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From: Dee on 29 Jul 2008 06:57
Hi, I went to my doctor yesterday to re-do my blood work requisition
(because there were more things I wanted to add). He was agreeable to
everything (he's good like that); but didn't think I need to retest my
anti-bodies since we've already determined they are high, which lead to the
Hashimoto's diagnosis. Any comments about that? Should I retest that at some
point, at least?

Also, I told him I upped my dosage to 60 mgs of dessicated Thyroid. And, he
wants me to stay there; in fact, he thinks that may be all I need, and he
was alarmed when I said most people I 'talk' to (on the internet ; ) ) are
taking at least 100 mgs or more (as a maintenance dose).

OK, that shocked me that he thinks 60 mgs is enough. It does not seem like
enough according to all the info I've found; but he said it's equal to about
100 mcgs of Synthroid, and that someone my size (~95 lbs, ~5' 3.5") doesn't
need much more. I told him I was going to dose by complete elimination of
symptoms, body temp, and (how do they put that?) highest normal level of
Free T3 no matter how low the TSH gets. He concurs with that. But only 60
mgs? Does this sound right? He at least wants me to stay there until my
blood work in two weeks. If I don't 'crash' at some point on this amount
until my blood work, I will; but if I feel I need to raise it... I just
might. By the way, my body temp is still only 36.6 or 36.7 C (97.9 F, I
think.), at most, after being on the medication for a month.

Dee (confused and worried now)


From: Rod on 29 Jul 2008 08:33
Dee wrote:
> Hi, I went to my doctor yesterday to re-do my blood work requisition
> (because there were more things I wanted to add). He was agreeable to
> everything (he's good like that); but didn't think I need to retest my
> anti-bodies since we've already determined they are high, which lead to the
> Hashimoto's diagnosis. Any comments about that? Should I retest that at some
> point, at least?
>
> Also, I told him I upped my dosage to 60 mgs of dessicated Thyroid. And, he
> wants me to stay there; in fact, he thinks that may be all I need, and he
> was alarmed when I said most people I 'talk' to (on the internet ; ) ) are
> taking at least 100 mgs or more (as a maintenance dose).
>
> OK, that shocked me that he thinks 60 mgs is enough. It does not seem like
> enough according to all the info I've found; but he said it's equal to about
> 100 mcgs of Synthroid, and that someone my size (~95 lbs, ~5' 3.5") doesn't
> need much more. I told him I was going to dose by complete elimination of
> symptoms, body temp, and (how do they put that?) highest normal level of
> Free T3 no matter how low the TSH gets. He concurs with that. But only 60
> mgs? Does this sound right? He at least wants me to stay there until my
> blood work in two weeks. If I don't 'crash' at some point on this amount
> until my blood work, I will; but if I feel I need to raise it... I just
> might. By the way, my body temp is still only 36.6 or 36.7 C (97.9 F, I
> think.), at most, after being on the medication for a month.
>
> Dee (confused and worried now)
>
>
My temperature rarely reaches 36.7. Yesterday, weather around 28C, quite
to very high humidity, I think that highest I got to was 36.6. This
morning, 36.0. My usual range is around 36.0 to 36.5.

But I am not hypo! (Well I might have slightly raised TSH.) This is how
I have always been.

(Note: Taken with an Omron GentleTemp ear thermometer. Method of
measuring is important and the use different methods must not be ignored.)

Do remember that thyroid replacement is often scaled according to
weight. (There are arguments over whether the medics mean lean body
mass, total weight regardless of build, or whatever else.)

For thyroxine alone, full replacement is usually 1.9 to 2.2 mcg per kg.
That would be around 80 to 95 mcg for someone of 43 kg. According to
the Forest Armour site:

"Levothyroxine� of 100 mcg (0.1 mg) is equivalent to 1 grain (60 mg) of
Armour� Thyroid."

So - 60mg of Armour does seem a reasonable guess as to what you need.
But with everything to do with thyroid, we are all different. Everyone
will have a different sweet spot.

On the antibodies front, well I can see arguments for re-testing - at
fairly long intervals - but here in the UK the NHS would probably flip
if anyone dared to ask for, or, still worse, expect, even a second test. :-)

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
<www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>
From: Yvonne on 29 Jul 2008 08:51
You're so right Rod. I was kicked out of my previous NHS GP surgery in 2004
simply for asking the nurse to tick the thyroid antibodies box (well she did
ask me which boxes were supposed to be ticked and said she had lost the
blood test form the GP had written out and would fill out a new one
herself). When she asked which boxes I simply replied "anything thyroid" and
she ticked the antibodies box. When my blood test results came back (showing
high antibodies) I received a letter from my GP saying they felt no longer
able to treat me and that I should find a different pracitce... all because
of what that antibodies test had cost the practice. That test does have its
place, however. The type of Hypothyroidism that is caused by raised
anti-bodies is also the hereditary type. I wanted to know if I had that type
so that I could let my children know (I have 4 girls and 2 boys) that they
should get yearly checks when they are adults. Also I was planning on having
my 6th child and wanted to know if the prospect of high antibodies would
effect the baby in any way. So I had my reasons for wanting that initial
antibodies test, however for the NHS it was the last straw, they did worse
than flip....

> On the antibodies front, well I can see arguments for re-testing - at
> fairly long intervals - but here in the UK the NHS would probably flip if
> anyone dared to ask for, or, still worse, expect, even a second test. :-)
>
> --
> Rod


From: district on 29 Jul 2008 10:43
Dee

I guess the most important question is - How do you feel right now?
Are you feeling worse or just afraid you're going to crash?

I'm a little confused about Armour dosing myself. I think that the
conversion is a lot less straightforward than it's made out to be. I
was on 75 mcgs of Synthroid before I switched over and now I'm 120 mgs
of Armour, which is theoretically equivalent to 200 mcg of Synthroid.
That just doesn't make sense to me. Just so you know, I currently
weigh 152 (although I was up to 166 in recent months! I've lost 10
pounds in the past 2 months on Armour...!) and I'm pretty sure my
Thyroid is still somewhat alive.....

It sounds like your Doctor is more than willing to work with you on
this... and I wouldn't get worried unless you are really feeling bad
and he's really unwilling to increase the dose. The adrenal advice is
really good too - I forget - have you done the saliva test?

Hang in there! You have a better doc than most!

-Jen

On Jul 29, 6:57 am, "Dee" <jlmacdoug...(a)eastlink.ca> wrote:
> Hi, I went to my doctor yesterday to re-do my blood work requisition
> (because there were more things I wanted to add). He was agreeable to
> everything (he's good like that); but didn't think I need to retest my
> anti-bodies since we've already determined they are high, which lead to the
> Hashimoto's diagnosis. Any comments about that? Should I retest that at some
> point, at least?
>
> Also, I told him I upped my dosage to 60 mgs of dessicated Thyroid. And, he
> wants me to stay there; in fact, he thinks that may be all I need, and he
> was alarmed when I said most people I 'talk' to (on the internet ; ) ) are
> taking at least 100 mgs or more (as a maintenance dose).
>
> OK, that shocked me that he thinks 60 mgs is enough. It does not seem like
> enough according to all the info I've found; but he said it's equal to about
> 100 mcgs of Synthroid, and that someone my size (~95 lbs, ~5' 3.5") doesn't
> need much more. I told him I was going to dose by complete elimination of
> symptoms, body temp, and (how do they put that?) highest normal level of
> Free T3 no matter how low the TSH gets. He concurs with that. But only 60
> mgs? Does this sound right? He at least wants me to stay there until my
> blood work in two weeks. If I don't 'crash' at some point on this amount
> until my blood work, I will; but if I feel I need to raise it... I just
> might. By the way, my body temp is still only 36.6 or 36.7 C (97.9 F, I
> think.), at most, after being on the medication for a month.
>
> Dee (confused and worried now)

From: Dee on 29 Jul 2008 11:33

"Rod" wrote:
>>
>>
> My temperature rarely reaches 36.7. Yesterday, weather around 28C, quite
> to very high humidity, I think that highest I got to was 36.6. This
> morning, 36.0. My usual range is around 36.0 to 36.5.
>
> But I am not hypo! (Well I might have slightly raised TSH.) This is how I
> have always been.

I'll keep that in mind. ie. won't demand 200 mgs if my temp. doesn't budge.
; ) It's good to know, though. Turns out my father has a low body temp, too;
so it could be a genetic trait.

> (Note: Taken with an Omron GentleTemp ear thermometer. Method of measuring
> is important and the use different methods must not be ignored.)
>
> Do remember that thyroid replacement is often scaled according to weight.
> (There are arguments over whether the medics mean lean body mass, total
> weight regardless of build, or whatever else.)
>
> For thyroxine alone, full replacement is usually 1.9 to 2.2 mcg per kg.
> That would be around 80 to 95 mcg for someone of 43 kg. According to the
> Forest Armour site:
>
> "Levothyroxine� of 100 mcg (0.1 mg) is equivalent to 1 grain (60 mg) of
> Armour� Thyroid."
>
> So - 60mg of Armour does seem a reasonable guess as to what you need.

Thanks for the above information. I'll see what my bloodwork turns up, and
go from there. I just never imagined 60 mgs would be enough - I mean
everyone, everyone (lol) says they take 4, 5, 6 grains per day. I guess
there's not many featherweight hypoT's out there. ; )

> But with everything to do with thyroid, we are all different. Everyone
> will have a different sweet spot.
>
> On the antibodies front, well I can see arguments for re-testing - at
> fairly long intervals - but here in the UK the NHS would probably flip if
> anyone dared to ask for, or, still worse, expect, even a second test. :-)

Yeah, my doctor says it doesn't really matter what's happening as far as the
attack on my thyroid goes because I'm now replacing the hormone anyway. Just
hearing what you guys had to say eases my mind a bit. Breathe in - breathe
out. : )

Dee
>
> --
> Rod
>
> Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
> onset.
> Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
> <www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>


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