Thyroid and GERD

[adina550]

I had Graves in 1993 and treated with RAI. Everything went fine until this April when my TSH was 0.04 (lack of diligence to check it last year).  The doctor decided to take me off Synthroid for almost a months when my TSH was 52. All summer I suffered terible to bring the hormon in balance and of course, I changed the doctor. Now, the last test - 3 weeks ago - came up a 0.33 (taking Synthroid .112) and will have another test next week.

My problems is my eating. The doc said that I have GERD, however I never had heartburn but I feel something in throut after I eat. This started after TSH came up 52 and since then I'm loosing weight because I cannot eat how much I want, feeling bloated, dry mouth, or a taste in my mouth. I tried Pepcid AC, it's fine for a day or two and then I feel very hungry, eat more and again I don't feel good and have to eat small portions.

Anyone experienced this issue while in the process to get the hormon in balance?

[adina550]

Thanks much for your advice. I think my endocrinolog measured FT3 and FT4 (he's the one who treated me for Graves in 1993 and had no problem until this summer when I changed the insurance and another specialist when he found my TSH 0.04 decided to take me off Synthroid for a month. So I moved in the hypo zone and TSH went up to 52. It was awful, went back to my previous specialist and now the last result 3 weeks ago was 0.33 so going to the right direction. Next week I'll do another blood test and see where I am.

Like you, the GERD issue came up while I was in hypo zone and still now I am not completly fine. I am tired and being at home (in the meantime I was laid off) all day, it makes it so difficult to have patience to get the hormon in balence.

[gimel]

TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by many variables.  It is totally inadequate as a diagnostic, by which to diagnose a thyroid patient.  At best it is an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also the levels of the actual biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4.  FT3 is the most important because it is the most active and studies have shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while TSH did not correlate at all.  

In my opinion the best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust levels of FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Frequently we hear from members that this required that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 adjusted to at least midpoint of its range.   The most difficult part of this is usually finding a good thyroid doctor that will treat you in this manner.  

I suggest that you go back and insist on being tested for FT3 and FT4 (not total T3 and total T4).  Don't take no for an answer.  You are the customer.  Probably while doing this,  you need to also find out if the doctor is willing to treat your symptoms, by adjusting FT3 and FT4 levels.  If not then you should start looking for a good thyroid doctor that will do so.   When test results are available, get a copy and post results and reference ranges here and members will be glad to help interpret and advise further.

For information, some months back, while switching my meds around, I got back into a hypo state for a short while.  I started having the worst acid reflux you can imagine.  As soon as my FT3 and FT4 levels got back up to a good level for me, the acid reflux problem went away.