Latest labs. Please help!!!!

[Sunshine_67]

So after being off my thyroid meds for two weeks so my doc could test for possible pituitary disorder, my cortisol was fine but now my thyroid levels are in the toilet. My doc is starting me back on the lowest dose of 60mg dessicated thyroid, and retesting me on Tuesday and also testing for antibodies. I already know I have Hashi's so I don't know what that's going to tell him. I'm so frustrated!! I saw 5 docs last year and none of them had a clue. This guy is at least trying but he still doesn't know what's going on. I mentioned my low ferritin and he didn't seem too concerned but told me to take the lowest possible supplement like 18mg. Isn't that what's in a multivitamin? I'm already taking that.

Anyway, here are my latest labs.
TSH 5.905 (.35-4.5)
FT4 .62 (.89-1.80)
FT3 1.8 (2.3-4.2)
Cortisol 17 (4.3-22.4)

[Sunshine_67]

I get mine compounded but the pharmacy said they use a small amount of cellulose. My FT3 was going up though, so I would have thought if it wasn't being absorbed, both the FT4 and FT3 would be low. When I see this new doc, I'll have a list of questions to ask him. The one I see now doesn't seem very knowledgeable.

[foreverlostmom]

What were you on that is how my numbers were going with armour high T3 and low T4 I am wondering if its attributed to the reformulation I have gone to Nature throid and feeling tons better so it will be interesting to see what numbers do.  You should try Nature throid.

[Sunshine_67]

Oh I understand it's a good way to go and I would be open to trying it, but unless you can convince a doctor to go along with it, you can't do it. I was just saying that I have yet to find a doctor who has offered this to me, and even if I offer it up to a doctor, unless he's willing, there's nothing I can do.

[Super_sally888]

HI,

I TAKE A COMBINATION OF A T4 med and dessicated. There's no reason it can't be done. And can be a good way to help adjust your levels.

[Sunshine_67]

None of my doctors ever suggested extra T4. I have a friend who's doing that and it seems to help her. So when I see this next new doc, I'm going to mention it to him.

[goolarra]

I agree with Deb that your FT3/FT4 is out of balance, with FT4 too low.  Have you tried adding a synthetic T4 to the dessicated to increase the FT4 without increasing the FT3?  That's a way to avoid the Cytomel, but still get enough T4.

[Sunshine_67]

I tried Cytomel and had a bad reaction to it. Even on a low dose, I felt off.

[Smilerdeb]

With the FT3 being higher than the FT4, it looks like to me that you maybe need a T4 med and a T3 med and not dessicated.
That way...both can be controlled individually.
Just a thought.....

[Sunshine_67]

Before stopping my meds I was up to 120mg compounded dessicated thyroid. My labs were:
TSH .006 (.35-4.5)
FT4.99 (.89-1.8)
FT3 3.7 (2.3-4.2)

Yes, I'm starting over at 60mg dessicated thyroid. :-(

[goolarra]

You were off meds for two weeks, so your labs are to be expected.  Since you have Hashi's, and your immune system is attacking and destroying more and more of your thyroid all the time, it's also to be expected that your labs would be worse than they were two years ago, now that you've been off meds for two weeks.  

Are you back on meds yet?  Can you refresh my memory...I know I've seen your labs before, but I'll plead "hypo brain"!  What were your labs before the two week hiatus?  What were your meds before stopping?

[Sunshine_67]

The pituitary test showed I didn't have a problem with that. Oh believe me, I've been patient. I've been sick now for two years. I haven't been able to exercise, I hardly see my friends and my work has been suffering now for two years. I know it takes time, but my levels are now worse than they were two years ago before I even started on thyroid meds. I have osteoporosis, which all of this has made a lot worse. I'm so scared I'm going to lose my job, so I honestly am running outof patience since this has been going on now for two years.

[goolarra]

You will feel well again, but it takes time and patience to get to the appropriate dose.  If you try to rush it, you often end up taking more time in the long run to get there, especially if you go too fast and have to back off to a lower dose and work up again.

How did the pituitary testing go?  Have you had a chance to discuss it with your doctor yet?

Two weeks without meds in preparation for that has definitely set you back a bit, but you'll get there, don't worry.  Just be as kind to yourself as you possibly can...  

[goolarra]

It could be other antibodies...I assumed (and you know what that does!) that he was testing thyroid antibodies again.

How long have you been on the 75 mcg?  What were your latest FT3, FT4 and TSH (with ranges)?

You're paying for your labwork.  If you want FT3 tested, insist that the endo add it to the order.  It's such a pain to have to play these games with doctors.  Why should you have to go running back to your PCP for FT3...it's so much more convenient to do it all at once.

[Sunshine_67]

This is seriously affecting not only my life but my job big time! I can't afford to lose my job in this economy, but if these docs don't get it right soon.....I'm just not mentally or physically able to work right now but I have no choice. It's really depressing me and scaring me that I'll never feel well.

[goolarra]

I can't fault your doctor for what he's doing.  After a couple of weeks with no hormones going in, it's best to start out at a lower dose and work up so that you don't get hyper symptoms from too much, too fast.  Hopefully, he won't freak out when your TSH goes down again.  I'm betting he'll give you an increase next week since it seems you've handled the 60 mg fine.  If he's willing to try and to listen to you.....

[kris71]

maybe he's testing for other antibodies to see if you might other autoimmune diseases that are contributing to feeling so crappy. just a thought. I still feel like crap after being upped to 75mcg of synthroid. won't get re-tested for another month. I just don't know what to do at this pt. I'm at my wits end.  my endo also seems a little weird. She only wants to test my TSH and FT4 has no concern for the Ft3 so my primary dr said he would continue to test me if i felt more comfortable. At this point, he's being more thorough than my endo.

[Sunshine_67]

I was on 120mg before I stopped and was still feeling bad on that. My FT4 levels were very low even though my FT3 were getting higher. I get retested on Tuesday, so hopefully he'll increase my dose again after that. He's a primary doc so he doesn't exactly know what he's doing, but at least he's trying and I'm grateful for that. All the endos I've seen were idiots, telling me I was hyper based on my low tsh.

[goolarra]

You're right about the antibodies...if you've been diagnosed with Hashi's due to elevated antibodies, more antibody tests are a waste of money.  They add nothing to the information you already have.

You're also right that your labs are in the toilet, but that's to be expected after two weeks off meds.  What meds and what dosage were you on before the two week hiatus?  How long will you have been on the 60 mg before being retested next week?