OUTRAGED by mom's doctor

[e138]

My mom's thyroid levels have been abnormal in the past two years, indicative of HYPERthyroidism, and yet her doctor still wanted to put her on T4 in low levels. My mom has goiter as well:

TSH Results:
6/16/08 <0.004
7/8/06 <0.004
9/2/06 <0.004

TSH Standard Range: 0.450 - 5.5 uIU/mL
Optimal Range 1.3-1.8



Free T4 Results:
6/16/08 ----------- 1.9
7/8/06 ------------- 1.8

FT4 Normal Range 0.8-1.7 ng/dL
Optimal Range 1.2-1.3


Does anyone here find a TSH of <0.004 not alarming? My mom's symptoms include overall body pain, joint pains, heart palpitations, sugar cravings, shaking intermittently when she misses her meal. VERY IRRITABLE. Very Short temper.

So we emailed her doctor and here was the reply:

You should remember that I did start you on levothroid and I have been reducing your medication dose for last few years from 100 mcg a day as far as I can remember to the current 75 mcg 1/2 tab daily. I also refer you to endocrinology few years ago and Dr. ******* did your thyroid biopsy but did not give advice about whether you should take more or less levothroid.

Go to www.thyroid-info.com/articles/muscle-joint-pain.htm. They have mention hyperthyroid usually don't cause pain. I think your pain is from overuse and fnot from levothroid.
You can start taking 1/2 tablet every other day and recheck blood In a month. Tell lab to carry orders from June and August.
If your T4 and TSH is still abnormal or indicating hyperthyroidism then we should stop the levothroid.
However your goiter may enlarged and if big enough then may cause pressure to the neck structures.
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What should we do? We asked for anti-thyroid meds but that's the response we got. What's your take on our situation? How do we lower her TSH and T4? Anti-Thyroid Meds and her levothroid put to total stop? Thanks. Remember it's been more than 2 years and her TSH hasn't changed while her T4 actually increased.

[e138]

hi stella

her thyroid's overactive due to thyroid medication . T4 od

[stella5349]

Is her thyroid overactive due to thyroid medication - or is is naturally going through hyperthyroidism?

I had trouble understanding this due to you saying she is on levothyroid????

If she is taking a thyroid medication she is overmedicated and needs to taper.

Please clarify this question of her condition first.

Thanks

[e138]

Thank you for sharing and for your kind words. That was very disheartening. We're keeping our options open, but I wouldn't agree on administering her with radioactive iodine, not until we tried all the oral med options. I guess it would be a good idea to get her TSI and TPO antibodies checked to rule out Hashimoto's and Graves'

[momof2boys94]

I have had trouble with my thyroid for 5 years now. It started out hyper. I have had all the same symptoms as your mom. My heart rate was over 140 and with a husband that was a truck driver and two young boys at home, I prayed every nite that I would not stroke out. I was then given the radioactive iodine I-131 radiation pill to zap my thyroid.

Now, I was hypo. I was on as much as 300+ of the synthroid, levothroid, whatever else.  When I was 1st diagnosed, I was on as many as 16 pills a day. My body was not absorbing the medication. I was finally put on levothyroxine, an injection form of the levothyroid.  This was able to be absorbed into my system with 2 shots every other day.  Now, this medication is no longer available and I was back to square one. A shot in the dark led my doctor to thyroid armour.  I am down to taking 180 mg (just two small pills) and my levels are within the normal range.

I can sympathize with both you and your mother. Keep the faith. Things will get better. It does take a while. Maybe you should go for a 2nd opinion. It wouldn't hurt and may even help her faster. I've been through 2 doctors in Illinois already. My doctor now keeps a good eye on me and checks my labs every 6 weeks.  Good Luck and keep in touch.

momof2boys94