born without a thyroid would Dr.s still check the TSH

[dgmootry]

I was just thinking, if you were born without a thyroid, would the Dr.s still check the TSH and if so WHY? same with those who had theres distroyed, why do they still check the TSH. Does not make since. Just a thought

[dgmootry]

I think your right, thanks again Barb

[Barb135]

It's very possible that your thyroid WAS still working some, right after the RAI, but that was 2 yrs ago, and things change.  The fact that you've had to continue to increase med, would seem to poke holes in your endo's theory that your thyroid is still working.

I'd say it's time to put up another big stink... lol

[dgmootry]

I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my pcp will listen, i looked into a doctor clinic iin spokane and asked the receptionist about the doctors, and she said they all perscribe levothyroxin t4 meds, so if my doctor doesn't work out, i'll have to try natural doctor, which I'd have to pay out of pocket, which I really don't want to do, but it will be worth it. I believe the reason she thought my thyroid was still working was because after RAI I went hypo and didn't have to take a high dose of meds at that time, and she could still feel my thyroidd, which i wonder if that could be my noduals, i really don't know. I asked her why I was on such a low dose and she said my thyroid was still working. But since then I was at 30mg Armour, now I'm at 75mg and I need more.  Thankyou once again, its so nice to have this forum with all of you knowledgable people dealing with the same issues. You know if I hadn't have come accross this forum i would most likely be at just 60mg because thats were she wanted me to stop, but i put up a big stink, because i had knowledge because of all of you, thankyou again, i love this site debbie

[Barb135]

It's very doubtful that your thyroid is still producing any hormones after 2 yrs, following an extra large dose of RAI.  On what criteria is your endo basing her judgement?  If it's based on TSH, you better run.

Many doctors think they are "above" reading info that patients bring in.  Typically, those are the ones who keep their patients ill. If you can't get your pcp to increase your med, it might be time to find a different endo.

[dgmootry]

Thats what I'm trying for, my indo refuses to up my meds, she said my thyroid is still functioning even though she gave me a extra large dose of RAI due to having a hyperthyroid and noduals.She said the last time I was in that it was the size of an almond. Is is possible that it could still be dying? its been almost 2yrs I think.  I've got an apt. with my regular doctor, she;s pretty open to surgestions, so I'm hoping she will be open to upping my meds, I have alot of info for her, I gave the same info to my Endo doc but I don't even think she read it, or she is just to stubborn, thankyou both for your time and info deb

[Barb135]

We see a lot of people on Armour who have very low FT4 levels.  Many have to add a synthetic T4 med to bring it up, and you may have to, as well.  Typically, I'd say get your FT4 to mid range, then work on the FT3, but since you're on Armour, I'd probably do it backwards. You definitely need an increase  in med.

ahmee is right about TSH often being suppressed, especially, when one is on a med with a T3 component, such as Armour.  My own TSH lives in the basement at < 0.01.  Fortunately, my endo lets it.

Why did you have the RAI?  If you have an autoimmune disease or have RAI, your thyroid will eventually "die" (stop producing, which yours probably has, due to the RAI) and you're completely dependent on the medication.  That's got nothing to do with TSH.  Apparently, your pituitary has plenty of thyroid hormones, and it doesn't realize that your cells still need more, so it's trying to stop your thyroid from producing more hormones.  The problem is that your thyroid is doing nothing; the hormones are coming from the medication.

Like I said before, the pituitary doesn't know where the hormones are coming from and it doesn't care.  All it knows (or cares) is that it's happy, regardless of what the individual cells have.

Go for your increase and forget TSH; do your best to get your doctor to do the same.

[ahmee]

Thyroid or thyroidless, on Armour or any other T3-containing med one's TSH will usually drop near 0 when properly medicated. Happened to me, happened to Barb, and many other people on this board. That is why you will want to go by FT3 and FT4 and ignore TSH. Your FT4 looks to be in the toilet, FT3 is still in bottom half of range, so I am not surprised you are still looking for an increase. All too often doctors will look at TSH and say you are fine, but you will need to find a doctor who understands (or help your current doc understand) that TSH can be easily suppressed by a theraoeutic dose of thyroid meds and is therefore useless as a gauge of health at this stage in the game.

[dgmootry]

so if one is on Armour and they don't have a thyroid, most likely there under medicated because that TSH will fall fast and sometimes hard. Barb I'm on Armour and my TSH is falling but I still have hypo symptoms, and I still have a underworking thyroid due to RAI, will eventually my thyroid just  go to sleep if i get my TSH low enough is that right?I know you'll ask for labs just had them done, TSH 0.313 0.358-3.74  FT3 3.0 2.3-4.2 FT4 0.7 0.7-1.5 heading to a my regular doctor to see if she will up my meds a bit, my Endo doc said no, i've been working at getting normal or close for I don't even know how long its been since RAI it weird time has just flown by, i feel I;ve been in a daze for too long, thanks again debbie

[Barb135]

Yes, most doctors will still test TSH if one is born without a thyroid or if their thyroid has been destroyed, either with RAI or simply because it's "burned out" by antibodies.  The reason they do is because TSH is believed to indicate actual thyroid hormone levels, whether those hormones come from the thyroid or whether they come from medication.  

TSH comes from the pituitary gland and it doesn't know where the hormones are coming from; it only knows whether there are enough of them, or not. And it doesn't always get that right.