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When you have Lyme and Hypothryoidism how often should you have your thryoid checked?

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Posted 3/21/2017 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
My question is in the title. I think it's been over 6 or maybe 8 months since I had my thyroid checked. My next appointment isn't until May 1st so that would make it 8 or 10 months.

Thanks for your thoughts.
Posted 3/21/2017 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm not surer about this but I'm sure someone will be along that can help out.
Take care, Jo
Posted 3/21/2017 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Mine is done about every 4 months. Doctor monitors for symptoms that make her think it should be sooner
Posted 3/21/2017 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Laker- glad Purrsiankitty could weigh in on this. I've been doing research on the thyroid of late and it's been fascinating. Have you heard of Dr. Isabella Wentz? https://thyroidpharmacist.com She recently hosted a thyroid video summit of sorts with some info. that was nice to learn of. As a result, I'm getting a full thyroid blood panel done to see where I stand.
Posted 3/22/2017 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Purrrsiankitty and Aloha. I'm really getting tired of my LLMD. At my last appointment, he looked and said that my thyroid hadn't been tested in awhile but then never wrote a lab. When I emailed to ask for one I was told by his receptionist that I could ask at my next appointment. May I ask Purrsiankitty, what symptoms do you have that makes her run tests every 4 months?

I pay $175 for a 20 minute appointment. I'm not sure why I have to be the one to make sure proper tests are run.

This comes from my childhood, I never know when I should make a fuss over something. Is this something that you would take a stand on? I guess I'm getting frustrated with him so maybe it's time to change.
Posted 3/22/2017 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
No correct answer for this.

It all depends how stable your levels tend to be, and if you noticed a big change in symptoms or not. The overlapping lyme symptoms complicates this.

Are you on thyroid med?

Id say three times a year should be the minimum for thyroid labs, lyme or not- thats what I've done the last 8 years or so. Four is better. Some years I had 6-8 , cause levels were hard to level out / or was changing med brands.
Posted 3/22/2017 12:24 PM (GMT 0)

astroman said...
No correct answer for this.

It all depends how stable your levels tend to be, and if you noticed a big change in symptoms or not. The overlapping lyme symptoms complicates this.

I couldn't agree more.

For whatever it's worth, my thyroid-savvy internist (who I've been seeing for 10 years and well before Lyme) runs thyroid labs every 8 wks. for her thyroid patients so she can keep on top of things.

My thyroid has always been erratic and I get labs done every 4 wks.

When titrating thyroid meds, no one should be waiting longer than 4 wks. for the next set of labs to judge whether or not a dose adjustment is necessary.

The 4 wks. comes from the fact that the Free T4/T3 levels take 3-4 wks. to stabilize after dose adjustments (TSH doesn't matter).

Why wait any longer between labs and possibly prolong the agony?
Posted 3/22/2017 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
If you're taking a lot of medication, herbs, detoxing, then 4x a year seems reasonable.

If everything is stable, in the past I would be tested once a year unless I noticed a change then I could request a test. A 10 lb weight change could require a change in meds, so be aware of that.

Mary Shomon (a nurse) has written a lot about thyroid, and I remember finding her info helpful when I was first diagnosed.

If I'm getting too much hormone, it can ramp up my anxiety and even create heart palpatations. If not enough, I feel sluggish, I gain weight, my nails are brittle and break. So it helps to learn how your body reacts to the differences too.
Posted 3/22/2017 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Once a year is stretching it though, most cannot do that. Not suggested.

For most people requiring more med increases (normal for advanced hashimoto), the issue with once a year testing is like a dog chasing its tail- they will be hypo for a majority of that year. Living in hypo condition sucks big time - thats what Drs did to me till I took conrol of my my thyroid managment..To bad we have to do this.

At least if you can find a regular Dr for this its all covered by ins., (if you have good ins) - the repeated labs and visits. Having an LLMD or ND do this does come with a ticket price.
Posted 3/23/2017 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone, I really feel better about pushing the issue of getting it tested.

I have no idea if it's my Lyme or my thyroid but it's better to find out now.

I really appreciate everyone's input.
Posted 3/23/2017 12:37 PM (GMT 0)

Laker7491 said...
I have no idea if it's my Lyme or my thyroid but it's better to find out now.

It can be difficult to sort through symptoms.

However, healing requires healthy thyroid levels (the thyroid is the master regulator of the body and is the "gas" that fuels every single cell in the body including the immune system).

Healthy people have Free T4 and Free T3 levels in the upper 25-30% of their respective ranges. People taking thyroid meds sometimes need even higher levels.

Bottom line, doses should be adjusted until the person has healthy Free T4 and Free T3 levels, regardless of TSH which tells us hardly anything (TSH is a pituitary hormone...looking at TSH to judge thyroid status is like looking at the odometer when you want to know how much gas is in your tank).

Good luck getting what you need! It's time very well spent.
Posted 3/23/2017 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
"TSH is a pituitary hormone...looking at TSH to judge thyroid status is like looking at the odometer when you want to know how much gas is in your tank"

Now, if we could only get the doctors to understand this!!! That's where I have the biggest trouble with doctors in my area - that's all they want to look at is the TSH.
Posted 3/23/2017 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
My llmd checks mine every 6 months to be sure that thyroid hormones are keeping things steady.
Posted 3/23/2017 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
FYI in addition to the naturethroid, my LLMD has me taking a thyroid supplement even though I'm in the normal ranges right now with the meds. Thyrosine I think.

Also as someone mentioned, not all doctors follow the new guidelines that TSH above 3 is hypothyroid. Old school says above 5. The more current docs will look at T3 and T4, but it can be hard to find them. I'm lucky the LLMD I found seems to understand thyroid. I'll have to ask when he plans on checking it again after treatment starts.
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