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Opinions on labs?
First, a bit of info -- I'm 58, went through menopause at 48, had half of my thyroid removed back in 1981. For most of these years, my dosage of Synthroid/Levothyroxine stayed at .150 mg. Only once did a doc change my dosage (.125 mg), and that made me feel lousy. Anyway, docs at the current practice I visit have changed several times, but three in a row have all agreed that I seem to do best when I "burn a bit hot" as one doc phrased it (TSH low, but definitely no hyper symptoms) My dosage of levo was actually increased to .175mg . New doctor, and now she doesn't like my TSh, so has lowered my dose twice (now .125mg) and has already stated she thinks I should be down to .112mg. I have an appointment tomorrow, so am preparing for a discussion!
Here's some info on recent labs:
1/20/2014 TSH .245 T4 .8 T3 2.8
11/18/2013 TSH .014
9/11/2013 TSH .024
5/14/2010 TSH .365 T4 1.0
4/15/2009 TSH .115
5/27/2008 TSH .028 T4 1.4
8/62007 TSH .117
lab ref ranges are TSH .4-4.2, T4 .6-1.5, T3 1.5-3.5
The recent med dosage changes were after the labs on 9/11 and 11/18
I'm currently experiencing the typical hypo symptoms -- dry skin, thinning hair, etc., etc, . Not sure how it relates, but my hot flashes seem to have ramped up over the past few months, too -- yes, still having them after nearly 10 years!
Sorry for such a long post, but looking forward to any opinions/advice. Thanks
Here's some info on recent labs:
1/20/2014 TSH .245 T4 .8 T3 2.8
11/18/2013 TSH .014
9/11/2013 TSH .024
5/14/2010 TSH .365 T4 1.0
4/15/2009 TSH .115
5/27/2008 TSH .028 T4 1.4
8/62007 TSH .117
lab ref ranges are TSH .4-4.2, T4 .6-1.5, T3 1.5-3.5
The recent med dosage changes were after the labs on 9/11 and 11/18
I'm currently experiencing the typical hypo symptoms -- dry skin, thinning hair, etc., etc, . Not sure how it relates, but my hot flashes seem to have ramped up over the past few months, too -- yes, still having them after nearly 10 years!
Sorry for such a long post, but looking forward to any opinions/advice. Thanks
Excerpt from Dr Mercola's article "How To Monitor Your Treatment With Natural Hormone Therapy"
"Dose Adjustments With Lab Monitoring
Once on hormone replacement, the dose should be increased until the TSH falls below 0.4. Then one needs to optimize the 2 thyroid hormones by using the Free T4 and Free T3 levels.
The Free T3 and Free T4 are used to monitor the treatment. They should be above the median (middle) but below the upper end of the laboratory normal reference range. The goal for healthy young adults would be to have numbers close to the upper part of the range, and for cardiac and/or elderly patients, the numbers should be in the middle of its range."
"Dose Adjustments With Lab Monitoring
Once on hormone replacement, the dose should be increased until the TSH falls below 0.4. Then one needs to optimize the 2 thyroid hormones by using the Free T4 and Free T3 levels.
The Free T3 and Free T4 are used to monitor the treatment. They should be above the median (middle) but below the upper end of the laboratory normal reference range. The goal for healthy young adults would be to have numbers close to the upper part of the range, and for cardiac and/or elderly patients, the numbers should be in the middle of its range."
Interesting -- just got a call from doc's office -- now doc wants to increase my meds back to .150mg based on my January labs. She wants to see me in April, so tomorrow's appointment is cancelled
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Your FT4 is on the low side, so I'm glad she decided to increase your meds. As you can tell from how you feel, you need the increase, and based on prior experience you will probably need to increase even more (back to where you feel comfortable).
If you ever need a point on which to "start a discussion", I'd point out to her your track record. Your TSH has been consistently low since 2007. You were on 175 mcg and felt well. Why would she change that and send you back to hypo land??? Why is she trying to fix what isn't broken?