Aa
New here and looking for advice
Hi everyone! About ten years ago I had a subtotal thyroidectomy for a very large goiter. Up until a couple years ago I never was prescribed synthroid despite having hypothyroid symptoms, because my TSH was in the normal range (2). Then, I started developing more nodules, and my doctor prescribed my .05 mcg of synthroid. For these last two years I've really put forth my best effort to lose extra weight I've been holding on to (50 lbs). I've tried low carb, low calorie, paleo...every diet you can think of. I saw a nutritionist who put me on a thyroid diet, and still no luck. She accused me of not adhering to her plan, so I quite seeing her. :-/ I even did a juice fast for seven days and lost a whopping total of 1 lb! I also exercise 5-6 days a week for 45 minutes. I do circuit training, weights, and jogging. I weigh exactly the same as I did two years ago. A couple months ago my doctor changed my synthroid to .112 mcg. Still no weight loss, but my levels now show me being hyperthyroid. I'm at .15 with T4 1.3 and T3 2.94.
My doctor wants to reduce my dose now. I'm at my wits end and was just hoping one of you may have an idea. If my issue isn't thyroid, is there something else it could be? The extra weight really bothers me, and while I'm proud of how hard I've worked, I'm getting discouraged. Thanks
My doctor wants to reduce my dose now. I'm at my wits end and was just hoping one of you may have an idea. If my issue isn't thyroid, is there something else it could be? The extra weight really bothers me, and while I'm proud of how hard I've worked, I'm getting discouraged. Thanks
What were the actual results on Vitamin D and ferritin?
Thanks for your fast response. I was surprised there was no free t3, and my doctor isn't there this week to ask. My ferritin and Vitamin D was normal . My thyroid ultrasound showed a few very small hyperechoic cysts in the left thyroid lobe (3mm), and residual thryoid tissue in the right side.
The symptoms I have aren't really weight gain, but I always diet. I just can't lose a pound no matter what I do or how much I exercise. I have very puffy eyes and face, brittle, thinning hair, dry skin, fatigue, and some joint pain. I also have unexplained mild sleep apnea. They found no obstruction, but I just quit breathing and I spend very little time if any in the deep sleep stage, which also explains the fatigue. I'm at my wits end!
The symptoms I have aren't really weight gain, but I always diet. I just can't lose a pound no matter what I do or how much I exercise. I have very puffy eyes and face, brittle, thinning hair, dry skin, fatigue, and some joint pain. I also have unexplained mild sleep apnea. They found no obstruction, but I just quit breathing and I spend very little time if any in the deep sleep stage, which also explains the fatigue. I'm at my wits end!
What symptoms do you have other than the weight gain?
Everything looks in order only because they did not do the most important thyroid test which is Free T3. I still suspect that you will find that your Free T3 is way too low in the range, even though your Free T4 is in the upper part of its range. That will be due to inadequate conversion of T4 to T3.
If it were me, I would always make sure that Free T3 is on the lab order and also make sure the lab personnel know you are to be tested for Free T3 along with Free T4. Also, since hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, you should test those also.
I would also suggest that you accept your doctor's offer to switch to Armour Thyroid. That would provide a source of T3, along with T4. If you do that, be aware that you should not make the switch all at once, due to the way T3 acts compared to T4. Best to phase in any change to Armour over a 3-4 week period. If I understand correctly your dose of 112 mcg of T4 would be equal to about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 grains of Armour, where one grain is 60 mg of Armour..
Everything looks in order only because they did not do the most important thyroid test which is Free T3. I still suspect that you will find that your Free T3 is way too low in the range, even though your Free T4 is in the upper part of its range. That will be due to inadequate conversion of T4 to T3.
If it were me, I would always make sure that Free T3 is on the lab order and also make sure the lab personnel know you are to be tested for Free T3 along with Free T4. Also, since hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, you should test those also.
I would also suggest that you accept your doctor's offer to switch to Armour Thyroid. That would provide a source of T3, along with T4. If you do that, be aware that you should not make the switch all at once, due to the way T3 acts compared to T4. Best to phase in any change to Armour over a 3-4 week period. If I understand correctly your dose of 112 mcg of T4 would be equal to about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 grains of Armour, where one grain is 60 mg of Armour..
Sorry for the delay.
I finally received my results in the mail and the free T4 I was told verbally was I guess from my prior results. The actual free T4 is 1.75 (normal range 0.6-1.8) and the thyrotropin sensitive was 0.150 (normal range 0.27-5.0). I dont't show what they ran a free T3. They also ran a cortisol free that was .26 mcg (no reference range shown) and a parathyrin intact which was 10 (normal reference range 10-65).
Everything looks in order, so I'm not sure what to think at this point.
I finally received my results in the mail and the free T4 I was told verbally was I guess from my prior results. The actual free T4 is 1.75 (normal range 0.6-1.8) and the thyrotropin sensitive was 0.150 (normal range 0.27-5.0). I dont't show what they ran a free T3. They also ran a cortisol free that was .26 mcg (no reference range shown) and a parathyrin intact which was 10 (normal reference range 10-65).
Everything looks in order, so I'm not sure what to think at this point.
Please post the reference ranges for your Free T3 and Free T4 tests, as shown on the lab report.
Thank you. I am moving to New Orleans in a couple of months. My doctor has suggested trying Armour thyroid. I don't know if that would make a difference.
Thanks again...I'm going to read the information on the link you posted.
Thanks again...I'm going to read the information on the link you posted.
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