Hypothyroid but no symptoms or antibodies

[gizclarkson]

A quick summary..I and 25 a year ago my obgyn tested my thryroid and it was 4.828 (normal range) five years ago it was 1.75 now suddenly it is 33.33. I have no symtoms what so ever and I feel fine. Dr. put me on 100 mcg of synthroid and I just whent back for my six weeks follow up. I don't feel any different. The Dr. said that in my blood work I didn't have any antibodies (attacking the thyroid). I don't understand how I have no symtoms, am fine on year but not the next, and I don't have any antibodies attacking my thyroid!! I try to ask questions but the doctor just doensn't seem to care. I asked him if how all the pieces that are suppose to fit together don't? and he said...."it happens"

[gizclarkson]

Thanks guys!! I didn't know what I needed to ask but you guys have given me alot of info! my next apt is June 18th so i'll be ready! thanks again I'll repost my results then.

[goolarra]

The next time you have labs, ask for FT3 rather than total T3.  It's a much better indicator of what's going on than TT3, which is considered an archaic test.  FT3 is the test that best equates to symptoms, so it would be really interesting to see where that level is, since you have no symptoms and how you feel has not changed after six weeks on Synthroid.  Before you started on the Synthroid, your FT4 was low, but that's improved tremendously.  TSH, for what it's worth, dropped like a rock.  

I think dropping your dose was a good call...get FT3 and FT4 in another six weeks to see where things are.

[mtkst13]

when do you go back to the endo for another lab check?

i would write a list of all of your questions/concerns/symptoms.  read up and educate yourself so that you can ask him what's going on.  like:

is this viral?  bacterial?  autoimmune?  and why do you think this?  

it's most likely autoimmune.  ask him about the anitbody tests...did he do all of them? which ones were positive? negative?

if it's autoimmune, it could be hashimotos or silent thyroiditis.  ask which one he thinks it is.  if it's silent thyroiditis, your thyroid may heal, and you may not need meds anymore; however, silent thyroiditis could recur.  it also has implications with pregnancy.  if it's hashis, you'll most likely need meds longterm.  and truthfully, they all have implications with pregnancy.

you really need to get more info from your doc, and if he doesn't supply it, find another doctor.

i will say that sometimes (probably a lot of the time) doctors don't know what's going to happen.  i always ask my doc how long i'm going to need meds and if my thyroid will heal.  she always says "we'll see."  she doesn't know.  she can only keep checking the labs to see how my body responds.  i guess nobody has a crystal ball.

[gizclarkson]

Thanks for your help and advise. Unfortunatly all that has been happening has been under the direction of an endocrinologist that specializes in thyroid problems....and he is the one that said "it happens"......

[mtkst13]

that's good that they lowered your dose, as you are subclinical hyper now (meaning that your t3/t4 are normal but your tsh is low).  are you having hyper symptoms (anxious, heart palps, loose stools)?  

you probably didn't notice the initial HYPO symptoms because it appears from your first labs that your t4 was slightly low and your t3 was normal.  the hypothyroidism was probably a gradual onset of symptoms that you adjusted to.

did you have any other tests run?  the tests above just let you know if you're hypo/hyper.  they don't tell WHY your are hypo/hyper.  you should have antithyroglobulin and antiTPO labs and a thyroid sonogram.  this may be a virus/bacteria (unlikely) or an autoimmune (more likely) situation.  it's helpful to know which so that you know how to be treated / followed up.

you really should go to an endocrinologist to be treated.  getting regulated and followed up on takes time and is very specific.  my opinion is that while other docs can treat you, it's better to go to the specialist that specializes in thyroid issues.

[gizclarkson]

Ok I go my results back from my follow up. I will list my first results and then my six weeks follow up after being on the med. Tell me what you think.
1st TSH 33.3
2nd TSH 0.119
Normal  0.4 - 4.0

Total T3 115
Total T3 120
Normal 82 - 179

1st  T4 0.636
2nd T4  1.5
Normal 0.8 - 1.9
They lowered my Synthroid from 100mcg to 88 mcg...

[goolarra]

Do you have free T3 and free T4  and TSH results (and their reference ranges) for when you initially started on meds and your six week follow-up?  That would help us comment a lot more intelligently.  TSH can be a very poor indicator of what's really going on with your thyroid, unless FT3 and FT4 and symptoms support it.  "It happens" isn't a very satisfying explanation, is it?

[mtkst13]

what tests did you have?  what were the results with ref ranges?  what antibodies were tested?  antiTPO? antithyroglobulin?  do you have a copy of the results?