Appointment Results/Updates - Page 10 « Back to Group Discussions

[SuzieSmiles]

Originally Posted by mattie426 
I have been taking synthroid for about 15 years. Don't let the pharmacy give you generic. That is even more important that the food and vitamin rules. It is really not the end of the world if you don't time breakfast quite right. The important thing is to try to be consistent. I usually take my synthroid just before or just after I shower. I have never been a big breakfast eater, so by the time I am hungry for something it has probably been long enough. However, if I do need to eat sooner for some reason, I don't sweat it. The most important thing is to take it every day. Even if you forget until dinner time, take it then. I don't know how much they explained to you, but you aren't going to cause any problems by eating or taking vitamins too soon. It just makes the synthroid less effective. In fact, I have used this to my advantage before. If I'm feeling a little high (you can recognize it after a while) I take my pill with food, until I feel normal again. I don't take a ton of vitamins, so I just take them all before bed.

Thanks for the info mattie426:) Actually, the pharmacy did give me the generic (without asking for it)... What's the problem with it?? This is day #2 on it and I don't really notice anything different yet. I've actually decided to take it first thing with the recommended 8 oz of water and (so far) have been alright waiting to eat or drink anything else for an hour. I too am not a big breakfast eater, I usually don't eat anything until 10 or 11 but with taking the synthroid around 7am, that puts it pretty close for taking my vitamins and supplements with food like I normally do (4 hours after as recommended). I don't want to cause it to be less effective, so I've been waiting to take my first round of supplements for the day until at least noon. I think I've got it covered but am really curious about the generic thing...?

[mattie426]

Generic thyroid meds are just not as uniform from pill to pill. The pills tend to have very different amounts of the drug. A GP or a pharmacist will likely tell you it is all in your head, but my endocrinologist told me it is definately NOT my imagination. I have had generic before, and it was like this high/low roller coaster. Once you get used to the symptoms, you can tell by how you feel if you are high or low. I know people who don't notice a difference between brand and generic, but I REALLY notice. It is no fun. Shaky and dizzy one day, tired and freezing cold the next. Not to mention the mood swings...

You may not notice a difference, but ask your doctor to write "no substitutions" next time, and see if you can tell. It costs a little more, but is a super cheap drug anyway. Even if you pay the whole thing it should only be about $20.

[mattie426]

Generic thyroid meds are just not as uniform from pill to pill. The pills tend to have very different amounts of the drug. A GP or a pharmacist will likely tell you it is all in your head, but my endocrinologist told me it is definately NOT my imagination. I have had generic before, and it was like this high/low roller coaster. Once you get used to the symptoms, you can tell by how you feel if you are high or low. I know people who don't notice a difference between brand and generic, but I REALLY notice. It is no fun. Shaky and dizzy one day, tired and freezing cold the next. Not to mention the mood swings...

You may not notice a difference, but ask your doctor to write "no substitutions" next time, and see if you can tell. It costs a little more, but is a super cheap drug anyway. Even if you pay the whole thing it should only be about $20.

[SuzieSmiles]

Thanks again mattie426:) I'll ask for the real deal next time, the generic was almost $12 anyway, so if it's only an additional $8, it sounds worth it to me!

[deborahbgkelly]

Suzie- I pay $30 for the brand name, but it's well worth it. On the generic mine just kept going up and on the brand, it's been in a really good range for about a year. AFM- Babe is looking great! Heartbeat was 180 and babe measured 8w4d. I am 8w5d so we gained a day and are right on track! Babe moved all around. We got waved at and saw the tootsies moving. The tech also pointed out where the brain and spine were developing. You can't really see that on the pictures, but it was so neat.

[sarahl918]

Yay Deborah! What a great update, so cute you saw the little footies

[nettlesoup]

That's really nice, Deborah! I'm 8 weeks and 5 days as well, so I guess mine would look like that if I got a scan now, which is pretty exciting!
 

[Serafina33]

Um, what are betas?  
I couldn't get through more than 2 pages of this thread because I have no idea about all the clinical lingo.  I feel so left out!  

I haven't been pregnant in 8 years (since I had my kiddos (both surprises) as a quite young gal,) and I only started to TTC last month so.... are all these monitoring medical details related to fertility or age issues (never been over 25 and pregnant before, and never been anything but a super fertile myrtle)?  Or is it culture, and the norm when seeing a doctor in the US (where I am not, and things here are more like the UK and Scotland as previously mentioned by others, where you don't do much in the first trimester in terms of appointments) ?
Very curious!

[CDsMom1031]

Betas are blood work tests. They show the amount of HcG in your body, which helps determine how far along you are. You only produce HcG in pregnancy.

[Serafina33]

Ah, ok.  So Beta tests are in lieu of multiple ultrasounds to determine how far along you are, then?
I was wondering how else I could date this pregnancy. 

[MamaMash]

Yes and no Serafina. Hcg levels vary widely from woman to woman. My beta at 4 weeks was 889, when the normal range is much lower than that. By 5 weeks my beta was at 11500 which is still pretty high. But, since I charted my cycle I was positive how far along I was. But, it definitely can you you a range of how far along you are.

[mrsandmrs]

beta / hcg tests are usually used in very early pregnancy to determine whether you're pregnant with more accuracy than a home pregnancy test. there is a huge range of "normal" HCG levels, so it's not useful to date a pregnancy with HCG tests. i have not heard of them being used instead of ultrasounds to date the pregnancy. a beta just says "definitely, actually pregnant, not just a wonky home pregnancy test" and multiple (serial) beta tests say "definitely pregnant and things are progressing as they should in a viable pregnancy." some doctors do them, some don't. having fertility issues often correlates with beta testing, but some doctors do them for "fertile myrtles" too. i had several betas with my clinic, and when they seemed normal enough, they scheduled my first ultrasound. they wouldn't have seen anything useful in an ultrasound earlier than that.

[deborahbgkelly]

Thyroid came back elevated so they upped my dose. Start 150 mcg tonight. I also have icky skin nodules on my tush from the Progesterone in OIl shots I took for a while. I stopped them 3 weeks ago and my left butt cheek is not happy. I go back Tuesday to determine whether we drain it. I'm on blood thinners so we have to decide if it's worth it.

[Serafina33]

I really thought home preg tests were pretty reliable when they read positive..... How little I know!

[100%mom]

Haven't even told my midwife or doula yet that I'm pg. I'm about 6.3 wks pg.

[sarahl918]

Serafina, I think they are usually pretty reliable, but a lot of the time people take betas just to see how the pregnancy is progressing. For example, with my last pregnancy my first beta was only 49, and a couple days later had gone down to 39 - so we knew I was going to miscarry. This time, my beta came back 176, which is within normal range, so I'm not going to see Dr again until my 7w ultrasound! 

[mpmckinney]

Just had my first appointment yesterday at 8w 3d.  Saw my little bean and a little heartbeat. WOOHOO!

[MamaMash]

Had my progesterone tested again today. It's up from 13 to 21. I'm definitely more comfortable with that number

[deborahbgkelly]

So glad for you MamaMash!

[nettlesoup]

That's good news Mamamash