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Should I take the plunge?

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Thyroid Disorders
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bbarker
New Member
Joined : Jan 2013
Posts : 6
Posted 1/12/2013 8:33 AM (GMT -8)
TSH is 5.320 T4 Free (direct) is 0.96 I guess on the low side of normal. My doctor wants me to start on 50mcg of Synthroid. She hasn't tested for T3

I had an appointment because of pain in both of my hands. In the joints near the palm. She did some blood work and now wants to put me on Synthroid. I've read some negative things about Synthroid and also that it is the third most prescribed drug in the US.

Any thoughts on how easy a doctor will prescribe this drug? If I were going to treat myself, I think I would use Armour. I'm not sure my doctor really has enough of the whole picture to be prescribing this drug.

So glad I found this forum. It's been a great help in understanding the thyroid.
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jujub
Elite Member
Joined : Mar 2003
Posts : 10424
Posted 1/12/2013 9:49 AM (GMT -8)
Welcome to HealingWell, bbarker. Synthroid has been the gold standard of treatment for hypothyroidism for at least 30 years, and the majority of people do well on it. To me it always makes sense to try the most statistically successful treatment available first, then move to alternatives if that doesn't work.

Armour dessicated thyroid was used before Synthroid was developed and sometimes can help those for whom Synthroid doesn't work for whatever reason. It is made from dried pork thyroid glands, so if you have thoughts about animal research or are vegan that would affect your feelings about it. Plus there is some allergic potential because of the pork protein, so it isn't always without problem either.

50 micrograms of synthroid is a quite small dose, in keeping with your lab results. If you're having clinical symptoms, I'd say it's worth a try. Otherwise I would hold off on the meds. If you don't feel confident your primary care doctor can manage this, you could request referral to an endocrinologist to follow you until everything is stable.

Good luck, and let us know how things go for you.
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couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 1/12/2013 5:57 PM (GMT -8)
Does the pain seem to be in the knuckle area? Like someone smashed them with a hammer and you're just beginning to get over the shock of it?

I get those too, but my doctor told me it was from my Lupus and Fibro.
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bbarker
New Member
Joined : Jan 2013
Posts : 6
Posted 1/12/2013 6:40 PM (GMT -8)
Ha! It is in that joint on the inside of the palm. The ring finger on both hands. I can actually touch the joint and its very sore. My finger are really stiff in the morning, I have to force them to open up straight. My doctor says it's osteoarthritis, but I find that a little odd since it is in both hands and the same joint at the same time. Isn't osteo an breakdown in the joint from overuse? I doubt they would both break down at the same time. Seems like that wouldn't be very likely.
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couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 1/12/2013 11:12 PM (GMT -8)
That's more like arthritis.
Did he do an xray? Bloodwork for ANA titers? SED rate? C3 & C4? RA?

Please insist on this with him.
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bbarker
New Member
Joined : Jan 2013
Posts : 6
Posted 1/12/2013 11:47 PM (GMT -8)
On xray my hands looked fine. I did have a couple of other blood work results that were a little out of whack, but the doctor says they are false positives

ANA titer was 625 U/mL Negative is less than 100
Anti SSA was 625 U/mL Negative is also less than 100 This one I guess is for Sjogren's - No symptoms
RA was negative

Only symptoms I have are fatigue and the pain in my hand joints. I was thinking that this might be RA but all the doc says is Osteo. BTW I did have these titers done a second time because of him thinking it was false positive. Even coming back with these numbers he still says false positive!
Bev
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jujub
Elite Member
Joined : Mar 2003
Posts : 10424
Posted 1/13/2013 6:01 AM (GMT -8)
Do you use your hands a lot in your work? You could have a tendon problem in the hands, too. I had what is called "trigger finger" in several fingers in my right hand. The sheaths around the tendons from your fingers thicken and the tendons can't pass through smoothly when you bend your fingers, so they "stick" in a bent position. Before this happened, I had almost constant aching in the palms of my hands.

I attribute mine to spending three weeks on crutches after I broke my leg, then within the same year holding equipment as I rehabbed from shoulder surgery. I eventually had surgery to release the tendons, and haven't had any problems with pain or sticking since then.
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couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 1/13/2013 3:51 PM (GMT -8)
625? That's not negative. That's a lupus positive.
My hands were the first thing attacked.
You need to see a rheumatologist. A PC doctor can not diagnose lupus properly.

Do you get low grade fevers sometimes?
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bbarker
New Member
Joined : Jan 2013
Posts : 6
Posted 1/13/2013 4:07 PM (GMT -8)
No I don't think I get fevers. What were your first symptoms of Lupus? I have some fatigue but no other symptoms. My large joint of the ring finger on both of my hands are so sore! Sometimes they burn and when I wake up in the morning I have to wait a while to straighten them. The one on my left hand doesn't really straighten up all the way anymore. When Lupus attacked your hands what were your symptoms?
I'm going to start taking my temp several times a day. I did see a rheumatologist for about five minutes! He said my blood test were probably false positives and that it was osteoarthritis. I went to my GP two months ago for the pain in my hands. She sent me to the rheumatologist and I'm still exactly where I started. Pain and stiffness in my hand joints!! Not supposed to go back for two months. This is just nuts!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge Joy!
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couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 1/13/2013 8:21 PM (GMT -8)
It hit my hands first and then my feet. I couldn't grasp things without pain and sometimes I'd drop things because it hurt so much to grip things.

I was so fatigued I couldn't seem to move without great effort. I'd get exhausted just walking around the room.
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bbarker
New Member
Joined : Jan 2013
Posts : 6
Posted 1/13/2013 9:58 PM (GMT -8)
So are things improved for you? Sounds like you didn't need to add Lupus to your list. I have degenerative disk disease and a spondylolisthesis (I think I spelled that right) Epidural injections have been a life saver for me. I'm only needing them every nine months or so. I had neck surgery in 2005. Fusion at two levels. No more problems with my neck. I can't imagine adding Fibro and Lupus and Asthma and..... to what I already have. I'm already on Mobic, Tramadol and Lyrica. I would hate to feel the pain I still have in my finger joints if I wasn't already on these meds! Even hydrocodone doesn't take care of this pain in my hands!
How do you do it? I can't imagine!!
You throw a lot of lemons right?
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couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 1/14/2013 8:04 PM (GMT -8)
Not really, I've just learned to adapt to the pain. I can tolerate pain up to level 5 the I have to reach for the pain killers.
Most of the time I can rub BenGay into the joint and it quiets down some.
I was on mobic and tramadol until my kidney doctor took me off of the mobic because NSAIDS are dangerous for someone with kidney issues and I have a small protein spill.

Have you tried Voltern gel? It helps some people with joint pain. You can ask for a sample from your doctor before buying the full kit of four.

I'm throwing lemons as fast as they hit me, but I'm getting kind of tired.
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bbarker
New Member
Joined : Jan 2013
Posts : 6
Posted 1/14/2013 9:26 PM (GMT -8)
I know what you mean about tolerating the pain. It's really not good for us to just deal with the pain. That causes a lot of other issues. I went for three years with my neck pain. The day I went to the surgeon he gave me some pain killers. Once I took that very first pain killer I couldn't believe how bad my pain was! It just became normal to me.
Haven't even heard of Voltern gel. I'm going to check it out. Thanks.
Keep throwing those lemons Joy! This world still needs you and your experience and your empathy for others!
Bev
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