Results

[EllieC16]

I take 100mcg Levo and 5mcg t3, just wondering if I need a raise with these symptoms - fluid buildup in chest, puffy eyes and feet, tiredness, goitre, dry skin. I have Hashimotos. Thankyou

TSH 4.07 MIU/L (0.2 - 4.2)
FREE T4 12.8 PMOL/L (12 - 22)
FREE T3 4.1 PMOL/L (3.1 - 6.8)

[gimel]

There is a common misbelief that a suppressed TSH indicates hyperthyroidism.  That is true only if the patient is also having hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of Free T4 and Free T3, which you do not have.  Patients taking adequate doses of thyroid med often find that their TSH becomes suppressed.  Our bodies are normally supplied with a continuous flow of a low amount of thyroid hormone.  Instead of that, when we take thyroid med all at once, the reaction is for the TSH to be suppressed for an extended period.  

Studies have also shown that hypothyroid patients taking medication sufficient to relieve hypo symptoms frequently have their TSH suppressed.  You can read about that in Recommendation 10 on page 13 of this link.  All the recommendations and suggestions in the paper are supported with scientific evidence from the extensive references.  You can also use the paper to try and convince your doctor to treat clinically, as described in the paper.  If that does not work to get the needed thyroid med increases, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor.

http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf

Your ferritin, B12 and Vitamin D results were all too low.  Ferritin should be at least 70 and higher, B12 in the upper end of its range, and D should be at least 50.  So you should supplement all three to optimize.  All 3 are important for a hypo patient.    

[gimel]

With those symptoms and Free T4 at only 8% of the range, and your Free T3 at only 27% of its range, I'd say you do need an increase in both your T4 and T3 med.  A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypothyroid patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms.  Symptom relief should be all important, not test results.  Many members found that they needed Free T4 at the middle of the range, at minimum, and Free T3 in the upper third of the range, or as needed to relieve symptoms.  

Also, since hypothyroid patients are so frequently low in Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, you need to get those tested and then supplement as needed to optimize.  D should be at lest 50, B12 in the upper end of the range, and ferritin should be at least 70.  

With the goiter you may also want to get an ultrasound of the thyroid gland.  

[EllieC16]

Thank you, ultrasound was done a year ago and the results of that said the thyroid was hypoechoic. The endo said she does not want TSH suppressed because that to her means over replacement.

FERRITIN 31 NG/L (15 - 150)
VITAMIN B12 296 PG/L (191 - 663)
TOTAL 25 OH VITAMIN D 40.5 NMOL/L (>75 ADEQUATE)