To ANYONE that knows anything about hypothyroidism and testing

As most of you know I have hypothyroidism.

I am taking synthroid 0.05 and have had my levels checked often. They have only checked the TSH level. I know that there is a T3 and T4 test and wondered if anyone has had their TSH level come back normal and still have thyroid symptoms.

Esactly what is the T3 and T4 tested for and could the TSH come back fine and the other levels still be off??

Thanks for any info, I know I probably confused you all...

Pam,
I have read that is very possible for the TSH to be okay but the T-3 and T-4 to be off, which can cause problems.

Here's a good article about the thyroid www.hormonejungle.com/thyroid.php and this site has lots more good information www.thyroid.about.com

I have hypothyroid, and am on .150 , when they check my levels normaly they just do the TSH and T4... They will only usually check the T3 if you are having other symptoms. I know one thing, I have done this so long, I know when my levels are off. And I have been adjusted 4 times since my hyst last year. The links Kim provided above are very helpful...

Good Luck.

Thanks ladies.

I just checked out the sites and ordered the book from one of them on dieting with hypothyroidism. DH will love that..

I think I will have my Dr check ALL of my levels since I can FEEL they are off still. I was only changed once but still have alot of the symptoms.

Thanks again..

I have hypothyroidism, too. Synthroid did not work for me. I am now on levoxyl and it works much better. Dr told me they are the same, except for the inactive ingredients. I had to insist on a trial. The inactive ingred. can make a difference. You can still have symptoms and be in the normal range. I know, I do at some point when I am still within normal range and my DR doesn't want to up the dose. I think I will ask for the full scale test next time that happens. About.com is excellent, loads of info.

I just wanted to add that the lab values for normal TSH are changing. When I started, 7 was normal, now it's being dropped to 2.5 to 3. A high TSH number means low levels of thyroid.

I have one suggestion. Make sure that you get enough selenium. Two brazil nuts a day provide enough. It's a great antioxidant, but even more it's necessary in the conversion of T4 to T3. Synthroid supplies T4 but it has to convert to T3 to relieve symptoms. Adding selenium does help me I think. Some people swear by Armour because it supplies T3 and T4 (I think from pigs?), but my understanding is that the down side is that it's very hard to get that precise balance, and hyperthyroid is as unpleasant as hypothyroid.

There's a lot of controversy with synthroid.