More confusion

[Mikel390]

One more question (or 2)...my doctor said that my thyroid was producing antibodies. Will this turn around on its own or is this something that I need to take medicine for? Are there other tests I should be getting done?

[goolarra]

I agree that your TSH looks hypo (your doctor and lab are probably using an obsolete reference range as most of them do).  You should get your actual numbers on T3 and T4 (and their reference ranges) from your doctor.  Just because your numbers are in range does not mean that you are not hypo.  Many people do not feel well until they are in the upper part of the range, but their doctors will not treat them (or will stop treating them further) once they barely make it into the bottom of the range.

I might look at finding a new doctor.  So many of them don't have a clue.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

your TSH appears to be high, (the updated reference range is actually only up to 3.5), particularly given your symptoms.  Do you know what your actual numbers for t3 and t4 were (and the ranges)?  (Btw, they should be testing FT3 and FT4, not T3 and T4, which don't give you much information.  They should also test thyroid antibodies.

I think you have / are developing hypothyroid, particularly given the symptoms, and the history.

I would think that at least a trial of thyroid meds should be given (note it takes up to 6 weeks to see effect).

Go get a second opinion if your dr won't listen to you.

[Mikel390]

Thank you for the clarification and help! After my daughter was born (95') I had EXTREME hyper symptoms....and then I had a hysterectomy in 2005 and now have many hypo AND hyper symptoms (but mainly hypo at this point). I had my bloodwork done last week and my TSH was 4.65 and he said my t3 and t4 were normal...but then again, my doctor hasn't really listened to me for years and thinks that I couldn't possibly be eating well and exercising like I say I am and that I couldn't possibly have a thyroid problem. I have some good days, but I never really feel WELL anymore. I worked out for an hour each day for the whole month of July and dieted and didn't lose one pound!!!! VERY FRUSTRATING! Sorry...just needed to vent and any advice would be great...I am new to this.

[goolarra]

It's not your thyroid that is producing antibodies, it's your immune system that is producing antibodies against your thyroid.  This means you have an autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashi's or Grave's).  

It will not turn around on its own, and there is no medicine that will stop the antibodies.  All you can do is treat the symptoms of either hypothyroidism (Hashi's) or hyperthyroidism (Grave's) when they occur.

You should have a thyroid panel...free T3 (FT3) and freeT4 (FT4) and TSH.  The free's will tell you what your actual thyroid status is.