I had a total thyroidectomy at 2 years of age for a large goiter. My mom had thyroid cancer and her mom had thyroid cancer.
I have been on Synthroid 125 mcg my entire life and was ok until I think hormones developed. I fluctuate in weight about 10 lbs every month.
I've been on every anti-depressant although I have no reason to be depressed. I love my life and friends.
I recently saw an endo who put me on 137mcg and also re-drew my labs.
Results:
TSH: 3.983
T4, Free 1.03
I have ALL the typical symptoms of hypo, but my MAIN complaints are severe fatigue, headaches and not sleeping at night.
My Internist put me on a blood pressure pill, Inderal this week b/c he said my blood pressure was very high. 147/96. I am 5'6" and weigh 135 lbs.
I just requested the labs today to be faxed so I'm wondering if I should be on a higher dose of Synthroid. I'm still very tired - not sleepy - FATIGUE. I've only been on the Inderal a week so it's not that.
I f/u with the endo next month. I can't go on like this. I know my TSH is WNL but I've also read the range has changed to .3-3 now and they're thinking of changing the range to .3-2. I would much rather be below 2 and be NORMAL!
Should I request her to increase the Synthroid or add a combo T3???
I wish the surgeon from 30 years ago had left a partial of my thyroid. My mom has half of her's left and is on 75 mcg and feels great with tons of energy. She's also a size 4...NOT FAIR....But hindsight I guess. I'm also lucky I didn't develop cancer. I guess I should be thankful.
You're hypo. Your MD should be aiming for TSH of 1 or lower, and your FT4 should be at least 1.3 or so. If you really want the best evaluation of your levels, insist on a FT3 test as well. It should be equal in proportion to your FT4 in order to feel well.
The increased dose may be exactly what you need. You should have bloodwork again 6-8 weeks after you've taken it. If your TSH is still above 1, push for another small increase and go from there.
TSH and Ft4 alone are insufficient to treat you by.
You need to fight for optimal Fts and TSH while on a T4 only supplement. If you are put on a T3 supplement as well or a T4/T3 combo like Armour.. you punt the TSH all together and go on Fts alone. Where do you want to be in the FTs range.
Well you want your Fts to be with in 10% of each other, and in the 50-80% of normal range where your symptoms become negligible. Symptoms do matter as does your active T3 concentration. if you Endo is not willing to listen, it may be time to MD shop. Maybe the reason it is so hard to find a good thyroid MD is because they are attempting to satisfy the inate female gather and shop instinct. *snort*
SInce you didn't list the range for your FT4.. I will use one of the common dominant ones so i can give you the formula for determining your percentages:
TSH: 3.983 (.3 - 3.0) Just for giggles... 3.683/2.7*100 = 136% so 36% above the top range of normal.. you are hypoT according to A A C E's change in standards back in 2002. They are considering readjustment to .35-2.5.. studies have not come back and been approved on that as of yet. Optimal range is .89-1.1 in the 3.0 range study. The .3-3.0 range was established by statistical gaussian curve manipulation. 85% of normal thyroid function individuals sit in the .89-1.1 region.
T4, Free 1.03 assumption (.8-1.8) [1.03-.8]/[1.8-.8]*100 = 17%... way too LOW by the assumed range.
Fight for optimization. And get an FT3 and T3 Uptake run. Were you determined to have Hashimoto's? Did the biopsy of your thyroid reveal such a condition? have they tested your ferritin and B12 levels? These are important to look into as well.
MG
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If we learn by our mistakes, I am working on one hell of an education.
Not sure about the FTS. She's a new Endo I finally found here in Houston/The woodlands. I tried the Armour for 6 months but gained 15 lbs which I was told was unusual and was still very fatigued. I'm not sure about the original path/biopsy - the surgery was done 28 years ago. They just told my mother it was very large and had to remove it all.
TSH and Free T4 
