Re: question about reducing prednisone and hypothyroidism

[Guest guest]

Sue,

When you say " normal " what was your TSH? Did they test your Free T4 and

Free T3? Those are very important too. Back in late 2002 the TSH range

was changed to .3-3.0, with anything over 2 as suspect. What doctor said

they won't put you on replacement therapy? Endo's tend to not treat

thyroid well, too much by the numbers. Most have better luck with a GP.

As for the prednisone, yes what you are describing is adrenal

fatigue. Often what happens is your cortisol is out of wack. That causes

the thyroid hormones to not get used. The T3 sits in the blood stream and

doesn't get to the cellular level. Unfortunately it's hard to get treated

properly because most don't doctors recognize adrenals until it is one way

or another(Cushing's or 's). Your cortisol level needs to be at the

highest end of the range in the AM. That is fuel for the day. If it is in

the middle or the lower end of the " range " you will not have proper fuel

for the day and can cause trouble with the thyroid. Often when this is

going on you will see a Free T3 at the high end of the range and the Free

T4 at the bottom end of the range. And you will of course have thyroid

symptoms.

Kate

At 10:27 AM 11/14/2006, you wrote:

>Hi,

>

>My doctor put me on methotrexate a couple of months ago. I've got

>osteoporosis in my spine, so it's important that I try to get off

>predisone (which I've been taking for about 6 years) if I can. I'm now

>down from 10 mg to 6 mg a day.

>

>Before I started prednisone 6 years ago, I had a fairly high anti-

>thyroid perioxidase test result, but my TSH was normal, so the doctor

>didn't give me thyroid med. However, I'm now having symptoms of

>hypothyroidism (feeling cold all the time, dry hair and skin, hair

>falling out, depression, etc.). I've got a doctor's appt. this

>afternoon so I'm going to ask him about this, but I'm wondering if

>anyone ever noticed thyroid symptoms corresponding (improving) with

>prednisone use and getting worse when going down on prednisone.

>

>Thanks,

>Sue

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

--- In , " susan100250 " <res0bh3k@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi,

>

> My doctor put me on methotrexate a couple of months ago. I've got

> osteoporosis in my spine, so it's important that I try to get off

> predisone (which I've been taking for about 6 years) if I can. I'm

now

> down from 10 mg to 6 mg a day.

>

> Before I started prednisone 6 years ago, I had a fairly high anti-

> thyroid perioxidase test result, but my TSH was normal, so the

doctor

> didn't give me thyroid med. However, I'm now having symptoms of

> hypothyroidism (feeling cold all the time, dry hair and skin, hair

> falling out, depression, etc.). I've got a doctor's appt. this

> afternoon so I'm going to ask him about this, but I'm wondering if

> anyone ever noticed thyroid symptoms corresponding (improving)

with

> prednisone use and getting worse when going down on prednisone.

>

> Thanks,

> Sue

>Hi

In response to what you wrote, I have had LUPUS for about 6 to 7

years now. I went to my Primary doctor about two weeks ago and she

metioned something about my thyroid? She had first asked me if I had

problems with my weight? I said to her well yes,it keeps attacking

my rear? She said we should check your thyroid. This is the first

time anyone has mentioned this to me. I have went up and down on the

scale. I have been taking prednisone for about fours now and have

weaned myself down to 10 mgs a day. I have no difference in

sysmptoms when I have reduced the mgs.

[Guest guest]

>

> What doctor said

> they won't put you on replacement therapy? Endo's tend to not treat

thyroid well, too much by the numbers. Most have better luck with a GP.

Thanks so much, Kate, for your insightful response. It was an endo doc.

I could tell that he was paying more attention to the test results than

to my symptoms. I'm not sure what tests were run, except that my T-

uptake was slightly out of range. What you say makes total sense.

My daughter just started seeing a DO who she really likes (woman doc),

and I'm going to start going to her -- hopefully she'll be open to my

problems.

Thanks again,

Sue

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I have several years of research on thyroid. Uptake is an outdated

test. There are two thyroid hormones. T3 and T4. T3 is the fuel your

body needs. So it is very important to test the Free amount in your blood

stream. TSH is a pituitary test. Yes the pituitary signals the thyroid,

but should never be the sole thing to look at. Once on thyroid

replacement, your TSH should drop to under one. Most of us that have the

auto-immune, do better close to zero, it keeps the anti-bodies

down. Cancer survivors need it near zero too. There are two choices in

thyroid replacement. Synthetic and Natural, they are both FDA approved

RX's. I personal like the Natural (Armour) it contains T4 and T3, as well

as T2, T1 and calcitonin(used for over 100 years). Everything your body

produces. A DO might give you better treatment. I know several people

have had luck that route. Stand you ground and fight to be treated!

Kate

At 04:16 PM 11/14/2006, you wrote:

>

> >

> > What doctor said

> > they won't put you on replacement therapy? Endo's tend to not treat

>thyroid well, too much by the numbers. Most have better luck with a GP.

>

>Thanks so much, Kate, for your insightful response. It was an endo doc.

>I could tell that he was paying more attention to the test results than

>to my symptoms. I'm not sure what tests were run, except that my T-

>uptake was slightly out of range. What you say makes total sense.

>

>My daughter just started seeing a DO who she really likes (woman doc),

>and I'm going to start going to her -- hopefully she'll be open to my

>problems.

>

>Thanks again,

>Sue

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Kate! My daughter has been seeing a DO that she likes very much,

so I made an appt with her for after Thanksgiving. I'll let you know

what happens!

A DO might give you better treatment. I know several people

> have had luck that route. Stand you ground and fight to be treated!

>

> Kate