treatment

[vsnair]

I was diagonised with hypothyroidism in 2006, my TSH was 9.5 mlU/L. I am now 58 years old and with all my other functions absolutley normal. I was put on 50 mg Thyronorm, later increased to 75 mg. In 2009 Septermber my TSH showed abnormally low levels with medication as above. Doctor advised reduced dosage to 50 mg. During blood test today (TSH) my levels are 15.2mlU/L, which got me worried. I really do not (or had) have any common symptoms of Hypothyroidism except possibly I am more susceptible to bad throat and comon cold. Of late despite regular heavy work outs, my weight is increasing (66 to 69 kg in last two years, I am 165 cm tall). Can you please suggest future course for me and if my medication now of 75 mg of Thyronorm (starting from tomorrow)  is correct?    Is there any  other advise with regard to foods or alcohol intake, exercise etc that you can suggest. As I mentioned, my other conditions, like sugar, cholestrol, blood pressure etc are absoutely normal.

[vsnair]

Thanks very much for your well informed reply/suggestions to my query. In the first instance when I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism (2007)  I underwent T3 and T4 tests, levels were marginally high. That was when I was put on 50 mg Thyronom. Since then I have not taken T3 or T4 tests. Do you suggest I do them now?

[Barb135]

rumpled is right -- TSH is a pituitary hormone and is not indicative of what the thyroid is really doing.  My TSH stays at less than 0.01, but my Free T3 and Free T4 levels are good and most of my symptoms have been alleviated, so I know I'm not hyper; however, my former doctor was dosing me based only on TSH and kept me sick for many months before I finally got a doctor to test my FT3 and FT4.  

Have you had antibody tests?  Do you know if you Hashimoto's thyroiditis?  

Can you post the most recent lab results you have; including reference ranges, since these are lab specific?

[rumpled]

TSH is a pituitary test, not just a thyroid test. TSH tests what the pituitary is telling the thyroid to do - so with it bouncing around, it may or may not mean thyroid, it may mean something else.

Just testing TSH alone is pretty silly for a doctor - it is not compete enough and since roughly 20% of the population has a pituitary disorder, and that can impact TSH... well, heck, I would rather you test what my thyroid is doing - find another doctor who will test your Free T3 and Free T4. And given how *bouncy* you are, get a full hormone check - it may be something else going on.