high TSH, normal T4,normal T3, what does it mean?

[oliviatung]

My mum just took her medical report. Her TSH level is high 6.03,however T4 & T3 both in normal level. any diseases she gets? any problems on her pituitary gland?i'm so worried about her. what else tests she have to take to confirm the results?

[gimel]

Personally, I would first get a doctor to prescribe thyroid medication.  The doctor is right that the pituitary is  sending a signal (TSH) to the thyroid glands to produce more thyroid, because the levels are too low.  So why didn't the doctor prescribe medication already?  
If the doctor made the comments about the pituitary and cancer, just because of those three test results, I would do nothing further about it and not worry about it, until she gets enough medication in her body to move the FT3 into the upper part of its range and FT4 to at least the midpoint, or at least until symptoms are relieved.   That may be all that is needed.  

[oliviatung]

so may i know what are tests my mum have to undergo to confirm the results? we have also  no idea to whom should we consult. two different clinical doctors have two different interpertation. they both did not offer any extra tests to my mum to confirm the results. must i consult hospital doctors? what department should i refer to?

[gimel]

So, if she is not on any medication, then she must have some thyroid function left, but apparently not enough to alleviate hypo symptoms.  Even though the FT3 and FT4 are in the "normal" range, be aware that the ranges are far too broad and many patients here on the Forum, suffered from hypo symptoms until the FT3 and FT4 were adjusted, with whatever type medication was required, until FT3 was in the upper part of its range and FT4 was at least to the midpoint of its range.  Relief from symptoms is all important.  
Having high cholesterol is often associated with being hypo also.  I don't see how in the world the doctor could have made the comments about the pituitary and cancer.  Unless there was a lot more info than you have mentioned, that's almost irresponsible  , alarming a patient like that, without more testing.

[oliviatung]

she is not taking any medicine recently. i asked her but she's so blur, she's no much educated so she has no idea about thyroid gland. she just remember she did remove something from her neck to cure goiter. she don't know how much she did remove, all or a small part only... is that important to understand her condition?

[gimel]

I'm a bit confused.  Were your mum's thyroid glands totally removed?   Is she currently taking any thyroid medication?  If so, what kind of medication and how much daily?

[oliviatung]

i jus read the symptoms for hypothyroidism, i think my mum get some like elevated cholesterol level, brittle fingernails & unexplained weight gain.

[oliviatung]

her TSH is 6.03 UIU/ML (0.3-5.1)
free T4 is 12.2 PMOL/L (11.5-22.7)
free T3 is 4.3 PMOL/L (3.5-6.5)
& she has high glucose level 6.3 MMOL/L (3.9-5.6 fasting), 113 MG/DL (70-110)
she took a test for eGFR (something about kidney, i'm no sure) is 53 ML/MIN (>60)
her total cholesterol is high 6.1 MMOL/L (<5.2), 235 MG/DL (<200)
LDL cholesterol is high as well, 4.2 MMOL/L (<2.6), 163 MG/DL (<100)
so far she has no obvious symptoms. but what i know is she did get goiter n did remove her  thyroid glands for about 10 years.
we consulted a doctor, he said my mum has no problems on thyroid, she got high TSH jus because of she did remove her thyroid & her body try to produce more TSH to create normal level of T4 &T3. however another doctor's worried about her brain (pituitary gland), he said she probably get a cancer on that part.
please give me advices.

[gimel]

Please post actual test results and their reference ranges used by the lab.   Also, what symptoms does she have?