Graves' Disease Support Group
Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...
Okay, so most of you probably know I had my TT back in November. Everything went awesome and I am feeling good. The Synthroid starting dose for my body weight is about 95mcg. I started high on 112 per request. It was definitely too high and I went down to 100 after my first labs a month after the TT. They weren't hyper, but they (well, FT4) were near the upper end of the range. I was definitely feeling hyper.
So, I was on 100 for another month and felt AWESOME. The best ever. Had labs about a month later and [I thought] they looked good. FT4 was a on the higher end, but still well within the range. FT3 was right at midrange. TSH all along (even for close to a year before the TT) has been undetectable.
I was worried that he may be trying to dose by TSH already at the last appointment because he reduced me down to 88, even though my labs were in range. But, I went ahead and did it, basically just to appease him, thinking it would give me more leverage to have tried it if I wanted to go back up to 100.
So, I've been on 88 for the last 5 weeks. The last two weeks I've been restraining myself from going ahead and taking the 100mcg pills I have in the cabinet. But, I was a good girl and held off til my labs. I have had some muscle cramps lately and am cold, but it isn't too bad. I just know that I don't feel quite as great as I did on 100. So, as soon as I had my labs, I started my 100 the next day.
Well, I got my labs today. The TSH is still undetectable, the FT4 has dropped below midrange and the FT3 actually went up a tenth. Then, I get home today and I have a message from the endo's nurse saying he wants me to skip one synthroid pill (88) this week and he is going to reduce me down to the next lower pill when I come in next week!! WHAT??? F That!! I'm so angry! I was so afraid he was going to start doing this to me - trying to get my TSH up obviously. I'm tempted to just not even go back to him and see if I can get my regular md to give me the script for 100. I mean, my FT3 and FT4 are perfectly fine on 100, so why not? I am just appalled that he wants me to reduce down yet again! Even when my FT4 has already fallen below mid range.
Ughh! Why is this such a battle??
What do you think?
Here are my labs since the TT (nov 19):
2/25/11 - on Synthroid 88 for 5 weeks
TSH under 0.02 (0.465-4.88)
FT4 1.34 (0.78-2.19) midrange 1.485
FT3 2.9 (2.0-3.5) midrange 2.75
1/17/11 - on Synthroid 100 for almost 5 weeks
TSH under 0.02 (0.465-4.88)
FT4 1.73 (0.78-2.19) midrange 1.485
FT3 2.8 (2.0-3.5) midrange 2.75
12/15/10 - on Synthroid 112 for almost 5 weeks
TSH under 0.02 (0.465-4.88)
FT4 2.16 (0.78-2.19)
FT3 3.0 (2.0-3.5)
So, I was on 100 for another month and felt AWESOME. The best ever. Had labs about a month later and [I thought] they looked good. FT4 was a on the higher end, but still well within the range. FT3 was right at midrange. TSH all along (even for close to a year before the TT) has been undetectable.
I was worried that he may be trying to dose by TSH already at the last appointment because he reduced me down to 88, even though my labs were in range. But, I went ahead and did it, basically just to appease him, thinking it would give me more leverage to have tried it if I wanted to go back up to 100.
So, I've been on 88 for the last 5 weeks. The last two weeks I've been restraining myself from going ahead and taking the 100mcg pills I have in the cabinet. But, I was a good girl and held off til my labs. I have had some muscle cramps lately and am cold, but it isn't too bad. I just know that I don't feel quite as great as I did on 100. So, as soon as I had my labs, I started my 100 the next day.
Well, I got my labs today. The TSH is still undetectable, the FT4 has dropped below midrange and the FT3 actually went up a tenth. Then, I get home today and I have a message from the endo's nurse saying he wants me to skip one synthroid pill (88) this week and he is going to reduce me down to the next lower pill when I come in next week!! WHAT??? F That!! I'm so angry! I was so afraid he was going to start doing this to me - trying to get my TSH up obviously. I'm tempted to just not even go back to him and see if I can get my regular md to give me the script for 100. I mean, my FT3 and FT4 are perfectly fine on 100, so why not? I am just appalled that he wants me to reduce down yet again! Even when my FT4 has already fallen below mid range.
Ughh! Why is this such a battle??
What do you think?
Here are my labs since the TT (nov 19):
2/25/11 - on Synthroid 88 for 5 weeks
TSH under 0.02 (0.465-4.88)
FT4 1.34 (0.78-2.19) midrange 1.485
FT3 2.9 (2.0-3.5) midrange 2.75
1/17/11 - on Synthroid 100 for almost 5 weeks
TSH under 0.02 (0.465-4.88)
FT4 1.73 (0.78-2.19) midrange 1.485
FT3 2.8 (2.0-3.5) midrange 2.75
12/15/10 - on Synthroid 112 for almost 5 weeks
TSH under 0.02 (0.465-4.88)
FT4 2.16 (0.78-2.19)
FT3 3.0 (2.0-3.5)
"The fact that your TSH was suppressed for several months prior to surgery would suggest that it would be reasonable to continue the 88mcg an repeat TFTs in 3 more months. Reducing the dose to 75mcg is also reasonable but I suspect if you ask if you can stay on current dose and repeat labs, your endocrinologist will be agreeable."
Yup, I was afraid of this. Def sounds like this Endo wants to dose you by the TSH. Show him the labs of where you feel your best at with the Free Ts and tell him where you want to stay at. If it doesn't work, look for another doctor. So sorry...!
{{{hugs}}} :-(
Her lab results for the bones and cardiovascular were just fine. No problems.
{{{hugs}}}
If is excellent that you are on the look out for a Dr that is trying to dose off of TSH.
Don't settle for anything less.
I too know the other TT lady mmz is taking about on the other board and she has had to keep her TSH hanging on right at .3 to appease her Dr but over all she is hypo.
That's wonderful...! So glad your OB is going to help you this way. Sometimes I think OBs know more than Endos do about hormonal care, seriously...!
Daisy777:
I know you know who I'm referring to. Sucks doesn't it for her...?
{{{hugs everyone}}} :-)
hmmmm?
{{{hugs}}}
If it wasn't so pathetic, it'd be funny....my Gynecologists was the one who diagnosed me as severe hypothyroid after my GP sent me to him because I was hemorrhaging for weeks at a time. My GP thought (and told me!) cervical cancer. Turns out, my endo was dosing me by the TSH and kept me so hypo it almost put me into a mxydema coma! My gynecologists had a few words to say about my GP and Endo...and they weren't very nice, ha!
jj that is absolutely terrible! I'm glad your gyno knew what he was doing. Man. You know I had thought about possibly going into medicine, but I don't think I'd want to be associated with the masses of drs who don't seem to know what they're doing! lol There should be a specialty within endocrinology for drs to get into who deal just with the thyroid problems. Dosing by the tsh might be fine for someone without an underlying autoimmune condition, but come on, wouldn't you think they would want to be making sure the T3 and T4 are good? It is really sad. And what is more sad is that there are many people out there who probably just blindly trust the dr and do whatever they say. I stopped doing that after I had a scheduled c-sec with my first baby who was supposed to be over 10 pounds because I had gestational diabetes (thats a whole 'nother rant!) and she ended up only being 7lbs9oz!
Ohhh, even more good news. I went to the pharmacy to get my prescription - she even called me in 12 refills of the 100!! A whole YEAR! woohoo!
A big Yahoo...!
{{{hugs}}} :-)