Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
So I got my latest labs back and I tanked again. I was just telling MBButterfly that I wasn't quite right; I thought it was my adrenals(and that could be messed up too). I also broke the 10 commandments of labs-waited too long. Here's what happened:
6/11/14
105mg Armour
75mcg Levothyroxine
TSH .005 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 1.79 (.82-1.77)
Free T3 4.5 (2.0-4.4)
10/8/14
105mg Armour
75mcg Levothyroxine
TSH .005 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 1.34 (.82-1.77)
Free T3 3.2 (2.0-4.4)
Definitely asking for an increase!!!
6/11/14
105mg Armour
75mcg Levothyroxine
TSH .005 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 1.79 (.82-1.77)
Free T3 4.5 (2.0-4.4)
10/8/14
105mg Armour
75mcg Levothyroxine
TSH .005 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 1.34 (.82-1.77)
Free T3 3.2 (2.0-4.4)
Definitely asking for an increase!!!
Best of luck to you getting the increase you obviously need!
And, yet another situation that shows how TSH lies.
Your TSH level stayed the same yet your FreeT4/T3 levels decreased significantly. TSH is the gold standard? HA!! Gold standard of what? Unreliable info.....
My apologies for digressing ;)
Hope you feel better soon!
My levels tanked a couple months ago too, but mine was directly related to stress in my life. It happens. I am back up now however since the stress diminished and upping the meds a little. Good luck.
Did you have to decrease after the stress was resolved?
However, I get why that happens if one has Dr. Wonderful. In my case: Lots of stress! Lots of stuff going on! No time...kept pushing the date for labs back for this or that reason.
Finally, when i got my labs back - I wasn't surprised - my levels (Free T3 and Free T4) were HALF what they were four months previously. HALF! That's ALOT. My TSH: exactly the SAME. TSH sucks...have I mentioned that before?
Plus, in the fall our levels fall naturally. So, some of us had a double whammy.
This has been my experience (please, others chime in)
If my levels decrease due to stress or illness, I don't have to adjust my dosages downward when that stress/illness is over because my levels will remain about the same months later.
If my levels decrease due to the fall weather, in the spring I DO have to adjust my meds back down (so my levels will return to "normal").
With everyone's help here - it took about 18 months for me to "optimize" my levels. But, I have fallen down on the job of "keeping" them there by staying on top of my labs.
No more...all we can do is re-assess and make it our number one priority.
So, Dawn Rose, don't feel like you're the only one. Glad you got your answers :)
I also went on Progesterone and my Estrogen levels went through the roof. I think estrogen binds to thryroid hormones? I also got my free testosterone tested. My labs said my level was .2. The range is 0-2.2. So all of my hormones are messed up. No wonder I feel like crap. :(
For whatever it's worth, our blood levels are the first to change yet we won't necessarily notice it because our bodies are busy trying to maintain homeostasis. Hormone is still in our cells when blood levels first start to change.
That's why regular labs can help prevent the development of symptoms.
Just as you experienced most recently, symptoms can develop *after* labs show they might.