Can This Be Right?

[advancer]

Hi there,

Had thyroid tests, doc said came back "Mildly Underactive".  Do not feel myself. Nervous, depressed, slowed down, foggy brain, body temp 34.7-35.8. Was prescribed Prozac, refuse to take it.  Don't believe my symptoms are mental, but rather a physical problem and would like to know the best alternative medicine to try safely and how long before an improvement is seen...

Many Thanks

[661822]

Demand, demand and demand...  You are not crazy and antidepressents are not an answer...  I am not a medical professional but I too have ran the gamit with anit deprssion meds.  They suck and so did my dr.  I am full on hypothyroid and my medication has changed my life.  I am human again...  Human I say.  I laugh and love, my hair doesnt' fall out and my skin is better.  My thyroid was life changing and and Dr.s don't see it like they should.  Good luck to you and stay strong.

[gimel]

On your own thread, you got some very good input from other members.  Not much to add to that.  Clearly you are not converting T4 to T3 very well.  Just adding more T4 is not going to do it for you.  I used to have the same problem and it went unrecognized by doctor for many years because FT3 was not checked, and I still had lingering hypo problems.  Now that I have gradually reduced my T4 med and added in a T4/T3 combo, my FT3 is in higher end of range and FT4 is just above midpoint.  I'm not totally there yet, but feel much better already.  

[oldie]

sorry. correction . It should read in second line:  'Also, FT3 low but within the range and FT4  above and outside the range'.

[oldie]

I read homonerestoration closely. Thank you. But...it repeatedly cites low  T3 and T4 together as the problem. I have  T3 below the range and T4 in upper  range. Also FT3 low but within the range and T4 above the range. Does this mean I'm not converting and am thus disqualified from it's good counsel? My cardo just upped my levo by 25 to 125. But maybe I've got enough T4 nside me  as it is?

[gimel]

Only ran one test?  Assuming that it was for TSH, that is not nearly adequate, in light of your symptoms.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by many variables, including the time of day when blood is drawn.  TSH is entirely inadequate as a diagnostic for thyroid issues.  At best it is an indicator, which should be considered along with the more important indicators, which are your symptoms, and your levels of the actual biologically active thyroid hormones, FT3 and FT4.  Free T3 is four times as potent as FT4, and FT3 correlates best with hypo symptoms.  In my opinion the best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust FT3 and FT4 levels with meds, as required to alleviate symptoms.  Symptoms are all important and should be the basis for treatment, not TSH.

Suggest that you insist that the doctor do further testing for free T3 and free T4 (FT3 and FT4).  Note that these are not total T3 and total T4.  When you get these tested, if you will get a copy of the lab report and post it here, members will be glad to help interpret the results.

I also think you might get some useful info from this article.

http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html

  

[advancer]

Okay, called the doctirs who said the level was 1.68 and within the normal range.  They did mention that I need re-screening from Red Blood Cells as they came back a point or 2 under normal at 11.5

[gimel]

Can you get a copy of the results?  Since problems other than thyroid can affect symptoms, need to see the actual numbers and reference ranges from that particular lab.  Doctors are required to provide you a copy upon your request.  

[advancer]

Hi there,

I don't actually have the results, all I was told was I have a Mildly Underactive Thyroid..  I actually had 2 tests almost a year apart with the same results...

Also, get continuous nasal trouble, like Rhinnitis...

Hope someone can advise...

[gimel]

Please post thyroid tet results and reference ranges so that members can provide the best response.