Hi @parus, I totally get it. I've had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis for over two decades now, so my doc / PA and I review the numbers together and decide when we will change my meds and when we won't. It took me a long time to find a practice where they would listen and treat me as a partner in my own healthcare, but it was worth the effort.

One other thing I want to mention is that there is a supply issue with NatureThroid in the U.S. right now and only the 65 mg seems to be available. I don't know if that was factor in changing your meds, but it was an issue with mine.

Perhaps you should try a new practice for your primary care and see if you can find someone who will be better to work with? It never hurts to get a second opinion. One thing I did was to read online reviews from patients to help find someone who would listen and treat me with respect rather than talking to me like a child (which can be a problem with some docs).

Best wishes - thyroid disease and all its many symptoms sure can make you crazy sometimes.

@coloradogirl

Thanks for your reminder about second opinions - always a good idea!

Teresa

@parus I find it so frustrating to have to change doctors, especially when I have had one that I was "in-sync" with for my treatment. As for Christmas, My son is coming to visit my husband and I and I am very excited. I figure I'll have pain no matter what, right?! I hope you get to feeling better to enjoy your family. Merry Christmas!

Hi @Parus and @coloradogirl I am on Acella Natural thyroid, also have hashi's. I take 2.5 pills a day of the 60mg - What I have found is these pills are very heavy on T3 and light on T4. The endo that I was using made me get off of natural thyroid and go onto synthroid because my T4 was around .7 not even in the normal range and my free T3 was over 5 which made me over the normal range. Well after 3 weeks on synthriod I felt horrible, even worse that the hypo hyper combo of the natural thyroid. No T4 was being converted and I had diarrhea but gained 10 lbs , was so tired most days I could not even get outside. I live alone and have a business so I could not continue this way. So my wonderful endo has not returned my phone calls and I went back onto the defective Natural thyroid. I mean why become a doctor if you can't even be there when a patient needs you the most. This was the 4th time in 20 years that I tried to go onto synthroid and it never worked before and she knew all of this. Just wondering if either of you have found the natural thyroid is not well balanced? Prior to the last few months the T4 and T3 were always in sync the way they are supposed to be.

@doxyjune I take Nature-Throid which is the generic of Amour. I cannot take the synthetic medication. What I take is more difficult to regulate than the synthetic. It is not uncommon for someone who has taken the synthetic (Synthroid or its generic) to have problems with it. I am allergic to to the Synthroid as well. Also not uncommon with one taking thus for many years. I am sorry you are having these difficulties. I am now so fearful of my current PCP I will not go back at the time. I need to have my thyroid levels checked. I am going to request to be once again referred to a specialist as the Nature-Throid is more difficult to regulate. I have gained 20 lbs and not a happy camper. I was dubious when the doc changed the dose, but did as I was told. My own fault for not being assertive enough. Trying to get the weight back off is difficult due to chronic (sometimes severe) pain. It can be very discouraging. Keep us posted as you can. My pain is worse due to an incorrect dosage and once again being hypothyroid. Very discouraging is it not?

@parus When my endocrinologist moved away my PCP took over my thyroid and diabetes care. I think I will find another endocrinologist or go my old one again, he's about an hour away. If you are on Medicare you should easily be able to just switch to going to a specialist. I too really do not trust my PCP, I have discovered he doesn't know as much as he thinks he does. I think your situation, being a bit more difficult than typical, definitely warrants going to a specialist. If you are not on Medicare a referral from your PCP should be given. If not I would change PCPs.
We all at times are not as assertive as we should be.
JK

@contentandwell (would that I were). I do have medicare. Fearful of the new PCP and hesitant to ask to be referred back to the endo doctor. The new PCP sent me to the cardio doctor. He asked me "why" I was there. I told him because I was referred there. He shook his head and said your heart appears fine. I felt humiliated because I told the new PCP it was a thyroid problem. By the time I saw a specialist my breathing was fine. I ended up telling him, "but them books and all they do is eat the covers". The most appropriate way I could say I did not need to see him. My heart is fine-medically.

@Parus "I felt humiliated because I told the new PCP it was a thyroid problem. By the time I saw a specialist my breathing was fine. I ended up telling him, "but them books and all they do is eat the covers". The most appropriate way I could say I did not need to see him. My heart is fine medically." WOW! I wish I could take credit for saying that! I saw a doc yesterday whom I expected to be my local whiz on my stuff. She said she had talked to one of my other doctors about my issues, and that fellow said I really did not have proof I had the problem. He(the other doctor) is a nincompoop who I dismissed after a 10 minute conversation based on 50 year old research which he said was the "latest in the field". I really don't want to look for another doctor. I hear the closest is about 800 miles away, very difficult for local communication.

@parus if you have Medicare you don’t need a referral from your PCP, you can just go. My PCP does always want to have a report sent to him and if you are seeing an endo that is probably appropriate.
I think I have toenail fungus and I asked my PCP who he would recommend. One of his nurses left me a voicemail telling me his recommendation and that I should see him for follow up 30 days later! I can’t figure out the necessity of that. I doubt that I will bother.
JK

@oldkarl I see now there was a typo in my comment. "But" out to have been "buy". There are well-educated doctors. I do realize they see many patients. I see patients as a herd of cattle (more like sheep) being herded to slaughter. They overbook and have 2 to 5 minutes/patient. This is not even a community health clinic. I have come to realize that a PCP is only good for referrals. A whole new world. No one is accountable. We all know as patients we cannot touch the professionals in their ivory towers and white coats. Only choice is to succumb and hope for the best. Anyone with a mental health issue may as well throw in the towel. Discrimination is not only in ethnic circles. Gets to the point one may be better off seeing a vet as animals are treated more humanely. Vets can do euthanasia. If one is outside the box their goose is cooked.
"800 miles is how far it is to the moon-I think.
Will admit I do have a "tude".