TSH 0.05 Is it overmedicaiton?

[lcarter6]

Help!  I need some advice from those of you in the know.  My general doctor who treats me says that current numbers are OK [at TSH 0.05] and keep taking same level of meds.  But, I am not so sure and am really worried as I seem to remember reading somewhere that being hyper can increase bone loss with osteoporosis.  I have it "significantly" in my lower spine, so you can see why I am concerned.   I was originally DX'd as having Hashimotos with mild diffused goiter.
1-07       TSH 4.7      (Old dr wouldn't treat it as not over 5.0 -- had most hypo symptoms)
6-08       TSH 1.8       FT4  0.8      T4  8.5       T3  1.24       25 mcg Eutirox  (having significant joint pain)
9-08       TSH 1.84     FT4  0.84     T4  8.9       T3  1.36      50 mcg Eutirox   (joint pain all but disappeared|)
12-08     TSH  0.05     FT4 1.11      (Isn't this a sign of overmedicaiton?)

[gimel]

I think free T3 is the most important, and then free T4 and TSH.  Sounds like your Doc in Panama may be the best possibility for getting the testing you want and the right prescription to get you into the "sweet spot".  That's what I call it when you get free T3 into the upper third of its range, the right amount of T4 to balance out the T3, and TSH within the low end of its range--say .5-1.0.  Good luck to you.  

[Dawn1214]

My levels were around the same as yours and were causing my all sorts of symptoms. My PCP kept insisting that they were ok since my Free t4 was in range. I recently found out from an endo that I  have been overmedicated for about 4 years. My levels fluctuated over that time and got very low in 2007 causing tachycardia problems. My concerns were mostly bone loss (as I have osteopeoni ) and  heart damage due to the tachycardia and heart palps that were left undiagnosed. The term that was used was thyrotoxicosis. Not a very nice way to live your life. Are you having any other symptoms?

[lcarter6]

Thank you for all the info! It really helps to talk with someone who has more experience with this than I have.  I live between 2 places, spending 2/3 of the year in Panama and 1/3 in TX,  with doctors in both places.  It's been real interesting to compare their approaches to the thyroid problem.  I will ask about the FT3 -- so far neither one has wanted to have it checked.  But, my doctor in Panama is a lot more open and approachable and welling to treat symptoms, rather than just go by the labs. My impression is that he thinks the FT4 is a more significant number than TSH, or am I miss understanding?  I may be putting an idea into words that isn't really so.      

[gimel]

Most doctors would say that your TSH is too low and that it is a sign of being over medicated.   A number of members here, including myself, have had  our TSH levels below the range limit for extended periods in order to relieve symptoms.  There have been some studies that suggested that this condition can affect bones, other studies were not conclusive at all.  I ran across another  study that showed for their sample group, that after 10 years at very low levels of TSH like yours, 9% of the study group had some evidence of heart palpitation occur.  I have recently had some experience with this myself.  The basic problem was that in trying to fix my hypo t symptoms, my thyroid med. was increased to a point that total T4 got too high and drove my TSH to a very low level.  When I insisted that my free T3 also be checked, we found that it was still on the low side--that my body was not converting very well.  So, now my med. has been changed to a T4/T3 type in order to get free T3 into the upper part of its range, and yet be able to keep T4 within range and TSH within the low limit also.  So the bottom line to all this rambling is that I would insist that the doc check your free T3, since this is really the most important component for regulating metabolism and symptoms such as yours.