What's wrong with me?

[Baldandhatingit]

I started taking synthroid ten years  ago. At the time, I had BEAUTIFUL long hair. (As a matter of fact,I was voted "best hair" in high school, asked to be a "hair model" for a tv commercial, was asked for my hair for a wig so I did and cut two "pigtails" each one enough for a wig, hairdressers would tell me they'd never seen so much hair, everyone told me how lucky I was, people stopped me to ask what i used on my hair, etc., etc., ) I never thought a thing of my hair, never did anything but wash it daily. It was gorgeous. After tfe birth of my first child, I was severly depressed and my Dr. tested me for thyroid problems. He said I had a goiter. He put me on synthroid and THAT'S when my hair started changing texture and falling out.
I have seen SEVENTEEN doctors, from dermotologists to endos, and every one of them days "it's not the synthroid" and "your levels are normal".
My hair is now brittle, dull, and I have(I cry about this regularly) probably lost almost all my hair.
My once beautiful, shiny, long hair that would curl and stay curled  is now dull, short (barely grows at all) lifeless, brittle and falls out so much I have to plunge my shower and sink regularly.
Also, my fingernails have developed  ridges in the last few years that also curl down on my index and next finger. But it's "not the Synthroid". RIGHT. WHATS WRONG WITH ME??????

[goolarra]

We often hear doctors say that labs are ":within normal limits".  Often, that's not good enough to relieve hypo symptoms.  Ranges are very flawed for a number of reasons, and many find that FT4 has to be around midrange and FT3 upper half to upper third of range before all symptoms go away  Hair loss is often one of the last to go away because your body thinks that your brain and heart are more important (and they are) and takes care of its vital systems first.

Do you have other hypo symptoms?  What meds are you currently taking?  Do you know if you have Hashi's?

Adding T3 to your meds or switching to Armour might very well cure your problem, but we can't be more specific without actually looking at your labs.  

She might be right about your hair, but I doubt it...I've never heard of anyone who really got their meds adjusted right FOR THEM (not just in range) whose hair didn't grow back.  

Post your labs, and we can make more concrete suggestions.  

[Baldandhatingit]

OK, just got my labs back.
TSH 1.97
T4, Free 1.1
T3, Free  3.4
T3, Reverse 23

[goolarra]

Please post the reference ranges for those.  Ranges are lab specific and have to come from your own lab report.

[Baldandhatingit]

T4, Free 1.1  0.8-1.8 ng/gL
T3, Free  3.4  2.3-4.2 pg/mL
T3, Reverse  23  11-32 ng/dL

TSH  1.97 mIU/L  in range
> or = 20 Years 0.40-4.50

Does that help?  Thank you so much.

[goolarra]

Thanks!

Your FT4 is at 30% of range, and we use a target of 50% until you find where you feel best (don't have symptoms).  Some people need to be a little higher than 50%, some a little lower, but you have a ways to go to get there.

Your FT4 is at 58% of range, and some of us have to be in the upper third (>67%) before symptoms are relieved.  Once again, there's room for improvement.

The balance of your FT3 to FT4 is good, however, so there's no obvious conversion problem apparent at this time.  I don't see the need to add T3 to your meds (just my opinion, of course).

Also, I don't see your reverse T3 as a problem.

Do you have other hypo symptoms?  Anything at all you can bonk your doctor over the head with to get him to increase your meds?  I think all you need is an increase to nudge your FT3 and FT4 up a little more.  

How much Synthroid do you take currently?  Do you have Hashi's?

[Baldandhatingit]

OK, here's what my Dr. put me on when I saw her July12th:
Armour 120 mg tab AND
Synthroid 25 MCG tab

I have to go back in four weeks and have another blood test.