You didn't give the reference range for the TSH, but it does seem like you went from Hyper to Hypo by November 14th.

For better or for worse, most doctors determine the medication amounts by the TSH number. My doctor said he does that because the other amounts can fluctuate too much in too short of a time, like within a few hours.

The TSH is not actually a thyroid hormone, but one that stimulates the thyroid to produce more. Having thyroid hormones that are too high (Hyper) causes the TSH to become lower, and having not enough thyroid hormones (Hypo) causes the TSH to rise.

For me, and I suspect for most women, it is better to have the TSH as close as possible to the bottom of the normal range.

I also suspect that how I feel is more closely related to the levels of free T4 (Thyroxine) and free T3 (Triiodothyronine).

I have been successful in regulating my own MMI (decreasing it more than the doctor was willing to have me do) and having the doctor admit after the fact that it was good that I did it. I tried to always keep my dose consistent for a few weeks before the next lab, though, so it would give an accurate figure. I was also very honest with my "non-compliance" when I visited with the doctor.

Now I am off the MMI altogether, but was not allowed to have supplemental thyroid hormones (Levothyroxine or Cytomel) no matter how I feel, because the doctor "doses according to the TSH".

There is also quite a difference in doctors. My second endocrinologist is much better than my first.

This will help explain why one cannot dose by the TSH as it is affected by thyroid antibodies:

http://elaine-moore.com/QA/tabid/57/forumid/6/postid/6845/scope/posts/Default.aspx

It looks like the Free T3 and the Free T4 are on the low side of normal. If you are feeling any hypO symptoms, dose adjustments to something like 3.75 mg may do the trick to get the Free Ts to come up a bit more.

{{{hugs}}}

I don't know if it's necessarily just "hypo" symptoms- but I've been having a hard time with some of the feelings I'm having lately. These are also new feelings- just came on out of no where two-three weeks ago... I've been feeling quite anxious and somewhat depressed. I've always been a worrier but the anxiety is more-so than normal and I never feel depressed. I've also been feeling exhausted and fatigued. This may be because I'm just getting over a bug or that my son was also sick and not sleeping well at night. My weight has gone up and down so much lately- gained 8 pounds in two weeks when I went super hypo- stayed around there and after careful eating- those stinkin' pounds stayed put until a week ago- lost 5 lbs and I checked this morning and they have all come back :( I have not been binge eating at all- I know this is from the meds and the rise and falling. How long before I get back to "normal", I just want to feel like myself again- and a few pounds lighter! :)

Hi Courage,

Your FT4 and Free T3 are rising back up into the normal range because you were over dosed into hypo. The new lower dose is helping but it looks like it's still too much medication.

This FT4 is the one we dose our Graves' meds by.

Thyroxine,Free(S)
Reference Range: 0.8-1.8
Aug 27: 1.1
Sep 26: 1.1
Nov 14: 0.7
Nov 28: 0.7
Dec 24: 1.1

We need to be at least mid range for most of us to feel normal. With this reference range "mid-range" is 1.30. That's a minimum for most of us.

At 1.40 I can get by, but the days are long and my mind is not sharp. I'm sort of tired getting up and all day long, but it's not bad..if that makes sense.

At 1.55 I'm pretty good.

Then somewhere around 1.65 or 1.70 I feel great, but I notice my decision making ability starts to not be fully thought out unless I make remind myself to slow down and really think. So I'm not comfortable going much higher.

A few folks do better just above the range while others find mid range or just under is perfect for them. The 1.1 is too low for most, though a few rare individuals find they do best holding down that end of the off center, bell curve. I had one long term friend that did great at about .85 to .90 but that was memorable it's so unusual.

The trouble we have is doctors seem to get confused and expect us to have a TSH reading that correctly reflects our thyroid hormone levels. Graves antibodies prevent that so we get over dosed and miserable if we don't do our homework and manage to find doctors that do understand our TSH antibodies.

Hypo is no way to live, and it's not healthy either.
I remember that you are planning to TTC. I found an article about hypOthyroid and pregnancy and saved it for you.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120623144935.htm

I thought it might come in handy sometime in the future for you if you need back-up working with doctors that want to over dose you to force an unhealthy for Graves' people with antibodies TSH.

Hi !

Your here. :)

The weight gain is from hypo.
ATDs do not cause weight gain, but being over medicated sure does.

Once you find your way back to better levels for you personally, the weight and emotions will come back to normal.

I came back to add one of the studies showing how our antibodies work in place of TSH.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12970276

The link is to the abstract. I think that one connects to the full article. If not use Google Scholar , since that's where I originally found it.