Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Help understanding why Thyroid levels are like this

I am Hypothyroid and on Levoxyl 125 mcg previously on 112 mcg.  The problem is I am going back and forth between the doses because my tsh gets low on 125 mcg then too high for someone on thyroid replacement also my free T4 and free T3 are in the range but on the low end don't understand why.
Labs
6-26-15 Tsh Ultrasensitive 1.42 range .36-3.74
              T4 Free .91 range .76-1.46
              T3 Free 2.25 range 2.18-3.98    Felt Tired was on 112 doctor says to up to 125
8-17-15 Tsh Ultrasensitive  .38 range .36-3.74  Feeling a lot better
10-2-15 Tsh Reflex .25 range .36-3.74
              T4 Free .99 range .76-1.46
              T3 Free 2.72 range 2.18-3.98 Still feeling good
Will be testing again if my tsh gets too low again like .1 doctor will probably have me go down again
              
5 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Thanks for the advise it helps.  Dealing with these doctors can be hard.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes, it can be hard to find a doctor who will ignore TSH, but it's worth the effort.  You can try to education this one.  Point out that your FT4 is only 33% of range, which is in no way too high.  FT3 is 30% of range, also far from too high.  In fact, if you were still continuing to have hypo symptoms, there would be plenty of room in there for an increase.  You feel well on 125, not so good on 112.  Relief of symptoms is what's all important.    
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No I feel good on 125 mcg only thing is that now that my tsh is going down again doctor wants me to take 1/2 pill once a week so it doesn't go to low.  On that day I feel miserable.  I think I will have to change doctors but it is so hard to find a doctor who does not ajust thyroid medication by tsh levels my family doctor does it too.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The problem is that your doctor is putting too much emphasis on TSH as most of them tend to do.  FT3 and FT4 are much more important.  The rules of thumb are that FT4 should be about midrange and FT3 upper half of range.  Your FT4 has never gotten to midrange.  Your FT3 has come up nicely on 125 mcg, but it still has a ways to go to get to upper half of range.  However the rules are made to be broken, and if you feel well on 125 mcg and don't on 112 mcg, your body is telling you something loudly and clearly.  Now, it's up to you to convince your doctor not to lower your dose again.  TSH often becomes completely useless once on meds.  

Do you still have hypo symptoms?    
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Unfortunately, even though your doctor is testing the Free T3 and Free T4, apparently, s/he isn't paying any attention to them.  Instead, it looks s/he's only paying attention to the TSH and adjusting med to keep it within the range, no matter what your FT3 and FT4 levels are...

TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone and it's not the least unusual for TSH to be suppressed when one is on adequate levels of replacement thyroid medication.  

Doctors who only go by TSH to dose medication tend to keep their patients very ill, so my suggestion is that you find a different doctor that will go by your actual thyroid hormones and dose accordingly...
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.