Hashimoto

[tonia1976]

Need advice!! I have hashimoto since I was 20. on thyroxine ever since. Today my endocrinologist suggests since echo and blood is ok we should cut down and eventually stop the med altogether . Is that possible?? I have trouble losing or maintaining weight as it is. Help

[pennyrose]

Hi lovely.

A few questions:

What does are you on?

What are your latest blood tests?

Have you had iron, b12, Vit d tested?

How are you feeling? X

[tonia1976 in reply to pennyrose]

I was on 0.1 x 5 days nothing on Tuesday and 0.5 on Sunday . Iron was good Tsh 2.4 and u/s was at lowest normal range I was told. I feel tired , and gain weight very easily . Even with a dietician can't lose weight !! But maybe my thyroid is sleeping because it's medicated. Don'tknow helppppp

[pennyrose in reply to tonia1976]

So that's 100mcg x 5 days, roughly 71mcg on average per day.

TSH could be better - do you have any ft4 or ft3 results?

[tonia1976 in reply to pennyrose]

Tks a bunch. Yes T3 was 1.52 and free T4 was 13.0.

[pennyrose in reply to tonia1976]

Do you have any ranges at all? By the ranges my GP's lab use your T3 is shot but I think it must be a different range!

[tonia1976 in reply to pennyrose]

T3 1.52 with 1.1-3.1 free t4 13.0 with 10.3-25.7 tag 2.4 with 0.30-4.50 if it helps at all

[pennyrose]

You need to stay on medication and if anything it needs an increase.

Your t3 and t4 could definitely be higher - most people on here recommend to be in the top 75% of the range to feel optimal so aiming for a T3 of 2.3 and T4 of 19 (my maths could be wrong!). Your TSH is too high - again I believe most people recommend around 1 but my endo tries to suppress my TSH due to the hashimoto's - unsure why yours isn't?!

I know it's hard but push back on him or get a second opinion. Ultimately you still don't feel well so keep pushing until you get the treatment you need. xx

[tonia1976 in reply to pennyrose]

Thank you!!

[shaws Administrator]

I have never, ever heard that people with hashimotos stop their medication!

I do know that some doctors don't prescribe thyroid meds for them because their TSH is 'within range'. I am hypo but understand that autoimmune thyroid disease eventually becomes hypothyroid as the antibodies continue to attack your gland. Some links:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[tonia1976 in reply to shaws]

I am baffled!!

[shaws Administrator in reply to tonia1976]

We are both baffled. I think doctor may need a revision. I would be very reluctant to decrease or stop as you might develop bad symptoms.

We have to read and learn. It's necessary, unfortunately, if we aren't to develop other more serious diseases through being undermedicated or undiagnosed. Don't stop any thyroid medication and if he doesn't prescribe them for you change your doctor.

[greygoose]

Tonia, can you change your endo? This one is dangerous, he doesn't even get the basics of Hashi's. If left untreated, the Hashi's will destroy your gland. You not only need to be on thyroid hormone replacement, but your dose needs to be increased until your TSH is suppressed to stop the Hashi's attacks. It doesn't matter if the eco is ok - although your bloods are far from ok! - it doesn't just go away! It will always be there unless something is done about it. He really hasn't got a clue! Whatever you do, don't let him stop - or even reduce - your hormone.

Hugs, Grey

[tonia1976 in reply to greygoose]

Thks!! Yes , wil try to switch doctors

[greygoose in reply to tonia1976]

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

tonia, you might find this article - and the links it contains - helpful in dealing with your endo :

thyroid.about.com/od/sympto...