TVCH FORUMS HOME . JOIN . FAN CLUBS . DONATE . CONTACT . CHAT  
 Wikia  Quick Links   TOPICS . TREE-VIEW . SEARCH . HELP! . NEWS . PROFILE
Thyroid question

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan. 2007 ~ Mar. 2007: Health Center: Thyroid question users admin

Author Message
Hootyhoot
Member

12-18-2001

Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 10:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hootyhoot a private message Print Post    
A friend who has an overactive thyroid looks puffy around the eyes and her eyes appear to be bulging. Is that appropriate, or is she not getting the right medical treatment? Thanks for any information.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 12:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
It sounds like she has Grave's disease. (one of the hyperthyroid diseases) She doesn't sound like her meds are balanced. It's very tricky and does involve alot of hit and miss to find the right dosage and/or combination of meds. I am hypothyroid and it's maybe been two years getting it right, and then it's constantly monitered every 6 months.

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Monday, January 01, 2007 - 3:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sunshyne4u a private message Print Post    
two years ??? to get you into normal range?


I'd love to know more. When I had my thyroid partially removed I was put on only 50. It tooks year of fighting with my GP to get it elevated since the TSH was technically in the normal range.

I lost over a third of my hair as well as every other symptom of HYPO thyroidism....yet TSH was normal.

I'd love to know which tests were done for you and How they knew your levels werent correct.

Also, Synthroid? eltroxin? levo? They all respond differently.

I'm Curious

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Monday, January 01, 2007 - 9:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
It probably wasn't 2 years to get into a normal range, but more like two years of finding the right range for ME.
First off, does your GP know that the levels for 'normal' have changed? It is now recommended that you not have as TSH of over 2. My doc likes to keep me around 1, I do better at that. He does TSH, T3, T4 and one other I am drawing a blank on every 6 months. btw..i would go to an endocrinologist and not a GP. I was on just synthroid and still crashing. Old endo was like 'your levels are normal' (and she didn't know the levels had changed either!) and I was telling her that putting on 20 lbs in a month, being freezing all the time in 80 degree weather and getting up with my kids at 7, getting them off to school at 7:30 and then going back to sleep till 3:30 when they came home and then into bed at 8 was not normal!!!
My endo now, believes you need a little Armour Thyroid (T3) to help boost the T4 you get in Synthroid and it has made all the difference. Lots of times it's not so much that your thyroid isn't working at all, it's more of how it converts the T3 to T4 (or vice versa) that is out of whack. That's more my prob.
here is probably one of the most comprehensive and up to date sites for thyroid disease. http://thyroid.about.com/

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 3:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sunshyne4u a private message Print Post    
thx for your answer, Tex.

Synthroid didnt work for me and a specialist said taht Eltroxin was a better choice. Who knows? everyone has their favourites

LOL First off, does your GP know that the levels for 'normal' have changed?

NO she didnt. I am the one who told her and she still stared at me with suspicion.

I really wish they FORCED doctors to update the new changes by doing short specific exams each year. JUST for the new stuff.

you know, I dont even know if my T3 or T3/t4 uptake has even been done since my surgery.



Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 6:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
It's the same thing, Levothyroxine, just different brand names. It's not used as much here as it is in Canada. Good luck to you. I hope you get your meds all sorted out.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 6:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
I've been on Synthroid for probably 6 years after surgical removal of my thyroid. I wanted to switch to Levothyroxine after reading that Synthoid was simply a T4 replacement and doesn't have the T3. My doctor said that although Levo is basically a generic Synthoid, they were different enough to necessitate starting at a lower doseage and then I'd have to go through the quarterly blood testing to eventually find the right blood levels of it. I opted not to deal with all that and stay on the Synthoid.

I also agree that we have to be on top of our own medical issues and sometimes teach the old dogs the new tricks. That sucks...

Chiliwilli
Member

09-04-2006

Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 6:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chiliwilli a private message Print Post    
Synthroid and Levothyroxine did not work for me. It's difficult to find a doc here who will prescribe Armour thyroid.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, January 05, 2007 - 6:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Eltroxin is Levothyroxine. It's kind of like Levothyroxine is a computer. Synthroid is a Gateway and Eltroxin is a Dell. It is interesting how the different brand names of the same drug can react. I know some people who do better on the generic version than they do on the 'brand' version.
Can you get Cytomel? That's another version of Armour.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Friday, January 05, 2007 - 7:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Ya know, I've been on Synthroid for several years now and I don't remember why. Is it for hypo or hyper thyroidism? I just saw the doc that put me on it about 3 months ago and he said everything is fine.

Nancy
Member

08-01-2000

Friday, January 05, 2007 - 10:28 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nancy a private message Print Post    
Levothyroxine
Brand name(s):
Euthyrox, Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid



What is the most important information I should know about levothyroxine?

There are many other medicines that can affect levothyroxine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Different brands of levothyroxine may not work the same. If you get a prescription refill and your new pills look different, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.

What is levothyroxine?

Levothyroxine is a replacement for a hormone that is normally produced by your thyroid gland to regulate the body's energy and metabolism. Levothyroxine is given when the thyroid does not produce enough of this hormone on its own.

Levothyroxine treats hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone). Levothyroxine is also used to treat or prevent goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), which can be caused by hormone imbalances, radiation treatment, surgery, or cancer.

Levothyroxine should not be used to treat obesity or weight problems.

Levothyroxine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.


What should I discuss with my healthcar

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Friday, January 05, 2007 - 10:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Twinkie, Synthroid is a thryroid hormone replacement; therefore, you must have a form of hypOthyroidism.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Friday, January 05, 2007 - 1:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Huk!

Emeraldfire
Member

03-05-2003

Friday, January 12, 2007 - 1:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Emeraldfire a private message Print Post    
I have hypothyroidism (they discovered nodules) as does my 17 year old daughter(discovered a goiter). My sister has hyperthyroidism. All of us are on Synthroid (including my sister).

Even though I tested in the normal range on all the thyroid tests I was still suffering with symptoms so I was also prescribed Cytomel along with the Synthroid. It took about two years to get mine under control. At one time I was taking over 250 mcg of Synthroid and it was still high.

Hootyhoot
Member

12-18-2001

Friday, February 02, 2007 - 8:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hootyhoot a private message Print Post    
I'm printing out this whole conversation for my friend with the overactive thyroid. But while I'm here I thought I'd mention my own situation: I have taken Synthroid or levithyroxin for years and have no problems with it, although I've gained weight slowly and steadily over the years. (Could be just normal ... I love food). But a friend who is a chiropractor suggests that I try taking Armour Thyroid or Thyrolar for my underactive thyroid, brands of thyroid hormone that contain both T4 and T3. The research is a little over my head, but I'm going to ask my M.D. about it.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, February 02, 2007 - 9:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Hooty, I take both Synthroid and Armour. Synthroid alone just didn't work for me.