Stamina

[Needexercise]

Has anyone experienced tightness across the chest area when exercising?  I feel like I am Hyperthyroid and Hypothyroid at the same time.  I think maybe it's is due to not taking T3 along with my Synthroid.  A few years ago I went off Synthroid for a few months.  When tested my TSH was 39 and my FT4 was above normal range.  My doctor couldn't give me an answer; just said I needed to go back on Synthroid.  Any thoughts out there?  Thanks!

[Needexercise]

Thank you for the information.  In the past I did get my doc to test for FT4 and FT3, but she doesn't understand that she needs to used these tests to adjust my dosage accordingly.  In the Winter of 2010/2011 I was taking 75 mcg of Synthroid plus a minute amount of Liiothyronine, about 1.4 mcg twice a day.  I did this for 7 months and did pretty well on it.  FT4 & FT3 was retested as well as TSH.  All were within the normal range; however, having said that, my doc doesn't understand how to use these #'s to tweak dosage.  When I returned to New Hampshire from Arizona, I did not feel well and just stopped taking the T3.  I have been on 88 mcg Synthroid since June of 2011.  I have not been feeling up to par during that time.  Depression, Anxiety, cannot lose weight even though food intake is reasonable.  No exercise stamina.  So I have put myself back on the T4  + T3 and have a Doctor's appt. on the 25th Oct. to discuss this move.  I will be asking for the tests you suggested.  Right now I am taking 66 mcg synthroid once a day and  2.5 mcg T3 twice a day (one dose with breakfast and one dose mid-afternoon.  Actually over the 22 years I have been dealing with Hypo my need for T4 has actually decreased.  I am now 64 years of age.  I was 42 when diagnosed.  Sorry to run on!  It's just that I been doing this up and down routine for so long.  I just want to feel well for the time I have left on this Earth. :/

Thanks for your help.  I will bring your suggestions to my Doc appt on Thursday.

I have done the Doctor search in the past... went to an endo for a while.  He was no better than my regular Doc.  It seems to be all guess work on their part.  I have even supplied my Doc with some very good books on the subject.

[gimel]

You really should not be self medicating.  You need to get your doctor on board to do adequate testing so that you know where your Free T3 and Free T4 levels are, for purposes of medicating.  I would also suggest that you test for Reverse T3 as well.   If you cannot get your doctor to test beyond TSH, then it is useless dealing with him.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that at best is only an indicator of thyroid levels.  When already taking thyroid meds, TSH is almost useless as a diagnostic.  

Many patients taking thyroid meds find that their TSH becomes suppressed below the range.  That does not mean that you are automatically hyper.  You are hyper only if having hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of Free T3 and Free T4.  Even though TSH is supposed to accurately reflect levels of the actual thyroid hormones, it cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T3 or Free T4, much less with symptoms, which are the most important.


Far better indicators are symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4.  Free T3 largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.

Since one doctor said you tested as having antibodies, it may well be that Hashimoto's is the cause for your hypothyroidism.  If that is the case, then there will be a need to gradually increase your thyroid meds to offset the diminishing amount of natural thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland as it is attacked by the antibodies.  Yet another reason that you should also be tested for TPO ab and TG ab to verify Hashi's.  

As for your Vitamin D, and ferritin, just being in the low end of the range is not adequate.  Please post the actual test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  You also did not mention B12.  Were you tested for that?

Also note that a good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results, and especially not just TSH.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with from a distance after an initial evaluation and tests.  The letter is then sent to the participating PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter please note the statement, "the ultimate criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

So when you go back for testing, you need to be tested for Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, TPO ab and TG ab.  If the doctor resists, then you should insist on it and don't take no for an answer.  You also should find out if he is going to be willing to treat you clinically as described above.  If not, then don't waste any more time there.  Find a good thyroid doctor.   If you don't have any idea where to look, then please tell us where you are located and perhaps a member might be able to recommend a doctor.

[Needexercise]

Diagnosed Hypothyroid in 1990.  Doc did not test for antibodies at that time.  Went to a naturopathic doctor IN 2003; received saliva testing for adrenal fatique, tested for antibodies and Ft4 & Ft3.  I don't remember the #'s.  Doc said I had some adrenal fatique and some antibodies.  Followed his recommendations at the time and became hyperthyroid.  Did not continue!

I was taking 75 mcg synthroid and 1.2 mcg Liiothyronine (T3) a couple years ago while visiting in AZ for 5 months.  Did fine, but when returned to NH did not feel well again.  Stopped taking T3 until recently.  Now I am back to trying to figure out dosage on my own.  Taking 66mcg Synthroid and 2.5 mcg Liiothyronine (T3) twice a day.  Been on this dosage for less than a week, but feeling better.

Just had a series of blood test, CBC, CPR, and TSH reflex.  Can't get my doc to check FT4 and FT3 to tweak T4 & T3 dosage.  TSH 1.48 all other blood test were normal.  My Vitamin D level is fine.  Ferritin level is fine also.

Hyper feeling is when I feel very hot and heart pounding; also when walking regular start having tightness in chest.  No heart problems.  Had that checked.  Last time this happened my TSH level was around .3; too low for me.  I just feel that I store too much T4 and do not really convert to the T3 as I should.  That is why I am trying combo T4/T3.

[gimel]

Why were you placed on Synthroid?  What is the daily dosage?  Do you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is the most common cause for diagnosed hypothyroidism?  

What are the symptoms that make you feel you might be both hyper and hypo?  Please post all your thyroid related test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Have you been tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin?  If so, please also post those results and their reference ranges.  

Sorry for all the questions and requests, but more info is need to try and assess your status.