my Tsh result was 0.15(normal .335-5.6. tsh is =too high. I'm a cancer survivor.

[snickets]

My oncologist suppress]s my synthroid thyroid because of stage 11 pap cancer is 2007.  It is 0.15  I'm of 137 synthroid a day.  I'm always tired, dry skin, confusion, the whole works.  What is my correct dosage

[MANmom]

Cancer patients TSH must be suppressed, at least for the first 5 years, your TSH should be .1 or lower so that you do not get a recurrance. They don't care what the other numbers are, I am in the same boat. Have you had your 5 year thyrogen test yet?  If you are still negative after 5 years, they can allow it to go up and you will feel better, but you will have to argue the point with your doctor.  If he/she won't increase you after 5 years of negative thyroglobulin, then find another doctor.

[rach7612]

I am assuming the normal reference ranges for TSH don't apply to you since you are a cancer survivor.You say you TSH at 0.15 is too high. What, then, is your doctor's goal for your TSH? I am assuming your doctor wants it suppressed to near zero? If so, your dose would need to be raised (no one can tell you by how much - it's usually just adjusted gradually until the treatment goals are acheived), which should also help alleviate symptoms as well. If you are still having those symptoms once your TSH in the doctor's target range, request the dose be raised more. They are clear symptoms of low thyroid hormone and you need enough replacement hormone to be able live and feel normal.

[Barb135]

Please post all recent thyroid tests that have been done........ don't forget the reference ranges, because these vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report....... That will help us assess your testing and treatment..

[tammie250]

I am not sure but please see your doc. so he can get you on the right levels
p

[gimel]

Is your doctor treating you based on TSH alone?  If so that just doesn't work.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that at best it is an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4.  Note that Free T3 and Free T4 are not the same as Total T3 and Total T4, which are not nearly as useful.

Free T3 is the most important because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms,  while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate.  If you have not been tested for Free T3 and Free T4, then you should request those tests and if the doctor resists, then just insist on them and don't take no for an answer.  You should also request testing for Vitamin A, D, B12, and a full test panel for iron anemia.

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not test results.  The correct dosage for you is whatever type and amount of thyroid med that is required to relieve your symptoms.

Many doctors erroneously interpret a low TSH as being hyper, even if having no hyper symptoms, and want to reduce patients' meds.  You don't even have that issue, since they want your TSH to be low.  Why have they not increased your meds?  I expect that you really need to supplement your T4 meds with a source of T3, to raise your Free T3 enough to relieve symptoms.

I think you can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he consults with from a distance.  The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf