Thyroid

[JAG1958]

Is there still an ongoing thread talking about thyroid meds and conditions?

[Barb135]

Will look forward to seeing your labs; we'll help any way we can.

[JAG1958]

Barb: sorry obviously I never saw my email!! Thanks for the come-back!
Anyway I had most of my thyroid removed in August of 2013.  Sent on my way without consideration of being put on thyroid medicine!!!  Since then it's
Been a roller coaster ride..  If it wasn't for websites like these I wouldn't know
What to do, So Again I thank-you for your time.. Soon I will b posting my new
Blood test and try to understand what and how of it,

[Barb135]

Why did you have your thyroid ablated?  Are TSH and T4 all that are being tested?   Is that Free T4 or Total T4?  Please post the actual result and be sure to include reference range, since ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report. If your report doesn't specify whether it's Free T4 or Total T4, it's assumed to be Total and isn't nearly as useful.

What about Free T3 - has that been tested at all?  

TSH is merely a messenger hormone produced by the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid.  If you thyroid was ablated, it's not going to respond; therefore, you have to provide adequate hormones for your body, in the form of replacement hormones.

By the same token, T4 isn't used directly by the cells.  It's a storage hormone that must be converted to T3, prior to use.   Of the total T4 in your blood approximately 90-95% will be bound by protein and is not usable.  Therefore, you have to test the unbound ("Free") T4 in order to find out exactly how much is available to be converted to T3.

Like T4, much of the T3 in your body is bound by a protein and can't be used, so you have to test the unbound ("Free") T3 to find out exactly how much is available for use.  Free T3 is the hormone used directly by the individual cells.

Not all of us convert FT4 to FT3, adequately, so we have to add a source of T3, such as cytomel, generic liothyronine or a desiccated hormone derived from pigs that contains both T4 and T3.

Targeting TSH is like shooting a moving target, because TSH is affected by so many variables and can vary as much as 75% over the course of a day.  

Unfortunately, doctors who dose medication, based on TSH levels, tend to keep their patients ill much longer than necessary.

Ask your doctor to test Free T3 and Free T4, along with the TSH.  If he refuses, find a different doctor.

[GrandmaK64]

Hi Barb, and others....I had my thyroid ablated about a year ago, and am still struggling with same symptoms that I had before it was ablated. It seems that  no matter what my TSH and T4 are, my symptoms don't change (at least they haven't much until recently when I went and my numbers for TSH lowered.  I have had a TSH of 62 down to a 5.5 and haven't felt much different. The dr. is working with me, by increasing or decreasing levels of Synthyroid, but I am so frustrated, since I have been dealing with issues for nearly four years and have gone through a lot to get to where I am even at this point. (catherization, and misdiagnosis of afib and meds; lupus diagnosis, and then not, tested for everything lung related in that I am short of breath upon minimal exertion) It seems like I am very sensitive to the medication, in that I was only on 25 to 50 mcg (after the 62 which was on no meds) and getting all these numbers...why is it so hard to get leveled out and be relieved of symptoms ...any thoughts on this ?

[Barb135]

I'm not sure what you mean.  Almost all of our threads talk about thyroid meds and conditions, since we're a thyroid forum.

Since you've started a new thread, you're welcome to ask your questions or  make your comments here.

If you have questions about a thyroid condition, please be sure to post lab results and reference ranges for any thyroid tests you've had done.  Be sure to include thyroid meds you might be on and current dosages.