Opinion...How often should someone be tested?

[North48]

How often should the TSH test be done when it was elevated (I think with the new guidelines) in April 09.  I have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism and family history of thyroid problems Hashi and Graves
TSH 3.1 range .5-5.0
Free T4 1.2 range .8-1.8
TPO .5 range <9.0
The doctor told me to have these tests rerun in 1 year but from what I have read maybe this should be done sooner.  Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[North48]

I'm just trying to get diagnosed.  I think I'm going to move on to another dr and politely ask for a TSH FT3 FT4 and maybe another antibody test.

[Barb135]

That's "malarky".  *I* have a conversion problem and there was nothing wrong with me when I was young - well, nothing thyroid related anyway.........lol

Whenever meds/dosages are changed you should be retested after about 6 weeks or so to see what the new med/dosage is doing.  Only after you are stable for a while should you go very long between testings.  

[North48]

Thanks for the advice or help.  That is what I was thinking but I thought I'd ask an opinion before I find a new dr.  I asked her why she didn't run a FT3 and she told me something about if I had a conversion problem it would have shown up when I was young.  Don't exactly know what she was taking about just a bunch of medical goobush.

[Barb135]

I agree with goolara.  You are just barely over the limit on the TSH, but a year is a long time to wait when you don't feel good.  And you do need the Free T3 test along with TSH and Free T4.  

Good luck.  

[goolarra]

If you have a lot of symptoms of hypo, a year is going to be an awfully long time to wait and suffer with them.

By the "new" reference range, normal TSH is 0.3-3.0.  So, you're right, yours is high but just barely so.  Your FT4 isn't bad, but could definitely be nudged up a bit in the range so that you felt better.  Lots of people don't feel really well until their TSH is at the lower end or even below the normal range, and FT4 is in the upper third.

Next time you have labs, ask your doctor to run FT3 also.  FT3 is the test that correlates best with symptoms.  I'm willing to bet your FT3 is quite low, and that's why you have symptoms.

I'd ask for another test very soon.  You might have to beat your doctor up a bit, but impress upon him that you do not feel well.  Ask him for a trial of a low dose of levothyroxine.  If it helps, that's wonderful,  If not, you can always discontinue.  (I'm sure it will help...I'm just arguing with your doctor now!!!).  If your current doctor isn't receptive, you may have to look for a new doctor.  Some just haven't a clue when it comes to treating thyroid.