So Mrs. D, or anyone at all who has information about this, what do you think of using natural dessicated thyroid medication as opposed to synthroids? Is it more 'all-encompassing' than synthroids? This is what I am reading from different views on the internet. This is all new to me so trying to glean as much info as possible.

It's late for me tonight.

I'll get back to you tomorrow. This is a huge subject.

This subject is very complex...and there are two camps for
thyroid treatment:

http://thyroid.about.com/b/2009/01/2...ur-thyroid.htm

About.com has the best thyroid discussions on the net. There are several posts on that site in fact.

I am hypo, and have thought about dessicated, but since my symptoms are gone for the most part, and my TSH remains below 2.0, I don't seek other treatments.

Autoimmune illness can be triggered by gluten intolerance. So I'd try gluten free for a while and see if you feel better.
Also vaccines are problematic in some people with tendencies for autoimmune disease.

Many people do well on levothyroxine treatments.
And also Hashimoto's patients tend to have changing needs, and changing test results. Those with the most aggressive
Hashimoto's have the most trouble.


This year, using more supplements, I've had NO cold intolerance at all.

I think the bottom line is the T3 content. T3 is made in normal thyroids and to a much lesser extent than T4. T3 has a very short half life in the body and stimulates tissue immediately...whereas T4 has to be activated.

The dessicated forms come from pigs, and T3 content is going to be different from each pig, because stress and other factors,
determine how much is actually produced.

I know from myself, that illness (infection) and sudden weather changes, do affect me but only briefly. This I think is the heart of the T3 issue.

Zinc and selenium are cofactors in the tissues to convert T4 effectively. So being low in either is not good.

I don't have Hashimoto's, I've been tested 3 times for it.
I did have a right sided goiter, and that receded on the hormone therapy. My left lobe is not working properly-- had a radio uptake scan showing that.
No one knows why my gland is not working properly, but I think it may be due to previous infections, or the abuse I endured as a child.

I still do not have any nodules either.

I knew you'd show up, thank you. And thank you for the link. I've been all over the place reading different things.

The one thing that caught my attention is I've seen quite a few people talking about how treating with meds for the T4 isn't as effective and a is a hit and miss as far as affecting the T3. (?) That the natural dessicated med does a better job of addressing all issues.

And I have no idea what I'm talking about, LOL, so I'll just go read some more.

What has surprised me with this diagnosis is how it explains several things that have happened to me in just the past 6 months that I have definitely noted and wondered about. One thing that has been very pronounced is being cold...like the cold starts in my core and works its way out to the rest of my body. If that makes sense. But, I've always complained about the severe fatigue which I've blamed the fibro for. But again, this past 6 months to a year, it has been very pronounced.

Anyway, thanks Mrs. D, I feel better knowing you are here on the job, so to speak. I feel like I did when diagnosed with the fibro....whuuut???? Thyroid????

Remember with most Hashimoto's there is still some thyroid function. When that occurs, you can still make some T3 yourself from the gland.

It is when people have the whole thyroid removed, that T3 becomes a bigger issue IMO.

Ohhhhhhh, thank you! Good to know!

Isn't Mrs D. a treasure!!

Yeppers, she certainly is and always has been!!!

Mrs. D, Dr. apparently did more testing and when I saw him today he said he doesn't see any indication of Hashi's. He put me on Levothyroxine Sodium 100 MCG. I go back in 3 months to do another test to see how it's going.

Whoopee.

Oh and interesting. We talked about the meds I take and what time of day. Afterwards, he told me to take the synthroid at night.

When I stopped at the pharmacy to pick it up, they did a consult with me since it's a new medication on my record. The pharmacist said to take it in the morning. When I told her what Dr. said, she loooooooked at me and said, "What? I've never heard of that."

If you take it at night....it has to be on an empty stomach...

HOURS after eating.

Almost all thyroid should be in the morning on an empty stomach,
and no food or calcium containing liquids for a hour!

Any food present and the thyroid will not be absorbed.

It is very strange to start someone on 100mcg a day.

Typically it is 25mcg for 2-3 months, then 50mcg for 2 months then retest. Is your doctor OLD...not up to date?