Aa
After surgery
I had my Thyroid taken out in Dec. I am currently taking 100mcg of Synthroid and my blood levels are fine but I am still feeling very tired and have dry skin and can not get any of my weight off even with not eating junk foods. Does anyone take anything other than Synthriod. I am just thinking about asking about different meds to be on to help these symptoms.
Well, you are going to have to get adamant with your doctor that your want to be tested for the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, which are free T3 and free T4. FT3 is four times as active as FT4, plus Ft3 has been shown in scientific studies to correlate best with hypo symptoms.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables, including the time of day when blood is drawn, that it is totally inadequate as a diagnostic for thyroid problems. AT best it is an indicator that should be considered along with more important indicators, which are symptoms, along with the levels of FT3 and FT4. TSH doe not correlate with hypo symptoms very well at all.
In my opinion the very best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust the levels of FT3 and FT4 with whatever meds are required to alleviate symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptoms relief should be all important. Forum members frequently tell us that symptoms relief required that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 was adjusted to at least the midpoint of its range.
From your name, can I assume you live in Florida? If so, I know of several doctors that have been highly recommended by other members. If you will PM me with your location, I'll be glad to provide the names.
You need to find out if your doctor will agree to treating you in this manner, or else you should start looking for a good thyroid doctor that will do so.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables, including the time of day when blood is drawn, that it is totally inadequate as a diagnostic for thyroid problems. AT best it is an indicator that should be considered along with more important indicators, which are symptoms, along with the levels of FT3 and FT4. TSH doe not correlate with hypo symptoms very well at all.
In my opinion the very best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust the levels of FT3 and FT4 with whatever meds are required to alleviate symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptoms relief should be all important. Forum members frequently tell us that symptoms relief required that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 was adjusted to at least the midpoint of its range.
From your name, can I assume you live in Florida? If so, I know of several doctors that have been highly recommended by other members. If you will PM me with your location, I'll be glad to provide the names.
You need to find out if your doctor will agree to treating you in this manner, or else you should start looking for a good thyroid doctor that will do so.
I talked to my dr the other day about my tsh level again and she said it is fine eventhough my symptoms are stiil the same. She will not test my t3 or t4 since I am on synthroid already. I got my results from 1 month after surgery and my tsh was.78 and then in March it is 1.80 and she is not conserned that it has gone up. Help Me dr is just not listening.
You should ask your dr to test free t3 and free t4. you need to know how your body is converting the hormones and tsh doesn't tell you that. i didn't feel really good until my tsh was around .6 and my ft3/ft4 were in the mid-to-hi ranges. I felt pretty horrible when my tsh was above 1. Your dr really needs to pay attention to your symptoms. Dec is still quite recent and it sounds to me like more tweaking is called for.
OK so I Finally got back into my Endo for blood work and she only did my TSH level and she says it is normal at 1.80. She just thinks that all my symptoms that I am having is sleep abnia which I am pretty sure I don't have. Any and all help is appreciated.
I will post them I need to get the copies 1st. I was also wondering if anyone that had total thyroid surgery has had the feeling of something stuck in throat after and food just not tasting the same. Not sure if it is from tt surgery or having my tonsils out at the same time. I just hope that I get this figured out since I am taking my son to a child endo in march since he is overweight and the drs are conserned since I have a thyroid issue and it runs in my family hope my son doesn't have any issues he is so young. I will post my result once i get them.
Having test results within the "normal" ranges does not assure symptom relief because the ranges are far too broad. The ranges for the two most important tests, FT3 and FT4, have never been revised, as was done for TSH over 7 years ago. That is why so many members report that they continue to have lingering hypo symptoms wven when their FT3 and FT4 are within the lower end of their ranges. How about posting your test results and reference ranges from that lab, so that we can comment further.
My labs are all with in the normal range which they always have been. I am just not feeling the same as I was before I got these goiters and then had surgery. I was looking for other medication info on the internet and there are so many to chose from. I go back to my endo in March so I guess we will see what she says. I just wish I would feel better for my kids and husband.
In my opinion the very best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones (FT3 and FT4) with whatever type of medication is required to alleviate symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important
If you haven't been tested for free T3 and free T4, then I suggest that you do that right away. You should also discuss with your doctor that you want to be treated for your symptoms by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary. Many forum members have reported that this required that FT3 was adjusted to the upper part of its range and FT4 adjusted to at least the midpoint of its range.
If you haven't been tested for free T3 and free T4, then I suggest that you do that right away. You should also discuss with your doctor that you want to be treated for your symptoms by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary. Many forum members have reported that this required that FT3 was adjusted to the upper part of its range and FT4 adjusted to at least the midpoint of its range.
Normal thyroid levels are simply a range and a guide. Most people feel better/worse at different points w/in the normal range. I had a TT in June. Around Nov I had been feeling pretty good but getting tired at nite and starting to gain a little weight for no reason. My thyroid levels were in the normal range. My endo upped my does of synthroid just a little (75 to 88) and w/in 4 weeks I was like a new person. And guess what...my levels are still in the normal range...just different from before. My suggestion is to write down how you are feeling (I did a quick journal every day). Compare how you are feeling to your levels and discuss with your doctor. You're also only a few months post-op and having your thyroid out really is a big deal. Good luck...you'll get there.
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