So sorry. Yes, I had this problem with 7 doctors. No lie. Yes, you need a doctor that can also watch your symptoms and check the Ft3. Also, one that will check adrenals, ferritin, vitamin d, B12.
Some doctors might put you on thyroid medication, but are reluctant to give you enough to feel good.
Your Ft4 should be in the middle are above the middle of the range, and the TSH just doesn't work on dosing with thyroid medication.
He will be happy when my FT4 is anywhere between 9-24, (currently 6.3) and my TSH is below 5! (currently above 75)
Has anyone else had problems like this?
This is why I'm not seeing my GP at the health center when thyroid issues are concerned and I am quite happy to pay for my private endo once a year If your doc is provided by the NHS I'd stick with this him until those levels are "within range" and ditch him if still not feeling fine and he's not going to do anything about it.
I'm not sure what the ranges for your FT4 are to begin with so I can't comment on that and the <5 for TSH is fine as long as he doesn't freak if you get down to around .03 or so
But I definitely agree with Lady, FT4 and TSH are the least useful of the acceptable tests out there, you need much more to properly monitor treatement and you need to look at your symptoms over all. But if you are in the UK, then you are probably not going to get more testing and you are lucky your doc isn't looking for a TSH <10 for your goal.
I prefer a doctor that goes by a combo of blood work (to make sure you are safe) and how you feel.....but in the meantime, with your tsh that high, you have a little ways to go and time to find the new doctor.
Went private and got the following results:-
Got my results through the post
thyroglobin 2168 (0-40)
peroxidase microsomal >1000 (0-35)
tsh is looking good 53.4 (0.4 - 4.0)
tt4 - 55.6 looking good too (58-154)
ft4 - 8.6 good too (10-22)
ft3 very good 4.63 (2.8 -6.5)
this one i dont understand ft4-ft3 ratio 1.86 (3-5)
any help with the last one?
tsh is looking good 53.4 (0.4 - 4.0)
tt4 - 55.6 looking good too (58-154)
ft4 - 8.6 good too (10-22)
Why would you say any of these looks "good"? They're miserable. Your FT4 ought to be at least 16, TSH should be 1 or less. TT4 doesn't count for anything, ignore it.
(Edit... Oh, now I see. They're showing positive movement compared to your original labs. True. But they're nowhere near "good" as in close to normal.)
Yes, your FT3 does look good. But it's likely only because most of your T4 is being converted in order to keep your body upright and breathing. This can happen when a person is a "good converter".
Your hypoT is being caused by Hashimoto's disease. Hence the positive antibody tests
Yes i have the feeling my doctor will upped my thyroxine to 200mcg or a wee bit more, so it is just in range, and stop.
I read somewhere that you can get hyper also with hashimotos?, would i have had this all my life?, and i presume when you say a good converter thats why i sometimes feel ok with these levels
You might feel better with the Ft3 at the very top of the range, with Ft4 being about the middle. If you get too much Ft4 it can sometimes cause Reverse T3. With Reverse T3 you can have hypo symptoms with depression.
The Ft4 is only a storage hormone which must convert to Ft3, and the Ft3 is the active hormone. Having low FT3 can cause many health problems such as depression, heart disease, high cholesterol, etc.
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** RAI ablation for Graves disease 2004**
Yes, you need a doctor that can also watch your symptoms and check the Ft3. Also, one that will check adrenals, ferritin, vitamin d, B12.
