Thyroid tests

[SH47]

My 23yr old daughter has had problems for 2 years. She was having major joint pain, rapid heart rate, extreme fatigue,problems managing her blood sugar, it was really low, and trouble concentrating at all. She was unable to sleep,  but then had trouble during the day because she was so tired. She went to several doctors. Her thyroid was not totally abnormal but it was in the high range, she was give synthroyid 50, which she started taking she is somewhat better now. On her last labs her ranges have changed, 30 days ago her T-3 Uptake was 28, now it is 25. Her T-4 (thyroxine) Total was 9.3 now it has increased to 12.4, her free T-4 index was 2.6, now it is 3.1, also her TSH was 0.81, now it is 1.05. Can you explain if this makes a difference? She has started having some of the same symptoms as before.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

I don't know why she was started on synthroid with the baseline labs you decribe.  Her labs were normal to start with and are essentially normal now.  Her body has simply adjusted (from a thyroid-pituitary standpoint) for the supplemental thyroid hormone, and things are back to the way they were before starting the medication -- ie, it was not likely a thyroid problem to begin with....

[hanna6]

I am really in need of help. I have had my thyroid tested 12 times now. I have numerous signs for hypothyroid but cannot get any help. This last test came back with the following results.  Please help!   T4 Free, Direct, S 0.95 ng/dl (limits 0.350-5.500), TSH 1.085 uIU/mL (limits 0.350-5.500).  I appreciate your time.  

[EndoRach]

hanna,
i'm just another patient like you but have you sought out a specialist recommended by other PATIENTS as opposed to a Thyroid Orgnaization or recommended by other doctors? The woman who handles all thyroid issues for www.about.com (Mary something) has written books and has her own web page that patients going thru similar things discuss doctors in their state in detail. some had gone to nine or ten doctors over years (including Mary from about.com)and thru this site finally found a doctor to listen to them, get them started on a program that works for them and start to turn their life around. best resource is others like yourself and myself with no professiona politcking or agenda doing things from a grassroots level. If you can't find the site let me know and include an email address where i can send you the link. i'll check back to this page in the next day or two to see if this helped. Rachel

[EndoRach]

p.s. i didn't in any way mean to insinuate anything negative about Dr. Mark - i was thinking of some other sites that list "best" thryroid doctors in America, etc.