new to thyroxine, what to expect? : Thyroid Disease : Active Low-Carber Forums

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jaykay

Sun, Aug-29-04, 12:57

Finally my blood tests came back and the T3 test was below the normal range. The T4 test was at the bottom of the normal range and the TSH at the top of the normal range. I practically bullied a stand in doctor to give me thyroxine, which he has. Actually I asked for T3 but he wouldn't give me that.
So I've been on 50mg (mcg?) for 3 weeks now and I've got another weeks worth left and I can get another months repeat prescription before I have to go back.
It's not having any effect at the moment, but then I think 50mg is a very low dose, a sort of 'safe starter'. I'm thinking of upping myself to 100mg with the prescription I've got left and then going to see my doctor in about two weeks to tell her how its going. What do you all think?
Seems I should be able to tell if I'm overdoing it, as I would get hyper symptoms (I'm much more interested in how I feel than my blood levels!) and it sometimes seems easier to tell doctors what you're doing than 'asking permission'!
I'd like to try Armour, since I think its T3 I need (maybe I don't convert it?) but you can't get that here. I wonder about buying some over the net and substituting it for my thyroxine on a dose for dose basis.

What's anyone's experience of taking thyroxine? How long before it worked? Anyone got bloods like mine and ok with T4 or did you need T3 too?
Really new at all this so any information / experience would be very welcome.

Thanks, Jay

refmls

Sun, Aug-29-04, 16:50

Take a look at my posts under "Thyroid Research" (this forum). If your T3 is low and T4 is low normal, you may not be converting T4 properly. T3 is hard to get the right dosage, partly because the manufacturers only make a few strengths of tablets.

jaykay

Wed, Sep-01-04, 14:46

Thanks refmls. Yes, that's where the doc and I had got to, probably a conversion problem. But I saw a different doc when I went back after the results so just got thyroxine. I'll see how it goes and then go back and see my own doc and continue the discussion.
Does anyone have any experience to share about the questions below?
What's it like taking thyroxine? How long before it worked? Anyone got bloods like mine (low T3, low-normal T4) and ok with T4 or did you need T3 too?

Thanks, Jay