I began taking Cytomel a few days ago to try and get my thyroid hormones corrected. I’m currently taking a very small dosage twice a day with the only apparent side effect being a dull headache. Will update later.
Thyroid Lab Results – TSH Levels
July 13, 2007 at 5:49 pm (Thyroid Disorder)
I just received my blood labs and noticed that the lab company that performed the testing has not updated the normal range stated for TSH levels. They are still using old levels defined at 0.350 – 5.500 and my TSH level is 4.079 which according to the lab result places my levels in normal range. The problem is that in November of 2002 the American Association of Endocrinologists issued a press release publishing new clinical guidelines & treatment standards for thyroid disorder, see below:
Until November 2002, doctors had relied on a normal TSH level ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 to diagnose and treat patients with a thyroid disorder who tested outside the boundaries of that range5 . Now AACE encourages doctors to consider treatment for patients who test outside the boundaries of a narrower margin based on a target TSH level of 0.3 to 3.04. AACE believes the new range will result in proper diagnosis for millions of Americans who suffer from a mild thyroid disorder, but have gone untreated until now.
Fortunately, I am an internet junkie and try to keep up with all of the latest research on thyroid disorder as I no longer feel I can completely rely upon doctors or labs so I review my own lab work. I realize that I am a fortunate one as I doubt a majority of Americans especially those that are disadvantaged, elderly or sick spend time on the internet researching these things. As much as we pay for health care in this country, I expect much more.
All of this to say, review your own lab work and if any of your levels are marginal, take some time to research – it could play a major difference in your quality of life especially when dealing with your thyroid.
Check Yourself – Thyroid Issues
July 12, 2007 at 8:26 pm (Thyroid Disorder)
Did you know that many women over the age of 40 unknowingly suffer with thyroid disorder? Many times as we grow older our thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone for our bodies – resulting in some unpleasant symptoms ranging from hair loss to mental health issues. The positive thing about thyroid disorder is that it is relatively easy to detect in a simple blood test.
If it is determined that you need thyroid hormone replacement know that there are actually two very important hormones that should be regulated T3 & T4. Typically doctors will prescribe a medication that will replace the T4 (Synthroid) hormone as it is assumed that the body is capable of converting some of the T4 (Synthroid) to T3. Endocrinologist are currently debating the practice of prescribing T4 alone as it not always sufficient for patients suffering from Thyroid disorders. Many doctors are also prescribing T3 (Cytomel) hormone medication in addition to the T4 medication. In a study reported by New England Journal of Medicine, patients preferred the combination treatment as it better relieved their symptoms.
When speaking to your doctor about your Thyroid replacement try and ensure your doctor listens to your symptoms and uses the blood work as a tool. Many times doctors will only rely upon lab tests to determine your needs for Thyroid replacement – which is practical – but your symptoms should also play a part in your treatment.
For more information on Thyroid disorders visit these sites:
