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From: amanita on 4 Aug 2008 12:51
Elizabeth wrote:
> Amanita,
>
> Do you follow the bloodwork or just symptoms?

Both! But over the time I have been on medication, I have learnt to take
more notice of symptoms than blood numbers. For example, if I find my
brain starting to fog, and my eyesight becoming more blurry, I don't
need a blood test to tell me something is wrong :-)

> My TSH is at about 1 and T4 is
> over mid-range. T3 is still below mid-range.

The TSH reading by itself is often not very helpful for people on
medication, which is why *good* doctors take more notice of T4 and T3
numbers. By far the majority of people seem to need their T4 and T3 to
be at least in the upper end of the range to feel well. Obviously
everyone is different though, and there possibly will be some who are
happy with lower levels.

> My current doc won't let me go
> up any more on Synthroid, and I'm not sure I want to just yet.

I can understand your fear about being overdosed, but too little thyroid
hormone is really not a good thing. An awful lot of damage can
accumulate in a body that's struggling to cope with too little thyroid
hormone. And not all of that damage is guaranteed to be reversible. For
example, there is much evidence showing that long term subclinical
hypothyroidism causes heart problems.

> Perhaps you
> are right, but how do you know when to stop?
I guess the simple answer to that is "when you feel well". Until then,
take notice of both symptoms and bloodwork. Your doctor should not be
afraid to let you try a small increase to see if your symptoms improve.

> If you don't mind, what are
> your numbers,

I have not had a test recently, but my last test showed my TSH below
range, which would technically imply overmedicated. However, as I also
take T3, an out of range TSH reading is no surprise. My T4 was at the
top of the range.

> and have you ever gone "hyper" yourself?

Yes. It was during the winter and I realised I was overmedicated when I
could walk outside without my coat on, despite there being a heavy frost
on the ground :-)

> I am still on the waiting list for a D.O. who prescribes Armour as well as
> slow-release T3, etc.

I wish you luck with the new doctor! Hopefully that doctor will let you
try increasing your synthroid though, before changing you over to a
different medication. Do let us know how it goes :-)
From: district on 6 Aug 2008 12:15
Elizabeth

Are you taking any other medications? I know that certain anti-
depressants (especially Zoloft) cause a tremor from me...

just a thought.

-Jen

On Aug 3, 5:46 pm, "Elizabeth" <esniv...(a)earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have been at what should be my maintenance dose of Synthroid for almost 9
> weeks now. Just before I hit 6 weeks, I began having a delay in falling
> asleep and a fine tremor in my hands at night. A couple days ago, I switched
> from taking my dose in the morning to just before bed, but it is still
> taking me 2-3 hours to fall asleep at night and now I have the tremor in the
> mornings.
>
> My question is, should I wait a while and see if these symptoms go away, or
> should I decrease my dose? I am not in physical or mental distress at this
> point, but I certainly wouldn't want to live like this for too long. I have
> had these symptoms before, but they usually happen right after an increase
> and settle down within 2-3 weeks.
>
> Thanks for your opinions,
> Elizabeth

From: Elizabeth on 6 Aug 2008 20:38
Jen,

I was on Zoloft for post-partum anxiety (probably thyroid-related but not
diagnosed). I too had tremors from that. The recent tremors were very much
like that but not as bad. I'm not on any other meds right now, so it has to
be the Synthroid. Fortunately, it has subsided. I'm back to just plain old
fatigue. At least I know how to deal with that! I never thought I'd be happy
about it though.

How are you doing on Armour? I'm seriously thinking I will ask the new doc
if I can try it. I have to figure out how much to drop my Synthroid if I do,
or just switch totally over and think about straight T4 later. So
complicated, but I really want to feel some zest for life again. I used to
be such an upbeat, cheerful person. Now I feel sort of zombie-like most of
the time, and the fatigue is still almost constant.

Elizabeth

"district" <jtdistrict(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
news:c9b741ce-6b04-4dd1-8fab-8616945f206c(a)c58g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
Elizabeth

Are you taking any other medications? I know that certain anti-
depressants (especially Zoloft) cause a tremor from me...

just a thought.

-Jen

On Aug 3, 5:46 pm, "Elizabeth" <esniv...(a)earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have been at what should be my maintenance dose of Synthroid for almost
> 9
> weeks now. Just before I hit 6 weeks, I began having a delay in falling
> asleep and a fine tremor in my hands at night. A couple days ago, I
> switched
> from taking my dose in the morning to just before bed, but it is still
> taking me 2-3 hours to fall asleep at night and now I have the tremor in
> the
> mornings.
>
> My question is, should I wait a while and see if these symptoms go away,
> or
> should I decrease my dose? I am not in physical or mental distress at this
> point, but I certainly wouldn't want to live like this for too long. I
> have
> had these symptoms before, but they usually happen right after an increase
> and settle down within 2-3 weeks.
>
> Thanks for your opinions,
> Elizabeth


From: Dee on 7 Aug 2008 07:10
Elizabeth, I'm having the same symptoms as you. I'm on 60 mgs of dessicated
thyroid (equiv. to 100 mcgs of Synthyroid). (And, the thyroid is the only
medication I take.)

So, the last few days have been increasingly worse; I was up most of the
night with anxiety and other symptoms (feeling like I want to jump out of my
skin). I feel so on edge (ready to cry/scream/explode/you name it, and the
brain fog is terrible. I made a plan at 3 or 4 am last night ; ) - and that
is I'm increasing today to 90 mgs. I can't go on like this. So, if I'm
overdosing now, I'll soon find out. I had my blood work done just this
morning, and now I'm going up to 90 mgs today (the doctor told me to stay on
60 until the blood work - I'm not sure how he'll take the news that I've
gone up to 90...)

Jen (district) is up to 120 mgs, I think (?), and she sounds like she's
doing ok. And I figured if 120 mgs is equal to ~200 mcgs of Synthyroid, (and
my doctor wants me to stay at equiv. to 100 mcgs (at 95 lbs) - then in those
terms Jen should weigh more than 200 pounds to be taking the 120. (If that
makes sense.) I figure from what I've read from her posts, she isn't in
excess of 200 lbs. I'm kind of rambling now...

Dee

"Elizabeth" <esnively(a)earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:YuOdnX0QoPdI3gfVnZ2dnUVZ_tTinZ2d(a)earthlink.com...
> Jen,
>
> I was on Zoloft for post-partum anxiety (probably thyroid-related but not
> diagnosed). I too had tremors from that. The recent tremors were very much
> like that but not as bad. I'm not on any other meds right now, so it has
> to be the Synthroid. Fortunately, it has subsided. I'm back to just plain
> old fatigue. At least I know how to deal with that! I never thought I'd be
> happy about it though.
>
> How are you doing on Armour? I'm seriously thinking I will ask the new doc
> if I can try it. I have to figure out how much to drop my Synthroid if I
> do, or just switch totally over and think about straight T4 later. So
> complicated, but I really want to feel some zest for life again. I used to
> be such an upbeat, cheerful person. Now I feel sort of zombie-like most of
> the time, and the fatigue is still almost constant.
>
> Elizabeth
>
> "district" <jtdistrict(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:c9b741ce-6b04-4dd1-8fab-8616945f206c(a)c58g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> Elizabeth
>
> Are you taking any other medications? I know that certain anti-
> depressants (especially Zoloft) cause a tremor from me...
>
> just a thought.
>
> -Jen
>
> On Aug 3, 5:46 pm, "Elizabeth" <esniv...(a)earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I have been at what should be my maintenance dose of Synthroid for almost
>> 9
>> weeks now. Just before I hit 6 weeks, I began having a delay in falling
>> asleep and a fine tremor in my hands at night. A couple days ago, I
>> switched
>> from taking my dose in the morning to just before bed, but it is still
>> taking me 2-3 hours to fall asleep at night and now I have the tremor in
>> the
>> mornings.
>>
>> My question is, should I wait a while and see if these symptoms go away,
>> or
>> should I decrease my dose? I am not in physical or mental distress at
>> this
>> point, but I certainly wouldn't want to live like this for too long. I
>> have
>> had these symptoms before, but they usually happen right after an
>> increase
>> and settle down within 2-3 weeks.
>>
>> Thanks for your opinions,
>> Elizabeth
>
>


From: Dee on 7 Aug 2008 07:12
I meant Synthroid... : ) (Can't think clearly...)

"Dee" <jlmacdougall(a)eastlink.ca> wrote in message
news:WKAmk.5041$nu6.3802(a)edtnps83...
> Elizabeth, I'm having the same symptoms as you. I'm on 60 mgs of
> dessicated thyroid (equiv. to 100 mcgs of Synthyroid). (And, the thyroid
> is the only medication I take.)
>
> So, the last few days have been increasingly worse; I was up most of the
> night with anxiety and other symptoms (feeling like I want to jump out of
> my skin). I feel so on edge (ready to cry/scream/explode/you name it, and
> the brain fog is terrible. I made a plan at 3 or 4 am last night ; ) - and
> that is I'm increasing today to 90 mgs. I can't go on like this. So, if
> I'm overdosing now, I'll soon find out. I had my blood work done just this
> morning, and now I'm going up to 90 mgs today (the doctor told me to stay
> on 60 until the blood work - I'm not sure how he'll take the news that
> I've gone up to 90...)
>
> Jen (district) is up to 120 mgs, I think (?), and she sounds like she's
> doing ok. And I figured if 120 mgs is equal to ~200 mcgs of Synthyroid,
> (and my doctor wants me to stay at equiv. to 100 mcgs (at 95 lbs) - then
> in those terms Jen should weigh more than 200 pounds to be taking the 120.
> (If that makes sense.) I figure from what I've read from her posts, she
> isn't in excess of 200 lbs. I'm kind of rambling now...
>
> Dee
>
> "Elizabeth" <esnively(a)earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:YuOdnX0QoPdI3gfVnZ2dnUVZ_tTinZ2d(a)earthlink.com...
>> Jen,
>>
>> I was on Zoloft for post-partum anxiety (probably thyroid-related but not
>> diagnosed). I too had tremors from that. The recent tremors were very
>> much like that but not as bad. I'm not on any other meds right now, so it
>> has to be the Synthroid. Fortunately, it has subsided. I'm back to just
>> plain old fatigue. At least I know how to deal with that! I never thought
>> I'd be happy about it though.
>>
>> How are you doing on Armour? I'm seriously thinking I will ask the new
>> doc if I can try it. I have to figure out how much to drop my Synthroid
>> if I do, or just switch totally over and think about straight T4 later.
>> So complicated, but I really want to feel some zest for life again. I
>> used to be such an upbeat, cheerful person. Now I feel sort of
>> zombie-like most of the time, and the fatigue is still almost constant.
>>
>> Elizabeth
>>
>> "district" <jtdistrict(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:c9b741ce-6b04-4dd1-8fab-8616945f206c(a)c58g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>> Elizabeth
>>
>> Are you taking any other medications? I know that certain anti-
>> depressants (especially Zoloft) cause a tremor from me...
>>
>> just a thought.
>>
>> -Jen
>>
>> On Aug 3, 5:46 pm, "Elizabeth" <esniv...(a)earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I have been at what should be my maintenance dose of Synthroid for
>>> almost 9
>>> weeks now. Just before I hit 6 weeks, I began having a delay in falling
>>> asleep and a fine tremor in my hands at night. A couple days ago, I
>>> switched
>>> from taking my dose in the morning to just before bed, but it is still
>>> taking me 2-3 hours to fall asleep at night and now I have the tremor in
>>> the
>>> mornings.
>>>
>>> My question is, should I wait a while and see if these symptoms go away,
>>> or
>>> should I decrease my dose? I am not in physical or mental distress at
>>> this
>>> point, but I certainly wouldn't want to live like this for too long. I
>>> have
>>> had these symptoms before, but they usually happen right after an
>>> increase
>>> and settle down within 2-3 weeks.
>>>
>>> Thanks for your opinions,
>>> Elizabeth
>>
>>
>
>


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