Permanent damage to thyroid?

[VigoBien]

Basically, I was on 50 mcgs of T3 (Cytomel) from aug 2012-end of nov 2012. Prior to jumping on T3, my TSH hovered around 2 (range: 0.5-4.25) and it was the only metric I had on my thyroid gland. On Jan 10, 2013, I got bloodwork and my TSH was 4.55 above the high end of the range so I waited another month and last week got my blood work redone and surprisingly my TSH was even higher at 5.2.

The endo knows of my past and my T3 supplementation and she now also thinks i'm screwed and need to be on synthroid permanently.

I was under the impression you recover back to normal after you come off. Am I still in the recovery phase or did I def. damage my thyroid??

 

[halfwit]

Your Endo is ONLY using TSH as a determination of the health of your thyroid?


Time for a new endo, hopefully one with an actual understanding of the endocrine system. Oh, and I have heard of recovery taking longer than 90 days, but I would see a GOOD doctor that knows what T3/T4/rT3/rT4/iodine are to see what they think.

 

[VigoBien]

Sorry I actually have other thyroid test results, if this helps:

On my Jan 10th blood test the following results were derived:

TSH: 4.550 (HI) - range 0.27-4.2
Thyroxine (T4): 6.2 - range 4.5-12
T3 Uptake (T3U): 33.5 - range 24-39%
Thyroxine, Free (FT4) : 1.11 - range 0.83-1.62
Free T4 Index: 2.1 - range 1.5-3.8
t3 total: 116 - range: 80-200

The funny thing is, this was done by my GI.

On Feb 13th, the endo only checked two thyroid related metrics:

TSH: 5.320 - range 0.45-4.50
T4, Free (direct): 1.11 - range 0.82 - 1.77

It looks like my FT4 has been steady, does this mean anything?

 

[halfwit]

Keep in mind I'm not a doctor by any stretch of the imagination, but it looks to me like you're recovering from being on exogenous T3 for an extended period. Your TSH/FT4 numbers do suggest hypothyroid, but if it were me, I'd get another test in a month unless you feel typical hypo symptoms like lethargy, unexpected weight gain, weakness, and depression. Looks like you have a good GI, but a mediocre endo - maybe a second opinion from another endo would be in order?

My .02c

 

[VigoBien]

Man this is the best analysis I've gotten. I even showed my endo the results from my GIs blood work and I didnt get any response or takeaway which was disappointing. I just dont want to be on synthroid especially if I'm in recovery mood.

I do have hypothyroid symptoms but I think thats due to my poor sleeping habits lately and work related stress. I'll admit after coming off of the T3 late last year, I ditched my diet as well and gained a good 15 pounds back in a month. I was scared a low calorie diet would fail to rejigger my thyroid gland properly so I tried to feed my way to a restored metabolism if that makes sense. But I do have to say, over the last three weeks by starting my diet again, I've been able to drop 6 pounds and thats barely w/ any exercise, which I think is a good sign.

I think to your point its key to understand that TSH results should not be the sole determinant of hypo or hyperthyroidism.

 

[2rude4u]

Sorry I actually have other thyroid test results, if this helps:

On my Jan 10th blood test the following results were derived:

TSH: 4.550 (HI) - range 0.27-4.2
Thyroxine (T4): 6.2 - range 4.5-12
T3 Uptake (T3U): 33.5 - range 24-39%
Thyroxine, Free (FT4) : 1.11 - range 0.83-1.62
Free T4 Index: 2.1 - range 1.5-3.8
t3 total: 116 - range: 80-200

The funny thing is, this was done by my GI.

On Feb 13th, the endo only checked two thyroid related metrics:

TSH: 5.320 - range 0.45-4.50
T4, Free (direct): 1.11 - range 0.82 - 1.77

It looks like my FT4 has been steady, does this mean anything?

Ironically the most important test, Free T3, I do not see? The way it works is this: TSH increases to tell the body it needs more thyroid hormone. Your thyroid only produces T4 as a storage hormone and then your body converts T4 into the required T3, T2 & T1. T3 of course, specifically Free T3, is the most important because it is the one that produces metabolic energy.

It looks like you may be recovering, but slowly. Also it's hard to tell unless you have labs from prior to. As previously mentioned, your TSH is high because you are not producing enough T4. TSH is the bodies way of telling itself to increase production, but if the thyroid is not able to keep up with demand, TSH will remain high.

Are you taking any supplements specifically for yout thyroid? Among the most important are vit c (about 2 grams powder) vit b, d & e along with omegas, amino acids, iodine, zinc and selenium.

 

[VigoBien]

Actually, my FT3 was on the first test result back in Jan 10th (the test my GI ran):

T3, Free (FT3) - 3.4 range: 2.5-4.3
Anti - TPO Ab was <10 and the range says <35

Again my latest Feb 13th blood result did not have additional thyroid results.

Does this change anything?

 

[sururi]

hi i wanna question about using supplement
i am from turkey. i have hyperthyroid. my tsh t3 t4 values approacht to limit. i wanna use supplement during BB. protein, aminoasit and tribulus. are these supplement possible to negative effect my treatment(again increase hormone release)

give someone a back

thanks a lot sorry about my english

 

[Austinite]

It's merely impossible to damage thyroid. Have you used Tamoxifen and/or Raloxifene at or around the time you got the blood work done?

 

[sururi]

It's merely impossible to damage thyroid. Have you used Tamoxifen and/or Raloxifene at or around the time you got the blood work done?

my doctor give a 2 drug. thyromazol and dideral(for heart palpitation). after 2 months my blood value become limit. and quickly weight gain.(5kg)