Thyroid Medication Questions - Again

I'm back with more questions!

My TSH has bounced around all year:

5/7/2010 - 3.96
5/21/2010  - 2.45
8/18/2010 - 4.46
8/20/2010 - started taking 25 MCG (0.025 MG) LEVOTHYROID

10/20/2010 - follow up blood test to see how effective it's been 3.26

That doesn't seem like a lot of improvement to me.  When medicated, where should our TSH be for the most effectiveness.   I'm back to losing 1/2 pound a week.  GRRRR

Anyone have experience to share about getting to a healthy dosage?  Does your general doc treat you, or do you see an endocrinologist? 

Thanks!

Hang in there Lee!
It is not easy to always regulate your thyroid levels. It usually requires several adjustments. Atleast for me. So hang in there and keep monitoring and have dosages adjusted as prescribed.

Thanks Marie, I haven't heard back from my doctor yet.

I don't have hypothyroidism, but I use to treat it (use to be a PCP).  Regular doc should be able to treat without any problems, some folks just like to go to specialists. 

I know there is a new normal range, can't remember it, but I would think anywhere in the middle of that new normal range would be fine (2?).  It can take a while to adjust meds, so be patient.  WE use to "start low, go slow".  Our rule of thumb use to be not to adjust more than every 6 wks and then only 0.025mg at a time.  You are on a very low dose, and should probably be upped to 0.050mg dose next.  Most folks it seems do well/normalize with that dose.  Adjusting too fast can throw you into heart failure, so again be patient.  Did your doctor increase your dose?

In years past, the "diet doctors" use to use thyroid meds on their patients...anybody still around from those days?....  Not a very safe practice.

Sorry your weight loss has slowed down again...I hate it for you. Maybe it will speed up when your TSH goes down a bit more.

Jane

Hi Lee, Your regular Dr should be fine to stick with. Mine didn't start to turn around until I lost weight from surgery. I have to make a apt this week to get blood taken again. I will let you know what happens with mine then. I am on the same dose/meds as you are and before my surgery mine never got to normal range. After dropping weight it went below the normal range. I am almost at a year for surgery so we will see where I am then. I am not sure your weight loss and thyroid go hand in hand. My DR said taking the meds "could" help me drop weight. (it never did). As for your weight slowing down, just  a idea...but I would try to change things up a little. Eat more protein than normal. Or if you are like me and get into the same food rut, change that up too. When I talked to my Surgical Dr about these issues, and asked him if the thyroid meds were slowing the weight loss down, he didn't seem to think that was the case for me. I am not sure, if your DR would agree. The other thing that would help me when I was have a slow down period is I would change up my liquids. Sometimes I think our bodies get use to it and then hold on for all it can. Just ideas...hope it helps! I will keep you posted when I get my blood work back. It will be with in few weeks I hope!  You do the same! A thyroid problem is a major pain!

Loulou, I too get into a rut of eating the same foods.  I have a friend that came to town yesterday and I ate more carbs last night because we went out.  Small amount of food but more carbs, and this morning I was down a pound.  Go figure, eh?   I'll see what my doc has to say.

Jane, you have so much wisdom.  I really appreciate your feedback!   I'm waiting to get a response from my primary doc.  I'll let you know what she says.

It needs to be 3.0 or under for effective weight loss. You may need an increase in your thyroid medication. PCP can handle it, but if the problem persists, ask for a referral to an endocrinologist. Kaiser hasn't changed their ranges, but the Fremon bariatric clinic said the TSH needs to be 3.0 or under for effective weight loss.

It's amazing how different Fremont and Richmond are.  I will point out to my doc what the Fremont Bariatric team is saying.  Thanks for the reminder.

Ive been on Synthroid for over 10 yrs.  I was on 0.050 for the majority of that time.  When I had my first post op labs drawn at 3 months, my levels was good. I just had my labs checked earlier this month and we had to re-adjust my level. They upped it to 0.075 now.   He's going to re-check it again in 3 months.  My weightloss had slowed down ALOT for a few weeks.  Now that they upped my dosage the scale started moving again.  Im anxious to see how my next set of labs turn out.  Good luck!  Cindy