Thyroid Hormone Replacement

[Zeus10]

Hey I am prescribed T4 @ 112mg ED. I had cancer and the radiation fried my thyroid so it doesnt work properly. The first time I got a blood test done my TSH was 23.5 and normal range is 0.5-5.0. Anyway I am right around 4.0 but I have been reading articles and websites that say dessicated thyroid is the best option for medication and that T4 only will cause the adrenals to produce cortisol and adrenaline and get burned out. My doc says I am in a good range and there is no reason to change my medication. I do stilkl have sympoms tho like fatigue being the biggest issue for me. Anyway my question is does anyone have experience with dessicated thyroid or advice?

Here is a site that has info on Thyroid replacement therapy for those interested.

Stop the Thyroid Madness - Thyroid info and life-changing truth about thyroid treatment

 

[richie34]

need more t4 imo

i have hashimotos and also was at about 23 tsh one time up to 37! its taken 200mcg t4 per day to get rid of tirednes,doc only gives me 150mcg so i have to buy myself the other 50mcg off internet! havent got much time at moment but will try and get on here tomorow, ive just about given up worrying about adrenals but fully intend to get some humanofort when get some spare cash,doc said t4 only was fine but its not there body! hope this helps a little, rich.

 

[Zeus10]

i have hashimotos and also was at about 23 tsh one time up to 37! its taken 200mcg t4 per day to get rid of tirednes,doc only gives me 150mcg so i have to buy myself the other 50mcg off internet! havent got much time at moment but will try and get on here tomorow, ive just about given up worrying about adrenals but fully intend to get some humanofort when get some spare cash,doc said t4 only was fine but its not there body! hope this helps a little, rich.

Exactly, the doc says it is fine because we are in the normal range. Who is to say that is normal? we are the ones that have the symptoms. I am trying to get my doc to refer me to an endocrinologist but she hasnt done it because she thinks it is under control. BS. Anyway Im gonna buy some T3 to take along with my T4. The thyroid makes T4, T3, T2, T1, and calsyntherolcisyntheroltosyntherolnin so why not get all these hormones when doing replacement instead of just T4.

 

[i_hulk]

I know exactly what you mean and going through. Went through that crap for 6 months with the BS dr.s. Stopthethyroidmadness is all about dessicated thyroid. They will say that is the route to go and get you going about it. It really depends on the person that if just T4 alone will work or not. If I'm correct (and someone correct me if I am not) the liver will take around 8 days to convert the T4 to T3. Blood test should be taken for the Free T3 and Free T4, not just the TSH... that's just a basic test.
Most people get along with just T4 some don't and have to move on to dessicated thyroid. Problem is most Dr.'s don't like the dessicated thyroid route.

Also from the research I have done that most men on thyroid medication won't feel back to their old self till the TSH is around .8ish, so if you are at 4 there is still a lack of T4 or the liver is converting it to T3.
I purchased my own dessicated thyroid from thailand. The brand is mentioned on Stopthethyroidmadness website, Thyroid-S. Bought 1000 pills for $150.

Good luck with this because it is one of the hardest illnesses to get properly diagnosed and Dr.'s seem to be hardheaded or something. Read my first post I made to this board, http://www.professionalmuscle.com/forums/professional-muscle-forum/49619-new-guy-intro.html

 

[Zeus10]

Thanks for the reply. I have read the same thing that TSH should be below 1. how do you like the dessicated thyroid?

 

[i_hulk]

Thanks for the reply. I have read the same thing that TSH should be below 1. how do you like the dessicated thyroid?

I guess it is working. I'm not hyperthyroid so I know I'm not taking too much. It's also like pulling teeth to get the blood work I want tested. I couldn't even pull TSH to be tested last time I went. It's hard to say that just the dessicated thyroid fixed me up because I also replace my low testosterone and gh on my own. I'll just say that I feel back to normal now and that's what counts for me.
Good luck to you and hit me up if you need anymore info.

P.S. I hate the phrase "normal range".

 

[marilyn]

question

is this a regular family doctor?..The reason I ask, is because the specialist in this filed, an actual Endocronologist would be best to advise...I have been on Synthroid for a long time, but before, I had to battle doctors that were telling me I was within range, and I still felt bad, and had the symptoms of "Hypo"..they usually don't change it if they think you are in range.

I put up with that decision for about minute

 

[i_hulk]

is this a regular family doctor?..The reason I ask, is because the specialist in this filed, an actual Endocronologist would be best to advise...I have been on Synthroid for a long time, but before, I had to battle doctors that were telling me I was within range, and I still felt bad, and had the symptoms of "Hypo"..they usually don't change it if they think you are in range.

I put up with that decision for about minute

I know your question is towards the original poster, but I think I may be able to get a chuckle from you. I see you also battle dr.'s. I went through 2 family dr.'s and 1 Endo. Want to know what medications I received from them?...
a Z-Pak, ear drops and celebrex. lol

That was for hypothyroid symptoms.

 

[Zeus10]

I know your question is towards the original poster, but I think I may be able to get a chuckle from you. I see you also battle dr.'s. I went through 2 family dr.'s and 1 Endo. Want to know what medications I received from them?...
a Z-Pak, ear drops and celebrex. lol

That was for hypothyroid symptoms.

Lol. I have kaiser so I sent my doc who is a GP an email stating my symptoms and a request for TSH, cortisol, testosterone and estradiol. Also a request to c an endo. She replied with you are in normal range but we can test your TSH but the other tests are not necessary. Lol. I emailed her again requesting an endo and I sent her info on why cortisol is important to test. It is a pain in the ass trying to get blood tests. I want my test checked because I'm about to get on but I might just buy one of those home saliva kits to check it.

 

[marilyn]

lol

I know your question is towards the original poster, but I think I may be able to get a chuckle from you. I see you also battle dr.'s. I went through 2 family dr.'s and 1 Endo. Want to know what medications I received from them?...
a Z-Pak, ear drops and celebrex. lol

That was for hypothyroid symptoms.

that was funny

 

[muscle96ss]

Hey I am prescribed T4 @ 112mg ED. I had cancer and the radiation fried my thyroid so it doesnt work properly. The first time I got a blood test done my TSH was 23.5 and normal range is 0.5-5.0. Anyway I am right around 4.0 but I have been reading articles and websites that say dessicated thyroid is the best option for medication and that T4 only will cause the adrenals to produce cortisol and adrenaline and get burned out. My doc says I am in a good range and there is no reason to change my medication. I do stilkl have sympoms tho like fatigue being the biggest issue for me. Anyway my question is does anyone have experience with dessicated thyroid or advice?

Here is a site that has info on Thyroid replacement therapy for those interested.

Stop the Thyroid Madness - Thyroid info and life-changing truth about thyroid treatment

I would recommend finding a doctor in your area who specializes in BHRT(bio-identical hormone replacement therapy). Most of the docs that work with bioidenticals have the proper knowledge background necessary to treat you properly and balance out all the hormones effectivelly. In most people the best treatment is Armour thyroid and then if that is not sufficient small amounts of T4 can be added. Unfortunately most of your general practicioners and even endocrinilogists don't have a clue when it comes to this kind of stuff.

 

[marilyn]

Lol. I have kaiser so I sent my doc who is a GP an email stating my symptoms and a request for TSH, cortisol, testosterone and estradiol. Also a request to c an endo. She replied with you are in normal range but we can test your TSH but the other tests are not necessary. Lol. I emailed her again requesting an endo and I sent her info on why cortisol is important to test. It is a pain in the ass trying to get blood tests. I want my test checked because I'm about to get on but I might just buy one of those home saliva kits to check it.

what is it with the you're in the normal range, if you don't feel good and don't feel like yourself...I now would say, well, I'm not normal, so what else you got, lol.

 

[marilyn]

I would recommend finding a doctor in your area who specializes in BHRT(bio-identical hormone replacement therapy). Most of the docs that work with bioidenticals have the proper knowledge background necessary to treat you properly and balance out all the hormones effectivelly. In most people the best treatment is Armour thyroid and then if that is not sufficient small amounts of T4 can be added. Unfortunately most of your general practicioners and even endocrinilogists don't have a clue when it comes to this kind of stuff.

good advise, I know a few older ladies that this made a huge difference....I know one personally in her 60's..she always feels great ever since she found a younger more modern Doctor, that put her on T-3, and T-4...but the T-3 was only for 3 days a week, where she needed more energy.

 

[Zeus10]

I would recommend finding a doctor in your area who specializes in BHRT(bio-identical hormone replacement therapy). Most of the docs that work with bioidenticals have the proper knowledge background necessary to treat you properly and balance out all the hormones effectivelly. In most people the best treatment is Armour thyroid and then if that is not sufficient small amounts of T4 can be added. Unfortunately most of your general practicioners and even endocrinilogists don't have a clue when it comes to this kind of stuff.

very good avice! I am going to do a search right now to try and find one. I live in Northern Ca. The bay area. Thanks for the reply bro!

what is it with the you're in the normal range, if you don't feel good and don't feel like yourself...I now would say, well, I'm not normal, so what else you got, lol.

It sucks that since im in the normal range on a piece of paper that they dont want to mess with my dosage. Really tho the normal range should be a lot lower. I have read that anythig above 1 is abnormal but kaiser has a normal of 0.5-5.0. Frustrating! Like your friend I am going to try the T3.