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Overmedicated or undermedicated thyroid ?
Hey guys,
I just got back from seeing an oncologist because of some non thyroid concerns that I had (which were cleared). I told her how miserable I was and she alluded to that i may be under-medicated, wrongly-medicated, or over-medicated for hypothyroid.
When I started, my tsh was .510. On my last test I had TSH 7.93 and t3 low 1.95.
I only take 37.5 levo. However, after I take the levo I always get a "lit up" feeling, ears ring, hands shake, feel junky all over. I also feel like my sinus's are all lit up after taking the meds.
I always here of people saying "i was that way too until i balanced out my meds" OR "i was undermedicated but now im okay". But they never tell you what this means. What does this mean?? Am I over medicated, or under?
I am suppose to go to the Mayo clinic in flordia on monday to ask for their help. I really do not want to go. Please help me?
Thanks,
Bruce
ps- i ordered my canadian armour, but its not here yet.
I just got back from seeing an oncologist because of some non thyroid concerns that I had (which were cleared). I told her how miserable I was and she alluded to that i may be under-medicated, wrongly-medicated, or over-medicated for hypothyroid.
When I started, my tsh was .510. On my last test I had TSH 7.93 and t3 low 1.95.
I only take 37.5 levo. However, after I take the levo I always get a "lit up" feeling, ears ring, hands shake, feel junky all over. I also feel like my sinus's are all lit up after taking the meds.
I always here of people saying "i was that way too until i balanced out my meds" OR "i was undermedicated but now im okay". But they never tell you what this means. What does this mean?? Am I over medicated, or under?
I am suppose to go to the Mayo clinic in flordia on monday to ask for their help. I really do not want to go. Please help me?
Thanks,
Bruce
ps- i ordered my canadian armour, but its not here yet.
I am wondering if you had weird symptoms that went away after you started armour? Can you tell me what these were, and how are your symptoms now?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Your TSH is high and although you don't give the reference range for the FT4 (these are lab specific), I think your FT4 result of 1.0 is relatively low in its range and kl42 is right - that has to be converted to T3 in order to be used.
When getting tested for T4 and T3, always make sure you specify FREE T4 and FREE T3. Also, when posting results; and make sure you add the reference ranges.
That said, I think you are under medicated and that you need to make sure you stay with a single med long enough to let your body adjust to it - several weeks, at least.
If I recall from some of your past posts, you've been on several different meds in a relatively short period of time, but none long enough to get adjusted to. You are keeping your body in a constant state of confusion by not letting it adjust to one thing before you move on to something else.
Whenever I have a dosage increase, I always have some hypo and/or hyper symptoms for a while until my body gets used to that dosage. I just went from 88 mg levo to 100 mcg Tirosint and I've been going through that "adjustment period" on 2 fronts. I've been on the med and dosage for about 4 weeks; I think I'm about through it now.
When we say something like your comments: "i was that way too until i balanced out my meds" OR "i was undermedicated but now im okay" --- we mean that we had/have to work at it until we get our levels to a point that's good for us. We are all different, all react to meds differently, all have different tolerance levels for both symptoms and meds, etc; therefore, NO ONE can tell you what YOUR levels should be; what's right for me, most likely won't be right for you and visa versa. YOU are the only one who will be able to tell when you hit the right combination.
A good rule of thumb is that many of us find that we do best when our FT3 is in the upper 1/3 of its range and FT4 is about mid range. You aren't even close to those levels.
When getting tested for T4 and T3, always make sure you specify FREE T4 and FREE T3. Also, when posting results; and make sure you add the reference ranges.
That said, I think you are under medicated and that you need to make sure you stay with a single med long enough to let your body adjust to it - several weeks, at least.
If I recall from some of your past posts, you've been on several different meds in a relatively short period of time, but none long enough to get adjusted to. You are keeping your body in a constant state of confusion by not letting it adjust to one thing before you move on to something else.
Whenever I have a dosage increase, I always have some hypo and/or hyper symptoms for a while until my body gets used to that dosage. I just went from 88 mg levo to 100 mcg Tirosint and I've been going through that "adjustment period" on 2 fronts. I've been on the med and dosage for about 4 weeks; I think I'm about through it now.
When we say something like your comments: "i was that way too until i balanced out my meds" OR "i was undermedicated but now im okay" --- we mean that we had/have to work at it until we get our levels to a point that's good for us. We are all different, all react to meds differently, all have different tolerance levels for both symptoms and meds, etc; therefore, NO ONE can tell you what YOUR levels should be; what's right for me, most likely won't be right for you and visa versa. YOU are the only one who will be able to tell when you hit the right combination.
A good rule of thumb is that many of us find that we do best when our FT3 is in the upper 1/3 of its range and FT4 is about mid range. You aren't even close to those levels.
that freee t4 has to convert to free t3 to make you feel good. if its low there nothing to convert, you neede to build that up
Sounds like you need some more medication. What was the Free T4? If low, it will show you definitely need more meds.
Some people bounce around for a few months getting their levels right, while others, it takes a long time.
Sounds like the Levo is hitting your system pretty fast. You might be better on a different brand of thyroxine. It could be the Levo is dissolving too fast for you. Discuss this and the Armour with the Mayo Clinic. I understand your hesitancy in going, but Bruce if you lived here in Australia I think you would be chomping at the bit to get some true 'expert' help. I have heard nothing but praise and rave reviews from any one who has been there. (Wanna swap places? LOL!)
Send me a postcard!
Good luck!
Some people bounce around for a few months getting their levels right, while others, it takes a long time.
Sounds like the Levo is hitting your system pretty fast. You might be better on a different brand of thyroxine. It could be the Levo is dissolving too fast for you. Discuss this and the Armour with the Mayo Clinic. I understand your hesitancy in going, but Bruce if you lived here in Australia I think you would be chomping at the bit to get some true 'expert' help. I have heard nothing but praise and rave reviews from any one who has been there. (Wanna swap places? LOL!)
Send me a postcard!
Good luck!
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The two things I have found most helpful from others here is start on a low dose and work up slowly and divide your daily dose into two parts, taking one half in the morning and one half later in the afternoon. The report is from other users that this gives a more even response as the free T3 has a short life.
Some people are very sensitive and start on 15mg and some people start at 30mg per day. I actually started at 30 mg BID and it may have been a bit too high as I had a headache for two days. Every 2-3 weeks the manufacturer suggests going up by 15mg. until you get to the dose that works well for you. They have a conversion chart under the professional side of their website that allows an estimate of the free T-4 in your previous med and it's equivalence in Armour. This works as a kind of guesstimate as you really have to go by testing your free T3and free T4 after having been on it for a while and also going by how you feel.
My limited experience is every time I raise the dose by 15mg (every 2-3 weeks) I have a mild headache for a day. I am told this is normal in raising the dosage. You have to remember too that your free T4 from your previous medication can still be in your system. I have one more week to go before going to 45 mg BID. My doctor thinks Iwill end up on 60 mg BID but I think we will test after a total of six weeks to see where I am.
More important to me is how I feel on the medication at a given dose. I have heard most people say they like their free T3 in a high normal and their free T4 in the upper half or third. One person here said they like it abit lower and I heard one person say they like theirs both in the low normal range. I think it is very individual.
I am also prepared to ask to add in more free T-4 if the mix doesn't feel right. Evidently some people do well on the Armour ratio of free T3 to free T4 and some need a different ratio devised. I think it good to have a doctor who will work with you to titrate this and who understands to watch the free T3 and free T-4 levels as well as your symptoms. The mayo clinic has a good reputation in general.
I did try going up too fast at one point and had my heart rate go above160 and my BP went very high and my temperature raised two degrees. It deserves a slow titration starting low and only adding more every 2-3 weeks. Marie