TSH documentation to show doctor

[faith63]

My doc plans to lower my dosage of Thyroid meds, if my TSH becomes/stays suppressed.  I need to try this added T3, because of hypo symptoms returning once my dosage was lowered, last time.  FT3 and FT4 are both pretty much mid range now.  She says that the suppressed TSH is associated with Osteoporosis and Heart Disease and Strokes.  Does anyone know where I can get some literature showing her that it's not the TSH, but being Hyper that is the issue?

Thank you so much

[Totie]

My endo says the same thing....

Lowered 200mcg to 188mcg back on April 4,2013.  Worried about the heart..However, I was fine and did not have any hyper symptoms...

TSH .02 (.36 - 3.74)
Thyroxine Free 1.84  (.76- 1.76)

I was not happy....but I can say so far, 'THANK GOD", can't tell a difference..Go back in July for labs..

[faith63]

All links aren't right.  My computer literate daughter says I can copy and paste them.  

Thanks again

[gimel]

Which link was a problem?

[Tolpainter]

My Doc says the same, suppressed is not good for heart & bones.
Just lowered my Syn by 12 mcg and said T3 is next.
T's were 60% range, but I was having terrible aches like I had been beaten.
I am willing to give him 6 weeks to test the new dose, I'm lucky to have him.
His wife, mother & sister are all hypothyroid.

Dx hypo August 2012... Anniversary coming up...whoo-hoo :)

[faith63]

Thanks so much for all of your work in finding these.  Unfortunately you cannot click on the link and get there.  I think this website isn't allowing it.  

[toni2251]

Faith can you tell me what your labs are and how much meds you are taking? My doc wanted to lower my meds also. I told her no. I believe I need an increase. My TSH IS .27 or something like this.

[gimel]

You should mention to your doctor that TSH correlates so poorly with the thyroid hormones, that a suppressed TSH does not automatically mean you are hyper.  You are hyper only if having hyper symptoms, due to excessive levels of Free T3 and Free T4, which you do not have.  You can also give him copies of these links to support what you say.  

In this link note Figure 2, which shows the poor correlation of TSH to Free T4 and even poorer correlation between TSH and Free T3.  You could go to the enlarged version of that graph and give a coy of it to your doctor along with copies of all other links here.  

http://www.clinchem.org/content/55/7/1380.full

The study in this link concludes, "In this patient population, the reduction in bone mineral density due to thyroxine is small. It is unlikely to be of clinical significance and should not on its own be an indication for reduction of thyroxine dose in patients who are clinically euthyroid."

rhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8252740

In this link you will find info on a study that concluded, "The research found that there was no significant decrease in BMD and bone turnover markers among the women, and the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia was not different among the groups.

http://thyroid.about.com/b/2012/03/05/bone-density-after-long-term-suppressive-thyroid-therapy.htm

In the following link note the last sentence.  "When TSH was suppressed, FT4 was elevated in 30.4% but normal in 69.6% of patients."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1366242



And in the following link, note the statement, "Thyroid hormone does not cause bone loss, it simply increases metabolism and therefore the rate of the current bone formation or loss. Most older women are losing bone due to their combined sex steroid, DHEA, Vitamin D, and growth hormone deficiencies. The solution is not life-long hypothyroidism, but the correction of their other deficiencies."  


http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

I would also mention that the info given to the doctor is only a small part of the scientific evidence available that refutes concerns about suppressed TSH, unless it is accompanied by excessive levels of Free T3 and Free T4.  If all this doesn't sway the doctor, you will need to find a good thyroid doctor.