I m 37 and have been on Synthyrod since I was 12. As my weight climbed so has my dosage. Currently I weigh 296 and take 225mg. I constantly feel tired, have memory issues, cold, very dry skin, no energy. I am beginning to lose weight through diet nd exercise. . I had my blood levels checked and levels were a little off but my TSH was 15.83. My doc said not to worry a nd increased my meds. I feel like they just keep increasing my meds. Should I look for a new doc to switch me to a T3 med or just stop worrying nd hope that losing weight will help?

225 mcg is a crazy high dose. I don't have a thyroid anymore and was taking less than that!

I think you need a new doctor, first and foremost. You also need a comprehensive thyroid panel that includes free T3 and free T4.

T3 and T4 are your actual thyroid hormones. Your thyroid makes about 80% T4 and 20% T3, and converts some of that T4 into T3 in other areas of your body. T4 is basically a "storage" hormone, while T3 is the "active" hormone that is like the key in the ignition for your cells. It's a low T3 that gives all the classic hypo symptoms.

You want to ensure they test "free" T3 and T4, because more than 99% of your T3 and T4 are bound to carrier proteins that move them about your body. When they are protein-bound they are biologically inactive. The "free" test just tests for the <.01% that is NOT bound, and is readily available for your body to use.

Synthroid is a T4-only medication, so if your body has any issues converting that T4 into T3 you can still be hypo, even though your TSH and free T4 might look "fine". Testing your free T3 can let you know if you have any such issues, and can highlight the possible need for different meds.



So what I'm thinking is happening with you is that your free T4 is probably sky-high and your free T3 is too low, and your body is making too much Reverse T3 . I would find a new doctor that will test all of these things; I would also get at minimum your Vit D and your iron and ferritin (iron stores) tested. Consider getting your selenium tested too, or start eating 1-2 brazil nuts a day. I can pretty much guarantee that you'll need to do one of the following:
a) Drop your synthroid dose and add in a synthetic T3 like cytomel
b) switch to a dessicated med like Nature Thryoid or Armour, that contains both T3 and T4. This is the preferred approach, but get some synthetic T3 for sure as soon as you can, until you can find a doctor to give you the dessicated meds.


Your current treatment is NOT working, and all of your symptoms are evidence of that. I'm very angry for you that you've been treated improperly for so long...You do NOT have to keep feeling this way.
The Nature Thyroid website has a link at the bottom to "find a doctor". I would start there in looking for someone new, as you're more likely to find someone open to prescribing the right meds.

I went back to my last lab tests about 6 months ago so I could give you more detailed numbers....
Iron was low at 25, vit. D was 15.2 low, TSH was 15 very high, T4 was high 11.5, free T4 1.17, T3 uptake 26 low, T7 was 3.0. It seems your thinking is probably right. After that test they increased synthyroid from 200mcg to 225, and added 4000 Vit. D3 each day. I think I do need to explore a new doctor. Most endocrinologists here in WV are traditional and won't try alternatives to T4. Thank you very much for your time and advice. It helped.

Ok, WOW. Your Vit D is CRAZY low - I know ladies that supplement with 10,000 IUI of D3 daily just to get those up. It's good to talk to your doctor so they know; or you could do 5000 IUI daily but it will move up a lot slower; the 4000 IUI likely won't be enough. Remember that you want it to optimal - so at least 60 - and not just 30 (minimum of the range).

Iron you definitely want to look at supplements - is there a naturopath in your area that you can work with? I think you can feel SO much better once you get that all balanced, and then it will just be maintaining.


It looks like they didn't run great tests - the total T4 isn't really that useful, but it does show that your free T4 is likely also high, putting you at risk of higher Reverse T3.
The T3 uptake and T7 (also known as T4 index) were the old way of indirectly measuring free T4, from before there was a direct, reliable test available. If you're paying for tests I wouldn't bother with those -- you need to have your free T3 and your Reverse T3 tested.


I would strongly encourage you to find someone to prescribe you Armour or Nature Thyroid; I suspect that with the Vit D and a new med you would feel better very quickly. And then you'll think you feel good but your levels will still be low, and then eventually you'll feel GREAT, and I think you don't even know what that feels like!!!

you must remember that Endo's know diabetes and not necessarily Thyroid functions,,, I feel into this trap as well,, and quickly fired the endo I went to... So now I travel 1 hour to see the doc I really like, and knows his stuff! my doc would freak as well if my numbers wehrere the same as yours....

Keep looking for a doc that will listen and order the test that have been suggested above. There is hope! YOu just have to keep looking. Dont take for granted all docs are the same! And that you have to feel this way...

YOu can also read the book "Stop the Thyroid Madness", or go to the website (same name), it opend my eyes... IF you read info on your illness, you are a more informed patient, and trust me that is a good thing!

once you rthyroid levels are in good shape and you still feel "bad", you can ask them to check your Cortisol levels via a saliva 24 hour test.

My OB treats me better than your Dr. does, and she's just a midwife! I think you need to find a new Dr. I'm so sorry! :frown:

you must remember that Endo's know diabetes and not necessarily Thyroid functions,,, I feel into this trap as well,, and quickly fired the endo I went to... So now I travel 1 hour to see the doc I really like, and knows his stuff! my doc would freak as well if my numbers wehrere the same as yours....

^^^^ THIS!! So true that endo's usually just focus on diabetes and don't know much at all about proper thyroid management.