WILL A THYROID PANEL SHOW UP MORE/THAN A REGULAR TSH TEST?

[tnt406]

HI IT'S ME AGAIN I'M THINKING ABOUT ORDERING A THYROID PANEL TEST FROM HEALTHCHECKUSA.BUT BEFORE I DID I WANTED TO KNOW IF IT WOULD SHOW UP THE HYPOTHYROID BETTER?THE DOCTORS HAVE ALL WAYS CHECKED MY TSH LEVEL WHICH ALL WAYS CAME BACK NORMAL.I KNOW I AM HYPO.I JUST NEED A BLOOD TEST TO SHOW MY DOCTOR,HE HAS ALL READY SEEN MY OTHER ONE,I HAD DONE IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.BUT I ALL SO HAVE CYSTS ON MY THYROID.I THINK AT ONE TIME I WAS HYPER,BACK IN 1994 I DIDN'T THINK ANY THING ABOUT IT THOUGH.I LOST WEIGHT LIKE CRAZY AFTER I HAD MY SECOND CHILD.IT WAS DIFFERENT AFTER I HAD MY THIRD CHILD THOUGH,MY BODY STARTED TO GET RUN DOWN MORE EASIER AND IT HAS JUST PROGRESSED OVER THE YEARS.NOW I CAN'T HARDLY WALK ACROSS THE FLOOR WITH OUT GRABBING ON TO SOME THING TO STEADY MY SELF.I JUST WANT TO GET THE RIGHT BLOOD TEST,BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF DOCTORS LOOKING AT ME LIKE I'M CRAZY IN THE HEAD WHEN I'M NOT.DOES THAT MAKE SINCE?I AM ON ZOLOFT 150 MG A DAY AND TOPAMAX 100 MG A DAY.TOPAMAX IS FOR MY MIGRAINS,IT DOESN'T HELP.COULD SOME ONE PLEASE TELL ME IF THE THYROID PANEL WILL SHOW UP HYPOTHYROIDISM?I'M WANTING TO ORDER IT TODAY.THANK YOU IN ADVANCE TNT406.

[Jimlow]

Hi TNT, In my opinion, more is needed than a TSH test because I have read and heard numerous testimonies of people who were either hypothyroid or hyperthyroid but their TSH was normal! Some Dr.s would throw a hissy-fit to hear someone say this but how do they get around so many recorded cases. TSH is a wonderful test but I believe it is better when done along with the others, to get a more complete picture. I also believe "antibodies" tests need done even from the very beginning because MANY people have autoimmune attack on their thyroid but has not yet affected their thyroid lab levels but will show elevated ABs. It has been proven through mutiple studies that people with high antibodies but normal hormone readings can have significant symptoms.
HERE ARE TWO ACTUAL STUDY REFERENCES: 1. New England Journal of Medicine, 2001, "Fibromyalgia and Thyroid Disfunction"; CONCLUSION:"Presense of TPO ANTIBODIES was the most frequest related to this disfunction. The most frequent thyroid functional disorder found in fybromyalgia women was SUB-CLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM."
2. Dept. of Rheumatology, Governador Isreal Pinheiro Hospital, "Interrelations Between Fybromyalgia Thyroid Antibodies, and Depression"; ...results suggested an association between fybromyalgia and thyroid autoimmunity. Cases of diffuse connective tissue diseases and thyroid dysfunctions, HYPO AND HYPERTHYROIDISM WERE EXCLUDED IN BOTH GROUPS."
What these studies are saying, is that both people with only sub-clinical hypothyroidism and people with no lab-detection of thyroid hormone disorder at all, can have fibromyalgia type symptoms, with presence of Thyroid ANTIBODIES alone!
There is a third study I copies off the "National Library of Medicine's" site, from 2003, that was conducted in association with Oxf. University, in Antalya Turkey, that basically says the same thing. HOW's THAT FOR INTERESTING STUDIES THAT CONFIRM THE NEED FOR ANTIBODIES TESTING? I love it.

[Jimlow]

I just wanted to add TNT that in your case, if you already had antibodies test, once autoimmune is confirmed, repeat antibodies tests really don't help but thyroid homone levels do help! I wanted to make sure you didn't think I was suggesting another antibodies test if you already had one. The hormone level ones though, are valuable when your adjusting your dosage to optimal level. Most Dr.s recommend not taking your dose the morning of your blood-draw but following it because it will cause there to be a misleadingly high reading due to extra in the blood stream.
Once in a while I want to offer to anyone out there the 90 min tape I made about thyroid disorder. I've had responses already. It's free. I just need a mailing address and your contact info. will be shared with no-one!  ***@****

[tnt406]

HI I HAVE NOT HAD MY ANTIBODIES CHECKED.DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE ONE TO GET?I AM SO CONFUSED,I AM ABOUT READY TO GIVE UP AND JUST LET WHAT EVER HAPPEN GO ON AND HAPPEN.I JUST DON'T CARE NO MORE.ALL OF THE DOCTORS I HAVE EVER SEEN HAVE ALL WAYS MADE FEEL LIKE I'M CRAZY,I'M STARTING TO BELIEVE THEM.MAYBE I AM CRAZY AND IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD.DID YOU EVER FEEL THIS WAY?IF NOT I KNOW THAT I AM MENTAL AND CRAZY AS WELL.PLEASE GIVE ME A REPLY SOON,BECAUSE I AM CRYING LIKE A MAD PERSON AND I CAN'T STOP.PLEASE SOME ONE HELP ME!!!!!!!

[Jimlow]

TNT,
There is something about knowing the cause of symptoms that actually helps a person be more patient because they know how it needs to be treated and it's no longer a "mystery illness". Since you have been strongly suspecting thyroid dysfuntion all this time, I say YES, I would get the antibodies one!
As you know TNT, Heathcheck USA, offers 2-different thyroid panels and one of them is only $45.00. They also offer the throid antibodies one for $60.00. If you can't afford both at once, you might consider the antibodies one first, or vise-versa but remember too that they add $12.00 each time for blood-draw, so if you can lump tests together, it saves you additional $12.00 fees. Heathcheck, sets up the testing for "LabOne", the nations leading blood test lab and that's why I use them. In fact I get blood drawn for an adrenal-antibodies one on the 16th ($150.00 ! wow) but still much cheaper than hospital labs and some that Dr.s get set up with!
Hang in there TNT!, we are all behind you too and praying for you. Please don't get discouraged. The blood tests will will give you something to look forward to, answers or elimination of possible causes. I kind of suspect it will reveal thyroid disorder because of the symptoms you list having but only blood tests will reveal for sure!
Please ask & post all you need to, we NEVER run out of room on here!  Your answers will come soon!

[tnt406]

HI,MR.JIMLOW THANK YOU I'M GOING TO ORDER THE ANTIBODIES TEST FIRST.BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT SHOW UP MORE.I AM JUST SO TIRED OF BEING TIRED.MY STOMACH IS SO SWOLLEN,I CAN'T WEAR MY SHORTS OR PANTS FOR VERY LONG.I GET SICK AT MY STOMACH.MY MOM ALL SO FOUND AN ARTICLE IN A MAGAZINE,SHE BROUGHT IT TO ME SO I COULD READ IT.IT'S ABOUT FLUORIDE,IT KILLS YOUR THYROID GLAND.I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO LOOK IT UP AND SEE IF IT WAS TRUE,SO I WENT TO YAHOO.COM AND ENTERED THYROID GLAND AND FLUORIODE.IT TOOK ME TO A PAGE,GUESS WHAT IT'S "TRUE!"WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST CHILD IN 1990 MY DOCTOR GAVE ME FLUORIODE PILLS TO TAKE,TO HELP DEVELOP THE FETUS'S TEETH.I TOOK THEM FOR NINE MONTHS.DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE A LINK?I ALL USED FLUORIODE TOOTH PASTE,CITY WATER WITH FLUORIODE.I WAS GETTING A DOUBLE DOSE ACTUALLY THREE TIMES THE DOSE OR MORE.I STILL USE CITY WATER AND FLUORIODE TOOTH PASTE.THIS MIGHT BE SOME THING INTERRESTING TO ADD TO ONE OF YOUR TAPES.MARY SHOMON'S WEB SITE HAD SOME THING ON IT ABOUT FLUORIODE.IT WAS DATED BACK IN THE 1990's.I KNOW WE CAN'T PUT OUR E-MAIL ADDRESSES ON HERE I READ THE POST FROM MED-HELP.SORRY YOU GOT IN TROUBLE.HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT OPENING YOUR OWN WEB PAGE?OR DOES THAT COST MONEY?I STILL DON'T KNOW TO MUCH ABOUT THE WEB SITE.JUST ENOUGH TO GET ME HERE AND THERE.GOD BLESS YOU MR.JIMLOW AND YOUR WIFE.TNT406

[NURSELPN]

To TNT406,
For goodness sakes ditch that Dr. you have been seeing & make an appointment with an Endrocrinologist, who specializes in Thyroid problems they will listen to you. I am a nurse who also has been ill with Thyroid disease. Since being diagnosed with this I know how debilatating this disease can be. The last thing you need is for someone to tell you it's all in your head. An endrocrinologist will do the appropiate testing & you can be treated appropiately. If left untreated this disease can cause you your health. Don't fool around with a physican who will not listen to you, I wouldn't even see him for a cold. On the web site you mentioned in your posting Mary Slomon has listed the best Thyroid Drs. by state. Call til you get an appointment with one. The web site is Thyroidinfo.com or type Mary Slomon's name in your browser.  Good luck

[tnt406]

THANK YOU NURSELPN IT IS HARD FOR ME TO SEE AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST.WHERE I LIEVE THEY ARE 100 MILES AWAY FROM ME.I LIEVE IN A SMALL TOWN,WITH SMALL TOWN QUACK DOCS.THEY ONLY GO BY TSH LEVELS NOTHING ELSE.IF I SAID ANTIBODIES TEST THEY WOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT ME LIKE I HAD FROGS COMING OUT OF MY EARS.THATS HOW SMALL MY TOWN IS.HOW DID YOU FINALLY GET DIAGNOSED WITH YOUR THYROID CONDITION?I HAVE ORDERED A ANTIBODIES TEST FROM HEALTHCHECKUSA.I AM TAKING IT IN MY OWN HANDS NOW.WHEN I GET MY RESULTS,I WILL SHOW THEM TO MY DOCTOR.I AM HOPING HE WILL LISTEN.IF NOT I WILL FIND SOME ONE WHO WILL.IT MIGHT TAKE LONGER TO GET MY SELF TREATED,BUT I'LL DO WHAT EVER I HAVE TO.SOME TIMES I JUST WANT TO GIVE UP,AND STOP TRYING TO FIX MY SELF AND LET WHAT EVER HAPPEN GO ON AND HAPPEN.IT IS JUST SO TIRESOME.BUT YOU ALL READY KNOW THAT YOU'VE ALL READY BEEN THERE,SO YOU UNDER STAND.PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TEST SHOWED UP YOUR THYROID CONDITION.I AM AT MY WITTS END HERE.TNT406

[NURSELPN]

I had a TSH & a T-3 & T-4. After my Radioiodine treatment I seen an Endrocrinologist & she did a free T-3 & a free T-4 along with a TSH. I had been on Synthroid for hypothyroidism since the early 80's so my Dr. thought I was taking too much thyroid medication but after 12 wks of reducing my medication & my results still remaining 3x's higher than normal. My family physican did other testing.  I was very symptomatic & felt sometimes as if I wasn't going to make it. One night I decided to look up the symptoms of high thyroid & stumbled across Mary Slomon's web site. I had every symptom listed but 2 & that was only because I've had a hysterectomy. Of course as a woman & a nurse I was self diagnosing & blaming all these bizarre symptoms on every different disease I could think of. And quite honestly I wasn't telling my family physican everything because I didn't want him to think I was nuts. Although sometimes I felt that way. Honestly it took him almost 3 months to diagnose what was wrong with me. When I originally gave up & went to him he first treated me fpr depression. I was depressed because I thought I had a brain tumor or something. If you look through the symptoms of high thyroid including panic attacks & agrophobia you'll see what I mean.
I was so bad by the time I admitted I was really sick that I could barely function. I'd lay in bed @ night & just pray Jesus help me & cry silently. But I wouldn't admit to my family or myself how bad I was. My family Dr has been wonderful but I originally didn't tell him everything & he does not deal with Graves disease or hyperthyroidism on a regular basis. He said himself that I have been a learning experience for him. Now I am dealing with the other end of the spectrum. My Free T-3 &
Free T-4 is low & my TSH has been as high as 89, yes 89 with no decimal. My last TSH was 53. I am no longer hyper,to put it mildly, & again I can hardly put one foot in front of the other. I am also having problems with B-12 definency which has many symptoms like thyroid disease. I'm up to 120mg. of Armour thyroid & taking B-12 injections twice wkly & I'm actually feeling alittle better this past week. I'm due to have blood work next week & we'll see what that brings. I now also have Graves eye disease. I haven't worked since last October & I have no idea when I'll go back or if I ever will. I do know one thing It's no fun being a patient! Well that's most of my story....are you bored yet? Ha- Ha!!! I seen where you told Jimlow you are from Ky.. My dad & mom were both born & raised in the Cumberland Mts.. I love it down there. What a great state. I hope I haven't bored you too much. Thanks for the chat! Drive the hundred miles if you have to it's worth finding out what's wrong. Don't give up.