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How quickly do most people become hypo?
How long does it take for most people to have their Free T4 and Free T3 fall under range?
I'm trying to figure out how long I've been hypo.
Thx!
I'm trying to figure out how long I've been hypo.
Thx!
So your doctor wants to ignore your having Hashi's? Weren't you tested for Thyroid peroxidase and Thyroglobulin antibodies?
Also, how can he ignore your symptoms and your lab results, shown as follows.
TSH 1.5, range 0.3-4.5. FT4 0.69, range 0.9-1.6. T3 Free 1.5, range 2.0-4.0.
And yes, you need the thyroid med regardless of the diagnosed cause.
Also, how can he ignore your symptoms and your lab results, shown as follows.
TSH 1.5, range 0.3-4.5. FT4 0.69, range 0.9-1.6. T3 Free 1.5, range 2.0-4.0.
And yes, you need the thyroid med regardless of the diagnosed cause.
Interesting appointment. He made me run labs again. Waiting now for tomorrow, and he says if FT3 is low then I can begin Cytomel. However, he mentioned maybe it's not thyroid at all -- and potentially wants to take me off ALL medicine. He thinks it may be hemotomachrosis damage. But, wouldn't I still need thyroid meds if damage had occurred from iron?
Your test results were pretty recent. Should not need to be done again. If not tested recently for B12 and Vitamin D, then might be good to do those.
Yes, you can stay on T3. T3 is a thyroid hormone also produced by your own thyroid when functioning correctly. So it is not something unnatural. There is nothing dangerous about T3 unless you were to take way too much and get your Free T3 way over the range. But you want to take just enough to relieve hypo symptoms. If you get too much you will find out rather quick due to hyper symptoms. So slow and sure is the best approach to thyroid meds.
You might want to get your doctor to give you a prescription for at least 10 mcg of T3 so that you can start on 5 and work up to 10 after a week or so. Then you should go back and re-test for Free T3 and Free T4, just to confirm where you are and if needed request another increase..
Yes, you can stay on T3. T3 is a thyroid hormone also produced by your own thyroid when functioning correctly. So it is not something unnatural. There is nothing dangerous about T3 unless you were to take way too much and get your Free T3 way over the range. But you want to take just enough to relieve hypo symptoms. If you get too much you will find out rather quick due to hyper symptoms. So slow and sure is the best approach to thyroid meds.
You might want to get your doctor to give you a prescription for at least 10 mcg of T3 so that you can start on 5 and work up to 10 after a week or so. Then you should go back and re-test for Free T3 and Free T4, just to confirm where you are and if needed request another increase..
I called the office and explained all my symptoms (constipation, hair falling out, freezing cold, completely tired, weight gain), and they scheduled me for today. :) The receptionist said "sounds like you need to get started on some Cytomel", so I hope the doctor agrees with that, too.
I have my arsenal of printed papers, haha. Plus, just how crummy I am feeling should be enough evidence in my opinion. Do you think I will need to do labs again? Or not necessary, in light of me being symptomatic?
I may have asked this already, apologies if so (brain is not working at optimal capacity), but can you stay on T3 for a very long time/for life? Or is it dangerous to one's health?
I have my arsenal of printed papers, haha. Plus, just how crummy I am feeling should be enough evidence in my opinion. Do you think I will need to do labs again? Or not necessary, in light of me being symptomatic?
I may have asked this already, apologies if so (brain is not working at optimal capacity), but can you stay on T3 for a very long time/for life? Or is it dangerous to one's health?
Well, in your last labs, your Free T4 was at 50% of the range, yet your Free T3 was only at 10% of its range. Obviously you are not converting the T4 to T3 adequately. Just adding more T4 is not going to change that, so you need to add some T3 to your meds. Yes, it takes 4-6 weeks to get full effect on serum levels from dose changes of T4 med; however that dose change is very unlikely to do much for you. So with you being so miserable, why wait? Also, with your Free T4 level, there should be no need to reduce your T4 med.
Your Free T3 was at rock bottom and Free T3 correlates best with hypo symptoms, like those you are having. Inadequate conversion of T4 to T3 is a common problem for hypothyroid patients. A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
Maybe a copy of the above link might open the doctor's eyes. If however, he reverts to the old argument that you can read anything on the internet, then give him a copy of the paper that the doctor presented to the Scottish Parliament. The paper includes tons of supporting references to scientific studies. Your doctor won't have any sources to support what he is doing, other than it being what he was told in med school.
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_PublicPetitionsCommittee/General%20Documents/PE1463_C_Dr_Henry_Lindner_07.03.13.pdf
Your Free T3 was at rock bottom and Free T3 correlates best with hypo symptoms, like those you are having. Inadequate conversion of T4 to T3 is a common problem for hypothyroid patients. A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
Maybe a copy of the above link might open the doctor's eyes. If however, he reverts to the old argument that you can read anything on the internet, then give him a copy of the paper that the doctor presented to the Scottish Parliament. The paper includes tons of supporting references to scientific studies. Your doctor won't have any sources to support what he is doing, other than it being what he was told in med school.
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_PublicPetitionsCommittee/General%20Documents/PE1463_C_Dr_Henry_Lindner_07.03.13.pdf
Well, I am considering calling in on Monday and demanding some T3. I *am* feeling better these days, but not everything is optimized (not by a long shot).
I am just concerned I'll seem a bit loony if I call and demand early appointment time, when he told me I had to wait 6 weeks before we changed anything. Is it worth waiting for? I mean, I'm still freezing, I still can't use the bathroom, and I am still having joint & muscle aches.
Plus I am losing so much hair (from my head).
Also, will I need to decrease my Synthroid if/when I can get some T3?
I am just concerned I'll seem a bit loony if I call and demand early appointment time, when he told me I had to wait 6 weeks before we changed anything. Is it worth waiting for? I mean, I'm still freezing, I still can't use the bathroom, and I am still having joint & muscle aches.
Plus I am losing so much hair (from my head).
Also, will I need to decrease my Synthroid if/when I can get some T3?
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Interpretation of test results
Question:
Could someone please comment on these test results? Ferritin, Serum: 45 -- range 15-150. Iron Bind Cap. (TIBC): 422 -- range 250-450. Iron Saturation: 55% -- range 15-55%. Iron, Serum: 232 H -- range 35-155. UIBC: 190 -- range 150-375. [Lab Tests Online Question referred from: /understanding/analytes/ferritin/tab/faq]
Answer:
Response:
Thank you for contacting the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS). We are a team of laboratory professionals who volunteer our time and expertise to assist consumers in understanding laboratory tests and results. We try to answer questions within 72 hours, but due to the large volume, we occasionally need more time. An Iron Saturation of 55% is borderline high. All of your other values are normal. You did not give your age or gender which can have a bearing on interpretation of these test results. Also, iron studies should be done on a fasting early morning specimen and you should be off of any iron supplements for at least a week. If you complied with the above, then I would suggest having the tests repeated just to make sure that the saturation level is correct. If it stays the same (i.e. increased or borderline high), depending on your age and gender, you may want to consider some follow-up testing for the condition known as hemochromatosis, or at the very least, repeat the iron studies in six months to see if the % saturation is staying the same or increasing.