Cold again.

[JKenton]

About ten years ago I had developed severe cold intolerance, and during that time, had my thyroid function tested regularly because I had TPO antibodies. The tests always came back fine or borderline low, and I eventually convinced myself that the cold intolerance was from having fallen asleep in a hot car one summer and getting a little too overheated.

A few months ago I was losing my mind, but still had enough sense to go get my thyroid checked, and my TSH was greatly elevated. The doctor put me on 25MCG of synthroid and after about three weeks, my cold intolerance went away....I wasn't even expecting this because I had thought it wasn't from my thyroid.

I was quite happy about this. I had my thyroid rechecked at the end of that month and my TSH was down to 5.5, so they upped my synthroid dose to 50MCG.

After about three months, my brain fog went away, and I was able to eat a normal sized meal, but I began to start getting chilled easily again. I went to have my levels tested and everything came back fine.

TSH  1.2   Range: 0.3-4.7
FT4   1.3   Range: 0.8-1.6
FT3:  269  Range: 249-405

Has this happened to anyone? Am I just doomed to wear jackets when it's 72F out?

[MarilynDG]

You show the ranges for hormone levels:
TSH  1.2   Range: 0.3-4.7
FT4   1.3   Range: 0.8-1.6
FT3:  269  Range: 249-405

Notice they are rather large ranges. Meaning what is normal for one person is low for another. Truthfully, I have a rare form of an autoimmune hypothyroid disease. My TSH is less than .001% (meaning it is so low that it can't be measured). My FT4 was 2.3 and FT3 was 470. And I seemed to be okay. Then I got cold!!!! My FT4 had dropped to 1.5 and my FT3 was at 350. For me, that is too low. I take high levels of Synthroid as was as Cytomel. What was good for 6 months all of a sudden was too low. For the past 5 years, we have worked on stablizing my levels. When we find a good level, and give it a few months, my body ramps up the ani-bodies and down go my levels. Right now I am cold.

When your medicine levels are raised, they are usually raised by .25 mg at a time. Higher levels can cause heart problems. They give you a couple of months for your body to get used to it. When they test again, they will determine if you need more or are good where you are. But remember that  you are the one with the low thyroid and you know when you are not feeling right. Don't let doctors tell you that you are fine when you are not. It took 15 months of arguing with the local clinic that my levels were too low. Finally one of the PAs referred me to a specialist, who found that my levels were 2/3 of normal. The clinic tested the TSH only. They needed to test the FT4/FT3, but didn't. I no longer let them test my thyroid.

Symptoms that come with a low thyroid include the hair falling out, nail brittle, skin dry, feeling cold all the time, constipation, forgetfulness, edema (water retention), exhaustion, depression, heart and blood pressure problems, and the list goes on and on. (fun list to read at: http://www.*************************/long-and-pathetic/) The scary one for me was congestive heart failure.

[JKenton]

That could be it. I've been trying to get my levels up for a while now.

[Smilerdeb]

Have you had Vit. D checked?
I found I was extremely cold when levels normal but Vit. D deficeincy.