Teal

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Health & Fitness > Update on Well-being
 

Update on Well-being

I saw the new doctor, the endocrinologist yesterday. He had got my blood test results from my internist and said my “TSH” (Thyroid Stimululating Hormone) reading was 3.7. Lower is better. Acceptable is between 2 and 4 or so. But the doc said if I was feeling great he’d leave things alone, but I’m not, so he prescribed the next higher dose of Synthroid. He said the different doses are different colors. I am switching from grey to lime green. I said lime green was great and would match bile secretions. (Well, I shudda said it.)

He also said some interesting things about this medication that might be useful to some of you. Missing a day messes you up for weeks. Missing a day does not result in an instant reaction because you won’t know for aforementioned weeks that you have had a dip. Problems from missed days are cumulative and it takes quite a while to get back on track. (Sheesh, now I’m going to be paranoid.)

Best to take it in the morning with water and no food. The generic form of Synthroid is NOT ACCEPTABLE because this is one of the few medications that is not monitored for potency. Synthroid is regulated. The generics are not.

He gave me a month’s sample package and that’s great because I can start right away (I did this morning) and have time to order the rest through my mail order provider.

I’ll be checked again in six weeks. He said this might not change my well-being at all, in which case I should continue to look for the source of my problems, but it is acceptable to try this route.

If my internist made any error in judgment at all, it was that because I was in the so-called “normal” range, that this wasn’t my problem. This doctor did not agree.

xx, Teal


posted on Jan 7, 2011 9:09 AM ()

Comments:

Thanks for the update! Helpful info for me, too.
comment by marta on Jan 9, 2011 6:18 PM ()
Sorry you haven't felt well. Hope this helps a lot.
comment by elderjane on Jan 8, 2011 8:38 AM ()
I didnt know you were sick. I dont know anything about those meds or what you are taking them for...but whatever it is, I hope you get better very quickly.
comment by aussiegirl on Jan 7, 2011 4:17 PM ()
Since you're within the normal range, I doubt that is what is making you so tired. Have you had extensive blood work recently?
comment by timetraveler on Jan 7, 2011 1:52 PM ()
I am checked twice a year for blood work. My internist thought that because I was in the so-called "normal" range for this condition, that my thyroid was not the cause of my fatigue. But there are people who are called "outlyers" for whom the standard tests do not work. When I looked up hypothyroidism on Google, I learned that I have all the symptoms of under-treatment. I'll take it all back if I am not better in six weeks.
reply by tealstar on Jan 10, 2011 5:44 AM ()
Looking up Synthroid
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthroid
There are also foods and other substances that can interfere with absorption of thyroxine replacement. Patients under treatment ought to avoid taking calcium and iron supplements within 4 hours,[4] as well as soy products within 3 hours of the medication, as these can reduce absorption of the drug. Grapefruit juice may delay the absorption of levothyroxine, but it is not believed to have a significant effect on bioavailability
comment by anacoana on Jan 7, 2011 9:19 AM ()
Thanks for info. I take my pill around 6 a.m. and have my vitamin supplements around 10. That's within the guideline but I still wonder if it's too close. I'll look up the link.
reply by tealstar on Jan 7, 2011 2:10 PM ()

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