Feel bad even tho doc loves my results!

[Gardenofeden]

Help pls.

Free t4 is 23 and free t3 is 4.8.

My tsh is 0.01

I am talking 125 synthroid only.

Had a total thyroidectomy 16 yrs ago and still feel shitty.

What should i do?

I am a 45 yr old female.

5'2".

122 pounds...was 113 prior to surgery.

[Gardenofeden]

**lol taking not talking....see how tired i am????

[shaws Administrator]

I sympathise with you. I had an awful time with levothyroxine and I didn't have a thyroidectomy.

You should ask for some T3 (liothyronine) to be added to T4 (levothyroxine). It is T3 which is needed in all of our receptor cells being the active hormone our body required. T4 is inactive and should converts to sufficient T3. If doctor wont prescribe T3 you can purchase it yourself.

So our blood test for Free T3 should be taken but rarely is it done and also Free T4. Doctors are told only to take account of the TSH result but we, the patients, need to feel well - we aren't machines.

I assume you are in the USA as you are taking synthroid. I shall give you an archived site as they info is excellent.

Some links within this may not work but the topics at the top of the page will be helpful:

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

We have to read and learn ourselves and you are still young and want a healthy lifestyle.

When you give blood results, the ranges should also be stated as labs differ and it makes it easier to comment.

When you have a blood test for thyroid hormones it should be the earliest possible and don't eat before it but you can drink water. Also allow 24 hours approx between your last dose of synthroid and the test and take it afterwards. This allows the TSH to be at its highest as doctors are apt to adjust meds according to the TSH as they've been directed but its not helpful for patients.

You should also get B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested as we are usually deficient and all have to be towards the upper part of the range. B12 in particular new research shows that around 1,000 should be the aim.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges. Meds should be taken on an empty stomach with a full glass of water.

hormonerestoration.com/Thyr...

[Redditch]

Ok do your TSH suggests that you are adequately medicated but your Free T3 is low, I don't know much about thyroid removal but it may be two things.

Maybe you need to try T3 instead of Synthroid as your FT 4 is high and may start to make you feel ill while not doing you much good. Ask your doc if you can try T3 replacement instead.

The other thing is adrenal issues which are very similar in symptoms. Look up Dr Wilson's Adrenal fatigue questionnaire and complete it. If you have Adrenal fatigue or insufficiency you will feel rubbish. This can be treated with DHEA 25mcg a day from your doc. Or you can buy yourself from

biovea.com

Don't just start taking it as it can make your hair fall out if you don't need it. But do the questionnaire and if you're positive try to get your doctor on board to prescribe.

Good luck

[Heloise]

Hi zombie, I agree with Shaws that perhaps adding T3 might help. I did not like Synthroid and I'm in the U.S. but I finally found someone to prescribe Armour and now I use Naturethroid. I think this would be simpler than getting a prescription for synthetic T3 but maybe not. Naturethroid has 9 mcgs. of T3 and is not very expensive if that has any importance. Of course, to get any hormone to work, you need to make sure you have enough iron and a balance of cortisol.

youtube.com/watch?v=14aoImF...(Not working as expected?)

stopthethyroidmadness.com/t...

[Stephanie70]

Maybe try a NDT like armour or erfa thyroid which has T4 T3 T2 ....I felt like a different persoon when I started Erfa thyroid but I don't know where you live? And if your doctor will prescribe it? Hope you feel better soon

[kimmie52]

I had a thyroidectomy years ago and was wonderful on armour for years but not now everything has gone to pot I'm in the UK and would like to find a doctor who could help me get my meds right I'm having heart problems now hair loss fatigue Dr says my results are ok but to get all the test done no go so I am going to send for a private blood evaluation I have now added levothyroxine to my armour as my doctor has not got a clue armour seems to have changed and it doesn't seem to suit me anymore I am waiting to see a cardiologist but I feel its due to meds not working help I feel as though I'm drowning.

[SilverAvocado in reply to kimmie52]

In the UK you will be unlikely to find a doctor who prescribes armour, or any NDT My experience has been that when going to any doctor or Endo with a thyroid replacement they don't understand is that they will say "Switch over to Levothyroxine, and then we will see.".

[VTUI]

I cannot answer most of your questions,understand however, look on line for Stop the Thyroid Madness STTM..& Hypothyroid Mom, & Broda O. Barns Foundation + his book on hypoThyroid. He was almost the first who researched & studied before the TSH test was used...NDT given with success, dosage by synptoms....Amazon & STTM have listing of books...+STTM 2 books of their own .....Best...Good Luck. PB

[SilverAvocado]

You've had quite a variety of responses, I'm surprised I'm the first person here to say exactly the same thing happened to me.

I had a thyroidectomy 3 years ago. After about 18 months my blood tests looked pretty perfect, but I was no better. For me I was still in bed most of the time and couldn't work or hardly get dressed. This was on Levothyroxine (same as synthroid) plus T3. I was left in that state for a year with nothing changing.

Then six months ago I started self medicating with NDT (dessicated thyroid). Straight away I was better, even though I started on a very low dose and was still very tired and weak.

Some members are saying your T3 is low. It might be, it depends on what the range is, and that should be included in your print out. If it goes up to 6-ish yours is good, if it goes up to maybe 6.8 or more you might need a tiny bit extra. In that case you could try adding T3 before you try NDT, if you can get easier access to it.

The other thing everyoneshould do is make sure that ferritin, folate, vitamin B12 and D are all optimal. That means at least halfway up their ranges. They are all important for your body to make use of thyroid replacement.

[SilverAvocado in reply to SilverAvocado]

Btw, there is no evidence at all in the usual set of bloods for why I manage on NDT but not the synthetics. They are a very different kind of molecule, though.

[Muffy]

Patients who have had a total thyroidectomy do much better on Natural Desiccated Thyroid. Do you think your doctor would prescribe this for you?