Unacceptable side effects of Levothyroxine
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I was described Levothryoxine 2 years ago and my GP has increased it until I am now taking 125mcg.I have never had so many various symptoms in my life - severe weight gain including puffy face and eyes, very itchy dry skin, brittle nails, thinning hair but the major items are the pains in my joints and muscles - especially in my knees and my hands. The doctor said I have carpal tunnel syndrome and also now have high cholesterol,,,,,,, When reading other peoples' experiences it would appear that many people have all of these symptoms so why is it that GP's do not take this illness more seriously. I recently asked if I could have a full blood showing all readings and also if I could be prescribed Armour and was told no. It also scared me to find that several pharmacists in major chemists haad never even heard of Armour. Has anyone felt like they have had enough and just stopped taking Levothyroxine and what was the result?
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carolyn74253 Guest
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MtViewCatherine carolyn74253
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The other problem with iodine is that it can cause severre jitteriness. So you have to take it in small doses to start with.
barbara98940 MtViewCatherine
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MtViewCatherine barbara98940
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clare49494 MtViewCatherine
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barbara98940 MtViewCatherine
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barbara98940 clare49494
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barbara98940
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clare49494 barbara98940
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I'm almost certain that I'm not converting! I experience cold spells (really bad) just before my period- it's so bad I can wear extra cardi or jacket over a jumper and still can't get warm. I read part of a med journal. it stated that theres evidence to prove that when your having temp fluctuations.. this is the best time to get blood work done as this is when the body is struggling with convertion. It suggested taking temp for a week throughout the day every hour (I know sounds excessive) note all readings. If there is a drop in temp and it has a regular time pattern. if so this is the best time to get bloods done at that particular time of the day. I live in Great Britain so this can be hard to arrange blood test at desired times.. And NDT I can not get prescribed! Clare x
MtViewCatherine clare49494
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Also, you may have high reverse T3, so you'll want to get that tested at least once. That could be another reason you have the high T4 and TSH.
Also, it sounds as if you may have been hyper thyroid, as often happens with Hashimoto's and Grave's disease intermittantly, because untreated, the thyroid can go pretty wonky as its trying to keep up.
However, it sounds as if your bloodwork is coming back normal now, so your body is recognizing the T4 and converting it, we assume. As you said, I would still check the T3, because, yes, that's super important as well because it is the more active form of thyroxin.
It might make sense for you to be on a med containing T3, given your previous bloodwork, that you are able to make plenty of T4. The NDT porcine meds have a combination of T4-T3 with a higher than normal human T3-T4 ratio. For example, I seem to have generally low thyroid with equally low T3 and T4 with high reverse T3, as well as stomach and liver problmems. So I need some T3, because of the high R-T3 and inability to convert. But for me, I'm not sure the high T3 in the porcine is the best- because my blood work comes back with normal T4, but high T3, relatively, or if the T3 is midrange, the T4 is low for me. S o I;'m considering trying a bovine NDT.
For you, because you have tons of T4, but high TSH initially, the higher T3 meds might be a great solution.
Hope that makes sense.
MtViewCatherine barbara98940
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I take coblimated B vitamins because I can't seem to digest the others. I was going better when I was getting the injections, but don't have access to that now.
Iron always seems to come up normal.
MtViewCatherine barbara98940
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Hence, I'm considering the bovine. I'm also suspecting I may be having a mild reaction to the pocrcine, which I didn't have prior to the use of the levo. Another reason to consider the bovine.
I'm waiting for my latest test results now.
MtViewCatherine barbara98940
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I am fortunate in that if I have a real problem, i have an expert who knows what he's doing and looks at enough thyroid tests regulalrly that it seems he can extrapulate in his head for early bloodwork if necessary. This of course is a very rare skill, and even with his ability, he prefers to wait the full 3 months. The exception of course is if you are self-regulating and need to adjust. But since most doctors can't extrapolate an early blood test, they also don't like patients self-regulating.
Unfortunately, because of the nature of the disease, the only way to have any success for a severe case is by self-regulation.
Since I have to drive hundreds of miles for the specialist, I self-regulate my dose and if I need to change it, I do. But I stall a little on the blood tests until I'm pretty sure the meds have leveled out, becaue my GP can't extrapolate to account for early testing.
clare49494 MtViewCatherine
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MtViewCatherine clare49494
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