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TSH suppression therapy and A Fib
Very frustrated with doctor. On TSH suppression therapy for 7 years. New doc kept lowering meds despite good Free T3 Free T4. NOW, said if I change my med doses he cannot see me as a patient because I'm endangering my life.
My TSH is very low, however my Free T3 and Free T $ are still on the very low end of normal. I feel like crap, but want to raise my Levoxyl and keep my Cytomel at the dose I'm at. Doc says NO, as A Fib is too real a possibility.
I have read that that is mostly a concern with elevated Free T3, Free T4 with suppression therapy.
Any thoughts? I currently am on 75 mcg of Levoxyl and 7 mcg of Cytomel. Still feeling yucky. Am planning on a new doctor. I am 57. Have at least 5 cups of Almond milk per week, so osteoporosis is not a huge factor however, I am thin with a small frame.
THANK YOU!!!
My TSH is very low, however my Free T3 and Free T $ are still on the very low end of normal. I feel like crap, but want to raise my Levoxyl and keep my Cytomel at the dose I'm at. Doc says NO, as A Fib is too real a possibility.
I have read that that is mostly a concern with elevated Free T3, Free T4 with suppression therapy.
Any thoughts? I currently am on 75 mcg of Levoxyl and 7 mcg of Cytomel. Still feeling yucky. Am planning on a new doctor. I am 57. Have at least 5 cups of Almond milk per week, so osteoporosis is not a huge factor however, I am thin with a small frame.
THANK YOU!!!
Your plight got my attention, so I called a compounding pharmacy in your city and asked for names of doctors for which they filled prescriptions that contained T3 or Armour Thyroid. They only gave me one name. Sending a PM with info to see if you are familiar with this doctor.
I am sorry to hear that your doctor is not listening to you about your OWN body.
I also have a suppressed TSH level (.04), I am only on Synthroid. I went through the same reaction from my Endo on the suppressed TSH level, will she actually went by FreeT4, which was only a tad high. I saw her back in Nov 2013, she had told me she was going to lower my Synthroid and would not listen to me at all, I had to choice but agree. She did go on and on about having a heart attack or stroke if I were to stay on the same dosage.
I was fortunate enough that she was no longer going to be practicing in my area so I would need to go back to my PCP for thyroid monitoring. I was elated....However I knew my family PCP would NOT, nor would my GYNO(I am on the HRT patch) agree to the TSH being suppressed. Lucky me because my family PCP was retiring....so I had to find another PCP.
I found one and when I went in Jan 2014 to establish myself the first thing I told him was I have a suppressed TSH level BUT I am fine and have no complaints, not losing weight, no heart palpitations, no complaints.
He basically said "so you run hot" and since nothing is broken we will leave it as it....He is a keeper....BUT he did warn me again about the AFIB..as I get older.
I know there are some doctors out there who believe in a persons symptoms and not just TSH levels..I really hope you find one..
I wrote a letter to mine before my appointment and did state, that if we could not discuss the suppressed TSH issue then he was wasting my time and his and that I would cancel the appt. if he was not willing to hear me out, (although I sounded a lot more polite).
I also have a suppressed TSH level (.04), I am only on Synthroid. I went through the same reaction from my Endo on the suppressed TSH level, will she actually went by FreeT4, which was only a tad high. I saw her back in Nov 2013, she had told me she was going to lower my Synthroid and would not listen to me at all, I had to choice but agree. She did go on and on about having a heart attack or stroke if I were to stay on the same dosage.
I was fortunate enough that she was no longer going to be practicing in my area so I would need to go back to my PCP for thyroid monitoring. I was elated....However I knew my family PCP would NOT, nor would my GYNO(I am on the HRT patch) agree to the TSH being suppressed. Lucky me because my family PCP was retiring....so I had to find another PCP.
I found one and when I went in Jan 2014 to establish myself the first thing I told him was I have a suppressed TSH level BUT I am fine and have no complaints, not losing weight, no heart palpitations, no complaints.
He basically said "so you run hot" and since nothing is broken we will leave it as it....He is a keeper....BUT he did warn me again about the AFIB..as I get older.
I know there are some doctors out there who believe in a persons symptoms and not just TSH levels..I really hope you find one..
I wrote a letter to mine before my appointment and did state, that if we could not discuss the suppressed TSH issue then he was wasting my time and his and that I would cancel the appt. if he was not willing to hear me out, (although I sounded a lot more polite).
Unfortunately, I don't think finding a good doctor has gotten any easier. You might try interviewing them over the phone, probably through a nurse, before you "hire" a new one.
No, nothing stock piled. I'll have to work with 50's and split them. Ridiculous, isn't it. I've had no issues with my heart or anything. Except when I drink too much caffeine!!! Doc doesn't want to listen at all. I hate to have to "establish" myself with another doc. Last one before this was 15 years! Unfortunately, we moved out of state so I had to get a new doc.
Actually, Levoxyl isn't a generic (perhaps you were thinking of levothyroxine?). Levoxyl is another brand name, just like Synthroid. If you have a script for either, it will come from the same manufacturer every time. The only difference between the two is the fillers (inactive ingredients) they use. Some people are sensitive or allergic to the fillers, but aside from that, they're identical.
Do you have any 75s stockpiled?
Do you have any 75s stockpiled?
Yes, my current dose is 7 mcg of Cytomel and 75 mcg of Levoxyl. Want to change to 100 mcg, but doc won't refill my script so I have to stay at 75 til I can get a new doc or figure this out.
I agree with the litigation issue. At first before I could finish telling him that I had increased my dose, he said I can't treat you as a patient anymore.
Whatever, I am looking for a new doc however, I have to keep him temporarily in order to get my meds filled. Not right.
I know my levels are low which is why I knew upping my doses would help, unfortunately, doc doesn't feel the same way.
Anyone have better luck with Synthroid over generic Levoxyl?
Whatever, I am looking for a new doc however, I have to keep him temporarily in order to get my meds filled. Not right.
I know my levels are low which is why I knew upping my doses would help, unfortunately, doc doesn't feel the same way.
Anyone have better luck with Synthroid over generic Levoxyl?
Well, my reply to him would be "I wouldn't have to treat myself if you were treating me properly!"
I wish you the best of luck. You may have to ditch this doctor. You seem to know what has to happen. This doctor is concerned with litigation and his license and not your welfare. Unfortunately, way too many of them fall into that category.
I wish you the best of luck. You may have to ditch this doctor. You seem to know what has to happen. This doctor is concerned with litigation and his license and not your welfare. Unfortunately, way too many of them fall into that category.
I will also add that as the doc lowered my meds, my cholesterol skyrocketed, my liver enzymes too. Even though I have shown him how both have come way down since raising my thyroid, he still insists he can't treat me if I "treat" myself.
Your TSH is suppressed due to the T3 (Cytomel) you are taking. In your case, TSH has to be ignored.
Your FT4 is way, way, way too low. The guideline for FT4 is 50% of range, and you're at 7%. With FT4 that low, it's impossible to tell if you have a conversion issue or not. Is that on 75 mcg?
FT3 is also low. It's 29% of range, and the guideline here is 50+% to 67+%.
Those FT3 and FT4 numbers are not going to give you A-fib.
Your FT4 is way, way, way too low. The guideline for FT4 is 50% of range, and you're at 7%. With FT4 that low, it's impossible to tell if you have a conversion issue or not. Is that on 75 mcg?
FT3 is also low. It's 29% of range, and the guideline here is 50+% to 67+%.
Those FT3 and FT4 numbers are not going to give you A-fib.
I agree. Am very frustrated by the doctor. So now, I have to find a new doc and hope he listens to me. These are my ranges by the way, with 7 mcg of Cytomel and 75 mcg of Levoxyl I have to take both as I have a conversion issue, I've been told.
TSH - 0.112( range 0.450-4.500); T4- 6.0( range 4.5-12.00); Free T4 direct 0.89(range 0.82-1.77) Free T3 2.7(range 2.0-4.4)
I did this increase on my own as I continued to feel so badly on 10 mcg of Cytomel and 50 mcg of Levoxyl. Doc is pissed at me cause I did that.
TSH - 0.112( range 0.450-4.500); T4- 6.0( range 4.5-12.00); Free T4 direct 0.89(range 0.82-1.77) Free T3 2.7(range 2.0-4.4)
I did this increase on my own as I continued to feel so badly on 10 mcg of Cytomel and 50 mcg of Levoxyl. Doc is pissed at me cause I did that.
It makes me furious when a Dr takes a person who is feeling well, removes medication because of immaculate TSH belief, is ignorant as to suppression due to T3 and then causes the patient to feel like crap.
That is EXACTLY the opposite of what medical practice is all about!
maddening!
That is EXACTLY the opposite of what medical practice is all about!
maddening!
Definatley find a new Dr.
Let's see:
You were feeling great WITHOUT having any Afib.
nd the Dr somehow believes that like a lightning bolt out of nowhere (clear blue sky) that afib is all of a sudden going to plague you.
HUMMMMM. exactly on what basis does he have to make this deduction? As like you say if true your FT3 levels are low in range there is little chance of it.
It is the Cytomel (t3) that is causing your TSH to be suppressed. Plain and simple.
Let's see:
You were feeling great WITHOUT having any Afib.
nd the Dr somehow believes that like a lightning bolt out of nowhere (clear blue sky) that afib is all of a sudden going to plague you.
HUMMMMM. exactly on what basis does he have to make this deduction? As like you say if true your FT3 levels are low in range there is little chance of it.
It is the Cytomel (t3) that is causing your TSH to be suppressed. Plain and simple.
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