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thyroid levels change
I have had low thyroid for many years and have managed it with yearly check-ups. The last 3 years have been very stressful for me. I lost my mother almost 3 years ago and recently have had health problems. Question is my thyroid level went very low 8.52 and I was on .100 levothyroxine. So my doctor increased my dosage to .125 and said to have it checked again in July. It is time for my bloodwork this week and I know it has gone to hyperthroid because I was in the hospital six weeks ago and it was moderately hyperthyroid. 0.36. Well I went to my family doctor who could not see me in the hospital and he ignored the test and said to have it checked in July which is 3 months. It was almost like he resented the fact the doctor on call in the hospital said to follow-up and have it checked. I did have laparoscopic surgery a week ago to remove ovaries with very large cysts. I haven't been able to sleep.
The thyroid levels have gone up and down over the last 3 years 2 times which concerns me. I think my doctor was wrong to ignore my tsh test which was done in the hospital. Who is to say? I like the doctor and do not want to change and start all over again. Does anyone else have levels go up and down like this. I've had many tests for pancreatitis and been very stressed besides the laparoscopic surgery. So I guess stress can cause many changes in the body. Any advice please. Hope this makes sense.
The thyroid levels have gone up and down over the last 3 years 2 times which concerns me. I think my doctor was wrong to ignore my tsh test which was done in the hospital. Who is to say? I like the doctor and do not want to change and start all over again. Does anyone else have levels go up and down like this. I've had many tests for pancreatitis and been very stressed besides the laparoscopic surgery. So I guess stress can cause many changes in the body. Any advice please. Hope this makes sense.
Thank you for your reply and I do need to find another dr. Just not so easy to do for me. But I will start to look.
The TSH level was 0.36 with level being from normal range from 0.49 - 4.00
T4 wa 0.98 with normal range being from 0.60 - 2.00
These were taken on May 17th in the hospital and the endo on call said to follow-up with my family dr. which he ignored and said to test in July which I am going in the morning to have bloodwork taken.
Hope this makes sense. I am on medicare/medicaid and all my family doctor gets is the TSH level which I guess is all insurance pays for. I don't see a reading of T3 on any reports. I will ask for the other readings which I am sure I will have to pay for but it would be worth it.
This laparascopic surgery has not been easy for me and still have a way to go to recooperate. I'm taking it easy and not over doing anything. I go to my gyn tomorow also to get stitches out. The only reason I found out about the cysts was my gastro dr. did a CT scan and discovered the ovarian cysts. Thank goodness the surgery is one week behind me today. The reason I was hospitalized in May was because I became very sick with vomiting and the ER dr admitted me for pancreatitus. I do not drink at all and had my gallbladder taken out in 1988 however I do have high tryglycerides which were in normal range in the hospital test the next day. The dr.(endo) on call in hospital didn't seem to think I had pancreatitus because the next day all enzyme levels were normal and he released me. So I went to a gastro dr and he did a CT scan, colonoscopy, endoscopy and mri. Then the surgery for the cysts which I have a very good gyn. That is a lot of tests and then surgery for such a short period Surgery was on the 27th of June. I am just worn out from it all and live alone. Missed a lot of sleep. I know people have a lot more problems than all this but so far results have been good. Cancer bloodwork (CA125) for the ovaries and cysts turned out great. The gyn who was the surgeon said the cysts were so large she had to go back and make larger incisions and even took pictures of the cysts and will show me. I'm very fortunate for this. I really don't think I have pancreatitus because the CT scan said "no pancreatitis". But then gastro wanted to do the mri. Of course my gyn had a copy of the CT scan and she ask why the mri and I told her the gastro said the lipase levels were slightly elevated. She didn't say anything but I knew by the look she gave me he was running the mri unnecessarily. She said it says right here on the CT scan that you do not have pancreatitus. I have had no more problems either with stomach. And would you believe I can't see the gastro's nurse practitioner until the 14th of the month. I feel like I am getting the run around from gastro too. I do believe some doctors are running too many tests. Guess all this wasn't necessary for the post in thyroid but maybe I just need to vent. I discouraged and confused. You are probably confused too. lol
Thanks for listening. When you are all alone and discouraged it's not easy. But I keep on going day by day. I will get the results from thyroid test and let you know. Man I wrote a book didn't I.
The TSH level was 0.36 with level being from normal range from 0.49 - 4.00
T4 wa 0.98 with normal range being from 0.60 - 2.00
These were taken on May 17th in the hospital and the endo on call said to follow-up with my family dr. which he ignored and said to test in July which I am going in the morning to have bloodwork taken.
Hope this makes sense. I am on medicare/medicaid and all my family doctor gets is the TSH level which I guess is all insurance pays for. I don't see a reading of T3 on any reports. I will ask for the other readings which I am sure I will have to pay for but it would be worth it.
This laparascopic surgery has not been easy for me and still have a way to go to recooperate. I'm taking it easy and not over doing anything. I go to my gyn tomorow also to get stitches out. The only reason I found out about the cysts was my gastro dr. did a CT scan and discovered the ovarian cysts. Thank goodness the surgery is one week behind me today. The reason I was hospitalized in May was because I became very sick with vomiting and the ER dr admitted me for pancreatitus. I do not drink at all and had my gallbladder taken out in 1988 however I do have high tryglycerides which were in normal range in the hospital test the next day. The dr.(endo) on call in hospital didn't seem to think I had pancreatitus because the next day all enzyme levels were normal and he released me. So I went to a gastro dr and he did a CT scan, colonoscopy, endoscopy and mri. Then the surgery for the cysts which I have a very good gyn. That is a lot of tests and then surgery for such a short period Surgery was on the 27th of June. I am just worn out from it all and live alone. Missed a lot of sleep. I know people have a lot more problems than all this but so far results have been good. Cancer bloodwork (CA125) for the ovaries and cysts turned out great. The gyn who was the surgeon said the cysts were so large she had to go back and make larger incisions and even took pictures of the cysts and will show me. I'm very fortunate for this. I really don't think I have pancreatitus because the CT scan said "no pancreatitis". But then gastro wanted to do the mri. Of course my gyn had a copy of the CT scan and she ask why the mri and I told her the gastro said the lipase levels were slightly elevated. She didn't say anything but I knew by the look she gave me he was running the mri unnecessarily. She said it says right here on the CT scan that you do not have pancreatitus. I have had no more problems either with stomach. And would you believe I can't see the gastro's nurse practitioner until the 14th of the month. I feel like I am getting the run around from gastro too. I do believe some doctors are running too many tests. Guess all this wasn't necessary for the post in thyroid but maybe I just need to vent. I discouraged and confused. You are probably confused too. lol
Thanks for listening. When you are all alone and discouraged it's not easy. But I keep on going day by day. I will get the results from thyroid test and let you know. Man I wrote a book didn't I.
P.S. Just had a chance to read what Katherine7 wrote and she is spot on. Ultimately you know how you feel though so be vigilant and best wishes to feeling better :)
Soregal, No worries about your thyroid flucuating like that. You will have fluctuations like that all the time. Especially when you have stress on your body from surgery and things like that and just because your result was a 0.36 does not mean that you were hyperthyroid. I don't know what type of hypothyroidism that you have and I am not an endocrinologist but I have had hypothyroidism for 12 years now and I have been there done that. I know it is like a roller coaster and it is great that you keep a good check on it. It is very difficult for doctors to adjust the levels of your meds and everything from drinking coffee with creamer in it when you take your meds in the morning or taking a vitamin too soon after you take your meds can affect the absorption of your levothyroxine. I wouldn't get upset with the doctor. I don't think he was ignoring it. I think he just felt that it was within the normal and healthy range and you were not showing any signs of distress so it would be wise to just revisit it after your body has a chance to recover from the stress of surgery. I hope you feel better from your surgery quickly! I have had my thyroid change like crazy after exercising like crazy for months or surgery or pregnacy. Anything that affects your hormones could affect it so just be vigilant of how you feel but they really don't reduce the dose that I know of and I am sure when you see results this week it will be more in the higher normal range if you are closer to recovery. Feel better and good luck! dizzy52
Hi soregal,
I'm sorry for Your loss and all the stress You are going through.
Did You have gall stone problems and had Your gall bladder removed?
I have had many fluctuations in my tsh and t4, t3 levels for various reasons and had to learn to adjust my dosage to what works best for me. I have been very blessed to have a very (he is probably around 70 years old), knowledgable and understanding endo in a teaching hospital, who gives me the liberty to discuss any concerns, take aditional tests in-between my visits and provide a suitable (high enough dosage) prescription to adjust my dosage if I need to. I have come to recognize greatly the importance of good communication and relationship with my drs. If You are not happy with Your dr. primary or endo It may be a good idea to seek out another doctor in Your area or find ways to communicate better,; sometimes it helps get more educated and learn to speak their medical language. I pray that You will find someone suitable for You or that Your communication with Your present dr. will improve.
In Your post I understand conclude You are refering to Your TSH levels. When You get Your next bloodwork results, ask for a copy as well as from your older results. When looking at Your blood results, Your it isn't lonly the TSH that should determine Your dosage. T4 is the thyhroid hormone Your body stores in the cells which is then converted into the "active" T3 thyroid hormone, which regulates Your metabolism, brainfunction and other organs. I would suggest You keep a record of which T4, T3 levels. It is mostly the T3 levels that will determine how well You are doing, what dosage feels best for You. Sometimes the TSH may not be a good indicator (as in my case, because I have CFIDS it affects how the hypothalamous releases the TSH). I have made myself a chart with Exell (microsoft office tool) to keep track of dosage, hormone levels, periods of illness and how feel. If I find a way I can send it to You. I might have to ask the moderator if it is possible to send attachments or alike.
Also I have also noticed that during longer periods of illness and recovery the body does need to work harder and will need slightly more thyroid hormones replacement. This is also established scientifically.
Some medications like antacids, OTC or Rx, Iron and calcium can reduce the absorbtion of Your thyroid medications.
More or less significant weight loss or gain also will determine how much thyroid hormone your body uses. Perhaps a little more when You gain, or a little less when You loose say 15-20 lb. You should be able to tell ... You may feel more sluggish, depressed, have slower mental function, become constipated, gan weight more easily, when Your dosage is too low - or be slightly more hyper, anxious than usual, can't sleep, or are are loosing weight when Your dose is too high. You can familiarize yourself with the symptoms for hyper- and hypo- thyroidism and other resources on one of the official patient oriented medical websites below, keeping in mind one may only have some of the symptoms, as well as that some symtoms may be common in both conditions, as well as the individuality of one's physical make up:
WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hypothyroidism-topic-overview
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hyperthyroidism-topic-overview
American Thyroid Association:
http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/hypothyroidism.html
http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/hyperthyroidism.html
I hope this will help.
With Love
Katherine7
I'm sorry for Your loss and all the stress You are going through.
Did You have gall stone problems and had Your gall bladder removed?
I have had many fluctuations in my tsh and t4, t3 levels for various reasons and had to learn to adjust my dosage to what works best for me. I have been very blessed to have a very (he is probably around 70 years old), knowledgable and understanding endo in a teaching hospital, who gives me the liberty to discuss any concerns, take aditional tests in-between my visits and provide a suitable (high enough dosage) prescription to adjust my dosage if I need to. I have come to recognize greatly the importance of good communication and relationship with my drs. If You are not happy with Your dr. primary or endo It may be a good idea to seek out another doctor in Your area or find ways to communicate better,; sometimes it helps get more educated and learn to speak their medical language. I pray that You will find someone suitable for You or that Your communication with Your present dr. will improve.
In Your post I understand conclude You are refering to Your TSH levels. When You get Your next bloodwork results, ask for a copy as well as from your older results. When looking at Your blood results, Your it isn't lonly the TSH that should determine Your dosage. T4 is the thyhroid hormone Your body stores in the cells which is then converted into the "active" T3 thyroid hormone, which regulates Your metabolism, brainfunction and other organs. I would suggest You keep a record of which T4, T3 levels. It is mostly the T3 levels that will determine how well You are doing, what dosage feels best for You. Sometimes the TSH may not be a good indicator (as in my case, because I have CFIDS it affects how the hypothalamous releases the TSH). I have made myself a chart with Exell (microsoft office tool) to keep track of dosage, hormone levels, periods of illness and how feel. If I find a way I can send it to You. I might have to ask the moderator if it is possible to send attachments or alike.
Also I have also noticed that during longer periods of illness and recovery the body does need to work harder and will need slightly more thyroid hormones replacement. This is also established scientifically.
Some medications like antacids, OTC or Rx, Iron and calcium can reduce the absorbtion of Your thyroid medications.
More or less significant weight loss or gain also will determine how much thyroid hormone your body uses. Perhaps a little more when You gain, or a little less when You loose say 15-20 lb. You should be able to tell ... You may feel more sluggish, depressed, have slower mental function, become constipated, gan weight more easily, when Your dosage is too low - or be slightly more hyper, anxious than usual, can't sleep, or are are loosing weight when Your dose is too high. You can familiarize yourself with the symptoms for hyper- and hypo- thyroidism and other resources on one of the official patient oriented medical websites below, keeping in mind one may only have some of the symptoms, as well as that some symtoms may be common in both conditions, as well as the individuality of one's physical make up:
WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hypothyroidism-topic-overview
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hyperthyroidism-topic-overview
American Thyroid Association:
http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/hypothyroidism.html
http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/hyperthyroidism.html
I hope this will help.
With Love
Katherine7
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