tsh went from 5.3 to 0.7

[angrn]

About 3 1/2 weeks ago I had a tsh of 5.39 and normal T4, I was started on 25mcg levothyroxine. After 2 weeks of medication, had my tsh redrawn and 0.7. Can  tsh drop that fast? I see my endocrinologist again and monday and will have it redrawn. I am still having hand tremors which i had to begin with. Normal? Anyone?

[angrn]

thanks, i'll see what i can get accomplished!

[gimel]

On Monday, don't forget that you are the customer.  Insist on testing for FT3, FT4, TSH, TPO ab, and TG ab.  To prevent likely having to return, I would also request testing for ferritin, B12 and Vitamin D.  Then when available, get a copy of the lab report and post results and reference ranges here, so that members can help interpret.  The doctor is required to provide a copy upon your request.  

While you are at the doctor's, I would even go so far as to ask if the doctor is willing to test and adjust FT3 and FT4 levels with whatever type of medication is necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Also, I would ask if the doctor is willing to prescribe meds other than T4 only types.  If the answer to either is no, then you may need to find a good thyroid doctor that will treat your symptoms in that manner.

[angrn]

well, it's weird..i haven't been feeling right since a couple months after i had my daughter about 14 months ago. ended up having a tsh and freet4 drawn in october and tsh was 1.3 and free t4 was 0.57. then throughout fall and winter have had alot of anxiety/mood issues. saw a new pcp and had thryoid redone and found this. so now seeing endocrinologist my mom see's. i am going to get antibodies done i think this next visit??? don't have the "typical" symptoms...i think maybe cause i was/is mildly hypothryoid.

[gimel]

Since Hashi's is somewhat hereditary, I would suggest that you request testing for the thyroid antibodies, TPO ab and TG ab.  It's important to know if this is the basic cause for thyroid problems.  While you are at it, I would also insist on testing for the most active thyroid hormone, which is free T3.  FT3 is four times as active as FT4 plus FT3 correlates best with hypo symptoms.  TSH and FT4  correlate very poorly with hypo symptoms, if at all.

Do you have symptoms other than hand tremors?  

[angrn]

free T4 was 0.89(0.61-1.12), my mom and sister both have hashimoto's hypothyroidism. Endocrinologist says i am subclinical hypothryoid.

[gimel]

That does seem to be a big drop in only two weeks, since it takes about 4 weeks for a T4 med to build up to about 90 % of its full effect on blood levels for that dosage.  That said, however, TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by a lot of variables, including the time of day when blood is drawn.  In my opinion, TSH is a totally inadequate as a diagnostic for thyroid problems.  At best it should be considered as an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators like symptoms and the levels of the actual, bioogically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4.

A couple of questions for you.  Did the doctor identify any cause for you being hypo?  What hypo symptoms have you identified?  What was the actual result for that T4 test you mentioned, along with the reference range?

Assuming that the T4 test was total T4, then you really need to be tested for free T4 and free T3 (FT4 and FT3).  FT3 is actually the most important because it is four times as active as FT4, plus FT3 correlates best with hypo symptoms.