QUICK! I need medical information on Thyroid Replacement...

[Radio_Lady]

My doctor can't seem get me on the right dosage of thyroxine. The drug has recently been reformulated and my blood tests are weird.
He called me and gave me a THIRD strength to try out! I have 90 tablets left of two other strengths!

Any place on the internet that you trust for medical information or a quicky update on how what all these thyroid tests mean and how to understand them?

WTF, I should have studied medicine instead of communications.

[sbj405]

1. Sometimes it takes time

I spent the better part of last year trying different doses after being on the same dose for 13 years. Also, are you taking it as perscribed - on an empty stomach, etc.?

[Radio_Lady]

5. Wow! A whole year! Was that because of reformulation???

I'm going to insist on a FULL thyroid panel because my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is off, but my thyroid T3 & T4 seem OK. The TSH suggests that I'm hyperthyroid -- but I am actually HYPO-thyroid! Weird, isn't it?

[Lisa0825]

2. Let me know what you find out!

My doc recently changed my scrip to brand name, and changed the dosage too. I am only recntly back on my meds, after not taking good care of myself for a few years. It can take a long time to get levels adjusted correctly. I wasn't aware of the change in formulation.

Can you take two of the other strengths until they are gone? That is what I did, until I ran out of the former.\

Youcould try posing your question here: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=122

[democrat in Tallahassee]

3. how long have you been taking thyroid medicine? It's probably

the medicine. I've been on thyroid meds for 20 years and I recently found out that for some reason the medicine varies from batch to batch and what may be the correct dosage one month may not be the correct dosage the next month.Not because of you but because the strenght of the medication itself varies from batch to batch. I wss told to get as much of the same batch each time as I can. For instance get 3 months supply and your levels will stay more normal.

[Katidid]

4. Hi Radio_Lady

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid this past year and have undergone 'radiation therapy'. I am currently on 100 mg's of synthroid (still not stable) and am reading everything I can on this disorder ...

What I have found that is critical is that you need to find out from your physician what they consider "normal range" for TSH, T3,T4 levels.

There seems to be some dispute about what is 'normal'. What I have read is that 'normal' in a healthy woman is between 0 and 3 points. So if your DR thinks 5 to 7 is normal, you may be experiencing difficulty...

Here is a link to MedLinePlus - it is pretty easy to do some research here.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001159.htm

And here is another link to American Thyroid Assoc.
http://www.thyroid.org/index.php3?M_Session=2fd79db815ee1ee8aefafabf9d792ddc

I wish you well and hope you find a viable solution - This has been a most unpleasant experience for me, as I am sure it is with everyone. It's all the other complications that come with it that have me in a complete spin and no one wants to deal with the other complications (except high blood pressure) until my thyroid situation is "normal". It's a real "catch 22".(plz excuse sp errors)
:)

[Midlodemocrat]

6. Locking.

DU is not the appropriate forum to obtain or dispense medical advice.

Please check with your health care provider.

Thank you.

DU Moderator.