so many pills

[camarocarol]

hi,Im hypothyroid.Im on synthroid since april 2011 and cytomel since july.My dr recently upped my syntyroid to 1 1/2 25 mcg one day and 50 mcg the next day,She left the cytomel at half a 5 mcg pill.But she had me start a natural pill for adreanal fatigue and a multivitamin.Also vitamin c.I take xanax,wellbutrin sr and estratest and femring.I also take vitamin d3.I take a probitic dailey.the mutivitamin i got  has herbs in it as does the adreanal support.Does anyone else out there take so many pills.since seeing this dr i have been able to get off prozac.Her goal is to get me off wellbutrin and xanaax.i have been on xanax 20 years.Im 51 years old.Im feeling better,but nothing has really gave me tons of energy or made my sex life much better,Just seems like alot of pills and I worry about the herbs...hoping someone can share simalar experience..Thanks

[camarocarol]

Thank you for your answer too!

[flyingfool]

Good to see you back posting.

BOTH your Ft3 & FT4 are low.  I think even upping your synthroid would be an improvement.  My thinking is to get your FT4 to mid range and see where that leaves you with FT3.  The target being to get the FT3 above mid range to the upper 1/3 or where ever your symptoms are alleviated.  Another option would be to start Armour which has both T3 & T4 components.  But the Dr. may eliminate Cytomel if you do that.

The key is to get the balance that YOU need.  And finding a Dr. that will medicate you to get you to that spot.  That is the key.

I agree with gimel that your Dr is most likely frightened by your TSH level.

I have recently read something with regard to T3 binding and that estrogen/progesterone can't remember which one can bind up T3.  Since you are using femring which I think is an estrogen med, I wonder if that is having an effect on your FT3 levels?  Just a thought.

You need more med dosage. The trick will be to get your Dr. or to find a Dr that who is willing to do that.

[gimel]

Since you are still having hypo symptoms, you do need to increase your meds.  I'm sure that your doctor is probably reluctant to raise meds any further, because of the TSH level: however, TSH is frequently suppressed when taking significant doses of thyroid meds.  That does not mean that you are hyper.  You are hyper only if having hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of FT3 and FT4, which you do not have.  Where is the logic to worrying about TSH, which is only an indicator of FT3 and FT4 levels (and a poor one at that), rather than looking at the actual FT3 and FT4 levels and seeing that they are very low, or below range?  

My own TSH has been about .05 for well over 25 years without ever having hyper symptoms.  In fact I had lingering hypo symptoms, until finding this Forum and learning about the importance of FT3.  When I finally got mine tested I found it to be in the low end of the range.  After getting my meds revised to a combo T4/T3 type and getting my FT3 to 3.9, I now feel best ever.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Ft3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You need to get your doctor to understand this and increase your meds enough to get your FT4 about midrange and increase your FT3 until symptoms are relieved.  If you want to read more about clinical treatment, this is a good link.  It is a letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he is consulting with from a distance.  The letter is sent tot the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.  Maybe a copy to your doctor might change his treatment of ou.  If not then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor.

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

[camarocarol]

These are my last lab reports done in July
TSH-0.42 range= 0,34-4.82
Free T4 0.72 range=0.77-1.81
free T3 2.9 range=2.3 to 4,2
Yes i went to the site you sent me and i do have symtoms still...except Im more prone to dierehha than conspation,and the belly fat is since upping the synthyroid..i think i need to up the cytomel.just my opinion.

[camarocarol]

I have my resuts posted on here in a previous post.I dont know if u can find them or not ,i will repost them again tommorow,,,i have to find where i put them,i will check that link,but i still get cold,hair falls out and sex drive still isnt great and not as much energy as i was hoping for.What do u think about the supplements i take?

[gimel]

It would help members respond if you would post your thyroid test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also, even though you are taking thyroid meds, do you still have any lingering hypo symptoms, like those listed in this link?

http://endocrine-system.emedtv.com/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-signs.html