to listen to me.He has said things that I have never said which totally proves he doesn't listen to me. He is not very friendly which makes me uncomfortable.

I set up a app. w/a female ob/gyn that is supposed to treat women w/PCOS.,so maybe she will work out for the PCOS and she will take over prescribing me the ACTOS which is working like magic.

I'm very much considering driving all the way to Chicago and seeing Dr. David Ellerman.I had a app. with him back in Jan. but had to cancel it due to the weather.

I agree SHenaCat I think I would feel better if my TSH was 1.0,I'm going to suggest this to my current Endo. and if he doesn't agree ,I will be going elsewhere.Thanks.

bectaz · 08-23-2004, 07:19 PM

The about dot com website has multiple messsage forums on thyroid - including one about doctors (and a resource/list of docs that DO RX Armour)

I wouldn't be surprised if your doc doesn't.

It's SO worth finding a doc who will though - so hang in there!

http://forums.about.com/ab-thyroid/start

Wiggleynose · 08-23-2004, 10:20 PM

I will tell you that my mother and brother take synthroid and both of them told me that they felt no changes in the first month or two and it took a serious dose up for them to feel better but now they have to get another dose up because they still aren't feeling good.

My dr. automatically prescribed me Armour and I've only been taking it for 5 days on a very low dose and I am feeling 100% better. I still get a tiny bit tired in the afternoon but I am not having any serious mood changes or irritability like before and in the morning I can just get right up and start my day in a good mood unlike before. Even when I am honestly angry about something it doesn't take more than a minute for me to get over it and think about the situation logically.

If you get a stonger Rx for synthroid and still not feeling better I would honestly check into Armour. I swear by this stuff and have even convinced my mom and brother to check into it if they still feel like crap on this next dose up of synthroid.

babycakes17 · 08-24-2004, 11:17 PM

Hey, I get those bad mood swings too, I also get tired in the afternoon.I usually have to take a nap,thats if my kids will both take one.

I did find a doctor that prescribes Armour and when I called to make a app. they told me that they have a monthly fee for being a patient in this doctors practice of $75.00 per month whether I see the doctor or not. The lady I talked to said they have a limited practice of 500 patients and the fee is for covering non-medical stuff, like the doctor being avaiable 24 hrs for emergeniences.

I had to say no thanks , $75.00 bucks is alot of money to pay out just to get someone to prescribe me Armour. I surely can find another doctor that will,hopefully Dr. Meriden my Endo. will or I will have to find another Doctor.

Well ,everybody take care. Hope you all have a good night.!!

bectaz · 08-24-2004, 11:40 PM

wow - i've never heard of such a thing - - like a monthly retainer for a doctor?

KnitOT · 08-28-2004, 06:39 AM

My endo said numbers don't tell the whole story--you need to look at how you're feeling. My numbers were like yours and he increased my dosage anyway. Then I had to fight with my HMO primary care physician (I see the endo privately) to get the increased dose paid for because my numbers were "within normal limits". But I am feeling much better on the increased dose, almost like my old self again.

Be sure to give it time--it does take a month or more to really feel the effects on Synthroid. I know it's hard to be patient.

Are you watching your carb intake? That energy lull in the afternoon was always a problem for me until I started low carbing. I think it was more of a hypoglycemic reaction to the carbs I ingested at lunch. Try upping your protien and lowering carbs at lunch and see if that helps with the afternoon energy level.

Also, I've had significant improvement in my cholesterol levels with low carbing ( down 38 points in just 3 months!). Hypercholesterolemia is a PCOS symptom, so treating the PCOS will help. Maybe you won't need so high a dose of meds for that when he finally gets around to it.

Knit