[Anonymous]

#1020088

I had thryroid surgery last April and I’m still trying to get my thryoid medication adjusted. My endocrinologist started me at .88 mcg and we have gradually increased my dose of Levoxyl to .138 mcg currently. I will be tested again this week, but I expect that I am still hypothyroid. My tests show that my t4 is normal but my tsh is low. I think the last blood test even showed that my t3 is normal but the tsh is low. My doc will probably recommend taking a t3 medication if I’m still low after this next round of testing. I’m interested in knowing what else I can do to help my body regulate this thryoid medicine. My chiropractor recommended acupuncture, and I’d like to try it, but I can’t this month due to budget contstraints. Any feedback will be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

#1075967

It is very possible for the actual thyroid levels to show normal on blood work, and the TSH to show an abnormal level. Our doctors tend to use the TSH levels as the guide. There are at least two reasons for this that I know of.

1) The TSH test is more accurate, according to my endo. It is able to detect smaller quantities of thyrotropin (TSH) than the tests for the actual thyroid hormones themselves.

2) Actual thyroid levels are rather volatile — up and down; up and down. The T3 is particularly volatile, with a half-life of three-quarters of ONE day. TSH acts as a running average of those levels. This is another reason to rely on that information, rather than the actual thyroid level information. Think of a birthday party for two-year olds. There can be many ups and downs. Some people take a snapshot of the day while other people make a video. The snapshot is like the levels for t3 and T4. It can give an accurate idea of what went on, but it’s possible that a snapshot taken at a different time would should something else entirely. The TSH test is more like the video because it shows what is going on between snapshots. This obviously is not a completely good analogy, but it gives the gist of the difference between the two types of tests.

So, it is totally possible that your body is USING the replacement hormone just fine. But you have not yet found just the right amount of it.

As far as “feeling” hypo, though, there can be many reasons for this. As long as your thyroid levels are not quite right, your body is not working quite right, either. There is still a diseased condition, however minor. We need several months, AT normal levels of thyroid hormone for our bodies to heal from the effects of thyroid hormone imbalance.

You asked what you might do to help things along. Acupuncture has been tried by folks here. I cannot attest to it. But there ARE things you can be doing, that do not cost anything, that can help move things along. Thyroid hormone imbalance affects our muscle condition, and as we heal, we need to do appropriate exercise to help muscles regain strength and stamina. Depending upon how out-of-shape you became while hyperthyroid, exercise can be a major help. About five months after my RAI, I went to a local health club to sign up. The exercise physiologist put me through some tests to determine my physical condition, and one of the questions that he asked (after he saw the results) was “How did you even walk in here?” He told me that the tests had shown that the strength in my arms and legs was only 8% (yes, EIGHT PERCENT!!!) of that of a normal woman my age. No wonder I felt puny! Just taking replacement hormone will not return the strength to your muscles. It will help, but it will not “fix” what is wrong with them unless you do appropriate exercise. Getting out and walking 30 minutes doesn’t cost anything, but it can make you feel much better, and more energized. Good nutrition is important as well.

I do hope you are feeling better each day. And I wish you a happy holiday season.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

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