i think my doses still aren't right

[ladybank90]

I've been taking the .1mg of levothyroxine for almost a year now, and added .25mcg of cytomel 2 weeks ago. I go to bed between 11-1, and get up around 7:30 am...by 10 am I am completely mentally and physically exhausted and by 2pm I'm asleep because I've nodded off.
I still have issues with constapation, joint pain, skin issues, and I get bouts of itchiness where I scratch until I'm raw or bleeding, amongst other symptoms. I'm in Canada, so I don't know if I can switch to Armour...I've been taking different doses of levothyroxine for about 10 years, they just up it every year (as that is how often I see my endo...he ups my doseage and then I stay on it for the year until I see him again)
I don't go back to see the endo until July.
What is adrenal...I've seen that in some threads and wondered what the association was?
patty

[Nancy LC]

Well, you don't sound like you get enough sleep. 6.5 hours wouldn't do it for me either. But yes, lots of those symptoms sound like hypothyroid. I think in canada they have another type of natural thyroid but it might be in short supply at the moment. I can't think of the name. I saw some postings about it on alt.support.thyroid (google groups).

[ladybank90]

Nancy..thanks for your reply, on a normal basis I would say I could sleep from 11pm to 11-12 the next day, and by 2pm, still be nodding off....normally I would say I'm in bed closer to 11, but it doesn't seem to matter how much sleep I do get...symptoms (still suck lol)are still there. patty

[wcollier]

Hi Ladybank:

In Canada, the equivalent to Armour is Thyroid and it's distributed by Pfizer. I haven't heard of it being short in supply. Maybe Nancy will have more information.

Where do you live? Maybe we can help you find someone who prescribes Thyroid if your doctor won't prescribe it.

As for adrenal issues, the itchiness could be an indicator. Another indicator would be feeling tired, yet wired; feeling groggy in the morning, then feeling awake at night. Of course, you can have a mix of adrenal and hypoT symptoms too. I tend to get nighttime itchiness when my cortisol levels are low.

Here's a couple of links you may find helpful.
http://www.drlam.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/adrenal_fatigue.cfm
http://www.drrind.com/scorecardmatrix.asp (adrenal/hypoT symptoms)

However, it seems like a lot of your problems are hypoT related. Do you have your most recent labs? TSH, Free T3 and Free T4? It seems crazy that you only get an increase once/year. You may have to start doing some doctor shopping. If you think you have adrenal fatigue, don't even mention it to an Endo or you'll walk out with an antidepressant. They believe you have healthy adrenals or life-threatening Addison's disease. Nothing in between.

[Nancy LC]

Here's a link about Thyroid availability

Long-ass (http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.support.thyroid/browse_thread/thread/9fd088fcf5a92e81/bc7446ca6a5aa3ea#bc7446ca6a5aa3ea) URL

I hope it works for you without having to register.

[wcollier]

Thanks for the info Nancy.

[ladybank90]

thanks for the info...it sounds a lot like me. And my itching is always at bedtime....which i find so bizzare! good to know there might be a reason for it...besides insanity lol.
I'm in Windsor Ontario, please let me know if there is someone in this area who can help me with the adrenal issue..thanks

[wcollier]

Ack Patty..... I don't know of anyone in Windsor who treats both thyroid and adrenals appropriately. You definately are limited, especially if you want your adrenals treated.

The closest I can find you (from the Top Docs list) is Dr. Zoltan Rona in Toronto - 1366 Yonge St. Toronto Ont. 416-920-9241. His website lists a tollfree number as well 1-877-920-8887.I know he treats adrenal insufficiency, but I don't know HOW he treats it. You might ask if he prescribes Cortef or adrenal glandulars (preferrably he has an arsenal of a few things to choose from). I don't know how he treats thyroid either, so you might want to clarify that he tests Free T3 and Free T4 and prescribes natural desiccated thyroid. I'm pretty sure he does, but best to be sure.

Another is Dr. Drirenfeld, but I don't know how aggressively he treats adrenals either. It seems like he's pretty good at treating thyroid though.

From Top Docs:

Dr. L. Direnfeld, Family Practice, 255 Morningside Ave., Suite 325, Toronto, Ontario, 416-282-5773, "An MD who also deals with Naturopathy. What a wonder he is! After ten years on Synthroid at our first visit he switched me to Armour. I can't believe how well I am feeling. Covered under OHIP unless unusual tests. He also does Chelation therapy for heavy metals and has a Far-Infrared Sauna in his office. He really listens to his patients and is very knowledgeable." (Added Dec. 04)

If those options don't pan out, there are other options, but you'd have to pay out of pocket.

[ladybank90]

thanks, i will check into those options! patty

[way2goal]

BTW, the only 'thyroid' medicine I've heard of being in short supply was THYROLAR..not sure if this it what you are referring??

[wcollier]

Hi Way2goal: :)

Nancy posted a link about the shortage back in post #5. There's apparently a shortage of Thyroid, the Canadian equivalent to Armour.

The Thyrolar shortage also created a backlash Armour shortage in the past. Every so often, however, pharmacies have difficulties keeping Armour in stock for one reason or another even though there isn't an official Armour shortage.

[way2goal]

:) Thanks Wanda...want to get my facts straight!!

[KSMorris]

Patty,

Your symptoms do sound hypothyroidic. The .1 mg of levothyroxine sounds lower than what most people take (even on a combined regimen of T4 and T3). It's more common for people to be on a combo regimen of .137 mg synthroid or even .150 mg of levothyroxine or synthroid and T3 (cytomel or the generic and effective triiodo-L-thyronine in slow release format). I happen to be on .150 mg synthroid and 5 mcg of triiodo-L-thyronine (T3 in slow-release format).

Perhaps you could phone your Endo's office, explain your symptoms and ask if he/she agrees you sound hypothyroidic and if would agree that increasing the levothyroxine dosage before your end-of-July appointment makes sense?

If you have difficulty locating a compoudning pharmacy--for obtaining the generic T3 (triiodo-L-thyronine)--you can go to the "Thyroid Patients Canada" website (link provided below). There is a link to the Compounding Pharmacy databse in the links sention of our group's website.

I hope this is helpful.

Karen Morris
Organizer
"Thyroid Patients Canada"
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ThyroidPatientsCanada/