Aa
Latest results
Ok here are my latest pathology results. I have been feeling crud for weeks now, let's see if you can figure out why.
Dropped from 11.4.3mcgs thyroxine to 107.1mcgs thyroxine in late December 2009. Started feeling cruddy late January 2010. Due to circumstances I was not able to be tested till early March 2010.
TSH 0.23 Ref range ( 0.35 - 5.50 mIU/L)
Free T3 3.2 " " ( 3.5 - 6.5 pmol/L)
Free T4 18.2 " " ( 9.0 - 25.0 pmol/L)
My symptoms;
Hair falling out (again!)
EXTREME tiredness
Dull headache all day every day
Nausea most of the day
Constipation
Very dry skin
Brittle nails
Some weight gain (but that's ok since I lost a ton 2 months ago anyway still in healthy range)
Some depression but not bad
Barely any menstrual period this month
Heart palpitations (Beat those bongos, baby!)
I went to hospital for an emergency as I had a drug interaction. There they told me my thyroid levels were a little 'deranged' with TSH 0.19 and Free T4 at 19.9. No Free T3 was done. This was about 3 weeks after lowering my dose.
So, come on all you smart intelligent people, what do you think is going on here? There is no prize by the way, coz I don't even know the answer!
Dropped from 11.4.3mcgs thyroxine to 107.1mcgs thyroxine in late December 2009. Started feeling cruddy late January 2010. Due to circumstances I was not able to be tested till early March 2010.
TSH 0.23 Ref range ( 0.35 - 5.50 mIU/L)
Free T3 3.2 " " ( 3.5 - 6.5 pmol/L)
Free T4 18.2 " " ( 9.0 - 25.0 pmol/L)
My symptoms;
Hair falling out (again!)
EXTREME tiredness
Dull headache all day every day
Nausea most of the day
Constipation
Very dry skin
Brittle nails
Some weight gain (but that's ok since I lost a ton 2 months ago anyway still in healthy range)
Some depression but not bad
Barely any menstrual period this month
Heart palpitations (Beat those bongos, baby!)
I went to hospital for an emergency as I had a drug interaction. There they told me my thyroid levels were a little 'deranged' with TSH 0.19 and Free T4 at 19.9. No Free T3 was done. This was about 3 weeks after lowering my dose.
So, come on all you smart intelligent people, what do you think is going on here? There is no prize by the way, coz I don't even know the answer!
Yeah my Doc asked me about the thyroid site as he said he could probably learn a lot from it.
6 months later he told me his Mother had just been dx with Graves and thanked me for the info I took in lol.
The only time I really see him now is when I have unstable levels (pit. gland recently)..he was the one who agreed that the Pit. gland was causing the TSH to rise so much.
I couldnt ask for a better Doctor than the one Ive had for 20 odd years. Hes only a year older than me too so I can laugh and joke with him on the same level.
Oh and hes a COMPUTER NERD too ...which makes things easier when refferring to the Net.
He often says to me...google it Deb.
6 months later he told me his Mother had just been dx with Graves and thanked me for the info I took in lol.
The only time I really see him now is when I have unstable levels (pit. gland recently)..he was the one who agreed that the Pit. gland was causing the TSH to rise so much.
I couldnt ask for a better Doctor than the one Ive had for 20 odd years. Hes only a year older than me too so I can laugh and joke with him on the same level.
Oh and hes a COMPUTER NERD too ...which makes things easier when refferring to the Net.
He often says to me...google it Deb.
I recently heard from someone here (no clue who anymore) who requested FT3. PCP told him there was no such thing and called an endo consult who backed the PCP up!!! Wasn't until he got to the lab and had the phlebotomist call the PCP that he convinced PCP that, yes, it did exist. Wow! WHAT are we cranking out of med school?
Yeah, redhead, you just might have to see someone here this year. My endo really is terrific. Listens and takes copious notes (on the computer, while you're talking, so he really has history down). He's also kind of a kick...has an eyebrow that goes up whenever he gets interesed in something. I finally confessed my forum involvement. He wasn't the slightest bit intimidated, even looked more interested (the eyebrow was going whacky!), and gave me a very detailed answer to my question. Also found out that he conducted a local selenium study...so, I think he's "into" thyroid. In humans, virtually no selenium deficiency in central Oregon, cows, a different story (moooo!).
Anyway, if you want me to ask him any questions, let me know. I'll be happy to do anything I can to help.
Yeah, redhead, you just might have to see someone here this year. My endo really is terrific. Listens and takes copious notes (on the computer, while you're talking, so he really has history down). He's also kind of a kick...has an eyebrow that goes up whenever he gets interesed in something. I finally confessed my forum involvement. He wasn't the slightest bit intimidated, even looked more interested (the eyebrow was going whacky!), and gave me a very detailed answer to my question. Also found out that he conducted a local selenium study...so, I think he's "into" thyroid. In humans, virtually no selenium deficiency in central Oregon, cows, a different story (moooo!).
Anyway, if you want me to ask him any questions, let me know. I'll be happy to do anything I can to help.
I remember when I first asked my Endo for the TSI test to be done for Graves......she said " A what Test???" and looked dumbfounded.
Needless to say...I paid her 2 visits and never went back after RAI and TT in 2008.
My GP has been handling my thyroid issues and even he KNEW what a TSI lab was...so it goes to show that sometimes Docs know better than Endo's.
Needless to say...I paid her 2 visits and never went back after RAI and TT in 2008.
My GP has been handling my thyroid issues and even he KNEW what a TSI lab was...so it goes to show that sometimes Docs know better than Endo's.
In as few words as I can muster, THEY DON"T EVEN believe in RT3 to start with! My GP had never even heard of it and had no idea how to get the pathology to order it in the first place let alone how to interpret the results!
Smilerdeb is correct. You might find one or two in the whole of Aus who believe in T3 therapy but they are usually blocked at the gate by bureaucratic medical authorities wanting to know why the patient needs it if they aren't in a coma in hospital. (Happened to me, when I was trying to get a restricted drug for something else years ago, my then GP was told he had to appear at a board to plead my case!)
Even if you do manage to get a doctor to give you the go ahead, the cost is quite high, our Medicare is not the same as US Medicare. Ours is a public health service and often many of the most important drugs are not covered by them.
Goolara, I think you are onto something! My man is due there on April 3rd. I think I might start investigating that room of yours! Wonder if I can fudge a Green Card? Tee hee!
Smilerdeb is correct. You might find one or two in the whole of Aus who believe in T3 therapy but they are usually blocked at the gate by bureaucratic medical authorities wanting to know why the patient needs it if they aren't in a coma in hospital. (Happened to me, when I was trying to get a restricted drug for something else years ago, my then GP was told he had to appear at a board to plead my case!)
Even if you do manage to get a doctor to give you the go ahead, the cost is quite high, our Medicare is not the same as US Medicare. Ours is a public health service and often many of the most important drugs are not covered by them.
Goolara, I think you are onto something! My man is due there on April 3rd. I think I might start investigating that room of yours! Wonder if I can fudge a Green Card? Tee hee!
That's depressing. How do they treat RT3 dominance there then?
From what I've seen going on with dessicated here lately, I'm beginning to wonder if we're in the process of banning it, too. Wow, I always say that we only have a few options for treatment here, but your guys only have ONE.
Redhead might just have to make her visit to the States sooner, rather than later, this year. I have a spare room...that way we'd have to be sure to meet, wouldn't we?!! Also have a great endo...
From what I've seen going on with dessicated here lately, I'm beginning to wonder if we're in the process of banning it, too. Wow, I always say that we only have a few options for treatment here, but your guys only have ONE.
Redhead might just have to make her visit to the States sooner, rather than later, this year. I have a spare room...that way we'd have to be sure to meet, wouldn't we?!! Also have a great endo...
I know from experience that here in Melbourne, Australia....Doctors will NOT prescribe Cytomel (or T3 med) unless you are literally dying.
Australia banned the dessicated hormone and are sooooooooooo totally against any form of T3 med.
To see a Compounding Doc here to get compounded meds, you have to pay $195 up front with NO rebate from Medicare for EACH consultation and then you pay $120 for a months supply of compounded (in Melbourne).
Not much good if you arent working...pretty lousy in fact.
Redhead doesnt stand much of a chance of getting a T3 med :(
Australia banned the dessicated hormone and are sooooooooooo totally against any form of T3 med.
To see a Compounding Doc here to get compounded meds, you have to pay $195 up front with NO rebate from Medicare for EACH consultation and then you pay $120 for a months supply of compounded (in Melbourne).
Not much good if you arent working...pretty lousy in fact.
Redhead doesnt stand much of a chance of getting a T3 med :(
RT3 is a tricky one. It's often reported in units that are different from the units that FT3 is reported in, making the computation of the ratio a bit challenging. You have to throw in a "fudge factor" to adjust the units.
I agree with Sally that you need some form of T3 meds going in. However, I think I'd request a current RT3 (make sure to have FT3 tested on the same draw so you can figure out the ratio). It's the ratio, not the raw numbers that are important here. IF you do have RT3 dominance, then the treatment is T3-only meds for a while, until the RT3 clears your body. Just ADDING T3 will not help.
I agree with Sally that you need some form of T3 meds going in. However, I think I'd request a current RT3 (make sure to have FT3 tested on the same draw so you can figure out the ratio). It's the ratio, not the raw numbers that are important here. IF you do have RT3 dominance, then the treatment is T3-only meds for a while, until the RT3 clears your body. Just ADDING T3 will not help.
Given they are playing with your levels, I think you've nothing to lose by trying a T3 med. What's the worst that can happen? You go hyper? YOur FT3 goes too high. Easy to treat. STop the T3.
What's the best that can happen? It solves your problem!
As you know, TSH is often quite useless, particularly when people have been on thyroid meds for a long time (my theory is that the TSH appropriate response burns out over time)..... ask him to please ignore the TSH and humor you by treating the T3 and seeing what happens.
What's the best that can happen? It solves your problem!
As you know, TSH is often quite useless, particularly when people have been on thyroid meds for a long time (my theory is that the TSH appropriate response burns out over time)..... ask him to please ignore the TSH and humor you by treating the T3 and seeing what happens.
I had the RT3 done last year and it was 435. The GP said it was normal. Val from the RT3 group said it was WAAAAAAY high, higher than anyone's she had seen before!
Told the new endo that every time I drop a dose it makes me go weird. My TSH does not do what it should and the Free T3 drops ridiculously! I have been in the lower end of the Free T3 since Dec 2007 when I had the TT. This is the second time the FT3 has dropped below the 'range'
The new endo told me that he didn't think giving me T3 would help, if anything he said it would make my symptoms worse. That was back in Dec last year. So now I have the new results will be interesting to see what he thinks.
Before dropping my dose these were the results
TSH 0.16 Free T4 22.5 Free T3 4.7 But I was feeling too hyper, weight loss, diahorrea, heart palps etc....so he lowered it....NOW I am back to square one in the opposite direction! I told him I think I need T3 but he has just come back from a convention in USA where the latest studies are showing that it is not suitable for all thyroid patients. If my TSH was much higher, he said he would but mine is in the wrong end of the scale to justify it!
Will call him up later and see if he can chat to me.
Told the new endo that every time I drop a dose it makes me go weird. My TSH does not do what it should and the Free T3 drops ridiculously! I have been in the lower end of the Free T3 since Dec 2007 when I had the TT. This is the second time the FT3 has dropped below the 'range'
The new endo told me that he didn't think giving me T3 would help, if anything he said it would make my symptoms worse. That was back in Dec last year. So now I have the new results will be interesting to see what he thinks.
Before dropping my dose these were the results
TSH 0.16 Free T4 22.5 Free T3 4.7 But I was feeling too hyper, weight loss, diahorrea, heart palps etc....so he lowered it....NOW I am back to square one in the opposite direction! I told him I think I need T3 but he has just come back from a convention in USA where the latest studies are showing that it is not suitable for all thyroid patients. If my TSH was much higher, he said he would but mine is in the wrong end of the scale to justify it!
Will call him up later and see if he can chat to me.
I agree...some kind of conversion problem. That FT3 is in the toilet.
It could be that you just have to add some T3 (either Cytomel or dessicated), but have you had RT3 tested? It looks to me like T3 is not getting to your cells. Yes, it would be really interesting to know if FT3 has always been low or if this is something new. I think an RT3 test might shed more light on this.
It could be that you just have to add some T3 (either Cytomel or dessicated), but have you had RT3 tested? It looks to me like T3 is not getting to your cells. Yes, it would be really interesting to know if FT3 has always been low or if this is something new. I think an RT3 test might shed more light on this.
Looks hypo to me. How were you feeling before the med decrease? Looks like you also might need a T3 med or dessicated to bring the FT3 up. Sorry, I don't remember - has your FT3 always been so low? What were the levels at a time when you last felt good?
I think you can get dessicated in Australia from compounding pharmacies.
I think you can get dessicated in Australia from compounding pharmacies.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
