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Thyroid (Expert Forum)
T3, T4 and TSH Levels
Answered by
Mark Lupo, M.D. - Thyroid Nodules, Thyroid Cancer, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Thyroid Ultrasound
Thyroid & Endocrine Center of Florida
Sarasota - FL
Questions in the Thyroid forum are answered by Dr. Mark Lupo. Topics covered include goiter, graves disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, thyroid cancers, thyroiditis, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
T3, T4 and TSH Levels
by brandie32, Apr 24, 2006 12:00AM
In August 2005, I had the left side of my thyroid removed for a tumor and a spot of cancer and the right side was killed due to Thyroiditis. I have absolutely no function on my own. I have to have blood work every 6 months. I am on .050 of Synthroid. I have been telling my Dr. that I do not feel like myself. I am either extremely cold or will have hot flashes. My skin is very dry and itchy, my hair is falling out more than normal, mood swings from angry to very down. I am also having trouble losing weight, in that I either lose none or gain. I am also having more pains in my legs and hips. He tested my blood and the results were T4 - 7.9(range 4.5 - 12) T3 - 1(range 0.6 - 2.2) and TSH - 2.229(range .350 - 5.50). In December my TSH was 1.222 and I felt better. I am extremely tired all of the time. I have read that a TSH of 2.5 is too high. What would you recommend to me with the test results that I have? I have a nurse prac. that says I need to up my Synthroid. I am just looking for relief. Thanks.
Doctor's Answer
Thanks again. I am just glad to know that there are other people out there like me. Sometimes I think it is just me.
http://www.altsupportthyroid.org/t3/t3exp3pr.php
Also, Mary Shomon, author of the 'bible' for thyroid people, called "Living Well with Hypothyroidism", ( I strongly suggest you read and refer to this book)-she has a site, I forget what exactly it's called. I personally belong to an on-line group, I can't remember the name right now, but it's just thyroid people constantly communicating with one another about meds, symptoms, unsympathetic docs, etc.
I sure hope you change docs, Armour even has compiled a country-wide list of docs willing to prescribe Armour, you just put in your zip code. Docs willing to prescribe Armour, I have found as a rule, are more into listening to symptoms than just going by the numbers. It is an on-going grueling process to find a good doc. Your symptoms are what matters, and w/in that the numbers matter. If you'd like, I'll find the name of the group I belong to, it's so helpful to communicate with others, and there are thousands out there who have a story to tell. Let me know, and start fighting back, and you will regain the quality of life you deserve.
http://www.altsupportthyroid.org/t3/t3exp3pr.php
Also, Mary Shomon, author of the 'bible' for thyroid people, called "Living Well with Hypothyroidism", ( I strongly suggest you read and refer to this book)-she has a site, I forget what exactly it's called. I personally belong to an on-line group, I can't remember the name right now, but it's just thyroid people constantly communicating with one another about meds, symptoms, unsympathetic docs, etc.
I sure hope you change docs, Armour even has compiled a country-wide list of docs willing to prescribe Armour, you just put in your zip code. Docs willing to prescribe Armour, I have found as a rule, are more into listening to symptoms than just going by the numbers. It is an on-going grueling process to find a good doc. Your symptoms are what matters, and w/in that the numbers matter. If you'd like, I'll find the name of the group I belong to, it's so helpful to communicate with others, and there are thousands out there who have a story to tell. Let me know, and start fighting back, and you will regain the quality of life you deserve.
the Mary Shomon site is : www.thyroid.about.com
the site I feel has lots of info (strongly in favor of Armour):
www.stopthethyroidmadness.com
And finally, the group I belong to is:
***@****
Hope to hear from you on there! Best of luck to you, and if you need to you can email me personally at: ***@****, I'll be happy to help if I can.
I am less than 30 years old and was just told that my Thyroid was underactive. Specifically my TSH levels are at 41 when it should be less than 5!!
I was put on 50 micrograms of synthroid to start of the prescription and my doctor plans to monitor it from thereon.
I am pretty lost because everything that I am reading says that even a level of 5 is too high. I have no clue as to how this has affected me to date and what this means.
I am not looking for medical advice, rather I just would like to know what a level this high means.. and how could this have been affecting me in the past 2 years.
Thank you,