HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Has anyone ever had a low TSH and low T4

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/26/2009 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
My OB/GYN just called to tell me that my thyroid levels are off.  TSH is 0.1 and T4 is 3.4. 

I asked her to fax the results to my llmd but am wondering if anyone here has any input since my appointment is not until next week. 

Years ago I was diagnosed with Graves Disease (overactive) and put on medication (PTU).  That just made me feel miserable but the docs kept telling me I was within the normal range even though I was always tired and kept gaining weight.  Then I was diagnosed with CFIDS and that doctor decided to treat me based on how I felt although he did make sure I was still within the normal range.  He took me off PTU and prescribed armour thyroid.  Ever since then I been on armour thryoid ranging from 30 mg. - 120 mg.  I was on 60 mg when I started treatment for LD but just last month my llmd told me to increase it to 120 mg.

What's confusing me is the low TSH and low T4.  Then again it doesn't take much to confuse me these days.  lol 

Has anyone else ever had a low TSH along with a low T4?

Posted 6/26/2009 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Speak to your LLMD about Cytomel.
Posted 6/26/2009 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Cytomel won't be enough for her since her TSH is off as well. She will need both T3 and T4, which Armour has.

Scorpio: I think your dose may be too high. Why did your LLMD tell you to up the dose? When your numbers are low, that means you are Hyper. I think the range is 0.5-5.5 if im not mistaken. Ask your doctor first but you probably need to lower your dose.
Posted 6/27/2009 1:23 AM (GMT 0)

Hi scorpio1960.  What is the range for the T4?  Is the T4 or Free T4?  It is very important to have the Free T3 and Free T4 levels tested.  Have you ever had your thyroid antibodies tested?

Some people, including myself, get a suppressed TSH (below normal) even when the Free T levels could use improvement.  I take Armour also.  As soon as I started it, my TSH became suppressed.  I still had symptoms and my Free T levels were below normal.  For years, doctors told me I was on too much thyroid medication soley because my TSH was low.  I continued to have symptoms.   I finally found a doctor who was willing to work with my symtpoms and my Free T levels.  He has helped me more in six months than all the other doctors combined over the years. 

There are some excellent thyroid books.  If you would like some recommendations, let me know.  A couple of good thyroid sites are:

http://thyroid.about.com/

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

Posted 6/27/2009 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
1bitten2xshy, Thanks. I'll mention Cytomel to my doctor.

CajunGrl, I think he believes in treating symptoms and not adhering strictly to ranges. I believe when I was on 90 mg I stayed within the normal range but it was upped to 120 mg last month and the OB/GYN happened to do a thyroid panel when I went in for my annual appt. last week.

Ticker, Thanks. When I'm up to it I'll check out the sites you listed. Now that you mention it, I think it was Free T4 the doctor was referring to but I'm not positive. She is faxing the results to my llmd and I'll ask for a copy when I go in for my appointment on Tuesday.

When my llmd mentioned upping the dosage of armour to 120 mg last month, I asked him about doing labs for the thyroid and he said he was more interested in how I felt and not the numbers. I just want to make sure I'm not somehow doing more harm by taking too high of a dose and will ask him about it again after he reviews the labs.

I believe the docs kept me on the wrong thryoid meds and dosages for years just because I fell within the normal range. They just kept dismissing my long list of symptoms including extreme fatigue, weight gain and hair loss.

Thanks for all your responses. I really appreciate it.
Posted 6/27/2009 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
You are absolutely correct Ticker. Hashi's DOES supress the TSH, hence, making it look normal.

That is why I suggested she speak with her Dr. about Cytomel in addition to her Armour.

Many people do not feel well unless they are on 3-4 grains of Armour, and even then need some other meds to be optimized.

Posted 6/27/2009 1:13 PM (GMT 0)

scorpio1960, did you take your thyroid meds before your blood test?  I usually get blood work done early in the morning and I don't take my thyroid meds until after the blood is drawn.  From what I understand, getting tested shortly after taking the meds can affect the results.

I suggest getting copies of your results.  If the Free T3 and Free T4 were not done, I recommend having them done.

Posted 6/27/2009 1:16 PM (GMT 0)

1bitten2xshy, I think whether or not Cytomel could be beneficial depends on what her Free T3 level is.

Posted 6/27/2009 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
1bitten2xshy,

I misunderstood you. Sorry about that. I thought you wanted her to take Cytomel alone as that is only a T3 medication. Sorry hun!

Scorpio: Have you ever been checked for Hashimotos?
Posted 6/27/2009 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Yes Ticker, that is why I asked her to mention to Dr. Without her labs hard to tell, but alot of times with a T4 as hers, I am willing to bet her FT3 is in the tubes! Maybe by asking about Cytomel her Dr. will get off the stick and test her Free's. TSH and T's alone show bubkus!
Posted 6/27/2009 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I'll get a copy when I go to the llmd on Tuesday and probably be back with more questions.

Ticker - I did take my meds the morning I had bloodwork.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply