islandmonkey Member

This sounds like a potential thyroid issue to me, especially with the irregular heart beats and the tightness in your throat. Do you know if your doctor just test TSH, or did they also test your free T3 and free T4? I would get an actual copy of your test results, because "normal" is most definitely subject to…

Congrats, it sounds like you got a decent thyroid doctor right away, which is actually quite rare! Vit B12 is involved in converting T4 (the storage thyroid hormone) into T3 (the active thyroid hormone); and Vit D is required for the T3 to do its work on your cells. So I'm thinking it was the combo that was effective. :)

I commented on someone else's post, but thought I'd add it here too. Does your doctor test your free T3 and your free T4 to make sure your thyroid meds are a) the right ones and b) the right dose? I've found that most people post-thyroidectomy (myself included) don't do well on T4-only meds like synthroid or levothyroxine.…

What kind of meds are you on? A T4-only med like synthroid or levothyroxine? I had my thyroidectomy as treatment for uncontrollable graves, and the T4-only meds don't work for me. Without a thyroid you're already "behind" in T3 hormone, so it's generally not the greatest treatment. Does your doctor ever test your free T3?…

That's definitely a high free T4, good that he lowered the dose. Do they also test your free T3...? Keep in mine that "within normal range" and "optimal" are two very different things.

Ah, I see you've gotten your degree in online medical diagnosis! What university was that through? /sarcasm. Please don't make flippant comments like this what you know NOTHING about the individual. Especially since they ARE looking in the right place!!!

No, TSH should not be impacted by stress. However, TSH can be change by a number of factors and doesn't stay constant even on a single day. "TSH w/ reflex free T4" test: this test is unfortunately really terrible. What this means is that they'll use the blood sample to test your TSH, and will ONLY test your free T4 if the…

Sorry for all the responses, but I'm trying to wade through all the crap that's gotten posted here - please don't listen to most of it, your TSH results indicate that you ARE hypothyroid. Iron and B12 are critical for converting T4 (the "storage" thyroid hormone) into T3 (the "active" thyroid hormone). This makes a lot…

Many people know that thyroid issues and iodine are linked in some way, but they aren't aware of how - so they generically say "take iodine to help your thyroid". Iodine is the building block for your thyroid hormones - T4 and T3 (in fact, the # represents the # of iodine molecules making up the hormone). While there are…

Your doctor is wrong. Wrong, and not at ALL knowledgeable enough about thyroids to be treating yours. I would suggest you start looking around NOW for a new doctor. Don't assume endos will be good with thyroids - they often just specialize in diabetes - but keep looking. In 2002 the "normal range" for TSH was changed to…

I would actually suggest that you also get your thyroid checked out. Autoimmune diseases love to travel in packs, and Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) loves to travel with PCOS. Many people with PCOS find that getting their thyroid to optimal helps deal with the PCOS.

"Normal" is something hotly debated within the thyroid community (medical professionals and patients). The levels posted are NOT normal. Also, there are MANY vitamins and minerals involved in creating thyroid hormones, converting them, and your body actually using them. Someone can be hypothyroid without being iodine…

Hair loss, and aching joints and muscles can definitely be hypothyroid signs. I personally wouldn't worry too much about the TSH, if you can get them to test free T3. I feel best when my TSH is below 1.0 and my free T3 is at least about mid-range. On a dessicated thyroid med (like Armour), you'd want your free T4 to be…

Many women with untreated thyroid issues are unable to conceive, or are unable to stay pregnant. Please do ensure your thyroid is optimal before you keep going. Is it an RE (reproductive endocrinologist) that you're going to see? Unfortunately they tend to be very bad with thyroid management, but maybe you'll get lucky.…

Hmm, why does your doctor have you on synthroid along with your dessicated meds? That seems like a really high T4 dose to add in, no wonder your free T4 is at the top of the range! I would talk to your doctor about dropping your synthroid (possibly even altogether) and increasing your dessicated med if you need it. Are you…

Just to note that RAI after a thyroidectomy is very different than RAI with a hyperthyroid -- with a thyroidecomy you no longer have most of your thyroid tissue; you also have to go incredibly hypo in advance of the treatment. With graves/hyperthyroid it can take months or years for the thyroid to die off - which includes…

Goitrogenic foods, like broccoli, cabbage, etc: these can inhibit your body's ability to make new thyroid hormones - cooked they are generally fine. Soy: same as the above. B vitamins: B12 is an essential part of your body converting T4 into the active thyroid hormone T3. Low T3 is what makes you feel hypo. Iron: also…

It's actually very common for women with previously-unrealized hypothyroid to have it come up during/after pregnancy!

I also gained weight when hyper! It's a LOT more common than conventional medicine would have you believe. I think for me it's because I was so hyper that I had to eat "quick" energy just to keep going, which was always in the form of sugar, sugar sugar. So my body would burn through it crazy fast but I'd still gain weight.

What is alkaline water? What does it contain? If there's any iron or other minerals it might impact your thyroid meds (iron and other minerals can bind to the thyroid hormone and basically flush it out of your body without absorption).

I've heard it's really difficult to get proper care for thyroids in the UK. :( That's a pretty high dose of thyroxine....if you're still feeling hypo I'm willing to bet that your body is struggling to convert the T4 into the much-needed T3. If you can, I'd ask your doctor to test your free T3 and free T4, and DEFINITELY…

Are you on methimazole/tapazole, or on PTU? I went hypo from methimazole within 4 weeks, and many doctors end up over-medicating women with graves. You sound over-medicated. Does your doctor test your free T3 and free T4, or just your TSH?

1. Are you on any thyroid meds? Is it a T4-only med like Synthroid or Levothyroxine? 2. Does your doctor test just TSH? TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid one, and doesn't give the full picture. You need to have your free (not total) T3 and free T4 tested. If you ARE on a T4-only med then it's especially important…

This is INCORRECT. It takes only 6-8 weeks to see the maximum effect of a dose change.

I had a thyroidectomy as treatment for graves - prior to that I took both methimazole and PTU, at different times and at different dosages. I was up to 200 mcg of Synthroid recently, but my free T4 got too high and I got all jittery. I'm currently at 150 mcg which is fine for my free T4, but my free T3 is still too low -…

That's correct - if you're taking a T4-only med like Synthroid or Levothyroxine then you don't have to take the same dose every day. Personally I hate fussing with cutting pills.

VERY well put, lmelangley.

My endo has been running free T3, but just told me today that the province is pushing back every time they order it, and are pushing to phase out all free T3 testing (I'm in Saskatchewan). Ontario is apparently already pushing back (though some doctors are more willing than others to argue for the testing). I also have the…

I've heard that's really common in the uk. :( I live in Canada, and my province is currently phasing out all T3 testing, and apparently others have already done that. Very frustrating! I know in the US you can order your own labs....any opportunity to do that in the UK?

It's quite likely. Taking your med with any T3 can flood the body with free T3 (because it gets bound to carrier proteins). It's recommended to wait and take your pill after the labs. It would be pretty difficult to have your current ratio of T3:T4 otherwise. :) To be honest, I find your TSH and free T4 on the hypo end.…