Unfortunately doctors don't seem to recognize that the majority of hypo patients taking thyroid meds have resultant Suppression of tSH. This does not mean that you are hyper, unless you are having hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones. Free T3 and Free T4. TSH causes no symptoms. It is only an indicator of thyroid hormone levels. Why do they choose to react only to TSH, when your other thyroid hormones are okay? Well, that is what they were taught in Med School, and haven't learned differently in all that time.
My own TSH has been about .05 for well over 25 years, with no hyper symptoms, without ever having hyper symptoms. In fact I continued having hypo symptoms until I learned about the importance of Free t3 and got mine tested and confirmed low in the range. After a change in meds to include some T3, now I feel best ever.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4, without being constrained by the resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results. You can gain some goo insight about clinical treatment by reading this link to a letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patient that he consults with from a distance. The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
A copy of this for your doctor and a good discussion about it might change his mind. At any rate I would not want to change dosage if you are feeling good.
If you have not been tested for Free T3 and Free T4 (not the same as Total T3 and Total T4), then that would be a good idea.
TSH should not be the basis for reducing your meds.
YOu need to have Ft3 and FT4 tested. If these two are in range (preferably the middle of the range) then you shouldn't adjust your meds.
TSH can become suppressed after taking thyroid meds for a long time and no longer be so useful for adjusting meds.
I also have a TSh of < 0.01. Has been that way for a long time now (I've been on thyroid meds for 12 years). My doctor only tests FT3 and FT4 and we adjust based on them only.
I am relieved to see your answers. Now I can request the other tests. My doctor advised me that if I had too much thyroid med it could be harmful as I am at risk for osteoporosis. I was fearful of getting that but more fearful of losing the energy it took me so long to get back.
Thank you,
Annie
I hope you had the chance to read the link I gave you. In there it is stated that, "Thyroid hormone does not cause bone loss, it simply increases metabolic rate and therefore the rate of the current bone formation or loss. Most older people are losing bone due to their combined sex steroid, DHEA, Vitamin D, and growth hormone deficiencies. The solution is not life-long hypothyroidism or bisphosphonates; one should correct the hormone deficiencies.
Papillary Thyroid Cancer can be cured provided you get a Competent-Experianced Surgeon to perform the TT without injuring your voiceboox/parathyroid glands. Then with the follow up RAI 1-131 Treatment and Thyroxine for life (which needs adjustments to get the real effect). You should get a good experianced Endo who knows how to adjust your dosage. The next course of action is to go for blood work every 6 months
to do the Free T3,Free T4, TSH and Tg.level. Then annually to do a complete blood profile to check whether your whole system is in order.
Just forget about the Word Cancer as each and everyone of us has Cancer Cells in our Body. Its God's Creation. No one could predict when something triggers the cells. A friend of mine was telling the whole world that his friend is suffering from Prostrate Cancer. It was a big joke for him but finally he himself got into trouble with LIVER CANCER. Never ever look down on people with Cancer, as you may be the next one.