Hypothyroid question: I only feel normal with a low tsh, anyone else out there?
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TSH actually has no bearing on your thyroid hormone production. If your doctor wants to acurately monitor your thyroid function... he should be testing your free T3 and free T4 (which are the thryoid hormones floating free in your blood stream!).
So, if your doctor is good... he will test your actual thryoid hormones rather than a hormone produced by another gland to "stimulate" your thryoid to produce the hormones.
My TSH is always below what is readable on the "range" at the labs, but my free T3 and free T4 are only in the good part of the range when my TSH is that low. All that means is the pituitary gland is not secreting any hormone to tell your thyroid to produce any hormones... which means you are receiving all your hormones from your meds.
TSH- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone- produced by your pituitary gland
T4- Thryoid hormone produced by your thryoid
T3- Thryoid hormone produced by your thryoid and through other reactions in your body (using T4)
I am also hypothyroid and I feel normal when my TSH is a little higher than normal. I was very hyperthyroid but had the radiation done. But my TSH symptoms got a little over 7 so then I started to feel bad and then was put on the meds. But to answer your question, docs go by how you are feeling as well as the labs. I guess as long as you feel fine its ok, but pay attention to your body and follow the labs. I hate going through these thyroid problems. You are not alone!
i am also hypothyroid. i take 137 mcg of synthroid. i feel best when it is too low. i have more energy. i begged my doc not to change my meds cause i was actually losing some weight. now i've gained 20 pounds and can't get it off. it seems like my levels are always on a roller coaster ride.
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