HELP/ Would you take take thyroid

[mary56]

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos, 3 years ago.  My antibody levels were thru the roof, but my all my other levels were fine.  I have gone to several endos and my current one says I should give thyroid meds a try.  She gave me a minute dose of levoxyl 25mcg but then half of that 12.5mcg.  These are my symptoms, Weight gain, depression, dry eyes, plantar fasciatis, fatigue, no stamina, dry mouth.  My levels are the following
TSH  2.09  range  .34-4.8    FT3 3.22  range 2.3-4.22   FT4 .9  range .6-1.61   So you see my dilemma but yet I have all of they symptoms and they are getting worse.  I really cant even function, I have to push myself. I have had my adrenals checked and they are fine.
What would you do, I do not want to put my self into hyper either, been there one time about 3 years ago and it came back up, that is how they found out about the Hashi.  Any help would be appreciated.   I cant keep living like this, I have no life.

[Barb135]

I take selenium every day; and while it hasn't done anything to bring my FT3 up or lower the antibody count, it does seem to help keep things on a more even keel.  It doesn't work for everyone though; not even for me, all the time.  

I agree with the others that the low dose of med would be helpful.  With your FT4 at only 0.9 with a range of 0.6-1.61, you have a long way to go before you get where you might need to be.  With your FT3 as high as it is, most likely, you don't have a conversion issue, so starting at 12.5 for a month, then increasing to 25 may be enough to alleviate your symptoms, but not likely to make you hyper.  

[stella5349]

Mary - keep in mind that you have been dx'd Hashimoto apparently and thyroid labs may be up and down some b/c of this condition

Whether autoimmune or not - it seems that both conditions are treated no different and that is very hard to really determine.

Suppression - maybe with selenium could help you alot.

[mary56]

I am going to try the 12.5mcg and start really slow.  Thank you all for the input, this is a great group. You do not know what suffering I have been thru or you probably do.  Thank you again
Mary

[LazyMoose]

Supposudly selenium (max of 200 mcg per day) helps in the converion process from T4 to T3. I have not noticed or experienced this myself. I only mentioned it since you were on such a low dose of levoxyl and it doesnt look like it should take much to get your Free T 3 up a little. The best thing for you is obviously  thyroid med, but you seemed a little reluctant at this stage. At the begining of Hashi one can swing from hypo to hyper, that might be what happened to you earlier. As Hashi progresses the hyper episodes will become minimal, and maybe never happen again.  Now that I look at your T4 and T3, I would think your TSH would be a little higher than it is. Were all different.

[goolarra]

I agree with Sally...move VERY slowly.  I don't think it will make you go hyper, either, especailly since you currently have a lot of hypo symptoms.  If you are over 50, OR have been hypo for more than a few months, OR have a heart arrythmia, the starting dose of levo should be 12.5-25 mcg.  So, your doctor is doing the right thing.  I'd take his advice...I think you'll feel much better.

[Super_sally888]

My 2c is that the dose of 12.5 mcg and then later 25 mcg won't likely cause you to go hyper, but it should be enough to let you know if it really helps your symptoms.  I'd increase very slowly though.  4 weeks on the 12.5 before going up to 25 mcg.  Then test after 6 weeks.  

[mary56]

What does the  Selenium do?  I really do not take any mulitvits, actually this is weird I cannot take Vitamin D as it gives me hot flashes.  Weird huh, so you too, do not think that the thyroid would be of benefit either.  HMMMM.  

[mary56]

The endo gave me 25mcg of Levoxyl but to only take 1/2 tab or 12.5mcg to start, as I have PVC's and she did not want to get my heart going.  Actually my TSH was .76 3 years ago and I lost 30 lbs was in bed for 2 mos they never did quite figure it out thought it was Epstein Barr.  I have never been the same since.  Actually had to retire from my job. I am 59 now.  So basically, like the endo, said she really did not think it was my thyroid eventhough my TGAB and TPO were sky high.    So this is why I am confused.  All I know is I am not the same anymore and really thought it was my thyroid as my mother was severe hypo.  I see Lazy Moose posted taking Selenium.   thanks for any help.

[LazyMoose]

Your frees arent really that low. I'm surprised you have symptoms at those levels. All you can do is try low doses of med since you tested positive for Hashi and see how you feel in a month. Do you take 200mg of selenium per day, that alone might get your FT3 up a little whhich could be the cause of symptoms right now. But if you truly have Hashi, your T hormones will drop in time warranting thyroid replacement  med.

[goolarra]

Just because you are "in range" does not mean you are going to feel well.  Many people are still miserably hypo with FT3 and FT4 in the lower part of the range.  FT4 is at 30% of range.  The rule of thumb for FT4 is midrange, so that could be a little higher.  FT3 is just below midrange, and the recommendation here is upper half to third, so this could go up a fair amount.  Of course, we are all different, and these recommendations may not apply to you exactly, but they are a good starting point.

Are you on 25 mcg or 12.5 mcg?  I'm sorry, but I don't understand.

Under what conditions did you go hypo a few years ago?  Do you have any other medical conditions that thyroid meds might affect?  How long have you been having hyp symptoms?  How old are you?