Thyroid Question

[MickeysMommy]

I just had my yearly physical with my family doc and she told me that my bloodwork showed that my thyroid level took quite a jump from last year (from 2.6 to 4.0) She gave me a script for more bloodwork. Anyone have any experience with this? She said that I may be a candidate for Hypo-thyroidism

 

[Christine]

She probably ordered a more thorough thyroid panel so that she can get all the numbers--not just the TSH.

Yes, if you are at 4.0, you are technically hypothyroid. I think anything over 3.2 is now considered hypothyroid. Your thyroid is probably failing.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

As my Endocrinologist puts it "I am the poster child for Hypothyroidism!".

Check out WebMD to see if you have been having any of the classic symptoms: http://www.webmd.com/hw/thyroid_disorders/aa34887.asp

Treating it is not a big deal though - a daily pill first thing in the AM then wait an hour before you eat. You have to go back every so often to have your levels checked to adjust your medication as needed. The first couple of weeks on the meds you may feel a bit "out of sorts" but once you level off you will feel MUCH BETTER!

PM me if you have any questions.

 

[MickeysMommy]

Thank you!

 

[Maleficent13]

I'm not familiar but I can find out! I'll PM you!

 

[MickeysMommy]

I'm not familiar but I can find out! I'll PM you!

Thanks, pal!

 

[luvwinnie]

Two of my friends have this type:

http://www.4woman.gov/faq/hashimoto.htm

 

[kmp1191]

My dd(6)was born w/out her thyroid gland. She's been on Synthroid since she was 8 days old. Everything will be fine, trust me!! The blood work will determine 1)if you need replacement therapy to keep it level and 2)at what dosage.
Let us know!

 

[Calliaz]

My friend with hypothyroidism highly recommends this site for information:
http://thyroid.about.com/

 

[golfgal]

If you have to have a chronic issue, hypothyroidism is a good one to have. You take a little pill every day at the same time and life is good. That is really about all there is to it once they get you on the proper dose. A 4.0 is technically hyperthyroid but not long ago it wouldn't have been considered hypo so I wouldn't worry TOO much about it now. My TSH level was 95 when they first diagnosed my thyroid condition so a 4.0 is small potatoes in comparison and I am fine now (this was 10+ years ago too).

 

[taximomfor4]

I have hypothyroidism...hashimoto's, to be exact. The daily pill is easy...it is sometimes getting the dosage fine-tuned that is frustrating, plys hashimoto's is often progressive...I have been on replacement thyroid for almost 3 years now, and the endocrinologist is having a heck of a time getting the dosage right. My TSH stays high no matter what...it creeps closer to normal, but within 6 mos or so, it is out of wack again. This is causing problems with insulin-resistance (got me nearly diagnosed diabetic a few months ago, so I am now desperately trying to prevent it.) And my weight keeps creeping up even though I have been trying to prevent that.

Definitely get the bloodwork done as soon as its convenient, and get started on your pills. Make sure to keep up on your follow-up labwork, and if you ever feel like talking to others about it, there are plenty of us here who will "listen"!!!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i have thyroid issues--had surgeries at 8 and 15 to remove half then all of my thyroid..i have been on synthroid or similar medicine since i was 16 ( i am now 21) the testing is just to see how far "off" your levels are so they can figure out the correct dosage..
I know that when i start the medicine- i feel so much better ....its a BIG difference!

good luck!

 

[macraven]

As my Endocrinologist puts it "I am the poster child for Hypothyroidism!".


Treating it is not a big deal though - a daily pill first thing in the AM then wait an hour before you eat. You have to go back every so often to have your levels checked to adjust your medication as needed. The first couple of weeks on the meds you may feel a bit "out of sorts" but once you level off you will feel MUCH BETTER!

.

i never heard that before: wait one hour after taking the med before you eat.

i have been on synthroid for 18.5 years and have never been instructed that or have had it written on my rx bottles.

 

[golfgal]

i never heard that before: wait one hour after taking the med before you eat.

i have been on synthroid for 18.5 years and have never been instructed that or have had it written on my rx bottles.

When I started taking my synthroid no one ever said anything about that either so I just took it with my breakfast. We moved to a different town and the dr there said to take it on an empty stomach, ok. I did an experiment, taking it on an empty stomach and with breakfast, my numbers didn't change at all. The past couple years my bottles have come home from the pharmacy with the 'take on a empty stomach' label. Who knows????

 

[Christine]

When I started taking my synthroid no one ever said anything about that either so I just took it with my breakfast. We moved to a different town and the dr there said to take it on an empty stomach, ok. I did an experiment, taking it on an empty stomach and with breakfast, my numbers didn't change at all. The past couple years my bottles have come home from the pharmacy with the 'take on a empty stomach' label. Who knows????

Hey, I know!!

The absorption of Synthroid is affected by food in the stomach. BUT, the key here is to consistently take it the same way. If you take it with food everyday than that is fine--but, you *may* need a higher dose of Synthroid to keep your TSH at the desireable level. If you take it on an empty stomach, you absorb more of the drug and you *may* need less of the medication.

Now, for all you people who are simply hypothyroid, it is probably not a big deal because you are allowed to fall within the normal range which is anywhere from 0.5-3.2. Taking it with or without food will probably keep you within the normal range, but you might flucuate within that range (am I making sense?).

For me, though, well I have had thyroid cancer and it is extremely important that my TSH levels be kept at "suppressive" levels. Meaning, I have to be slightly hyperthyroid. But, of course, they don't want me to be too hyperthyroid so any flucuation in my Synthroid absorbancy rate can make a big difference in how I feel.

I take mine before I leave for work and then I eat my cereal at work (about 2 hours later). This keeps my TSH very steady. If I get lazy a few days and wait and take my Synthroid with my meal or later on the weekends, I will get small TSH changes.

 

[zippeedee]

I just had my thyroid removed due to cancer a few months ago. I set my alarm for an hour before I need to get up, take my levoxyl and go back to sleep. When I get up I can have milk in my coffee without worrying about throwing off my levels. I still need to wait 5 hours to take my iron though.
It was hard to keep it all straight when I was severly hypothyroid and just starting the medication, but now its already a habit.

 

[golfgal]

I just had my thyroid removed due to cancer a few months ago. I set my alarm for an hour before I need to get up, take my levoxyl and go back to sleep. When I get up I can have milk in my coffee without worrying about throwing off my levels. I still need to wait 5 hours to take my iron though.
It was hard to keep it all straight when I was severly hypothyroid and just starting the medication, but now its already a habit.

Will milk in your coffee really throw off your levels? Did your dr tell you that? Usually liquids don't count in the 'empty' stomach thing.

 

[zippeedee]

I should have elaborated more. I usually eat breakfast at the same time and want to be really careful because it's all new to me. I was told to be careful of anything with calcium, including milk. I just find it easier to have that hour in between to be safe.

 

[Christine]

Will milk in your coffee really throw off your levels? Did your dr tell you that? Usually liquids don't count in the 'empty' stomach thing.

Calcium and calcium supplements interfere with thyroid hormone absorption.

 

[taximomfor4]

I was told, and my prescription bottle (and 2005 Drug Guide) say to take at least an hour before meals. Then I got a new endocrinologist, who told me that it really wouldn't matter much. SO I took it with breakfast. At my next check, 8 weeks later, my TSH had gone from 4.2 to 6.8. Now with the progression of Hashimotos, maybe this was not the issue, right? WELL...I started taking it (instead of a higher prescription) an hour before breakfast. Didn't go all the way back down, but TSH 8 weeks later was 4.6. So for now, I follow the 2005 Drug Guide and the sticker both Walgreens and Giant Eagle Pharmacy put on the bottle...an hour before meal.

Oh, I was told that milk COULD affect...so I wait an hour for coffee, too.