[snelsen]

#1064340

Hi, labs differ in their normal ranges, sometimes even in the same city.
For me, TSH ( 4- .4-5)
T3 (2.3-3.9)
Free thyroxine (.6-1.2)
I take Synthroid, the generic does not "work" for me. I am not sure if it is real or imagined on my part. I also take Cytomel, which is prescribed by the endo because I wanted to see if I had more energy with it. I really don’t have an answer to that, either!
I do think, for whatever reason, that a change of drug can make a difference, but the big message there is staying on the same one, so it is apples to apples in the labs over time.
I think there is a biochemical difference between Levoxyl and Synthroid, but leave that to the facilitators to address.
Shirley

[ewmb]

#1018374

Can someone please refresh me on normal or euthyroid levels for those on replacement hormone? I am about a year on levoxyl and still trying to get settled. My free T-4 way too high and TSH not in normal enough range yet on paper. We are going back down on the dose so that T-4 will come down but I am not remembering whether both need to be in range to be considered settled so I can move on with other things……. Still too many bad symptoms to feel good.
Thanks,

ewmb

[ewmb]

#1064341

Shirley,
Is cytomel the T-3?

As far as I have learned there is no difference in the active ingredients in synthroid and levoxyl. Levoxyl is a branded generic made in the US and had shown to be as stable on dose as synthroid. It doesn’t contain the same inactives and I found out that I am allergic to one of the fillers in synthroid- povidone- when I was taking a generic methimazole at one time which also had povidone in it.

I am just trying to figure out if my Free T-4 being so high is really what’s causing me to still feel so off. My tsh responds with the speed of frozen molasses so it’s hard for me to believe that it’s right sometimes…..

ewmb

[Bobbi]

#1064342

TSH is a "running" average of our actual thyroid hormone levels. As far as I can tell, that requires it to be slow, especially when we are newly treated. If it has been repressed for months because of too high a level of thyroid, it will take some time for that running average to adjust to the new reality. It is a source of frustration because we want things right YESTERDAY(!) after being sick for so long, and having validation quickly that things right is important to us. But, over all, having a measure that looks at the whole picture — not just one slice of it — as the TSH does, makes more sense to me than looking at one specific thyroid hormone, and the inactive hormone at that. (T4 must be converted into T3 in order for the cells to utilize it.)

And, be very, very careful with the idea of taking cytomel (T3). When you take it, your body is being given a huge boost all at once. It is immediately active(once absorbed) , even if your body doesn’t need the boost at that point in time. It has a very short life span (the half-life is three-quarters of one day), as well. So you are introducing something akin to a high caffeine drink directly into your veins. I tried it, because I was having issues that my endo and I thought might be cleared up by taking it. I was on a half pill of the SMALLEST dose, and it appears to have caused heart issues, over time.

[ewmb]

#1064343

Thanks Bobbi,
I think that you are right and that looking at the T-4 now and it being too high should be my marker until I start to actually feel better. The endo said it was my call to lower the dose some more and since I am still feeling very hyper I think I will phone her today and have her call in the lower dose.

ewmb

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