Sat, Jul-11-09, 08:55
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Experimenter
Posts: 25,884
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Plan: DDF
Stats: 202/185.4/179
BF:
Progress: 72%
Location: San Diego, CA
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Quote:
If my TSH is still normal but my hair is now shedding at an alarming rate, why can't I increase my Synthroid? WILL IT HARM ME IN ANY WAY?
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Not immediately. The harm is likely if you're massively hyperthyroid, you can get a ... thinking of the word, cytotoxic thyroid storm (something like that). But you'd have plenty of warning from hyperthyroid symptoms.
The harm your doctor will talk about is osteoporosis but there's only very weak evidence of that and you'd probably have to be long term very hyperthyroid.
Right now the standard of care is to under treat but these doctors don't realize how awful that is for the patients. You might want to put your complaint into words the doctor might sympathize with like, "Imagine getting up in the day and brushing your hair and seeing it fall out like crazy. Not having the energy to do my work. Gaining weight like mad despite a carefully controlled diet. This is what I am going through. Please help me." It might work! If you can put it into terms that make them realize the quality of your life is being degraded ... maybe it'd work. Promise them that you'll report any hyperthyroid symptoms immediately.
The other option is to find a different doctor.
Something I have done is experimentally take an extra half pill once every couple weeks or so. You MUST be cautious and go very slowly. It takes 6-8 weeks for it to take full effect and if you take a bunch quickly you're going to be very miserable and hyperthyroid a few weeks down the road. This stuff builds up! This is why doctors go slowly. I wouldn't really advise anyone to do this unless they're very knowledgeable about what it is like to be hyperthyroid. My disease made me hyper so I'm well acquainted with the experience and know what to look for. And if you get tested while you're doing this, your doctor might put you on a lower dose, so I had to back off before any testing.
Last edited by Nancy LC : Sat, Jul-11-09 at 09:05.
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