Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

New labs....very confused!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since I switched from Synthroid to dessicated thyroid, my labs have been very screwy. My FT4 never gets into range, my tsh keeps getting lower and my FT3 slowly gets higher. It's really confusing my doctor and me as well. On Synthroid, my FT3 and FT4 always moved at about the same pace. So why on dessicated thyroid is the FT4 hardly budging and why is it lower on a higher dose?

Here are my labs from the last several weeks:
1/29/10 (after being off thyroid meds for 2 weeks)
TSH 5.905 (.35-4.5)
FT4 .62 (.89-1.8)
FT3 1.8 (2.3-4.2)

2/3/10 (after being on 60mg dessicated thyroid)
TSH 2.922 (.35-4.5)
FT4 .76 (.89-1.8)
FT3 2.4 (2.3-4.2)

2/11/10 (after being on 90mg dessicated thyroid)
TSH .499 (.35-4.5)
FT4 .72 (.89-1.8) *this is lower than last time*
FT3 2.7 (2.3-4.2)
6 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
i so hear you and feel your pain.  i guess the answer is to keep shopping until we find the right dr. my dr doesnt know much about t3 meds but she is open minded and so i like her. she ordered the ft3 because i asked her to, she ordered the t3 because i asked her to-  so i feel like im driving my own case which is good and bad.  i hope this new dr can help you.  let us know how you make out with it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I actually am seeing a new doc in a couple weeks. This will be the 6th doctor I've seen in less than a year. I've lost all hope in the medical profession. They all are TSH obsessed and because we don't look sick, they're afraid to give us more meds. It's not like we're asking for heroin. You wouldn't give a heart transplant patient only half a heart, so why are these docs only giving us half a thyroid by keeping us on low doses??
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i think im at the point to say that if the doc doesn t increase your med start looking for another doc...  i think we are all so over these under educated non enlightened arrogant doctors.there is a list of good docs on mary's site.    GOD SPEED
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My symptoms are all very hypo, I feel like crap and I'm having a hard time breathing. I know I need to be on a higher dose and to ignore the TSH, but how do you convince these docs of that? I can only take what they're willing to prescribe for me.

My doc took me off thyroid meds for two weeks to see if my thyroid problems were pituitary related. I've read when you're on dessicated thyroid, you should slowly increase every two weeks. I think it works differently than Synthroid, which does need 4-6 weeks to be absorbed.
Helpful - 0
231441 tn?1333892766
hi,

ignore the TSH.

You need an increase in dessicated to get the FT3 yo and i would also add in T4 med.  Keep adjusting to get both FT3 and FT4 levels to mid range or higher.

Testing every week is too frequent for your levels to stabilise.  I'd increase the dessicated one more time (maybe to 120) and then test in another 4 - 6 weeks. At that time increase the dessicated or add in a t4 med only, if required) depending on where your results are.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i don t know as much as the others and hope they will respond but i wonder how do you feel?  to me, it looks like your frees and too low and you tsh seems a little high.  it seems like maybe you re undermedicated but like i said i don t know that much. do you have symptoms?  i know that when i switched from brand to generic i had a big transition time and it was very difficult. maybe thats what this is??  maybe our bodies get comfortable with one type of med and when we change it rocks the boat.  why did you stop meds for two weeks.  maybe your body is trying to catch up?  
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.