[Anonymous]

#1020967

How we feel is subjective. How we interpret what we feel in the way of symptoms may differ from one patient to the next. For instance, you will find many posts from folks who felt awful while very mildly hypo (TSH of 6 or . I feel TERRIFIC when mildly hypo. I had dreaded it, reading all those posts. But I have never, ever known when I have gone hypo — I’ve had TSH of up 12 or 13, and still felt great. And, as I said in a post yesterday, I have “felt” hyper, hypo and OK, at different times obviously, and had my blood tested and had a TSH of “2.0”. So, yes, you can have normal labs and feel hyper. Or hypo. Or OK.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1078971

I have a question I hope you folks can help me with. I have had Graves for four years, plus. I used anti-thyroid drugs and let my thyroid die on its own rather than using RAI, which at the time was a decision supported by my doctor. Regulating the levels was difficult for a while but have felt good for some months before going hyper again in July. Now, the doctor thinks maybe my thyroid wasn’t actually dead and now is starting to put out a small amount of hormone again.

She told me to stop taking my Synthroid for two weeks so we can do an uptake scan to check for sure. Then, we’ll take it from there.

My question is: Has anybody ever stopped your replacement hormone cold turkey? Are there withdrawal symptoms? What should I expect?

[Anonymous]

#1078972

Hi junebird,

Two weeks without your replacement should not raise any issues with withdrawal ~ I don’t believe there are any withdrawal symptoms, other than beginning to feel hypo. Considering that your levels are hyper, you may not even get to the point where you feel hypo in just two weeks.

Remember, when thyroid cancer patients need to do certain tests, they must stop taking their thyroid hormone in order to get the most accurate results (I’m not sure what tests those are — I haven’t gone through that particular treatment — but I know they must go without their replacement hormone for a certain period of time). If there were issues involved with going “cold turkey,” that would be well understood and you would have been told.

From what I understand, the replacement hormone T4 “builds up” and we typically have about a week’s worth “hanging around” waiting to be activated. You may feel more sluggish, perhaps, but again, that would be balanced by the fact that your blood levels are reading hyper right now. In two weeks, you would not go dramatically hypo.

Your doctor needs to see what your body is producing on its own, and how your thyroid is functioning, to better determine the next step.

Good luck to you!

~Ski
NGDF Assistant Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1078973

Junebird,

Well, that is a new one on me. But I’m no Dr. Never heard that taking anti-thyroid drugs can kill off your thyroid.

[Author]

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