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Hypothroism madness! Help!

Had labs done-TSH 7.916 Range-0.350-5.000, Total T3 0.97 Range-0.60-1.81, Free T4 1.1 Range-0.8-1.5
These test were done when I was on 50 synthroid, was having a lot of hair loss, anxiety, heart palpitation, 5 months no period. He now put me on 88 synthroid heart palpitations a little better, not as much anxiety but now I have been having menstrual for 6 weeks at first I had clotting for 4 days the size of golf balls and now I'm spotting like a leaky faucet? Been on 88 for 4 weeks now. Should I get labs done again? what is going on? I am 48 and been tested for pre-menopause (I'm not) and had other female test done that was ok. I now know after reading blogs I should of had Free T 3...Can anyone shed some light on my situation???
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
The Free T3 is good... I hope that T4 will also be Free.  When not specified, we T3 and T4 are always considered to be Total.  Abbreviations are good - as in FT3, FT4, then we know you're getting the right tests.

Just because you've been hypo for 4 years doesn't mean you can't have Hashimoto's now.  Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease in which the body sees your thyroid as foreign and produces antibodies to destroy it. Once you have it, you have it for life.  

Additionally, it's progressive - meaning that the antibodies are continuously attacking the thyroid, destroying thyroid tissue and as the antibodies destroy thyroid tissue, the thyroid produces less and less thyroid hormones.   As the destruction of your thyroid progresses and your thyroid hormone production decreases, your dosages of Synthroid have to be increased to keep up with your body's needs.

You should ask to get tested for the antibodies I mentioned above.

I will look forward to seeing your lab results, sometime next week.
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Avatar universal
Thanks Barb, that makes sense, I'm just hoping the adjustment balances out soon before I have no more hair...I just went yesterday and got new labs done. This time I had Free T3,T4 TSH plus Vitamin D,B12 and iron levels. Should get back in about a week. I have been hypo for 4 years now so I wouldn't think I have hashimoto's now? I'm still spotting,but very light. I just want my labs so I can start feeling better. He may need to increase my dose again and then hopefully I will find my sweet spot... I will keep you posted, thanks again for everything...
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
You need to get your thyroid labs done and see where those are at.  Have you ever been tested for thyroid antibodies to determine if you have Hashimoto's?  Those tests are Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb).  Hashimoto's is the number 1 cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world.

You're misunderstanding the relationship between the reproductive hormones and thyroid hormones.  While lack of thyroid hormones can disrupt menstrual cycles, you still have to have the reproductive hormones, progesterone and estrogen in order for your cycles to be normal.  

If you have overgrowth of endometrial tissue, that will have more to do with your odd menstrual issues than the synthroid,  The Medroxyprogesterone is not a double whammy with the synthroid because synthroid is a thyroid hormone and progesterone is reproductive hormone - while all hormones must work together in the body, they each have a different function.

Typically, side effects from Synthroid only last until your body has adjusted to having the hormones it's been doing without.  When you don't have enough of one hormone, your body tries to compensate by producing too much of others - adrenal hormones - so when you start getting the thyroid hormones again, your bod has to re-balance and that takes time.

Hair loss is a symptom of hypothyroidism and it's not uncommon for symptoms to worsen or for new ones to appear when starting or increasing medication/dosages.
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Avatar universal
Hi Barb, thanks for your support ...I just can't seem to find that sweet spot yet. I'm going to get labs soon. I'm going to make sure he orders Free T3 this time. Do you suggest any other labs besides TSH and Free T3 and T4? The clotting has stopped, only had for 3 days. Now I'm just spotting. Had a FSH test in Aug and said I'm not posmenopausal? I thought for sure I was. I had a colposcopy biopsy last year and stated I polyp related tissue. Also had endometrial biopsy that detected an overgrowth of tissue. I think this is what happened. I may not be ovulating? Very confused on the progesterone and estrogen thing?  The Dr gave me medrxyprogeserone? Wouldnt that be a doube wammie with taking synthroid? Don't really want
to take it because it says it can cause spotting and hair loose? I'm having
that now! I'm loosing way more then normal! Sorry about the long post, just wish I was more knowledgable about the whole thing and could get some resolution. Thanks for listening, any insight would be much appreciated...
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
You TSH was higher than normal, and your Free T4 was at 43%.  Rule of thumb is to have FT4 at about mid range (50%) until we find our individual "sweet spot".  Unfortunately, Total T3 is obsolete and tells very little, but it, too, is very low in the range.

Did you talk to your doctor about the blood clots - are you sure they were that large?  Not  having had a period for 5 months could have something to do with that, but having large clots is not normal.  When were you tested for menopause?  If it was some time ago (even within a few months), things could have changed. You're right at the age, at which you should be starting peri-menopause, if not almost through it.

If you've been on the 88 mcg Synthroid for 4 weeks, you should go ahead and get labs again, to see if your thyroid hormones are coming up to where you need them.  Make sure you get tested for Free T3, along with the Free T4, this time, not Total T3.  

Do you have other symptoms of hypothyroidism?
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