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Do I keep taking Synthroid

I have been treated by my Dr for 15years now for hypothyroidism. I've complained a few times that I still feel tired and my symptoms are just not gone. I went to a new Dr a few weeks ago and he said they never check the right thyroid, that they should check the free T3. Well mine came back at 246 which this Dr felt was to low and felt it would be good to drop the syntroid and just take this prescription he wrote out for me to for the free T3. From what I've read my level was normal for the T3. Is it wise to drop my synthoid if the TSH levels are ok and do I really need to add T3 if my level are within the range? Won't I possibly be setting myself up for hyperthyroidism?
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734073 tn?1278896325
Your freet3 looks too low to me. TSH is fine. Your t4 neeeds to come down into range I would think. Free t4 looks mid range, so that's good. The free t3 should line up in same area as freet4 (mid to high normal) I like to put each number on its own  bell shape curve, with the reference ranges at each end and chart it. It gives you a good visual, and makes things simple to see and track. Remember that your freet3and freet4 should never be below the middle of the curve. They should be either right on center or on the right side. They should also be in the same area. TSH is usually okay down at the bottom of the curve somewhere. (around 1),but not over 2. Hope this helps you. Good luck and stay on top of things.Get the book.( 2008 edition) It's an easy read and he makes everything so clear.
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Avatar universal
Thanks all for the feedback it makes me feel better. Let me see if I can answer some of these questions:

My Dr. did not check for T4 and I remember the reasoning behind that. He said that all T4 must convert to T3 to be used anyway. So altimately it was the FT3 that he was looking for. It made sense to me.
Here is what I am taking now: FT3 (Liothyronine) -15MCG twice a day
                                            Synthroid .05mg once a day

With the Synthroid in my system the last blood work I have on my TSH and T4 levels was this:
TSH - 1.43 with RANGE 0.365 - 5.50 ( this seems on the low side to me I'm surprised they haven't tried to up this too. Why not?
T4 - 12.5 (High) with RANGE 4.5 - 10.9 (so it seems my T4's are ok)
FT4 - 1.43 with RANGE 0.89 - 1.76

The blood work for the FT3 was done by another doctor. I had the blood work done twice and these are the results one with Synthroid in my system and one without. I forgot to take my medicine the first test. You will love the results.
Without the syntroid FT3 - 245 and the RANGE is 230-420
With the synthroid FT3 - 246 ( not much difference.)

Being my TSH levels are not that great I think I need to talk to my Dr about uping the TSH or just staying on it. I'm not coming off it yet because I feel the same way as Barb does that I don't want this to be my only thyroid med. My poor thyroid needs all the help it can get.

As for the antibody testing no, none was done for that. I have never officially been diagnosed with Hashimoto's but when I look it up, I'd say it was me to a T. I have all the systems except the depression. My skin is SO dry and my hair SO brittle. Brushing it will break it. These are the symptoms I would love to get rid of. My cold sensitivity is so bad that I moved from VT to TN just to have a longer warm season even though I love the snow, I can't handle the cold like I could before I got this.
If you all have any other thoughts let me know. I will check this book out sounds like it could be very helpful too.
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
I have to echo what the other 2 have said...  I would also wonder why your doctor is taking you completely off the synthroid (T4 med).  What T3 med is he putting you on?  I am on cytomel which is a T3 only med and I most certainly would not want for it to be the only med I take for my thyroid.  T3 meds are very fast acting and leave the system in a short time -- T4 meds, stay with you and build up over time.  Is your doctor putting you on a T4/T3 combo?  

It's fantastic that your doctor will still give you T3 even though your levels fall in the "normal" category.  It's best to have your Free T4 and Free T3 levels in the upper part of their ranges - I don't know the range on yours, but if it's near what my lab uses, you are really at the very bottom and could benefit from more, BUT all of your levels need to be looked at, at the same time.....Just because your TSH is in the "normal" range, doesn't really mean anything - what is the range that your lab uses?  Some labs, mine included uses a range of 0.4 - 4.5, which is way outdated.  The new range is 0.3 - 3.0, so if you are over 3.0, yours is too high.....and you would still be hypo, which goes along with your symptoms..........

On the other hand, MY TSH runs VERY low (0.03) and I'm doing better than I have in ages........so as gimel said - don't go just by the TSH since it's a pituitary hormone.  

Have you had antibody testing done?  Do you know if you have Hashimoto's?  

If you can post the tests you've had done, along with the reference ranges used by your lab, that would be great...........

Helpful - 0
734073 tn?1278896325
Gimel is right. Please listen to her. Also, the book: Overcoming Thyroid Disorders by Dr. David Brownstein, is very informative. You can get it on Amazon.com. He really is a genious when it comes to issues with Thyroid and truly understands the importance of Free t3 being available in the body. You must have enough t3 for the body to function as it should. This is even at the cellular level!!! It effects everything:Organ function, metabolism, digestion, energy, cognition, etc. The list just goes on and on and on!!! If your doctor does not get all this, even if he or she is a so called 'SPEcialist" then please find someone who does and can keep you healthy!
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Avatar universal
First of all, congratulations on finding a doctor that checks FT3 and doesn't stop doing anything if it falls somewhere within the range. That's a good start.  The ranges for FT3 and FT4 are so broad that just being within the low limit doesn't assure that it is high enough to alleviate symptoms.
Did he also check for FT4?  It's important to know both, for they are the biologically active thyroid hormones, with FT3 being the most active of the two.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by many variables and does not correlate very well at all with hypo symptoms.  The "Frees" are much more important and FT3 correlates best with hypo symptoms.

How much synthroid were you taking?  How much T3 has the doctor prescribed?  Can you please post the results for thyroid tests that have been done, along with reference ranges.  Really need to know more, in order to give you even a reasonable response.
Helpful - 0
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