Do you have the labs ranges? I don't doubt that you feel awful and your labs don't appear normal, but it's hard to say without seeing the actual lab ranges. However, those labs are not those of someone who is hyperthyroid and I don't even need the ranges to know that much. A decrease in the dose probably would only do more harm than good. Have you ever had your adrenals checked? Based on your high dose of medication and ongoing symptoms, your could very be dealing with an adrenal issue.

Never had adrenals checked. Could reg dr test those?

Yes. They can.

There is a 24 hr saliva test that can determine if you're dealing with adrenal insufficiency. I had very severe adrenal fatigue when I was first diagnosed in 2012. I couldn't tolerate even half of the smallest dose (12.5 mcgs) of levo and synthroid. I felt as though I had gone terribly hyper and ended up in the hospital twice, even though my labs were extremely hypo (TSH of 100). I felt as though I was dying. That's what prompted me to suggest that you get your adrenals checked. Most typical doctor's won't diagnose adrenal fatigue though, but trust me it does exist and goes hand and hand with thyroid issues. I've posted a link below that you may find helpful.

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/

I must mention, that I went through this circus of nonsense for two months. I was ready to give up on life. I was finally discharged from the hospital and the doctors told me there was nothing more they could do for me and to stop all thyroid meds because I didn't need them. THAT WAS JUST INSANE! I clearly had a thyroid issue. I sought treatment with an alternative medicine doctor a week after that as a last attempt to live and he had me do the saliva test. My adrenal glands were beyond fatigued. He started me on adrenal support for a few weeks before having me start a T3/T4 glandular. My adrenals are doing great a year and half later and I'm finally decreasing the adrenal support and about to start increasing my glandular. There is hope!

For whatever it's worth, the prescribing information for all levothyroxine preparations (including Synthroid) indicates that the patient is to be tested for adrenal sufficiency before being started on thyroid hormone replacement.

It seems many doctors ignore this fact.

In addition, if a doctor *does* check the adrenals, they often do only a blood test which is not as accurate as the 24-hr saliva test.

helerown is one of many thyroid forum members who have crossed my path and suffered horribly when first started on thyroid meds.....all because they had underlying adrenal issues that went ignored.

It seems that alternative or holistic MD's are more aware of adrenal issues and how to treat them.

They also seem to be better with thyroid treatment.

For whatever it's worth, your TSH is way too high for someone taking levothyroxine/Synthroid. Thyroid textbooks indicate that people optimally medicated on levo/Synthroid will have TSH 1.0 or lower.

While you didn't share the ranges for your FreeT4 result, it would be at the bottom of most ranges and below some.

And, again per thyroid textbooks, people optimally medicated on levo/Synthroid will have FreeT4 levels at the high end of the range and possibly slightly over-range.

There's no way you need a dose decrease.....I suspect you have underlying adrenal issues (or something entirely different going on).

Best of luck to you getting the proper care!

I defer all things adrenal to helerown - she's walked that path (and how!).

I don't know if I've shared this with you before but, the site I'm linking below is relatively new. ThyroidChange.org came into existence last year and represents a patient initiative for better thyroid care.

They've created a doctor recommendation list based upon information shared by members. Due to just how new the site is, I doubt we can get anything more up-to-date than this:

http://www.thyroidchange.org/patient-recommended-doctor-list-us.html

While I hope you don't have to travel far to find a better doctor, I am aware of people who have done just that.

There are some doctors who will meet with the patient every 3-4 months and do phone consultations after labs in between.

I really hope you will consider seeing another doctor - it's clear that the one who's been (mis)treating you will only cause you more suffering.

I'm so sorry.

I noticed that you are from Michigan and see that the site I linked shows doctors from 5 different area codes......I sure hope at least one of them is within your area code.

And, did you notice that, out of the 16 doctors listed, only *one* is an endo....and the majority are integrative physicians?

After dealing with 3 clueless endos, I've given up on endos as a profession to treat my thyroid issues and I know I'm not alone.

No. You are certainly NOT alone.

TC40, I hope you get this issue under control soon. I have been there:( Are you feeling like you have anxiey, or are you fatigued ??? Every BODY is different. Your going to be ok, just stay on top of this, and you can always change DR's if your not getting the relief you need :) Thinking of you :)

None of them are. Ugggggggg

Moms...ty!!! Unfortunately i live in a smaller city with two endos in it and are in the same practice. If i asked to see her counterpart, one of two things would happen. A. She would say no or b. She would ban me from the practice (it is BS but it happens and has happened to me a few times).

You can always fire the Endo's and try an Internalist , or maybe just an MD:))) I have heard that some Endo's may not have all the answers:) Keep searching, and in the mean time if I can share anything new for you I will...Again stay strong:) Ps.. In the beginning I was going thru Perimeno, which can effect us women in all different ways. Just saying??? Have your hormones checked too :))) xxx

I live in a small city that doesn't even have any endos....not that I would opt to see one after dealing with 3 clueless ones from other towns. I travel 1.25 hrs to see my current thyroid doctor, an internist.

If you want to get better, TC40, I think you might want to consider travelling a bit.

And, I hope you'll consider a "non-endo" such as a GP, DO or alternative MD (the latter seem to be quite thyroid-savvy).

Maybe you can find a doctor on that list I linked on here that is within reasonable driving distance.

You'll only get better if you take a new step in a different direction.