Thyroid Medicine

[baco]

My thyroid is working too slow, I take thyrax for that.

Does anybody know if that is available in thailand, I will stay on Koh phangan and I need to test my blood 3 to 4 times a year to check if the medication is okay.

Does anybody know if I can do that on koh phangan or surathani

[lopburi3]

I don't know if that brand is available but the medication is and I use it under the "Euthyrox" name by Merck in 50mcg tablets.

I do not believe there is any hospital facility on that Island that could do testing but believe on mainland or Ko Samui it likely can be.

Edit: correct size to mcg ( μ) (too small a font to read).

Edited July 23, 2012 by lopburi3

[Sheryl]

Thyrax = levothyroxine.

Available in many different brand names in Thailand. To avoid confusion just ask for ther generic name.

And be careful of the dosage as the same drug may come in 25, 50, 100 or 200 mcg.

[GreenSnapper]

Thyrax = levothyroxine.

Available in many different brand names in Thailand. To avoid confusion just ask for ther generic name.

And be careful of the dosage as the same drug may come in 25, 50, 100 or 200 mcg.

"200 mcg - no hab in Thailand!" was the answer I got from several qualified pharmacists.

Not sure if that is true.

But 100 mcg is easily available everywhere. Girls use it for weight loss - a very bad idea, btw.

So you may have to adjust to what is available here, use a tablet cutter or take different doses on different days.

[Sheryl]

The tablets are usually scored for breaking into equal halves. And i would not recommend different doses on different days with thyroid.

Most people are on 50, 100, 150 or 200mcg, all easily done without need to alternate daily dose.

[Jingthing]

Yes you can also easily break into quarters so 175 no problem either.

[robblok]

I have done some testing on my Thyroid and its low, i will do more early next month to see if the result was a one off or normal. Its a bit below the normal range for T3 but my free t4 and TSH are normal.

I have had it tested years back and it was low then too but the Thai dr did not want to do anything.

I know i have a problem loosing weight because it goes real real slow. I count my calories and workout like crazy and often have not much to show for it. No other symptoms. Now i know there are medicine available like cytomel (t3) from underground labs. But this stuff is legal and probably labratory grade.

My question is this t4 or t3

Edited July 24, 2012 by robblok

[anon21]

Here in the UK I take 200 mcg of Levothyroxine each day.

How much does a box of 28 x 100 mcg (which would last me a fortnight) Levothyroxine cost in Thailand please.

Presumably, unlike the UK, you can just buy them over the counter without seeing a doctor in Thailand first?

I am visiting Thailand in August and will be staying for three months. The reason I am asking is that I may lose my tablets or my bag, containing them, might get stolen and so I would need urgent replacements.

Greetings from over the Silver Sea

[Jingthing]

I think a box of 100 blister pack pills of 100 mcg. Euthyrox cost about 120 baht at Fascinos.

In other words, cheaper than chips.

Yes no need for a scrip!

Edited July 25, 2012 by Jingthing

[baco]

thanx everybody for the replies, sorry for the late reply.

[missymoo]

Can I just ask everyone about how accurate blood test is to pick up Thyroid issues?

I have all the signs and symptoms that my mother had such as hair loss, bulging eyes, constant tiredness and irritability. However, my blood tests came back that my thyroid hormones are normal but I'm still not convinced

[robblok]

Can I just ask everyone about how accurate blood test is to pick up Thyroid issues?

I have all the signs and symptoms that my mother had such as hair loss, bulging eyes, constant tiredness and irritability. However, my blood tests came back that my thyroid hormones are normal but I'm still not convinced

Just go to a few labs maybe then you have more trust. I mean if multiple labs say the same thing there must be some truth in it ?

I went to an other lab today to check it just to be sure and to see if it was a fluke (doubtfull) or not. It would then be the third test telling me my t3 is below normal values.

[Jingthing]

Can I just ask everyone about how accurate blood test is to pick up Thyroid issues?

I have all the signs and symptoms that my mother had such as hair loss, bulging eyes, constant tiredness and irritability. However, my blood tests came back that my thyroid hormones are normal but I'm still not convinced

Just go to a few labs maybe then you have more trust. I mean if multiple labs say the same thing there must be some truth in it ?

I went to an other lab today to check it just to be sure and to see if it was a fluke (doubtfull) or not. It would then be the third test telling me my t3 is below normal values.

Well those are bad symptoms so the obvious answer is to seek a competent doctor and seek a diagnosis, thyroid related or not. If you really want to rule out thyroid, then you would want to see an endocrinologist.

[ericg1953]

Great advice to see an Endocrinologist. I have a thyroid condition and use Dr. Rosanee at Bumrungrad for my yearly check ups....She is just great. She really takes her time and is very thorough and informative

Edited July 26, 2012 by ericg1953

[Sheryl]

Missymoo,

The labs are usually quite reliable.

But you need to make sure you had a full thyroid panel and not merely a TSH level.

You need TSH, T3 and T4 inc. free T3/T4.

p.S. If you are near menopause/peri-menopause age, that could also be the cuplrit.

[robblok]

I paid around 1.100 baht for TSH /t3 /t4. In hospitals i paid as much as 2.500-3.000. I believe there is a lab in pattaya that does it for around 1.100 or so too.

If your just checking up i think a lab will suffice if you need a dr find a good then the extra cost will be justified.

[baco]

I think a box of 100 blister pack pills of 100 mcg. Euthyrox cost about 120 baht at Fascinos.

In other words, cheaper than chips.

Yes no need for a scrip!

Is this a price most people are paying here in thailand?

[lopburi3]

I suspect that price is lower than most are paying - although suspect most are paying less than below - so should provide a range.

At more expensive private hospital I pay 35 baht per strip of 10 in the 50mcg size.

[GreenSnapper]

100 tablets for 80 baht. Pharmacy opposite MBK, near Siam Sq.

[Jingthing]

I prefer the blister pack ones to the ones they count out from a big bottle. Different brand as well.

[baco]

I been to thaksin hospital in suratthani, had dr jim who spoke very good english.

Got my medication for my thyroid and hypertension for 2 months which costs 1935 baht. Bloodtest i will have in oct.

[tlcwaterfall]

Hello, I have many many symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Tiredness, weight gain, dry skin etc. I have had these and other symptoms for a long time now and no doctor has been able to identify the cause.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good lab where I can get my thyroid checked in Pattaya please?

My current doctor is giving me Testosterone injections for my symptoms and there is no improvement.

Really need some help here please and any recommendations of a good doctor who can help me would also be much appreciated.

[lopburi3]

Believe the basic test is "TSH" and that is a very inexpensive blood test that I would expect any lab could do. I have done in my hospital every few months after removal of thyroid to check on medication level being correct but it is also used to find under or over active thyroid.

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/tsh/tab/test

Believe if abnormal you will want to find out why. In my case large nodules were found in an unrelated CAT scan but a simple ultrasound was used during treatment and would have found. If you are really getting injections with no tests being made I would quickly find a new doctor (but I am just a consumer with no medical training other than having to DIY at times).

Sorry don't know the medical services in Pattaya.

[tlcwaterfall]

Thank you for your reply and I will have a test once I arrive in Pattaya this week.

[baco]

If you go to a hospital in pattaya i'm sure they can test your tsh levels

[Sheryl]

Don't get only TSH, need to also check T3 and T4. Sometimes TSH is normal but the body is not effectively converting T3 to T4.

All three tests (commonly referred to as a "thyroid panel") are readily available in any hospital.

[moe666]

Can I just ask everyone about how accurate blood test is to pick up Thyroid issues?

I have all the signs and symptoms that my mother had such as hair loss, bulging eyes, constant tiredness and irritability. However, my blood tests came back that my thyroid hormones are normal but I'm still not convinced

Just go to a few labs maybe then you have more trust. I mean if multiple labs say the same thing there must be some truth in it ?

I went to an other lab today to check it just to be sure and to see if it was a fluke (doubtfull) or not. It would then be the third test telling me my t3 is below normal values.

One of the easiest ways to check your thyroid is to check your temp. before getting out of bed and 2 hours later. record your temp and see what it does, where it goes. If you have a consistant low temp. below 98.6 normal then you may have a thyroid problem. My temp. was like 97.5 wakeing, hard to get up, sleepy during the afternoon, weight gain. I went to my Dr. and she said on you low normal ok but why these problems, well you ok no problem. I went to a different Dr. who spealized in thyroid he put me on 4 grains a day and man o man did I feel better. I lost weight, easy to get up and more energy. I prefer natural thyroid derived from pig thyroid. The problem with the synthroid is that it is one molecule off from your own thyroid and they both compete for the same receptor sights. The synthroid will displace your own thyroid from these receptors. This info is availiable from Dr. Mercole. Too all of you with a thyroid problem good luck treating it as you will feel so much better. There is a lot of good info on thyroid treatment on the web.

Yo those who have tested and have normal levels of thyroid you may want to have your cortisone checked. If you have had a lot of stress and other such problem your adrenals may not be functioning properly. The sytoms for low thyroid and low cortisone are similiar. You can treat with hydrocortisone, see your Dr. or other health care praticioner before treatment

Edited September 21, 2012 by moe666

[Emptyset]

Interesting posts. Lots of useful advice here. I wonder if anyone could shed any light on my situation? I've been experiencing 'brain fog' (impaired cognitive function) for two years now. Other symptoms include constantly a constantly rumbling stomach, feeling 'fuzzy', emotional flatness (i.e. mild depression), and lack of energy. I've also had periods of dry eyes and dry mouth and periodically experience something akin to a low fever where I feel very tired and can't get anything done. The constants though are the impaired cognition and my hair, which has become thin and lifeless and falls out all the time.

Sometimes the cognition improves slightly (coinciding with an improvement in other symptoms), but in general I haven't been able to think properly or 'be myself' for the last two years. It all happened overnight. One day I was fine, the next I had a fever which seemed to last for weeks. Was extremely tired, fuzzy and could barely think or write. Went to the doctor as it persisted and the only thing they found was an elevated TSH of 9.7. After this I was put on thyroxin. Felt slightly better for a couple of weeks and then started feeling worse, so they told me to stop taking it. Symptoms have been pretty much the same after the initial two months (when they were much worse), and my TSH has consistently been around 5.5 - 6.

I'm desperate to find out what's going on here. I've had the standard immunology tests several times, and all appears OK there. The two things other than the thyroid which stands out on the test are low blood platelet count and elevated liver enzymes (with no apparent cause, have been tested for all major diseases, Hep C, HIV, STDs etc). A few weeks ago I bought some Thyroid-S from a chemist in Chiang Mai*. I took the smallest possible dose and felt great the next day, more energy than I'd had for a long time, but upon re-dosing the next night felt anxious and weak the next day. I'm not sure if these were hyperthyroid symptoms? Surely it shouldn't change that quickly? The other thing is, for some reason I'm very sensitive to serotonin and the T3 in the Thyroid-S instantly boosts serotonin levels. So my negative reaction could be to this, rather than the thyroid hormones themselves.

I'm back in the UK now for study but return to Thailand every few months. Does anyone think it'd be worth seeing a specialist endoctrinologist and perhaps immunologist to try to get to the bottom of all this? I've pretty much given up hope in the NHS, the last time I went the doctor claimed the cognitive problems were due to a mood disorder and put me on an antidepressant which certainly had no positive effects at all. Also, it's worth noting that I've been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease before - Reiter's Syndrome - 3 years ago, but haven't had any symptoms of it since the first few months of being diagnosed. I also have a condition called Lichen Sclerosus which developed about two or three months before I felt feverish and started experiencing these problems. LS has been linked to autoimmune and thyroid problems.

*Incidentally I got tested the day before this and my TSH was 5.6. - but T3/T4 were within the normal range. The problem is she didn't test for free T3/T4 for some reason.

[moe666]

Interesting posts. Lots of useful advice here. I wonder if anyone could shed any light on my situation? I've been experiencing 'brain fog' (impaired cognitive function) for two years now. Other symptoms include constantly a constantly rumbling stomach, feeling 'fuzzy', emotional flatness (i.e. mild depression), and lack of energy. I've also had periods of dry eyes and dry mouth and periodically experience something akin to a low fever where I feel very tired and can't get anything done. The constants though are the impaired cognition and my hair, which has become thin and lifeless and falls out all the time.

Sometimes the cognition improves slightly (coinciding with an improvement in other symptoms), but in general I haven't been able to think properly or 'be myself' for the last two years. It all happened overnight. One day I was fine, the next I had a fever which seemed to last for weeks. Was extremely tired, fuzzy and could barely think or write. Went to the doctor as it persisted and the only thing they found was an elevated TSH of 9.7. After this I was put on thyroxin. Felt slightly better for a couple of weeks and then started feeling worse, so they told me to stop taking it. Symptoms have been pretty much the same after the initial two months (when they were much worse), and my TSH has consistently been around 5.5 - 6.

I'm desperate to find out what's going on here. I've had the standard immunology tests several times, and all appears OK there. The two things other than the thyroid which stands out on the test are low blood platelet count and elevated liver enzymes (with no apparent cause, have been tested for all major diseases, Hep C, HIV, STDs etc). A few weeks ago I bought some Thyroid-S from a chemist in Chiang Mai*. I took the smallest possible dose and felt great the next day, more energy than I'd had for a long time, but upon re-dosing the next night felt anxious and weak the next day. I'm not sure if these were hyperthyroid symptoms? Surely it shouldn't change that quickly? The other thing is, for some reason I'm very sensitive to serotonin and the T3 in the Thyroid-S instantly boosts serotonin levels. So my negative reaction could be to this, rather than the thyroid hormones themselves.

I'm back in the UK now for study but return to Thailand every few months. Does anyone think it'd be worth seeing a specialist endoctrinologist and perhaps immunologist to try to get to the bottom of all this? I've pretty much given up hope in the NHS, the last time I went the doctor claimed the cognitive problems were due to a mood disorder and put me on an antidepressant which certainly had no positive effects at all. Also, it's worth noting that I've been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease before - Reiter's Syndrome - 3 years ago, but haven't had any symptoms of it since the first few months of being diagnosed. I also have a condition called Lichen Sclerosus which developed about two or three months before I felt feverish and started experiencing these problems. LS has been linked to autoimmune and thyroid problems.

*Incidentally I got tested the day before this and my TSH was 5.6. - but T3/T4 were within the normal range. The problem is she didn't test for free T3/T4 for some reason.

T3/t4 normal range of what, you have to understand that range is huge. Have your cortisol checked many of the same problems as thyroid but different. Do not treat yourself with these drugs see a Dr. also have your hormones checked as well testosterone is important. Sounds like though you have issues that need professional help

[Sheryl]

Yes, you should definitely see an endocrinologist. It is a bad idea to self medicate thyroid problems and even worse to do so with frequent changes like this. If you can't manage t get in to see an endocrinologist specializing in thyroid in the UK, I usually recommend Dr. Rosnaee at Bumrungrad in Bkk.

Other poster's suggestion of checking testosterone levels is also good. You may have more than one thing going on.

regarding the liver enzymes -- elevated how high? And what meds are you on, how much do you drink?