I'm a 38 year old female, 5'11", 130 lbs., in very good health. I was diagnosed as hypothyroid several years ago after a TSH test came back at over 28. I was put on 0.05mg of Eltroxin, and my TSH normalized quickly. The following year it was 0.6; the next it was 0.5; but in June 2007 it went back up to 2.58. No big worry...but over the past six months I seemed to develop signs of having too much thyroxine (lost 10 lbs., sleeplessness, anxiety...which I had thought were simply related to an increase in stress in my life).
A couple of weeks ago I went for my annual blood work, and my TSH was only 0.04. My GP has now put me on 0.025mg of Synthroid. I asked whether the unusually low TSH result could be an anomaly, and he said no. I asked what the possible reason could be for a drop like that, and he said, "Sometimes it just happens." I'm not particularly reassured by either answer.
My questions are:
* could stress and weight loss affect TSH? if not, are there other factors that could cause a temporary drop or spike? and have I been switched too soon?
* Eltroxin was working fine (eventually too well, I suppose) and I had no problems on it, but I have heard many stories of people having problems with Synthroid -- is it a mistake to switch brands? I know Eltroxin doesn't make a 0.025mg dose, but I'm very nervous about Synthroid...especially since my doctor has said he'll keep me on it (at 0.025mg and all subsequent increases in dosage) instead of switching me back to Eltroxin, if needed.
* at what point is it reasonable to request a referral to an endocrinologist? I saw one when I was first diagnosed, but didn't need to go back because of the quick normalization. As mentioned, I'm not 100% confident in my family doctor.
Many thanks in advance!