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Undiagnosed Symptoms
I am a 49 yr woman with a 20yr history of Graves Disease. On Levothyroxine 100 mcg daily. I have symptomatic Bradycardia with occasional heart rates in the 200s. I was told that I will need a pacemaker. The new problem dizziness, nausea, belching. Back in February the Levothyroxine was increased to 125 mcg but changed back two weeks later due to high TSH (?). it was after the change in the dosage that the new symptoms started. PLEASE HELP no one has an answer and I can't function like this
Total T4 (thyroxine) and total T3 (triiodothyronine) are considered obsolete tests. They tell the total amount of T4 and T3 in your blood, but much of that is unavailable to cells. FREE T4 and FREE T3 tell what's available. You should request them next time.
That being said, your T4 is on the high side. 50% of range is the rule of thumb for T4, and yours is at 78%. On the other hand, T3 is below range. T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones and it's what's in levo. Our bodies must convert it to T3, the "active" form, before it can be used. Some people convert slowly and have to add some T3 (Cytomel and generics) to their meds.
If I were you, I'd discuss my T3 level with my doctor and ask if adding a little T3 (with an accompanying decrease in T4 meds) might help.
"Back in February the Levothyroxine was increased to 125 mcg but changed back two weeks later due to high TSH (?)." If your levo was change back to 100 mcg, it's most likely because yout TSH was low. TSH is counterintuitive...high TSH indicates low thyroid function (a need to increase meds) and vice versa. Also, it takes a dose change 4-6 weeks to reach its potential in your blood, so retesting after 2 weeks is too soon. It sounds like your doctors are relying too heavily on TSH and ignoring T3 and T4, which are much more important.
That being said, your T4 is on the high side. 50% of range is the rule of thumb for T4, and yours is at 78%. On the other hand, T3 is below range. T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones and it's what's in levo. Our bodies must convert it to T3, the "active" form, before it can be used. Some people convert slowly and have to add some T3 (Cytomel and generics) to their meds.
If I were you, I'd discuss my T3 level with my doctor and ask if adding a little T3 (with an accompanying decrease in T4 meds) might help.
"Back in February the Levothyroxine was increased to 125 mcg but changed back two weeks later due to high TSH (?)." If your levo was change back to 100 mcg, it's most likely because yout TSH was low. TSH is counterintuitive...high TSH indicates low thyroid function (a need to increase meds) and vice versa. Also, it takes a dose change 4-6 weeks to reach its potential in your blood, so retesting after 2 weeks is too soon. It sounds like your doctors are relying too heavily on TSH and ignoring T3 and T4, which are much more important.
Unfortunately, I do not have the most recent results (3/27 - my second admission within 4 weeks for Cardiac changes and cahnges in my WBCs) with me. However, the following results are from January 18th:TSH1.800 (0.460-4.680), Total Thyroxine 9.8 (5.5-11.0), Total Triiodothyronine 1.33 (1.49-2.60).
I do know that my TSH was as high as 5.68 AFTER my Levothyroxine was increased to 125 mcg. At that my dose was held x 1day and I was restarted on 100 mcgs.
WBCs 1/18/13 - 3.5, 3/27/13 - 1.9, 4/3/13 - 2.4 (Ref. 4.8 - 10.8)
There are so many changes happening in my body , it's making my crazy. I'm wants anwers and neither my PCP, Endocrine nor my Hemto/Oncologist can seem to do.
I do know that my TSH was as high as 5.68 AFTER my Levothyroxine was increased to 125 mcg. At that my dose was held x 1day and I was restarted on 100 mcgs.
WBCs 1/18/13 - 3.5, 3/27/13 - 1.9, 4/3/13 - 2.4 (Ref. 4.8 - 10.8)
There are so many changes happening in my body , it's making my crazy. I'm wants anwers and neither my PCP, Endocrine nor my Hemto/Oncologist can seem to do.
Please post your actual thyroid test results and include reference ranges. Ranges vary lab to lab, so you have to post them with results.
Do I understand correctly...you have a slow HR with occassional episodes of tachycardia (200+ bpm)?
If you don't have your test results, you might call your doctor for them (be sure to ask for the ranges, too).
Do I understand correctly...you have a slow HR with occassional episodes of tachycardia (200+ bpm)?
If you don't have your test results, you might call your doctor for them (be sure to ask for the ranges, too).
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