Note that endocrinologists have at least two camps, one camp says noone is hypo until TSH reaches 10, the other camp says anything above 3,0 is probably hypothyroid, and even down to 2,5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16148345
On the thyroid forums, sometimes they say one can go to the pharmacy and ask which doctor prescribes Thyroid USP (Armour , Nature-throid, Westhroid, etc) and those doctors are more likely to also consider your symptoms.
Posts: 366 | From Europe | Registered: Nov 2008
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1Bitten2XShy
Unregistered
posted
Have you ever had your Thyroid Antibodies tested?
My TSH is pretty good, but I have high antibodies, hence Hashi's disease. As well as my Ft3 and Ft4 is very low.
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posted
I also have Hashimoto's like 1Bitten2XShy, and sometimes my TSH is normal..........thyroid antibodies are more definitive. My doc wants my TSH under 2.0; right now it is higher than he wants it.
-------------------- TL Posts: 365 | From OK | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Like Lyme disease, it can be a clinical diagnosis. My TSH #s were borderline, but I was totally the poster child for hypothyroidism. Very symptomatic. Wow-wee!! What a differnce Armour Thyroid (pig glands!!) made for me.
It's gross to think about where it comes from... You know, Armour bacon...
-------------------- Be Well Posts: 103 | From Out West | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
New lab reference range is 0.3 - 3.0 but most labs and Drs do not use the new range.
A TSH above 3 is most likely too high. Everyone tolerates thyroid hormone differently so 4.26 may be too high for you. What symptoms are you having?
I agree that you should have your antibodies tested. Having Hashi's could give you symptoms, even if your TSH is normal.
I have Hashi's and for years my TSH was normal. Then, after the birth of my son, my Drs failed to check my TSH and it was 202 (yes, 202) when they found it. I was almost bedridden.
It is difficult to find a Dr to prescribe Armour but it is worth a try. I must admit, I wanted to try Armour because I didn't think the Synthroid was working BUT it wasn't the medicine at all. It was the LD.
I would request ask your Dr to run a Free T3 and Free T4 along with a TSH. They should both be near the top of the range. Also, ask for thyroid antibodies. (TPOab)
If you have any questions, you can PM me.
Posts: 114 | From Atlanta, GA | Registered: May 2009
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Yes, 4.26 is hypothyroid. When I first found out I was hypothyroid at 5.9 my doctor said the same thing. He shrugged it off and said it was fine and he didn't feel a need to worry about it.
Luckily, I eventually found a doctor willing to listen and agreed that I was hypothyroid (even though it was about two years AFTER I first noticed I was hypothyroid).
Most learned doctors in thyroid functioning go by a much different range for TSH than the labs where you are tested. Most labs will say something along the lines of 1 - 4 or something near that (I can't remember exactly and I don't have my paperwork with me). But most learned thyroid docs know that most people feel better and do better when their thyroid is functioning between 1 - 2 and NOT any higher than that.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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I would definitely suggest having thyroid antibodies checked for.
My TSH has always been "within normal limits" however, my LLMD, unlike my PCP, spotted Hypo Sx immediately and put me on Armour and it's helped a bit thus far.
I've heard from multiple sources that TSH should be as close to 1.0 as possible.
My sister former doctor, a thyroid specialist, told her that thyroid disease is a clinical diagnosis just like lyme (like Rambler stated).
The doc didn't give as much credence to TSH at all. He said TSH can fluctuate greatly within hours so it's not a good indicator.
Posts: 571 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2008
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Dear Friends,
I'd check out Wilson's Temperature Syndrome, also sometimes called Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome. It goes about testing via your TEMPERATURE, not the TSH.
Cronic low body temperature=thyroid dysregulation. Period.
There are articles on-line about it.
I treated this for two years and could never get my temperature to stablize in the normal range.
Then, I found out I had Lyme.....
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
thanks so so much for all your replies, my T-3 is
2.6, and T-4 is .91, does this make any
difference or mean anything? i cant thank all of
you enough for helping me understand this, i am
really considering just buying the armour online
without a prescription and trying a tiny dose,
what you do think? i know its always better to
work with the doctor but if he will not agree
then what other choice do i have?
Radha
Posts: 392 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2005
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1Bitten2XShy
Unregistered
posted
Radha-
Did you have your FT3 and FT4 tested? If so, please either post or PM me the results. There is also a very informative website out there on Thyroid and I would be happy to give you that link if you PM me.
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
hey, for those of you taking both Armour (or whatever similar product) and Cortef, what time of day do you take the different pills, together, separately, or...?
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
posted
Depends on how many grains/mg you are on of each. Armour (of the likes) is normally broken up in 2X daily, while Cortef is also broken up over the day depending on how many MG's you are taking.
breaking up Cortef acts more like your own natural cortisol production.
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My body temperature is always around 94. It's one of my most debilitating symptoms. So painful, and it causes a host of other issues.
This has always made me suspect thyroid disfunction.
I'm waiting on thyroid testing (first I have to find insurance to cover it!), but I do have results for my TSH. My TSH is 2.52.
So is a TSH of 2.52 out of range then?
Radha, I really hope that you find some answers soon, and that treating your possible thyroid issues brings some relief for you. Good luck!
Posts: 710 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Dear Little,
Honey, with a temperature around 94, you for SURE have a thyroid problem!!
TSH testing may not show it up--that's another situation with traditional medicine. Don't get me started on THAT subject!!
Just recently, doing the Allergie-Immun drops from Germany, my temperature has come into normal range most of the time. A first since 1998 or so!!!!
From data at the Marshall Protocol site, one of the first things that tends to normalize on the MP is thyroid function, and people who do the MP who are taking thyroid medications have to have their doses adjusted downward, often more than once.
So, my point here, is that taking thyroid is not going to handle the underlying situation, although it may make the current symptoms less. This, in itself may be very important.
Hope this helps.
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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Radha
Posts: 392 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2005
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1Bitten2XShy
Unregistered
posted
Radha
That is not always true. If you have Hashi's, you can be both Hyper and Hypo. Hashi's is an autoimmune disease and is a real bugger! It supresses your TSH making it look "OK". You should have your Thyroid Antibodies both TPO and TPA tested and your FT3 and FT4...if you feel you have a thyroid issue.
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Cass A, that's very interesting that your temperature has moved into the normal range on the AI drops: what round of drops are you on now and are you taking thyroid medication with the drops?
I've been wondering if the AI will affect my thyroid ...I'm on 100mg T4 [thyroxine] and 10 mg T3 [sodium liothyronine] and should be starting the drops in another week or so.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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