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...
Why don't levels stick? I was almost at optimal levels and they took a nose dive on my last labs.
This means that my latest-greatest dose at the time optimized my levels.....I enjoyed relief from symptoms....only to have my levels tank and then I needed sometimes a few dose adjustments before my levels once again optimized.
It wasn't until June 2011 that I considered myself optimized yet I still needed very small (6.25mcg T4 or 2.5mcg T3) dose adjustments since then to maintain my optimal levels.
Our body's needs for thyroid hormone are not static. Soooo many things affect thyroid function that it's reasonable to expect the need for dose adjustments throughout our lives.
It was only in September of last year that I started a dose combination that continues to "hold" me to this date.
I thought my need for a dose increase back then was seasonal. If that was the case, I should have needed a small dose DEcrease once spring started. That didn't happen so I'll just enjoy having optimal levels for as long as possible.....and expect the need for a dose adjustment at some time in the future.
This is just how it goes.....
And, I consider us fortunate in regards to our needs for dose adjustments. My mother takes Coumadin and has to get weekly bloodwork that often results in a dose change. Think about diabetics that need to monitor their glucose levels throughout the day and possibly change the dose of their meds.
When people have health conditions that require the maintenance of certain blood levels, dose adjustments are the name of the game.