TSH .15

[Renie70]

I had my thyroid removed in Novl. 2004 due to papillary cancer. I have had a bad time coming back with the meds. I have been on 88mcg of Levothyroxine for the past 6 months (longest without a chance in dose) and every bone and muscle in my body is aching.  My MD thought I had fibromyalgia but I think it's all thyroid related.
My endo changed my meds yesterday to 44 mcg with my TSH at .15 which I recently now understand is OVERACTIVE in spite of the low number.  I have gained 20 lbs. in 3 years and I feel awful and everything hurst me. I don't know whether to try a new endo or just wait it out now that I'm on the lower dose. I am the point where I would rather choose quality of life rather than suppression of cancer.  
Please just give me your opinion on my #s.
TSH .15
T4 free 1.7
T3 free 302
What does it all mean?
Thanks.
Renie Higgins

[Renie70]

WOW, you have said it best!  Life without a thyroid is awful.  Since my surgery in November '04, everyone (including doctors) seem to feel "oh that's not a big deal. If you have to have cancer, that's the one to have!"  I get so mad because they think if you don't have chemo and/or radiation-and Thank the Lord we don't) that we have no reason to complain.
Well, I'm going to wait the 2 weeks and bring up the different non-generics to my endo and if she refuses, I will go elsewhere.
Feel better!  I started on 125 but went down to 88 over the years.  Now 44, whew!  This is silly.

[MJ13]

I agree with AR-10 about cutting your med dosage in half.  I'm actually surprised your endo cut your dosage at all.  My endo wants my TSH to be at .1 or below for cancer supression, but settled for .23 at my last blood test. It will probably take a month or so to really tell any difference in med level change.  Hope the change helps with your pain.

I understand where you're coming from about quality of life vs cancer reoccurance.  My problem is fatique and insomnia. I I go for my endo appt on Monday.  Since it's my last appointment with her I'm going to ask her to reduce my dosage from 150 with 125 every fourth day to just straight 125 every day.  

I tell....thyca was nothing compared to life without a thyroid!!  

[AR-10]

Moaning.

LOL!

My recovery is going to take a while. My thyroid is still dying from RAI. I haven't worked since October. My body is not in very good condition from all the ups and downs with my TSH over the last year or two.

I just got off the phone with physical therapy. They wanted to reschedule for Tuesday, rather than today. I had my first visit with them two days ago. I told her Tuesday would be great, because I am too sick to go today.

The exercises they are having me do are pathetically easy. It's also killing me. All my hypo symptoms flared up. Right now I feel like I haven't been on meds for a week or two, or four.

I think you may be right about your doctors. The Endo, at least. The Endo should not have you on a generic. I've had two Endos, and they both refused to use generics.

I know a lot of people use them, but if you are having a hard time staying on one dosage, the problem may be the generic med.

Oh, Levothyroxine, Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc. only have T4. Your body converts the T4 to T3.

Armour has T4 and T3 both. Some people need that, most do not. Cytomel is synthetic T3. Some people take that with Synthroid, but again, most people do not need the extra T3.

Best of luck to you.

[Renie70]

Thanks for the response. I'm so mixed up at this point, I don't know where to turn. The endo and doctor make me feel like "don't worry, I'm taking care of you."  Well, they're not!
I think she chose Levothyroxine because that takes care of T3 and T4 as well and I'm not very good at all this, so that's about all I can state on that.   I thought Synthroid was the generic...goes to show ya!
If you are still experience aches and pain, what are you doing about it?

[AR-10]

Your numbers show you mildly hyper. Cutting back on the meds a bit is a good idea. Cutting your meds in half, not so sure that's a good idea. 75mcg is probably where you will go next.

But I'm not a doctor. Just another patient who is experiencing aches in every muscle in my body. Well, my ears don't hurt.

Generic Levothyroxine may be a large part of your problem. The amount of active ingredients in generic meds can vary a lot. By law, the active ingredient can be anywhere from 75% of what it says the strength is, to 125%. So every bottle is different.

Your Endo should put you on Synthroid, or Levoxyl, or some other name brand. Name brand meds are held to a stricter standard of quality control.

Taking generic meds is like changing the dosage every time you refill your perscription.

New Endo may be a good idea unless you are insisting on generics. Cutting your dose in half sounds a little drastic.