Local doctor sends my daughter to a endocrinologist because he found out she has been off her synthyroid for a couple of weeks since another thyroid doctor said she was getting too much thyroid meds.

Anyway, her test showed her levels were 2.7 and the safe range was from 1-3. Instead of the endocrinologist putting her on a lower dose, he put her on a higher dose, which she doesn't think she should take. When I asked him why he would do this, he first wanted her to stop taking the supplement and then also said since she had cancer, he wanted this number to drop. Wish I understood more about the thyroid. He did say that the tests also showed her body is working right because of both the results of T3 and I think T4.

Not sure why he also asked if she had had a iodine burn (he used a different wording but something like this)- we told him that the doctor removed all of the thyroid so why do a iodine anything? He did not answer.

He wanted her on the increased amount for a month before testing and we asked why no one was doing any test on the calcium or vitamin D. This is so crazy.

Maybe someone on her knows more that I have not learned and if so, please share.

Sometimes they give high dose synthroid for a short period to do thyroid measurements. What happens if you take a higher than needed dose is that your body responds by producing less thyroid stimulating hormone, decreasing hoprmone production of your thyroid. They use these numbers to do measurements.

You say decreasing hoprmone production of her thyroid but she doesn't have a thyroid or parathyroid glands. Would it be better to stop taking as many supplements?

My sister had her thyroid removed in her 20s. She has to take that synthoid all the time now. She is 64. Since there is no thyroid to produce the hormones, this is done synthetically. These hormones serve a function and should not be stopped.

BTW. Other organs and tissue store iodine and iodide, so supplementation is still useful.

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- Jim
"Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you." �Carl Gustav Jung

Absolutely, she needs iodine supplementation. Doctors seem to be ignorant of the need for iodine in other parts of the body.

I have no idea what this doctor is doing.. Just make sure she ends up on synthyroid or some other thyroid med. He may be checking to see how other hormones react to her dosage.

If you want a vitamin D3 test just ask for one. Ask for what you want. You have insurance? He should be able to justify these requests... certainly she has enough going on to justify about any test they or you want.

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My daughter takes natural supplements and her thyroid levels are in normal range. Are you saying synthetically is the only way? You know we also had a problem of calcium without parathyroid glands and that has leveled out as well. So why would I want to add to disrupt or why would they want to give her more than needed?

Yes, she is getting iodine. The thyroid forum does look like a good place to read and see what other things we should test for. It is just off of the synthroid she feel better and she is not losing hair, etc.

No. Synthetic is what my sister has used for nearly 40 years. She seems OK with it. Armour makes a thyroid supplement that many have switched to from synthroid. It is a natural glandular. Many find success with it.
https://www.armourthyroid.com/

Armour thyroid is also known as proloid.