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Pituitary problem or Medication?

by amy430602, Jun 14, 2009 09:05AM
My TSH runs low-below normal....   but so does my fT4...?
last results: TSH=0.41, FT4=0.55.

I know that both of these levels are for the most part in the 'normal' range, but with my symptoms, could this be a pituitary problem?  
My symptoms are more 'hypo' than 'hyper'thyroid:  Fatigue no matter how much sleep I get, terrible cold intolerance, and depression are the most troublesome.  (On Prozac for the depression).  Within the last year my eyesight is also getting worse.  I'm 26, and the last time I got my vision tested it was better than normal (40/20)...  I've noticed I cant see as nearly as well as before (have an eye appt in July to investigate it further).  I've been on Prozac for 2 years, could the sleepiness and eye problems be from that, or should I be talking to my doc about scanning for a pit. tumor???  Any thoughts or suggestions would be wonderful!!!  Thank you!!!

-Amy
ps.  I also have what the urologist called a 'neurogenic bladder', and GI problems (constipation/irregularity)... dont know if these could be somehow related?
Member Comments (3)

by amy430602, Jun 14, 2009 10:08AM
Ooops...  by 40/20 vision I meant 20/15....  :P  went the wrong way.  The problems I think have more to do with light when trying to read things at any distance.  I feel a roll of film that's been over-exposed.
Anyway, thanks again for your time!!!!
Sincerely,
Amy

by amy430602, Jun 17, 2009 12:23PM
bumping :)

by gimel, Jun 17, 2009 02:19PM
To: amy430602
TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by many variables, so that it has only a fair correlation with T4 and T3 levels in the blood, and  a very poor correlation with thyroid symptoms.  In my opinion, the most important test would be free T3.  Free T3 largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions and it correlates best with symptoms.  It is four times as potent as free T4.  Since your free T4 test was below the ref. range, indicating potential hypothyroidism,  I think you should also ask the doctor to further confirm this by checking your free T3 level.

Along with your symptoms, if the free T3 test confirms a hypo condition, then I would try to get the doctor to treat your symptoms by testing and adjusting free T3 and free T4 levels as required to alleviate your symptoms.  Along with this, the doctor will probably want to do other testing to determine why your TSH level does not correlate at all with your "frees".  

If you can convince the doctor to take this approach, then you can monitor and see what symptoms remain to be addressed.
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