Re: Low FT4 and another TSH dive - now what?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

With those labs I would feel very hypo. We all have optimal levels for

thyroid hormone, and given how potent thryoid hormone is, even a slight

change can make us feel off. In my case, I need an FT4 of at least 1.6 and an

FT3 also near the high end of the range to keep from feeling hypo and having

overt hypo symptoms. Even my old very conservative endo said that most people

with GD will not feel optimal if their TSH rises above 0.4. Just because your

labs are within range doesn't mean your normal. About 20% of people with GD

move into spontaneous hypo. Even though it's generally mild, usually people

need treatment. B had a similar problem and is now on replacement

hormone. Take care, Elaine

[Guest guest]

,

What meds are you on?

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 10:50:34 -0400

> To: <graves_support >

> Subject: Low FT4 and another TSH dive - now what?

>

> I am ready to tear my hair out in frustration!

>

> I called to get my new labs before my appt. with the endo on Friday so I

> could think of questions beforehand (since my brain doesn't work on the fly

> anymore). Well, got the labs and they did what I feared. I really don't

> understand what is happening. Here's the whole lab history. Maybe someone

> else can make out a trend other than my thyroid is just doing this to

> irritate me.

>

> 1/23/02 FT4 0.85 (normal range 0.71 - 1.85)

> TSH 0.03 (0.32 - 5.0)

> FT3 2.93 (2.30 - 4.20)

> TSI 76 ( < 130)

>

> 3/19/02 FT4 0.80 (0.7 - 1.9)

> TSH 0.91 (0.49 - 4.67)

> TT4 6.5 (4.5 - 12.0)

>

> 4/24/02 FT4 0.90 (0.7 - 1.9)

> TSH 2.34 (0.49 - 4.67)

> TT4 6.6 (4.5 - 12.0)

>

> 7/15/02 FT4 0.80 (0.7 - 1.9)

> TSH 1.40 (0.49 - 4.67)

> TT4 6.5 (4.5 - 12.0)

>

> 7/25/02 TSH 0.78 (0.49 - 4.67)

> T3 Uptake 1.00 (0.66 - 1.27)

>

> 10/30/02 FT4 1.0 (0.7 - 1.9)

> TSH 0.97 (0.49 - 4.67)

> TT4 7.5 (4.5 - 12.0)

> FT3 3.1 (2.3 - 4.2)

> T3 Uptake 0.92 (0.66 - 1.27)

>

> 2/11/03 FT4 0.90 (0.8 - 1.8)

> TSH 2.81 (0.40 - 5.5)

> TT3 155 (60 - 181)

>

> 5/7/03 FT4 0.96 (0.8 - 1.8)

> TSH 0.73 (0.40 - 5.5)

> TT3 140 (60-181)

>

> By all reasonable accounts, I should feel good! But I don't. If anything, I

> feel more hypo than ever. My body temp is low. I run somewhere around 96.7 -

> 97.3. I am cold all the time unless it's 80 and I'm sitting directly in the

> sun. Today it's 65 and I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt and a sweat jacket. I

> have gained 2 unexplainable pounds in the last week. I ache, my joints hurt.

> I can't make decisions. My memory is awful! Yesterday I left the stove

> burner on for about 4 hours. The day before I turned the oven on to preheat,

> put the dinner in the pan to pop in the oven. When the oven beeped saying it

> was preheated, I carefully set the timer to cook the dinner...and promptly

> forgot to put the dinner IN the oven! Came back a half hour later and it was

> still sitting on the counter!

>

> I can't take these shifts in TSH. My FT4 has remained relatively the same

> for almost a year and a half. Yet the TSH is all over the place! It is

> really becoming hard on my body. I'm very nearly close to just having my

> thyroid removed because then at least I could theoretically get more stable

> TSH. I am seriously considering it.

>

> So now I go to the doc on Friday. I as so hoping I'd be over 3.0 on the TSH

> this time. I was so close before! As a reminder, I'm not on any medication.

> I have nothing to adjust, which is probably the most frustrating thing! The

> only things I take now in terms of vitamins are a 50mg B complex, 1200 mg of

> Calcium, 400 IU Vit. D, an antioxidant with 10,000 IU Vit. A, 250 mg Vit. C,

> 200 IU Vit. E, 7.5 mg of zinc,1 mg of copper, and a Flax Oil capsule.

>

> What should I ask at the doc, other than why the heck is my TSH so

> irregular? Last time he didn't really have an answer. I don't even know

> where to go from here. Now I can't think of an explanation for why I feel

> this way with these labs. And I can't seem to find any info at all on how to

> explain it or what to do about it. Does anyone think new antibody tests

> would be useful? If so, what justification can I give? Last time I asked

> about them he said that there really wouldn't be anything they'd do

> differently to treat me if I had blocking TSH recptor AB's because I'm

> already in normal ranges.

>

> I need someone to give me a kick in the pants and give me direction, 'cuz I

> don't know what to do now!

>

> Thanks all for listening anyway. Feel better at least for the mini-rant.

>

>

> P.S. Jody - I'm ready for that hole to climb into now.

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Terry -

None. Never have been. That explains part of the frustration.

Low FT4 and another TSH dive - now what?

> >

> > I am ready to tear my hair out in frustration!

> >

> > I called to get my new labs before my appt. with the endo on Friday so I

> > could think of questions beforehand (since my brain doesn't work on the

fly

> > anymore). Well, got the labs and they did what I feared. I really don't

> > understand what is happening. Here's the whole lab history. Maybe

someone

> > else can make out a trend other than my thyroid is just doing this to

> > irritate me.

> >

> > 1/23/02 FT4 0.85 (normal range 0.71 - 1.85)

> > TSH 0.03 (0.32 - 5.0)

> > FT3 2.93 (2.30 - 4.20)

> > TSI 76 ( < 130)

> >

> > 3/19/02 FT4 0.80 (0.7 - 1.9)

> > TSH 0.91 (0.49 - 4.67)

> > TT4 6.5 (4.5 - 12.0)

> >

> > 4/24/02 FT4 0.90 (0.7 - 1.9)

> > TSH 2.34 (0.49 - 4.67)

> > TT4 6.6 (4.5 - 12.0)

> >

> > 7/15/02 FT4 0.80 (0.7 - 1.9)

> > TSH 1.40 (0.49 - 4.67)

> > TT4 6.5 (4.5 - 12.0)

> >

> > 7/25/02 TSH 0.78 (0.49 - 4.67)

> > T3 Uptake 1.00 (0.66 - 1.27)

> >

> > 10/30/02 FT4 1.0 (0.7 - 1.9)

> > TSH 0.97 (0.49 - 4.67)

> > TT4 7.5 (4.5 - 12.0)

> > FT3 3.1 (2.3 - 4.2)

> > T3 Uptake 0.92 (0.66 - 1.27)

> >

> > 2/11/03 FT4 0.90 (0.8 - 1.8)

> > TSH 2.81 (0.40 - 5.5)

> > TT3 155 (60 - 181)

> >

> > 5/7/03 FT4 0.96 (0.8 - 1.8)

> > TSH 0.73 (0.40 - 5.5)

> > TT3 140 (60-181)

> >

> > By all reasonable accounts, I should feel good! But I don't. If

anything, I

> > feel more hypo than ever. My body temp is low. I run somewhere around

96.7 -

> > 97.3. I am cold all the time unless it's 80 and I'm sitting directly in

the

> > sun. Today it's 65 and I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt and a sweat

jacket. I

> > have gained 2 unexplainable pounds in the last week. I ache, my joints

hurt.

> > I can't make decisions. My memory is awful! Yesterday I left the stove

> > burner on for about 4 hours. The day before I turned the oven on to

preheat,

> > put the dinner in the pan to pop in the oven. When the oven beeped

saying it

> > was preheated, I carefully set the timer to cook the dinner...and

promptly

> > forgot to put the dinner IN the oven! Came back a half hour later and it

was

> > still sitting on the counter!

> >

> > I can't take these shifts in TSH. My FT4 has remained relatively the

same

> > for almost a year and a half. Yet the TSH is all over the place! It is

> > really becoming hard on my body. I'm very nearly close to just having my

> > thyroid removed because then at least I could theoretically get more

stable

> > TSH. I am seriously considering it.

> >

> > So now I go to the doc on Friday. I as so hoping I'd be over 3.0 on the

TSH

> > this time. I was so close before! As a reminder, I'm not on any

medication.

> > I have nothing to adjust, which is probably the most frustrating thing!

The

> > only things I take now in terms of vitamins are a 50mg B complex, 1200

mg of

> > Calcium, 400 IU Vit. D, an antioxidant with 10,000 IU Vit. A, 250 mg

Vit. C,

> > 200 IU Vit. E, 7.5 mg of zinc,1 mg of copper, and a Flax Oil capsule.

> >

> > What should I ask at the doc, other than why the heck is my TSH so

> > irregular? Last time he didn't really have an answer. I don't even know

> > where to go from here. Now I can't think of an explanation for why I

feel

> > this way with these labs. And I can't seem to find any info at all on

how to

> > explain it or what to do about it. Does anyone think new antibody tests

> > would be useful? If so, what justification can I give? Last time I asked

> > about them he said that there really wouldn't be anything they'd do

> > differently to treat me if I had blocking TSH recptor AB's because I'm

> > already in normal ranges.

> >

> > I need someone to give me a kick in the pants and give me direction,

'cuz I

> > don't know what to do now!

> >

> > Thanks all for listening anyway. Feel better at least for the mini-rant.

> >

> >

> > P.S. Jody - I'm ready for that hole to climb into now.

> >

> >

> >

> > -------------------------------------

> > The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> > intended to replace expert medical care.

> > Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> > ----------------------------------------

> > DISCLAIMER

> >

> > Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the

endorsement of

> > the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

----

> > --------

> >

> >