Thyroid medicine makes her sick

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: How can I lower my TSH without thyroid medicine? Is a high TSH dangerous? I took Synthroid (thyroid hormone) for several months, and I had many symptoms, which went away when I stopped taking it. Insomnia, diarrhea, tremors, hair loss all started within weeks after I began it. They worsened over the five months I took it and went away when I stopped. My doctor told me to start again. I did, and the symptoms reappeared. My TSH is 9. What should I do? -C.C.

ANSWER: TSH is thyroid stimulating hormone. It comes from the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. It does what its name says: It stimulates the thyroid gland in the neck to make thyroid hormone. When the thyroid gland does so, the pituitary turns off its production of TSH. A normal TSH is 0.5 to 4.7. A high number indicates that the thyroid gland is not making thyroid hormone. Without any thyroid hormone, the pituitary goes wild and pours out TSH.

Your TSH value of 9 indicates that your thyroid gland is on the blink. You're not making enough thyroid hormone but you have no symptoms of hypothyroidism. The only thing that can be done to lower TSH is to take replacement thyroid hormone, and Synthroid is a popular brand for replacement. However, when you take thyroid hormone, you get all the symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland -diarrhea, insomnia, tremors and the rest.

You have two options: One is to take a smaller dose of Synthroid; the other is to take no medicine and wait until the signs of hypothyroidism (sluggish thyroid gland) appear. People with a gland that's not making enough thyroid hormone eventually develop chronic tiredness, dry skin, brittle hair, constipation, menstrual irregularities, memory lapses and a feeling of being cold all the time. The symptoms don't come on suddenly. You'll know when they start, and then you will know it's time to take Synthroid.

The thyroid booklet deals with both an underactive and overactive thyroid gland. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -No. 401, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6.75 Can. with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.