posted
That TSH ref range is really outdated. Your TSH is high, which means you may benefit from supplementing thyroid. My LLMD wanted to see my TSH around one ... he said some do better around 1.
I think the new reference ranges are either below 2 (which is what my gyno told me) or below 3.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
I'd see an endocrinologist; they're the experts, not GPs. Thyroid conditions should be treated by how you feel AND bloodwork anyway.
To me, it doesn't look like your body is producing antibodies (so maybe not Hashimoto's, an autoimmune disease), but your TSH is high for some reason. That's the hormone that tells your thyroid to make T4. It should be around 1, if I recall correctly.
Your Free T4 is low, too. I'm non-functional at that level. You should get your Free T3 checked, as well, since that's the hormone that the body actually uses (it's converted from T4 in the liver I think?)
It certainly wouldn't hurt to start a small dose of thyroid replacement hormone; that may certainly be contributing to your fatigue. But see an endo to monitor your care.
Posts: 330 | From TN | Registered: Sep 2011
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posted
You also need to test free T3, that is the active hormone, T4 needs to be converted to T3 to become active.
Posts: 442 | From Biddeford, ME | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
You also need to test free T3, that is the active hormone, T4 needs to be converted to T3 to become active.
Posts: 442 | From Biddeford, ME | Registered: Nov 2007
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
I agree that the you need to have the Free T3 tested also. I also agree that your TSH is high.
Your Free T4 is below range. Many people, including myself, feel best when the Free T's are in the upper 1/3 of the range.
My experience with endos are that they grossly undertreat. To me they are the equivalent of seeing an infectious disease doctor for Lyme. I am sure there are good ones out there, but I have yet to find one.
It took me years, and I mean years, to find a doctor to properly treat my thyroid. This doctor is a general practitioner.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
Does hypothyroidism always cause weight gain?
I cannot gain weight?
How can I find a endo that will prescribe Armour, if needed?
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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You can ask your pharmacy which doctor prescribes Armour Thyroid or the new generic, acella or whatever the name.
Thyrod forums say do not bother with endocrinologists (unless your TSH is clearly above range) since they just look at the numbers.
Doctors who have D.O as their title look at the whole picture, and your ft4 is below range and that means you are hypo and need thyroid meds.
Your numbers are not just a little off.
i think it might be best to convince your own doctor to treat anyway, ask for a trial of thyroid meds.
One trick: get another test in a few weeks, and this time get the blood drawn early in the morning. The TSH numbers in the morning are often twice the number in the afternoon.
And, if you stay up all night before the test, TSH gets even higher.
Your doctor is just waiting for TSH to go above range.
Nora
Posts: 366 | From Europe | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
I agree that you need to get a Free T3 test completed. I went misdiagnosis for three years and had extensive damage because of it. The range for TSH are extremely varied. This is because it runs from high to low through out the day. Time of day can be very important to the testing. I suffer from extreme T3 Toxicosis which went with out treatment for years, until finally my family doctor requested a FULL PANEL test, rather than just the TSH and T4. Most Endo. are useless! When I spoke with my Endo about a full panel he stated that T3 toxicosis was extremely rare and doubted that was an issue for me. Now they found that the Lyme caused the thyroid issue. If you have lyme watch for rare thyroid issues!
Posts: 50 | From Holland, MI. 49424 | Registered: Oct 2011
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RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
Talked to my LLMD and sent her the test results.
She suggests treating lyme for 1-2 months and then test thyroid again. She said thyroid usually goes back to normal once lyme is treated.
It will be 2 months before my next LLMD visit.
In the meantime, I am going to look for a doctor with D.O. as their title.
[ 11-11-2011, 08:21 PM: Message edited by: RZR ]
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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