T4 Level still 2 low

[used2bconfident]

T4 level is very low, 20mg a day. But after a month on medication still very very low.  I'm thinnking of going to a specialist.  I opt not to have surgery, feeling an alternative should be an option first.

[GravesLady]

How low?

What are your FTs?

20mg of what?

Surgery for what again.

Depending what thyroid meds. you are taking, full effects don't come until 6 to 8 and some times 12 weeks. So your T-4 may not be correct, that is, at its fullest potential.   And of course, again, that depends on what thyroid meds. you are taking.

Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!

GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2000 - SAS  - Short Attention Span (short, spaced paragraphs, sweet and to the point helps)
2002 -  IED  - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
2007 -  A/ITP (suspect)

[used2bconfident]

How low? 4.51  (normal range is 6.09-12.23 ug/dl)

What are FTs?

I;m taking 20mg of Methimazole (thyroid medication)

Suggested surgery for enlarged thyroid, many nodules found.  I was just recently diagnosed (hyperthyroidism), and I'm just confused and so much information.  So any support/suggestions would be helpful. Thanks for responding!

[GravesLady]

What was your TSH?  

FTs are Free T-4 and Free T-3.  Ts are Total T-4 and Total T-3.

If you are estrogen whether  natural or meds. , FTs are the best  test, because estrogen interferes with the Ts but does not interfere with the FTs. So you might not be getting the best analogy with the T-4 test.

With that said, your T-4 suggest hypo, not hyper.  Actually the TSH tells this best and T-4 comfirms.

But hard to tell what is going on without knowing all three test, TSH and both FTs, for they relate what your thyroid status actually is. Then other test might be done to confirm.

If your TSH is going up with the Meth. the T-4 will or should go in the opposite direction, which will  bring your T-4 lower, and with a low T-4  tells something else is going on. Normally nodules don't have an effect on thyroid levels unless it is a hyper-functioning nodule, in which case meds are not going to effect levels because the hyper-functioning nodule has control. Also
hyper-functioning nodule is just that, levels will be on the hyper side of the issue. Where your T-4 is not.

If you go to a specialist - endo., make sure the doctor treats many thyroid patients a year.  Many specialize in diabetes and know less about thyroid.

Yes, at first it is confusing, but keep reading and researching your condition so that you will have knowledge and  an informed input with your treatment.

Good Luck.

Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!

GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyper-functioning nodule)

[used2bconfident]

I have an appointment today to discuss my test scores. I think I'm going to ask her to defer me to a specialist. Because I do believe that I need a second opinion. And you know, my smpytoms are much closer to hypo than hyper.  So yea, alot of research and information is going to help.  Thanks for your support!