Hello,
I am a new member of this site. I was diagnosed with hashimotos thyroiditis approximately 7 years ago. I have been taking synthroid ever since then. After reading all of the information on this site, I'm not so sure that was the smart thing to do, but I can't turn back time. I am attempting to get more informed about my disease and need some advice. I recently switched doctors and he wanted me to get a blood test to check my TSH level. I had been going to another doctor and he did this on a normal basis, the problem is I wasn't proactive enough and didn't ask for copies of my test results. I am in the process of gathering the last seven years of those right now. Anyway, the blood test came back this week and my TSH was 6.2, the odd thing is my new doctor didn't want to raise my dosage, currently 112 mcg's of synthroid taken daily. He said that some other number/test result on the report showed him my thyroid was functioning fine at the 112 mcg dosage. Therefore he recommended that I stay on that. I am also going to get a copy of my latest blood test to find out what else that report showed. My doctor is only an internal med doctor, so I am also in the process of getting a referral to an endocrine specialist. So after all of that I have a few questions.
1) What blood tests should be done to correctly evaluate what my dosage should be? TSH?, T4?etc....
2) I have read on many websites that the recommended TSH level is now 0.3-3.0, my blood test result reports show that 0.5-5.0 is normal. Which one is correct?
3) I feel tired some days, have gained approximately 15-20 pounds over the last seven years could it be that my doctor has been using this incorrect scale of .5-5.0 and once I get into the .3-3.0 range I'll feel much better?
4)How important is it to see a specialist vs. an internal med doctor?
thanks in advance for any help you can give me. I plan on staying on top of my disease from this point forward.
Hello Phbate,
First I want to assure you that you have not done much different than most of us on the board. This disease has a lot of controversy surrounding it - between the natural and traditional routes. Most of us haven't had any better monitoring from an endocrine specialist than a regular MD. The truth is that most of us believe this disease and most (if not ALL others) are a result of a whole body malfunction - not just an organ or two. This means that treating the body as a whole is the focus of many here. When you go to a specialist of one part of your body, they will concentrate on a part that is connected to another part, that is connected to another part, etc. They can't possibly see the root problem. (this is my opinion - others may have a different mindset)
So, coming from this mindset, I would recommend you consider other parts of your lifestyle and see if you can find ways to improve your condition from there. Here's an article that might make more sense that I wrote a few months ago:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2080117_live-better-hashimotos-thyroiditis.html I am sure others will have input on your questions but I'll try to answer the best I can. Please know that we are all just sufferers like you are and we in no way claim to be experts. However, I truly believe that the best experts are the ones that know what it like to suffer with you. We know what it feels like to carry this disease and I think this makes our community valuable.
1) What blood tests should be done to correctly evaluate what my dosage should be? TSH?, T4?etc.... The only numbers that have ever influenced my dosage of thyroid supplement (in my experience with doctors) has been the TSH. However, over the years, I have begun to find doctors willing to do antibody testing on a regular basis for my OWN troubleshooting. Most doctors believe once you have antibodies (Hashimotos) you will never get rid of them. Is that easy for them to say or do they really believe this. I don't believe that. I just believe they currently don't understand HOW to reverse this disease. (neither do we) BUT, I do believe we will find the answer to this over time. AND it will likely come from the natural/alternative world. So that's what this forum is all about. To more directly answer your question, TSH fluctuates. If your doctor has seen a general movement towards a lower number, he may not lower your dose, assuming that over-time, it will go down more. At 6.2 though, you are likely not feeling well and should probably get a second opinion. Also, Synthroid never worked for me. I literally thought I was dying on that drug. It is only T4 and does not have the important T3 that helps give you energy. I had to leave the "system" to find a doctor who prescribed Armour or equivilent (after 13 years on Synthroid) and I will never look back. It's been about 5 years now and nothing helped me until I started taking Naturethroid.
2) I have read on many websites that the recommended TSH level is now0.3-3.0, my blood test result reports show that 0.5-5.0 is normal.Which one is correct?I find I feel best under the 1 range. LOL - the "normal" level has changed constantly since I've had this disease - I finally decided to listen to my body and not the doctor's medical books anymore. You will continue to hear it change in the traditional medical field because they trouble don't really know what normal is. I think we need to listen to our bodies. Since yours is at 6.2, it is definately too high and your symptoms probably prove so. Listen to your body. If you feel fine a 2, stay there but getting down there might mean finding a better doctor - a natural one if possible. Try looking for alternative doctors in your area and call and ask if they prescribe naturethroid or Armour and if they are knowledgeable about thyroid problems and how they treat them. Because I was at the emergency room, doctor's appointments and testing appts. all the time while I was on Synthroid, I have actually spent way less money on the natural treatments than while on Synthroid. My medication is only about $10.00 per month and I only have to go to the doctor twice per year to monitor my medication and get a test. None of this is covered by insurance but I don't care because I feel better, haven't been to the emergency room in over 6 years and feel like I am finally addressing the whole body with this focus.
3) I feel tired some days, have gained approximately 15-20 pounds overthe last seven years could it be that my doctor has been using thisincorrect scale of .5-5.0 and once I get into the .3-3.0 range I'llfeel much better?Well, feeling better... YES! Losing weight - it's not a guarantee because there is more to your thyroid health than those numbers. Your metabolism is connected to other important glands. I think the main thing to work on is getting to feel better. Once you get into that place, you will know what the next step is. I have not had success in the weight department but I am not disappointed in the places I have had success. Accomplish one thing at a time and keep a good attitude about taking control of your health. It is a GREAT start!
4)How important is it to see a specialist vs. an internal med doctor? Well, I think I answer this from my point of view. We are all on a journey and you need to do what you feel is right for you. However, I have little respect for "experts" that follow traditional medicine (which normally focuses on covering up the symptoms - not reversing the disease). Natural doctors generally study root problems and how to uncover them and heal the body. I prefer that approach. If you do too, you will not find anyone (short of a miracle) who respects your faith in natural healing in the traditional field - after all, you wouldn't have to have regular appts. and come to them for emergency this and emergency that if you were being healed. Where would their job go? It' s a threat for them to hear such ideas.
Check out the home page on my site and look around at all the alternative ideas. I have never moved into the herbal stuff because I am focusing on other things right now. However, some here have had success supplementing with herbs, etc. Listen to them and their experiences. Choose what feels right to you after research and don't worry, you have time to feel better. Take it slow and become completely confident in your choices.
My number one advice -
seek out a good natural doctor for at least a consultation. Dr. Mercola might have recommendations on his website for doctors in your area. I found mine through the Wilson's Thyroid website but just because I was looking for a different approach back then. Now I am pinpointing allergies and working on those hoping to find that allergies are the root cause of this disease (which I believe very strongly) as well as emotional health. Everything comes full circle. You just need to decide which approach to take. It's your body and although the doctors might mean well, you are the one that needs to live with it!
Hope this helped. Hopefully others will have other thoughts.
Update us soon.
Mo
