Got new labs and seeking advice

[Guest guest]

Hi, all. I jut got my latest lab results. I take 62.5 mcg of T4 for 25

days before having the following tests.

FT3 4.91 (2.5-6.5)

FT4 14.78 (11.5-23.2)

TSH 8.08 (0.35-5.5)

rT3 0.54 (0.2-0.64)

HGH 0.69 (0.06-5)=== too low?

The month before last month I take 87.5 mcg for 20 days and 75 for 10

days, results came out as hyper. So I was off medicine for about 2 weeks

to eliminate the violent reaction, then restarted the dose of 62. 5 mcg.

Following were the labs when hyper

FT3 8.27 (2.5-6.5)

FT4 28.58 ( 11.5-23.2)

TSH 0.00 (0.35-5.5)

This time the doctor I visited asked me to stay at 62.5 mcg and wait for

next blood work. He said that TSH could drop as time goes by. But I just

gained weight by 2 KG since last month, also suffer from fatigue and

other symptoms. The basal temp was tested as 36.3 C these days, .

Do you agree with him? Because the TSH came out as 8, so I am now

changing back to 75 mcg. But the doctor didn't agree with me..He also

does not know the optimum TSH was around 1 or 2, but said TSH in the

normal range is OK enough.

Any advices?

Thanks

Fragrance

[Guest guest]

Fragrance,

You wrote:

>

> ... Do you agree with him? ...

Not exactly. Your " optimum " dosage will not be a fixed amount until your thyroid

is gone and you take a full replacement dose. However, the trend will generally

be toward higher dosages. You will probably be more comfortable anticipating

that increase _slightly_.

This does illustrate just how narrow the euthyroid window is.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

Chuck,

Yes, I have to increase the dose by 12.5 mcg. I ever thought of 1/2 of

12.5, which is 6.25. But it is very hard to split the pill into 1/8.

So maybe 1/4 as 12.5 mcg is not a huge leap for every month.

I have two other questions.

1. I am now again doubting the bioavailability of the T4 brand I am

taking.

According to the other two reports, do you think that my readings for

FT3 reacted more quickly than FT4 and TSH? In my case, the FT4 is too

easy to fall! FT3 is my converted T4. FT4 and TSH are two bothers. The

lower FT4 is, the higher TSH.

Do my reports mean this brand of T4 is not so bioavailable. It is more

difficult to build up the T4 hormone levels than my own conversion to

T3! I am thinking of changing brands...

2. If the dose had been stablized finally, would the antibodies be

lowered themselves? I ever heard of that, but I am not sure its

reliability?

Fragrance

> >

> > ... Do you agree with him? ...

>

> Not exactly. Your " optimum " dosage will not be a fixed amount until

your thyroid is gone and you take a full replacement dose. However, the

trend will generally be toward higher dosages. You will probably be more

comfortable anticipating that increase _slightly_.

>

> This does illustrate just how narrow the euthyroid window is.

>

> Chuck

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks very much, Chuck.

Then I now understand more about antibodies against thyroid. It is

pretty misterious thing!

I usually take the medicine with efficient mineral water for better

absorption in the stomache(I do hate the tap water), do you think the

trace amount minerals in it would have an effect?

Because of my hashimoto's and hypo, I suspect that my mom also has this

problem. She did not take any replacement hormone before she had a

thyroid panel screening and results came out as follows

TPO AB 1000 (0-35) ==It is fun that it is at the same level as mine when

I diagnosed firstly (Of couse tests were done in the same hospital).

FT3 4.96 (2.5-6.5)==It is fun that it is at the same level as mine when

I take 62.5 mcg of T4 (see my labs below)

FT4 13.48 (11.5-23.2)

TSH 12.45 (0.35-5.5)

TGAB 492.60 (0-40)

What confused me is the FT3 and FT4. FT3 seems good without any

hormones. And funny thing is at the same level as me when I take 62.5

mcg of T4. But FT4 is pretty low. I think she should take 12.5 mcg

intially then increase the dose by 12.5 mcg every two months because her

heart rate is a little bit low and so is the BP. What is your thought?

I have another question. Are there different good TSHs for different

ages of patients? Because I ever heard that the TSH around 1 is good for

the young, but blow 3 or 5 is OK enough for the elderly. Is that true or

false? (Forgive me that I am not a TSH worshipper, just curious.)

Thanks again

Fragrance

> > 1. I am now again doubting the bioavailability of the T4 brand I am

> > taking.

> >

>

> I would suggest changing as few things as possible until you reach a

> full dose, probably 150 to 200 mcg. If the brand you are taking is

> listed as a " generic " for Synthroid, then it should be matched in

> potency. In other words, a 50 mcg dose has the same effect

> (bioavailability) as 50 mcg of Synthroid, even though it may actually

> contain some other level of the hormone.

>

> Are you taking it as directed, avoiding calcium and iron supplements?

>

> >

> > 2. If the dose had been stablized finally, would the antibodies be

> > lowered themselves? I ever heard of that, but I am not sure its

> > reliability?

>

> The antibodies will most likely not permanently go away until all

> thyroid function is gone. In the meantime, they can come and go quite

> unpredictably.

>

> Chuck

>