Well, your TSH is still in-range - which must thrill your doctor! And your FT4 is a good 74.12% through the range. But, the problem is, you're not converting very much of that T4 into T3. Your FT3 is far too low. But, how do you feel on that dose? Do you feel well?
I feel somewhat tired, like I have felt for years, but I think a good deal of that has to do with difficulty sleeping....because when I do get a lot of sleep, I am not tired.
You mention that my FT3 is far too low. My Primary Care doctor would not appreciate it if I asked her to raise my levothyroxine, because some years ago I was taking 100 mcg levothyroxine, and she lowered that to 75 mcg due to my TSH level, which was higher than my current TSH level! I'm sure she would also not appreciate it if I requested to be put on some free T3.
"Well, your TSH is still in-range - which must thrill your doctor! "
My doctor will be of the opinion that the TSH is Low, because she will go by the lab reference range. But I think because of my FT4 and FT3 levels, she probably won't ask me to lower the dose of Levothyroxine. And if she does, I will put up a fight to not allow that!
I'll even bring up Thyroid UK !
But I don't think she will want to lower the Levothyroxine dose.
I have lost weight in the past year, so I am now about 5 to 10 pounds underweight. I believe that is the reason why my TSH dropped to the point where the lab reference value says "Low".
When I weighed 5-10 pounds more, I never had a TSH below the lab's reference range.
I lost the weight just because I changed my diet, and I prefer having a lot less abdominal fat like I do now. I do not want to lose any more weight, and don't plan to.
Not sure that the TSH level has anything to do with how much you weigh. But, your doctor should not be dosing by the TSH. That is 100% wrong and guaranteed to keep the patient sick. I really do despare of these doctors! Can't you see someone else?
"Not sure that the TSH level has anything to do with how much you weigh."
greygoose, I was of the opinion...correct me if I am wrong......I if I lose 10 pounds of weight and stay on the same dose of levothyroxine, that my TSH would be likely to drop. I would appreciate your comments on that issue. I would have the same levothyroxine for less body cells....or body cells that are a smaller size.
"But, your doctor should not be dosing by the TSH. That is 100% wrong and guaranteed to keep the patient sick. I really do despare of these doctors! Can't you see someone else?"
I agree with what you're saying! I would much rather have my thyroid managed based on Free T3 (and to a lesser extent by Free T4). It would be difficult to see someone else, unless I requested that my Primary Care MD send me to an endocrinologist. I really have idea how endocrinologists are treating hypothyroid patients in the United States. No idea at all. It could turn out worse!!
First I'd have to read what is written on a website called UpToDate.com
UpToDate.com reads the medical literature and tries to state what that current medical literature opinion is on the subject.
If UpToDate.com teaches what you are saying, then I could tell my Primary Care MD that I want to do what UpToDate.com says to do, and I think she would go along with that.
I better sign off for the "night". It's 2:27 am where I live
Thanks so very much greygoose.
Really appreciate your comments and any other you will have.
greygoose, I was of the opinion...correct me if I am wrong......I if I lose 10 pounds of weight and stay on the same dose of levothyroxine, that my TSH would be likely to drop. I would appreciate your comments on that issue. I would have the same levothyroxine for less body cells....or body cells that are a smaller size.
Well, it's a theory that I've never heard before. But, I'm not convinced that you would have less body cells, just smaller ones, as you said. But just because they're smaller doesn't always mean they need less hormone.
But, in any case, the TSH level is not about what gets into the cells. The pituitary doesn't know what gets into the cells, it only knows what's in the blood. So, if you're correct that smaller cells need less hormone, not only would your TSH drop, but your thyroid hormone levels would rise. Do they?
As for endos, I think they're pretty much a dead loss everywhere in the world. They certainly are here in France. And we all know they are in the UK from reading on here. But, it sounds like you have a plan with that site you mentioned. I'd be interested to know what you find out on there.
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