Thank you so much! I will try to get those levels and at my next appointment I'll be sure to have him evaluate my symptoms with my labs.
I should also have mentioned that you will notice the recommendation is to adjust FT3 and FT4 levels to about midrange (which is where most of us feel neither hypo nor hyper). Individually, that will vary some; the point is to feel neither hypo nor hyper. If you aren't getting enough Synthroid, you will feel hypo; if you are getting too much, you will feel hyper. My guess, until we can see some labs, is that your doctor isn't giving you enough Synthroid, thus your hypo symptoms of swelling in the extremities, itchiness (from dry skin?) and intolerance to cold. Other of the more common symptoms of hypo include hair loss, weight gain, constipation, depression and fatigue or sleepiness (despite adequate or excessive sleep).
It would be interesting to see your test results for FREE T3 (FT3), FREE T4 (FT4) and TSH. It would also be interesting to see what your TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin, the antibody involved in Graves') has been doing. A history of several TSIs would be spectacular!
I found this article, which is an interesting basic discussion:
http://www.tiredthyroid.com/graves.html
If you have any questions, I'll be happy to try to explain.
Thanks for the clarification. We really do need more information. You're on a small dose of tapazole and a small dose of Synthroid. It seems like those two would almost be cancelling each other out. I have to say it's not something we usually see.
"My doctor says that my lab levels are perfect and I have the same readings as a normal person." Doctors tend to ignore the fact that we all have a spot in the lab ranges where we feel neither hypo nor hyper. They think that as long as we're "in range", we are fine. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of us need to be high in the lab ranges, some low.
Furthermore, many doctor don't test adequately. They only test TSH or pay too much attention to TSH while ignoring the actual thyroid hormone levels, which are FREE T3 and FREE T4.
So, there's a lot we could explore if you can get some lab results. Even if you are a minor, this is your body, and while your guardians should oversee your health care, you are old enough for them to share it with you at the very least.
Sorry for the confusion, I have Graves' disease and the reason I have been on both medications is to balance out two of my readings. Again, I don't know which ones needed adjustment. To be perfectly honest I'm a minor and I don't have access to my records and this whole experience has been dumbed down to my high school knowledge and a lot of communication has bypassed me and gone straight to my guardians who handle the doctor's orders and deliver them straight to me. And my Synthroid is 25 mcg
Why are you taking both tapazole and Synthroid? Tapazole is an anti-thyroid med and decreases thyroid hormone production; Synthroid is thyroid hormone. So, tapazole and Synthroid basically fight each other.
Please clarify also whether you are taking 25 mcg of Synthroid or 250 mcg.
Do you know the cause of your thyroid condition? Have you been diagnosed with Graves' or Hashi's or another condition? Has your doctor explained to you why he is treating you with both tapazole and Synthroid?
Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of a move and I'm inbetween doctors so I can't access that information at the moment. However, I am taking 5mg of Tapazole and 2.5 mg of Synthroid along with 20 mg of Zyrtec per day
Please post recent thyroid labs with reference ranges. Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.
Your symptoms sound like you might be hypo (overmedicated).