Q. I have had trouble with my thyroid for years. My current doctor will not prescribe the Armour Thyroid I once took and keeps cutting the dose of my Synthroid. He tests my TSH and tells me I am doing OK.
I don’t feel OK. I am always freezing, even inside the house; my hair and eyebrows are thinning; my skin is so dry that it is flaking off; my nails keep breaking; and I can’t lose weight no matter how little I eat. (My doctor does not believe this.)
I admit I don’t know enough about the thyroid gland. I’d be grateful for any information that could help me.
A. Your symptoms are very suggestive of a continuing thyroid hormone deficit, even though your doctor believes your dose is correct. Other common symptoms include constipation, weakness, fatigue, puffy eyes and swollen hands or feet.
Although TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is a helpful indicator of thyroid function, the fact that you still have symptoms even though you are on Synthroid suggests that you might need other tests such as T3 or T4. We are sending you our Guide to Thyroid Hormone with notes on interpreting thyroid tests and Armour Thyroid.
You may also be interested in listening to one of our radio interviews about treating thyroid problems, such as Thyroid Controversies or Thyroid Disease Update.
