Graves thyroidectomy, diarrhea for two weeks after having Naturethroid dose lowered, being told I was hyperthyroid?

[leftbehind]

Last week I posted my last blood tests. My dosage of Naturethroid was reduced by my endo ARNP from 8 pills a week 48.75 mg, to 7 pills a week. The endo told me I was hyperthyroid and thereby reduced the dosage as above. After one week on this dose I had extremely sore muscles all over, a bad bloating incident for 3 days which then turned into soft stools, then turned into total water diarrhea. This has been going on for two week. Now endo tells me to go to my GP for the diarrhea. Any symptoms I mention to her she tells me to go to my GP, but I have had these symptoms before when hormones are out of range.

It is frightening to be always told to go to my GP, who tells me to go to the Endo, who tells me to go to the GP!

Has anyone had bad diarrhea being hypothyroid, which I was told I am by this blog after posting my lab results. Here they are again. I intend to try a higher dose of Naturethroid, like adding 1/2 pill (half of 48.75) one day a week.

TSH .560 range 0.470-4.860;

T4, free 0.9 range 0.8-2.2;

T3, free 3.57 range 2.77-5.;27

Usually, I see, diarrhea is experienced with hyperthyroidism. Am I hyper or hypo?

Thank you for your help.

[Jazzw]

Well, as others commented on your last post, you shouldn’t have had your dose reduced because you weren’t overmedicated. So whatever’s causing the diarrhoea, it isn’t the Nature Throid - it’s something else. That’s why the endo’s sent you back to your GP, probably to prompt further tests. Your GP will probably want to test a stool sample or order other tests.

[leftbehind in reply to Jazzw]

I increased the Naturethroid by 1/2 pill in the am and the diahrrea immediately stopped. I didn't go again until the next morning and already more consistency. Amazing reaction.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Get your GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 plus blood test for coeliac disease too

Have you had TPO and TG antibodies tested since thyroidectomy?

[leftbehind in reply to SlowDragon]

No never. They don't do that here in the US. All they do is Tsh, if you beg they might do T4, beg more T3. If you're in the range they are done. I am getting a review of my records by an Endo M.D., as I have been seeing an ARNP. I hope this is going to be more productive. If it's the same, just you're in the range goodbye, I don't know what I'm going to do. Try and increase the dosage myself slowly.

[Hidden]

I don't know about the diarrhoea, but if this happened the last time your dose was decreased then there does seem a connection. You are certainly still hypothyroid, and the dose should never have been reduced, whatever your endo says. Your TSH. T3 and T4 are not high enough, need to be near top of range.

[leftbehind in reply to Hidden]

So frustrating, no matter what the symptoms they just say you are within the range, even if you are Dead lol. I am bottom of Tsh, low to mid t4 and low mid t3. hopefully the review by the Endo MD she will see that I am hypo. If you say anything that you read something on the Internet they immediately look at you like you're crazy and none of this information can be correct. I think I'm pretty negative because this is 2 years of being completely ignored of symptoms.

[Hidden in reply to leftbehind]

Have you made a full list of all your symptoms (the occasional ones and the constant or frequent), and how they affect your life? That's what I had to do, and even then think it was a miracle I was listened to!

Put it in writing, make it official, emphasise just how you are suffering. The optimal hormone levels differ a tremendous amount between individuals, and whatever the results say your levels are not yet optimal for you. You probably need an increase not a decrease. And whatever the reason it has to be the decrease that made you ill! Perhaps the diarrhoea was because hypothyroidism affects your gut more than most people - it seems very variable which organs are affected most.

I have Hashimoto's, and have always been "Subclinical" when tested, in spite of the "Clinical" symptoms. TSH a bit high, T4 (T3 was never tested) was bottom to mid range. In the last test the TSH was within range (range about 4.2, TSH 2.99) but I felt no different than the time before when it was about 4.7. Thankfully I saw the most sympathetic of the two nurses and she not only read my list, but said she would scan it and add to my notes. She even went to check with the pharmacist, then requested and I was allowed an increase.

There is an improvement in symptoms, but I think I might need one more increase before feeling more or less normal. Whether I will get it is anyone's guess.