Bloodwork to check thyroid

[stevoreno]

I received a call early this morning from my doctor's office; my lab results came back from bloodwork done last week to check out my thyroid; something I have never had done before but one of the doctors at the sleep lab recommended I have it done. I haven't seen a copy of my lab results yet but my doctor's office said my thyroid level was very low.

My doctor is putting me on a pill called Synthroid 0.025MG and says I will have to take it from now on. I read the adverse side effects to the drug this morning on 4 different websites and what I read didn't look too good. Anyone else who suffers from sleep apnea have problems with their thyroid and have also been prescribed Synthroid?

[murried2]

I've been on Synthroid for over 4 years now, and on APAP for 3. I've not had any adverse effects from the Synthroid.

I could tell a big difference in how I felt whenever I started the Synthroid.

Good luck with it.

[stevoreno]

Murried2:

Thanks for the post and you try to have a nice day you hear.



Stevoreno
Biloxi, Mississippi
11/26/07

[sleeplessinaz]

Hello----yep!! Me too!! I am actually on the brand name of the same drug---mine is called LEVOXYL. It is LEVOTHYROXINE----.25 MCG's---

I have been on that for at least ten years---what a difference in my life that made as so did the recent CPAP machine---hang in there!!
Carrie

[dieselgal]

I have taken synthroid for over 10 years I think and I have not had any reactions. I don't feel drastically different either way.

[gasp]

I was on Synthroid as well, starting low and ending at 125 mcg. THe doctor told me I'd have to take it for the rest of my life. Turns out I had to take it for one year with the last several months probably unneeded. I went to the doctor at the end of a year for a refill of my prescription and told him for the last several months I had increasingly felt nervous and shakey, breaking into a sweat easily. He redid the bloodwork and found my thyroid was too high. He took me off the medication and with periodic bloodwork has found I no longer need the medication.

Synthroid has a long half life so it may take up to 1 1/2 months for you to be able to say how you feel on a daily basis and determine how you will feel ongoing. This also means it takes some time for side effects to show up, although usually within a week in my experience.

I'd recommend going to the doctor for blood tests for thyroid levels if you feel the need based on symptoms, rather than on their schedule.

Best wishes.

[stevoreno]

[quote="sleeplessinaz"]Hello----yep!! Me too!! I am actually on the brand name of the same drug---mine is called LEVOXYL. It is LEVOTHYROXINE----.25 MCG's---

I have been on that for at least ten years---what a difference in my life that made as so did the recent CPAP machine---hang in there!!
Carrie

[kteague]

Hi Steve. My mother took thyroid medication for at least 20 years, and as far as I know did not experience the side effects. It may not be desirable to take meds, considering the possible side effects, but having low thyroid levels affects so much of one's life I don't see much of an option. I think weighing the symptoms of hypothyroidism against possible side effects of the meds, I'd take the meds. I've even wished my docs would tell me a pill would help my energy level, as least there would be an explanation, but I guess I'd better be careful what I wish for considering my mom had it. Best wishes on getting your levels regulated.

Gasp - thanks for that word of advice. Good to know.

Kathy

[WearyOne]

Stevereno,

I've been on Synthroid for a little over a year. I have Graves' Disease, which causes one to be hyperthyroid (high thyroid) Had my thyroid almost completed destroyed with radioactive iodine treatment, which leaves you hypothyroid (low). Have to be on Synthroid the rest of my life since I would now be hypothyroid without it. No side effects, really, other than trying to get the dosage correct between .112 and .125!

All my research, talking with others on a wonderful thyroid board, and talking with my endochrinologist indicate that you should have your thyroid levels checked on a regular basis to make sure they're in range (FT4 and FT3, not just TSH). When I first went on medication, the endo was checking blood levels every 6 weeks, then every two months, now every four months. Going in to have your blood tested in between the docs scheduled checks are a good idea, too, if you feel bad. Personally, at first, I'd make sure to at least have the blood work done every 4 to 6 weeks, until you get on a dosage that seems to stablize things.

Having uncontrolled hypothyroid or hyperthyroid can cause serious health problems. Just two examples are: cardiac issues when you're hyperthyroid (what I was facing), and a hypothyroid condition can contribute to sleep apnea. If I wasn't already treating for a thyroid condition, the sleep center would have required testing that before doing my sleep study. These are just two examples of health problems, not to mention how miserable being hyper or hypo can make you feel!

Did the doc say why your thyroid was low?

Pam

[LavenderMist]

I have been on Synthroid for 16 years. My current dose is 150 mcg. The doctor just does a blood test regularly to check it. He just decreased my dosage in Sept from 175 mcg to 150 mcg. As long as it is monitored regularly then you shouldn't have a problem.

[stevoreno]

My primary care doc didn't offer any explanation except to say that a thyroid out of whack can contribute to weight gain and also aggravate my sleep apnea. I took a copy of my sleep lab report to my doc; pointed out where the sleep doc recommended that I have my thyroid checked to rule out "hypothyroidism" so my doc wrote up an order for bloodwork. In all of my 52 years on this earth I have never had my thyroid checked out until now. How often do you think I'll have labwork once I start taking the thyroid drug? Every few months? Once a year? Thank you for your post.



Stevoreno
Biloxi, Mississippi
11/26/07

[stevoreno]

I have been on Synthroid for 16 years. My current dose is 150 mcg. The doctor just does a blood test regularly to check it. He just decreased my dosage in Sept from 175 mcg to 150 mcg. As long as it is monitored regularly then you shouldn't have a problem.

Well I'll be starting out on 0.025MG; how does that compare to what you are taking? Not very much or am I close behind what you are now taking? Thanks for your post.



Stevoreno
Biloxi, Mississippi
11/26/07

[LavenderMist]

In the beginning it was checked every three months, then every six month and once stable on the dosage it can be checked annually. In the beginning they may have to increase or decrease the dosage to get you on the proper amount of thyroid hormone, hence more frequent checks, but once you are stable on the dose then they lengthen the time between testing.

[LavenderMist]

Your post crossed with last one I did, so I didnt see it before my reply. My dose is much larger. My thyroid gland doesn't function at all, so all of the thyroid hormone in my body comes from the medicine. At one point mine was as high as 200 mcg.

[Tiffany]

I was recently put on Synthroid 50 mcg myself about a month ago and I was diagnosed with OSA about 18 months ago