Just make sure that you check the lab request right when they are going to draw blood, to make sure they are really going to check FT3 and FT4, and not total T3 and total T4. Many times patients find out after the fact that someone wrote down the wrong tests and FT3 and FT4 weren't done. When tests are completed, make sure you get a copy, for future reference. Doctors are required to provide patients a copy upon their request. If you will post results and reference ranges, members will be glad to help interpret.
Hi, Thank you for your response. Looking back over my results it appears that my dr usually only orders TSH. When this was last checked in February it was 1.58 mU/L. My FT4 was last checked in 2007 when it was 17 pmol/L and my TSH at that time was .78 mU/L. My FT3 levels haven't been checked for at least 5 years. I will check in with my doctor and have bloods taken this week. I am so pleased to have found this site.
Proper use of thyroid meds should have no long term concern, including the heart. The 100 mcg that you have been taking is not usually enough to have been a full daily replacement amount, so you could have had partial thyroid gland production. Since normal thyroid production can slow with aging, that could account for your symptoms, thus the possible need for increased meds. Noticing that I'm making some assumptions here, because I have no information as to what was the cause of your original diagnosis of hypothyroidism. It would be helpful to know that.
Also, I suggest that if you have been tested for the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, which are free T3 and free T4 (FT3 and FT4), then post results and reference ranges here and members can help interpret results and confirm if you need more medication to alleviate those symptoms. If you have not been tested for FT3 and FT4 lately, then that would be a good idea.