lOW T4 NOT LOW ENOUGH?

[6kids]

i HAVE HAD HALF MY THYROID REMOVED DUE TO A LARGE GOITER (SIZE ON AN EGG)IN 2002,
MY T4 HAS ALWAYS BEEN LOW SOMETIMES LOWER THEN OTHERS, I HAVE NOT SEEN A SPECIALIST IN YEARS. I LIVED IN A REMOTE AREA WHICH HAS MOSTLY PA NOT DOCS, EVEN IN THE AREA I AM IN NOW THERE ARE VERY FEW DOCS MOSTLY PA'S. MY AUNT LOST HER THYROID ALSO BUT SHE HAS HAD THE WHOLE THING REMOVED FROM GOITERS. EAST COST THEORY I GUESS NOT ENOUGH SALT. THE DOC SAID THE OTHER HALF OF MY THYROID WOULD MOST LIKLEY GET A GOITER ALSO AND WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE IT REMOVED SOMEDAY. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY HE CANT TELL ME WHY. HE JUST SAID THAT IS THE WAY IT HAPPENS. MY ONE SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TBG DEFICIANCY WHEN HE WAS BORN. HE IS SMALLER THEN MOST KIDS HIS AGE , AND THE DENTIST COMMENTED ON HIS TEETH BEING BEHIND IN GROWTH. I NEED TO HAVE HIM TESTED AGAIN.
IF IT IS STILL TBG. WHY CANT THEY STOP THE EFFECTS,
I DONT WANT TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER SURGERY, IS THERE SOME WAY TO PREVENT MY THYROID FROM DISINIGRATING ITSELF? THEY WONT TRY MEDS WITH ME. I HAVE SYMPTOMS FROM THE LOW T4, MY WEIGHT, PERIODS AND CRAMPY WEEK MUSCLES. BUT NO TREATMENT.
I FEEL LIKE THE DOCS ARE MISSNG SOMETHING.
TKS

[6kids]

for responding to my question.
I am in my 40's now, I did see a specialist in my later 20's and was given treatment for thyroid problems, I was young and did not ask questions then.So I was not sure what the pills were for.  I quit taking the pill after a week or two, they made my heart pulpitations worse. 5yrs later after my 2nd child I found out about the goiter. I thought they said my other side had a small one also but I dont remember ,I do remember finding out that it was not cancer which was my main concern. I let it alone, nobody recommended treatment. I moved to a remote area since then.
The pa's on the island in alaska told me after my 5th baby that the goiter was large and that they were worried about the size. They recommended I have it removed.  It was only getting larger over the years. If I would of went back to the endocronologist back in my 20's to adjust the medication I might of been goiter free? I am not sure what he found that the docs are missing now.  I am going to the reg doc in May for my yearly check up I will ask him to do the free t4 t3 tests and hoshimotos test. I moved to a larger city now, but still in Alaska
Will post after visit.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

You may have a low TBG as well if the total T4 is what keeps coming back low -- check as a free T4, free T3 and TSH to see.  Also, test antibodies to see if the goiter is related to hashimotos.  Thyroids don't need to be removed unless there is suspicion for cancer or it is large enough to cause pressure/choking symptoms.