Just questions

Having TSH within normal range, is it possible to have a thyroid condition despite it?

I have had 3 TSH tests done:

Aug. 05: 1.54 Jan. 06: 1.19 and August o6: 2.1

Based on what I've read, it seems like I had swung from hypo to hyper and to hpyo these last few years (begining after my last son was born in '04). My periods are way out whack and going through peri-menopause like systoms.
My new doctor is thinking to put me on some hormones for 10 days out of the month, for 3 months to see if this resolves.
Could my hormones, outside thyroid, mimic a thyroid condition?

Thank you for your time,
~Kate

[borninquisitive]

I should have put TSH in subject line. Sorry about that.

[GravesLady]

TSH indicates whether a person is hypo or hyper and indicates thyroid problems.  F/Ts along with TSH will indicated what type of thyroid problems and antibodies will confirm autoimmune. Normal thyroid test means normal thyroid for the time of the test. What the future hold is another matter.

Yes, female hormone symptoms can mimic thyroid symptoms, as well as many other health issues.  That is why it is suggested not to treat thyroid by symptoms alone.  Only when thyroid test back up the symptoms.

[evanesce]

My TSH was low like yours, and my free t3 and free t4 were BELOW normal range.  Therefore, the TSH has limited value for information about your condition.  Make sure you get your Free t3 and Free t4 tested.  Your frees test will tell you more.  

Many docs are satisfied when frees are within normal range.  However, there are many hypos that say they feel much better when frees are in the upper range.

Also, the standard care is to get these tests via blood labs.  It is noteworthy that saliva tests can give an alternate picture as these show how much of the t3 & t4 hormones are getting into the cells (vs. hanging out in the blood).  Personally, I like to get both tests.

[GravesLady]

I am not sure I am answering your question but here it goes.

It has been found that women with normal thyroid will have antibodies.  TSH along with F/Ts will relate if autoimmune which antibodies causes, then antibody test will confirm . TSH alone will tell hypo or hyper-thyroidism.  But if TSH shows normal doctors normally will not pursue further.

For a one shot situation or occasionally, can you go out of area to doctor who will do the F/Ts with TSH, and while you are there might as well do all the antibodies. Some doctors even out of state ,after a one time visit, will treat over the phone thereafter.

From the online sites that I have been to, only TSH kits are given over the internet but I think they use their own Lab.

Normal  temperatures run anywhere between 97 and 99.  It just depends on the person system. Pulse 70 to 100 BPM.  Mine averages 60/62, but has gone as low as 46.

If your thyroid test results are normal you and the doctor might consider doing a TRH stimulation test for Central hypothyroidism.

Hope I don't get in trouble for the below - if so I apologize in advance:
Graves' Disease -                     http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000358.htm  
Hyperthyroidism -                   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000356.htm  
Hypothyroidism -                    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000353.htm  
Immune System Symptoms -   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000821.htm
Hormone Imbalance -
http://www.ylcf.org/hormone-imbalance/06.htm
Weakness -                              http://mplus.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003174.htm
Symptoms of hypothyroidism -http://www.thyroid.org/patients/faqs/hypothyroidism.html
Main Page:                                            (http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patients.html)

The some symptoms from all the above share the same symptoms with other health issues. Doctors normally do not treat by symptoms alone, but rather with Labs.  Then once on treatment doctor will consider symptoms to adjust treatment, i.e. meds.

Good Luck!

GL

[borninquisitive]

Thank you, graveslady. The reason I had asked, is that I read antibodies could be present in absence of an abnormal TSH. Though perhaps this is with a patient already taking medication for a thyroid problem?

It's confusing to me.

I had read in one of your posts recently and found interest in that I can not take Pseudophedrine. It sends my BP through the roof but I don't have high BP.

Strangely, before I had my tonsils taken out this April my BP was running abit high: diastolic in 90s
Temperature around 98 and sometimes, 99. After tonsil removal: my BP averages in 70's and sometimes dips down to the low 60s. My average temperature now is 97, sometimes dipping to 96 and oddly, pops up to 99.1 sometimes.

Last winter, I was cold & sluggish and in March-went into a month long axiety like attack, overheating and bouts of tachardia (<---mostly at night, when I didn't feel stressed).

Hopefully the temporary hormones will help. Things have been the most "screwy" for about a year now.

By any chance, do you know of a good, legitimate site that lists all symptoms of hormone imbalance?

> My TSH was low like yours, and my free t3 and free t4 were BELOW normal range. Therefore, the TSH has limited value for information about your condition. Make sure you get your Free t3 and Free t4 tested. Your frees test will tell you more.<

I've been tested by 3 doctors in the same clinic (twice, I wasn't aware of their looking into TSH)but they only test TSH.  

>Also, the standard care is to get these tests via blood labs.<

Our labs, to my knowledge only test blood. I have seen tests that can be purchased online but doubt that our lab would run them. We only have one lab. I'm located on a island in S.E. Alaska.

~Kate

[borninquisitive]

Thank you for the post, I appreciate it.

>For a one shot situation or occasionally, can you go out of area to doctor who will do the F/Ts with TSH, and while you are there might as well do all the antibodies. Some doctors even out of state ,after a one time visit, will treat over the phone thereafter.<

I don't know that our doctors wouldn't look, it's just they haven't.
I fear going in and telling them what they should do.

If TSH alone is ALWAYS the indicator of thyroid condition, then it's something I guess I should put to rest. I'm just trying to make for certain that this is an area that need not need any further consideration on the doctors part.

I guess what has added to it, is that I have issues with my throat this past year and tenderness in the front.
Having said this, I did have a CT of my head/neck and with the exception of enlarged tonsils (removed this April) and nodes...nothing else was mentioned.

Hormonal imbalances, there was many symtoms (symptoms) listed on that page. Most of the pages I have been on, only listed a few. This month, I'm going into to my Dr. and see about getting my hormones straightened out.

Thanks again,
~Kate

[lembo]

I am looking at the following test results:

TSH (3rd Gen)     0.006 uIU/ml (Normal .200 to 5.500)
Free T4(analog)   3.9 ng/dL    (Normal .8 to 1.7)

Obviously, the TSH is low and the Free T4 is high.  My question, is "is this a REALLY high Free T4 and low TSH, or is this just a little out of the normal range?"

Thanks very much for any comments.