tsh and snythroid

[anacortes]

I just had a tsh and some other tests, my tsh level is 2.80  My endroconlogsit said I have it high fro someone wtih RA and that ineed to take 025 the lowest does of synthoird to get it under 2 I have been on it for 3 weeks just stopped i seem to get increase of musle and joint aches on it, I thought that was an okay tsh what do you think, the T3 was normal range the T4  was on the lower end of the resutls all free test.

[anacortes]

thanks for the comment, I have been tested for the antibiodies and it turns out negative each time.  RIght now either my enbrel or snytrhoid is causing termendous legs mucsle aches, it started after a week on the snythroid so who knows. I see the endcronolgist (sp) in a week or two and will ask him.
Thanks for all the responses.
Becky

[ShelleyN720]

If you have rheumatoid arthritus (an auto-immune disorder) I'd have more blood work to test again - ask for an anti-TPO test. Auto-immune diseases can come in multiples. I hate saying this to you. Sometimes the antibodies do not always show up in a blood profile with something like Hashis because the levels raise during episodes and then can go so low they are undectable - or so I read. Consider buying the book "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When the Lab Tests are Normal" by Datis Kharrazian - it explained A LOT to me about why my labs looked good but why I still don't feel well. For me, switching off of Levoxyl 75mcg to Armour Thyroid made a BIG difference. The month on Levoxyl was HELL. I needed the T3, which IMO everyone probably does. I've rarely read of anyone losing weight on T4 alone. I honestly believe that you need to be tested for anti-TPO. If is is Hashimotos, it is not a thryoid condition, but an immune disease attacking your thyroid. (from what I have read)

[Smilerdeb]

You are currently hypo.....as the TSH comes down and the FT3/FT4 comes up...then the weight will come off.

[crankyonmeth99]

Ok Deb, gotcha!  That's where I'm at right now.
TSH is 9.230         ref. range   0.340-5.600
T4 Free  <1.5             "             0.53-1.26

Why doesn't my endo reassure me of that?????

[Smilerdeb]

Weight gaining is not from the Synthroid but possibly from the thyroid levels not being managed properly.
Usually if the TSH is up and the FT4 down, you will gain weight.
The Synthroid can stabalise the weight as well as the thyroid levels but Synthroid doesnt make you gain weight.
Irregular thyroid levels DOES.

[Barb135]

Do you know the reference range for the FT4?  That would be lab specific, so must come from your own report; however, according to most ranges we see for FT4, yours is likely either below or right at the bottom of the range.  Please post the exact range from your lab report.  

It could be that you are super sensitive to the synthroid or maybe the filler(s).  You might ask to try a different med.  In addition, you could even cut your 25 mcg tabs in 1/2 and try that for a couple of weeks, before moving up to the full 25 mcg.  

Do you know if you've ever been tested for autoimmune disease?  It would important to ask your doctor.  RA is an autoimmune disease; therefore, it's likely you could have another.  

Most people don't gain weight from synthroid - they gain weight from being hypo.

[anacortes]

Sorry this is so late, my Free t3 was 2.96 and the Free t4 was 0.74.  I do not have any autoimmnue thyroid disease that I have been told.  i did take thryoid many many years ago.
I have tried the snythoird for 2 weeks, at first was great but by the 8th day I ached so bad it was crazy and felt very bloated so they said go off and I just started it again we will see. I do take methotrexate for the rheumatoid arthrtis so not sure if that has any effect on it. I also have had my cholestrol go up and the bad one go up so he said thryoid can caus e that also, have lots of hip burisitis and now on medrol dose pack of predisonse so we will see. So far jsut keep gaining weight and I see that you can acutally gain weght from snythroid so we will see how it goes.
Thanks
Becky

[Barb135]

What are the actual results of your latest Free T3 and Free T4 tests?  Please post them, along with the reference ranges, as these are lab specific, so must come from your own lab report.

Your TSH is on the high side of normal.  Do you have an autoimmune thyroid disease or have you been hypo before?  

Synthroid should actually help some with joint and muscle aches, rather than cause them.  Many of us felt relief with that when we began thyroid med. Could your aches have something to do with your RA?