see saw

[dreeftwppd]

on the hill with a beer.

Ok, here goes. This pattern has been similar now in the three doses that I have been one.

I most recently was bumped up to 50mcg and withing two weeks felt such epic awesomeness for three weeks. I mean I was purring, no aches, no pains, just felt so great... then the last couple days ugh, it starts by not getting one night sleep. Then getting home and feeling like sleeping. Then going to bed early and then waking up and still being tired. Then being at work and typing this and all I can think about is getting that extra hour of sleep..

Same thing happened when I was on 37.5. Same thing on 25mcg.

I have had to bump up each six weeks. I am tempted to think that it is my me getting used to the dose and body producing less but I know this prolly means my thyroid is crapping out!

[Barb135]

Yes, it can really cause all that!!  Hang in there, it does get better.  

[dreeftwppd]

bah, stupid thyroid... ugghhhhhhhhhhh why meeeee... no really.

I feel miserable and depressed and sad and lonely and feck..

3 weeks ago I was on top of the world, I felt great!!!

Now anxiety, paranoia blah blah. can it really cause all that.

[Barb135]

The fact that you need more, isn't because you are taking more; it's because your thyroid is steadily declining and you have to keep replacing the hormones your thyroid can no longer produce.  

Be sure to post your results when you get them back.

[dreeftwppd]

O, and last time I check my antibodies, I was borderline...

I am more concerned about it being related to my body reacting to meds since it's happening so much in tune I.E the more I take, the more I NEED to take.

[dreeftwppd]

Thanks Gimel, thanks Barb..

the doc said that it's most likely that. But now this has happened 3 times in a row.... so it's not that the doc doesn't want to, he is just going by symptoms. He was the only doc that would treat me when I was sub clinical based on symptoms.

[Barb135]

Since you are getting blood work tomorrow, why not ask your doctor to include the antibody tests for Hashimoto's?  That way you will know for sure.  

If you have Hashimoto's, antibodies are slowly "chomping" away at your thyroid and the more they chomp, the less hormone your thyroid will make, which will increase the need for higher doses of medication.

The tests you need for antibodies are Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGab).  You need to make sure you get both tests, since some people have only TPOab, others have only TGab and still others have both.  That means that if your doctor tests only for TPOab, and it comes back negative, but you have the TGab that didn't get tested, your disease will fall under the radar.

While Hashimoto's is treated the same as hypothyroidism, it's good to know whether or not you have it.  I looked forward to the time my thyroid would no longer produce anything, then I could get on a maintenance dose and stay there, for a while.  

I second gimel - make sure you get both the FT3 and FT4, along with the TSH.  

[gimel]

Yes, that is possible.  Your hypothalamus/pituitary determines that the thyroid hormone levels are higher than your "set point" (even if that is too low for you) and sends out less TSH, which of course reduces output of T4 and T3 from your thyroid glands.  I went through that myself many years ago until I was up to what the doctor called a full daily replacement level of 200 mcg of T4.  For info, even that left me with lingering hypo symptoms because my body was not adequately converting the T4 to T3.  After finding this Forum and learning about the importance of Free T3 and confirming mine as low in the range, my doctor switched me to a T4/T3 combo med and now I feel best ever.  

Tomorrow, make sure you request testing for Free T3 and Free T4, along with the TSH.  If the doctor resists and makes excuses, just insist on it and don't take no for an answer.  You should also get tested for Vitamin A, D, B12, zinc, selenium, and RBC magnesium.  

I think it would also be good for you to read this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he consults with from a distance.  The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

[dreeftwppd]

I know for sure that thyroid runs in the family.. so not sure.

But i guess that is my question, since I am getting thyroid externally could that be the reason everytime I up the does, I need more because my body produces less?

I am getting new blood work tomorrow.

[gimel]

I looked back through some of your prior posts, but did not see anything about the possibility of Hashimoto's.  Could that be the cause of you needing the increases, or is it just your body reacting to the med increase by reducing TSH and thus reducing your natural thyroid hormone output?

Please post your last set of thyroid test results and their reference ranges.