thyroid question

kjanracing

I had a physical and blood work this week.  Everything is fine on the physical.  My bloodwork showed low thyroid.  The doctor put me on 5 mcg Levothyroxine and wants to recheck levels in a few weeks.  I really didn't think I had any symptoms of low thyriod.  So the question is: what may improve with normal thyroid levels?  What might I notice?  Any potential performance improvments?  I'm 54.

Thanks, Kurt

penlynwilson

You need to be sure he checked T3, T4, and TSH. Low thyroid is usually associated with fatigue and weight gain among other things. Once I started treatment, I didn't need at 2 - 3 hour nap every afternoon.

Bob Irwin

I have had thyroid issue for may years (I am 61), and it's not really a problem. I think 5mcg is probably not your actual dose - I don't believe the pills come in that low a dose. I go between 150 and 175. Don't let them test you only once a year - things can change, and having the level off can make you feel pretty bad. Be careful of your weight - thyroid issues seem to make it difficult to lose weight even if the tests say your levels are normal. For me, fatigue also becomes an issue if my levels get too high or too low. Also, be careful to follow the instructions carefully - it's really important to separate your dose from food and other medications. Good Luck

jamison.gaddy

I was diagnosed with STAGE 4 metastatic thyroid carcinoma 8 years ago. I have since had 2 surgeries to remove my thyroid, 2 of my 4 parathryoids, and every lymph node that could be reached by a bilateral neck dissection. I have had 4 radiation treatments (iodine ablations).
I had no previous signs or symptoms of thyroid disease. It was an accident and long story about how it was discovered. I have been on synthroid doses from 250mcg to 200mcg daily since my surgeries. First, what reasons led you to have your TSH evaluated: general periodic exam or physical, weight gain, fatigue, appetite changes?
If you were previously feeling tired then great; you’ll likely not require those above noted naps. Some changes that you might experience that are inconvenience are: You may now have a subtle increase in your appetite making it difficult not to eat all the time. I don’t have any weight challenges, but I’m freaking hungry all the time. You may experience chest pain that feels like a heart attack “pseudo heart attack.” Very difficult to find literature describing this, but it exist. You may experience a temporary shift in your heart rate during training. This is frustrating but as long as it is recognized you’ll be fine. It took several months at my dose to get my heart back down. Lastly, your thyroid helps maintain your body temperature. I have yet to find any research on temperature shifts of athletes with thyroid disease, but If I don’t maintain proper pacing & hydration I seem to “bonk” much faster than my peers.
As bad as all this sounds, at your described dose you probably won’t experience anything negative. If a proper thyroid panal was completed those labs mentioned above were likely drawn. They’re more difficult to explain to patients. Without any additional detail I would say suggest that an ultrasound of your thyroid is also indicated.

jelmermd

Most people do feel better like Penny said...I'd look forward to better sense of health in multiple areas.
Like Bob said, the 5 is misleading. Levothyroxine is dose either in micrograms (like 50, 100, 150, etc.) or milligrams (0.05, 0.1, 0.15...you get the idea) so the dosing can be confusing. 5 probably is 50 or 0.05 which is a common starting dose. Like Bob said, checking levels more often than yearly is a great idea to make sure that you are on the correct dose. Once started, the T4, T3's are less useful than the TSH. There is a range of normal on the TSH (which inversely reflects your thyroid function: low TSH means increased thyroid function and the reverse). I have some patients who do better at the lower vs. higher end of the normal range. I just saw someone an hour ago who increased her Levothyroxine by a little and found a significant improvement. This is a classic example of learning to tune into your own body, and the advantage of having a physician who is both knowledgable and has the time and inclination to listen to you.

kjanracing

Thanks. The dosage is 50 micrograms. Maybe I'm a little less tired. No huge differences noticed yet. My doctor does want a follow up check in a few weeks to check the levels. I really appreciate the responses!

Linda Patch

As you know the thyroid is the basis of all your rmetabolism and growth. It effects every single sysytem and cell in your body. You will feel much better in all ways when your levels are righted. I know I did.