Thyroid Disorders :: Hair Loss With Levothyroxine
Hi everyone! I am totally new to this group and excited to get input from everyone! I'll try and give you a quick synopsis of the past year and a half for me when I gave birth to my first child....
Initially I felt fine, until about 4 months after I gave birth. I had initially lost all the baby weight and then I started gaining again, had major brain fog, dry skin, cold, crazy water retention and bloated face, unmotivated, etc. all the usual symptoms. In February I was diagnosed with Hashimotos by my regular doctor and here are my levothyroxine dosages and blood results since...
Feb 2015 Tsh 269. T4. <0.11. T3. <20. (No meds yet...initial blood work)
Apr 2015. Tsh 156. T4. 0.45. T3. 42. (25 mcg)
May 2015. Tsh 6.69. T4. 1.83. T3. 96. (75 mcg)
Sept 2015. Tsh 2.89. T4. 1.59. (100 mcg)
Oct 2015. Tsh 8.61. (75 mcg)
Nov 2015. Tsh 1.21. (100 mcg)
Feb 2016. Tsh 2.36. (100 mcg)
So my original Doctor began my levothyroxine regimen at 25 mcg for 6 weeks. I immediately felt much better even though my numbers were still going crazy. He upped my dosage twice then sent me to an endocrinologist. Both agreed that my numbers were so bad it could not be postpartum hypothyroidism and I had probably had this for a long time undiagnosed and the pregnancy made it officially just turn off. In October we lowered the dosage to double check this theory and I felt terrible and my numbers changed right away so my endo put my meds right back up.
Now, hair loss was actually never one of my initial symptoms and I am convinced that it began when i started my medication, but both doctors insist that it's my body getting used to the meds and my levels getting better and better. My endo thought perhaps it's was especially bad because I was also experiencing postpartum hair loss. But at this point it is now a full year since I have been diagnosed and on medication. Coupled with the hair loss I also started getting serious joint pain, but again my endo said I was adjusting and this was a common symptom of hypothyroidism.
So basically, I am wondering how after a year of medication I would still be experiencing symptoms with levels that are now perfectly fine? Unless it was related to the medication??....I feel very guilty bringing it up all the time to my doctor because I know I should be glad that the huge issues of brain fog, concentration and mood are generally good (I still say I am not exactly myself yet). I feel silly bringing up something cosmetic but it is so depressing to look in the mirror. I hate doing my hair, washing it, sometimes just running my fingers through my hair I get five more. Even though now I can say it's less, it's definitely still happening and I don't see any new growth. But, on the flip side, hair loss is associated with adjusting to armour and I am terrified to lose any more.
Fibromyalgia And Intolerance To Thyroid Meds
I am dealing with an intolerance to Thyroid meds. Having been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis 5 years ago my family doc has prescribed every Thyroid med she could think of and various strengths. Side effects were thick itchy rashes, shakiness, massive headaches and tremors. I stopped taking the Thyroid Meds for 2 years and believe me it was no picnic. I had no strength, terrible digestion, heat and cold intolerance, memory loss and on and on and on. I am now on a very low dosage.025mg. My last t3 & t4 test indicates that my levels are very low but because of all the negative side effects I have experienced my doc is terrified to increase the dosage. Along with Fibro,Celiac,Diverticulosis and Hashimoto's life is a bowl of cherries . I would like to hear from someone who is also iodine intolerant and is there a different path I could take..
View 4 RepliesHypothyroidism :: Levothyroxine For Underactive Thyroid
During a routine blood test in August I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid. I wasn't feeling ill so was quite surprised when I read the symptoms. I've been on Levothyroxine for 3 months now and I feel terrible. I'm so drained and exhausted, angry and frustrated, bloated, fat, stomach pains and unhappy, I keep going back to the doctor but she just pops me more pills and I don't feel she is very understanding or sympathetic. I didn't feel this bad before I started the medication so I'm going to stop it. I was placed on 50mg and two weeks later my blood tests were normal and have been since so for such a small dose does it really matter? I'm so low, sometimes it's all too much I want to have a paddy and a tantrum and smash the place up and if anyone gets in my way then they'll get it too.
The doctor wants me to try CBT self help courses to understand what troubles me. When I'm not having some kind of flip out I know what troubles me - things are a struggle and I hate being ill and I want to be better.
Thyroid :: Normal TSH But High Free T4 - Palpitation, Tremor, Intolerance To Heat
i am malaysian recently did my blood test and found out that my TSH within the normal range (1.8) but my free T4 was 26.33 (12-22). free T3 was not done. i am experiencing all the symptoms related to the hyperthyroidism such as palpitation, tremor, intolerance to heat, weight loss(from 78kg to 65kg), always hungry, muscle weakness.i went and visit my endo, he said since the TSH reading normal, so you are not having hyper and he discharged me. but i can realise that i am having all the symptoms of hyper. can anyone help me?what i should do after this?
View 2 RepliesInsurance :: Stopped Taking Thyroid Medicines (levothyroxine)
I would like to know just what happens when a person stops taking their thyroid medication; I had a TT a few months ago. Like apparently a lot of other people, I have lost medical insurance. I want to know literally what happens to the body once I quit taking the levothyroxine, and is it painful? How long before a person's body shuts down and coma happens?
View 2 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: Leg Foot And Toe Cramps
i have my lab results, and the same goes for me my dr. changed my prescription from .5 to .75, i think .75 is to strong for me so i talked him into me alternating .5 one day and .75 the next. i did this for 60 days and felt pretty good, i had leg cramps but not as severe as now. i am back up to .75 because of my lab test showing me to have very high numbers. its pretty much just my right leg cramping , you can actually see the muscle tighten up starting at my lower calve and climb right up yo my knee. my foot contorts and stays like that for a few minutes , its unbelievably painful. what should i change, I'm willing to do anything .
View 5 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: TSH , 3RD Generation With Reflex To FT4?
What is this test? I had this test done last month among others and this one came back as 7.46 mIU/L and the reference range is 0.40-4.50 . Dr. Wrote "elevated-over 7."
Also my calcium was high at 10.6 mg/dL and reference range from 8.6-10.2
Free T3- 4.3 ph/mL reference range from 2.3-4.2 , slightly elevated.
T-4, free- 1.5 B&G/dL reference range from 0.8-1.8
My main question is what is the tsh 3rd generation with reflex to ft4?
Thyroid Disorders :: Will My Head Grow More?
I am a 17 year old male and I have a severe hgh deficiency. I was diagnosed when I was 12 and have been put on a shot for the past 5 years and it has helped a ton. I used to have a very small head because I was hgh deficient and even now I feel it is small. The circumference of my head is 21.6 inches and according to Google that's below average. I really hope it doesn't look small but I feel like no one will give me an honest answer. I am still on the shot and will be for 3-6 months. If my doctor sees no growth next visit he will take me off it. I see my doctor every 3 months for a checkup to see how much I've grown and stuff. After I am done with the shot I have to see my doctor a month after to see if I make enough hgh without the shot or I will get osteoporosis, but I want to know if my head will still grow to the average size which is 22 inches around according to Google even without the shot. Also my head has grown a ton in the past 6 months. In the best 6 months my hats have increased in size. Please help me. If you need to know im 5'9" also I take the hgh shot 6 days a week.
View 5 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: High TSH And Low Free T4
I've been on Synthroid medication for 20 plus years and have done pretty well on it until recently. This routine test showed a TSH level > 100 and my Free T4 at .24 which is low. I've been placed on Synthroid at 300 mg and I'm waiting to see a specialist. In the meantime, I'm wondering what does this means?
View 1 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: Low TSH; Normal T4 FREE
I just received my latest thyroid lab results and my TSH was a 0.06 (range 0.34-5.60) and my T4 FREE is 0.99 (range of 0.61-1.12). My Dr said to continue my dosage of medications and we would recheck in a year. Should I be concerned
View 2 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: TSH Zero, Normal Free T3 And T4
I've had Hashimoto's Disease for 12 years and started taking Levothyroxine. For the past 8 years, I've been on a constant dose, and been very happy with no symptoms of hyper or hypo. Recently I moved and had to go to a new dr, who is very upset about the low (almost zero) TSH even though my Free T3 and Free T4 were normal. She wants me to totally go off all Levothyroxine for 6-8 weeks to "reset" my pituitary. I am very worried about what will happen to me if I did this. I tried going down in dosage, but all my hypo symptoms (gained 10 lbs in a month, extreme lethargy, depression, etc.) returned. Anyone out there have any ideas on what to do?
View 4 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: How To Get Rid Of Choking Feeling?
I have had choking feeling for the last 2 months. It is now almost everyday. I sleep very well and do not wake up with it. I start getting it by the afternoon until bedtime. It is really bothering me. I have had hypothyroidism for 12 years but my tests are fine and my ultra sound is good too. The ENT doctor says it is stress related but I think there is more to it than stress. It is really bothering me and I do not know what to do?
View 1 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: Someone Choking Me Feeling
Over the past one-two years I have been getting stressed about school work, my appearance, my friends etc. and I had a conversation with some of my friends and they thought I may have had anxiety. I thought nothing of it because it wasn't much at the time but lately it's been getting worse. I feel sick all the time and the most common thing is the choking part. I feel like someone is trying to choke me, but obviously no one is. I have trouble breathing when this happens and my throat closes up and I kind of feel a bit dizzy. I have looked at some websites and they all say it may be a certain infection or something but I want to know if this has anything to do with anxiety? I still have not told anyone about the choking thing except my mum because I want to be sure I am getting this right before I start seeking help.
View 4 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: Hashimoto's -TSH Below Zero! Safe?
I have an important question.
My last blood work from one mouth ago revealed a TSH of - 0.16. (ranges 0.3-4.5)
Though my levels of free T3 & T4 were midrange and maybe even slightly lower than they should be.
FT3: 3.30 (ranges 2.1-4.2)
FT4: 1.02 (ranges 0.7-1.8)
I'm on 112,5 levothyroxine and 12,5 cytomel daily dose.
Is it safe to have a TSH that low?
Can I even upgrade my meds to 125 levo a day? I still feel hypo and under medicated.
I did hear about the 'optimal' values between the ranges were a lot of people are on their best in their 'sweet spots'.
If the rule of thumb is that FT4 has to be 50% of the range and FT3 upper half to upper third, i's logical that I'm still hypo. This all being said, will my TSH drop even more when I go to 125?
I don't understand the link between TSH and the FT3 & FT4 results. How can I have such a low TSH and still not reach the recommended levels?
Thyroid Disorders :: Hair Loss With Ferritin
I am hypothyroid/hashimotos. I have been experiencing significant hair loss for over a year. I'm young and female so having sparse hair is NOT ok. I've read one needs to have their ferritin at 70 or 80 to experience hair regrowth. When I first met with my naturopath and got diagnosed this year I was put on 25mcg of Levothyroxine and I told her my main concern was my hair loss. My ferritn was at 32. I was put on a daily elemental iron supplement.
A blood test a month later and I was already at 54! Two months after that i was at 68.3! I was getting close to my goal but at that test she didn't like how my iron and iron saturation went too high/out of range. So she told me to only take my iron pill ever OTHER day and lo and behold two months later my ferritin was down to 45.1. Super frustrating. I am trying to bring my iron UP! So how does this work? How can my iron and iron saturation be so high and my ferritin so low? Is it actually dangerous for me to take the pill daily if my iron saturation and iron are above the limit? I'm not going to be able to fix my hair loss and bring my ferritin up if I am only taking it every other day! HELP!
Thyroid Disorders :: Normal T3 And T4 Levels With Raised TSH
What's your take -patient has normal T3 and T4 levels, no symptoms and a TSH elevated at 4.8 on a .358-3.8 range
View 5 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: When To Start Drugs According To TSH Levels ?
I have very recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I've taken the thyroid uptake scan and my dr. Office says it came back abnormal and enlarged thyroid.
According to my blood work my TSH is 0.227. (0.450-4.500)T4/free is 1.80 (0.82-1.77)
My question is should medication begin with these levels?
Thyroid Disorders :: High Cholesterol With L-Thyroxine
Have been on L-Tyroxine probably 30 years. When I weighed 120, cholesterol was 190, now that I am 68 and 30 lbs more, 150 at 5'4", my cholesterol is 416 (LDL in 300 range). I eat clean, no breads, cereals, carbs, etc (except only once in a while) eat wild game, game hen, fish, chicken, loads of fruits, veggies, etc., every thing super lean, fresh. take loads of supplements. I lift weights, do yoga, stretches, heavy gardening. Therefore, I find it absurd that my LDL is that high! I have absolutely no health issues except high cholesterol. Would Armour be better?
View 1 RepliesThyroid Disorders :: Subclinical Hypothyroidism? Why My Reverse T3 Is Low?
This is my lab results:
TSH = 2.91 (0.45 - 4.5)
T4 = 3.0 (4.5 - 12.0) -- low
Free T4 = 1.05 (0.82 - 1.77)
Free T3 = 2.6 (2.0 - 4.4)
Rev T3 = 8.2 (9.2 - 24.1)
I have all the hypothyroidism symptoms like fatigue, cold hands & feet, losing hair & eyebrow, brain fog. I was tested for thyroid antibodies (TBA & TPO), and they are all negative. Recently I have increased my carbs intake and felt much better. I believe I also have adrenal fatigue as my daily cortisol cycle are inverted so I wake up several times during sleep.
My question is do I have subclinical hypothyroidism? Why my reverse T3 is low? Or I have iodide deficiency?