Aa
Questions...
I have so many questions so I don't know where to start. I received some bloodwork from the hospital where I had an ablation done and pacemaker/icd implanted (had problems until recently to get my results) on the results it showed some problem H's & L's but the numbers didn't look too terrible to me.
Can anyone point me to somewhere I can find limits for Thyroid testing? I did a spread sheet for my test over the past 6 years that I have and it looks like my heart rates - like a roller coaster :P
My levels have been
TSH - 4.48; 4.94, 3.71, 4.07
T4 Free - 1.0
T4 - 7.0, 7.33
T3 uptake - 29
Free Thyroxine Index - 2.0
What's confusing is each lab or dr's office has used a different "normal" so I'm not sure if I need to have this checked out again or not worry with it. Why don't all dr's just do the basic tests - I've had one do TSH & T3, while the other did T4 & TSH.
A bit of info that might make a difference; in 1997 I developed GBS which turned septic and I remember a dr in 1998 saying he thought something hapened to my thyroid from it and giving me synthroid - but it's been so long I forgot why I quit taking it or what happened.
Sorry last question - if I need to have this looked at, what type of dr is best to go to? I will be going to have a checkup for my grocery list of other things wrong (heart, ANS, etc) for ongoing problems.
thanks =)
Can anyone point me to somewhere I can find limits for Thyroid testing? I did a spread sheet for my test over the past 6 years that I have and it looks like my heart rates - like a roller coaster :P
My levels have been
TSH - 4.48; 4.94, 3.71, 4.07
T4 Free - 1.0
T4 - 7.0, 7.33
T3 uptake - 29
Free Thyroxine Index - 2.0
What's confusing is each lab or dr's office has used a different "normal" so I'm not sure if I need to have this checked out again or not worry with it. Why don't all dr's just do the basic tests - I've had one do TSH & T3, while the other did T4 & TSH.
A bit of info that might make a difference; in 1997 I developed GBS which turned septic and I remember a dr in 1998 saying he thought something hapened to my thyroid from it and giving me synthroid - but it's been so long I forgot why I quit taking it or what happened.
Sorry last question - if I need to have this looked at, what type of dr is best to go to? I will be going to have a checkup for my grocery list of other things wrong (heart, ANS, etc) for ongoing problems.
thanks =)
sorry I'm really out of it sometimes, all I had to do was click the links at the top of the page lol my mind is really going...
I will be completely shocked if they tell me I don't have some type of Hypo - finding the link up top may put this puzzle I have together.
I will be completely shocked if they tell me I don't have some type of Hypo - finding the link up top may put this puzzle I have together.
I was reading some more on thyroid problems and talking to my husband and oldest daughter - they remember me in 1998 freezing and being "tired" all the time where before we were playing tennis daily etc I called the dr who prescribed synthroid (my GYN) and they only keep records for 10 years, so do I tell my new pcp that I was on meds then or not it's been so long ago? I wish my memory would work right :P
also, I saw some questions other levels like ALT, sodium, calcium etc - I've had quite a few "off" readings so that may make sense - I'm finding it hard to get info on thyroid problems for some reason :(
also, I saw some questions other levels like ALT, sodium, calcium etc - I've had quite a few "off" readings so that may make sense - I'm finding it hard to get info on thyroid problems for some reason :(
thank you for the info =) I have to make an appt with my pcp but I wanted to make sure I get all my facts straight before going in so I can ask questions.
Yes, I had an RFA for frequent pvc's (50,000) and they found I have malignant heart arrhythmia's (polymorphic VT) they thought were caused by a genetic disease but testing was inconclusive.
I'll make sure I ask for a full panel and get my results from the dr in 1998 if they still have the records.
Yes, I had an RFA for frequent pvc's (50,000) and they found I have malignant heart arrhythmia's (polymorphic VT) they thought were caused by a genetic disease but testing was inconclusive.
I'll make sure I ask for a full panel and get my results from the dr in 1998 if they still have the records.
The currently recommended reference range for TSH, according to AACE, is 0.3-3.0, so all your results are above range indicating possible hypothyroidism.
Unfortunately, the ranges for all the other tests vary from lab to lab (depending on equipment used, measurement units, etc.). So, you have to get the ranges along with your results. However, speculating a bit here, FT4 range is usually something like 0.8-1.8, which makes your result quite low since many of us feel hypo until FT4 is midrange.
Doctors do the tests that they think are important, and, you're right, there is no consensus among them. FT3, FT4 and TSH should be tested every time you have thyroid blood work. These three tests are the bare minimum. T4 (which is total T4) is considered an obsolete test and fairly useless as is T3 uptake (replaced by FT3) and FTI. Many of us have had to educate our doctors on what to order or simply demand the full panel.
Endocrinologists are the specialists who deal with thyroid problems. However, just because they are endos does not guarantee they are good thyroid doctors. There is a whole array of different types of doctors that we all see, and the key seems to be finding someone who is not only knowledgable, but will listen to symptoms and use whatever therapy is necessary to relieve symptoms.
What type of ablation did you have? Was it radiofrequency catheter ablation?
Unfortunately, the ranges for all the other tests vary from lab to lab (depending on equipment used, measurement units, etc.). So, you have to get the ranges along with your results. However, speculating a bit here, FT4 range is usually something like 0.8-1.8, which makes your result quite low since many of us feel hypo until FT4 is midrange.
Doctors do the tests that they think are important, and, you're right, there is no consensus among them. FT3, FT4 and TSH should be tested every time you have thyroid blood work. These three tests are the bare minimum. T4 (which is total T4) is considered an obsolete test and fairly useless as is T3 uptake (replaced by FT3) and FTI. Many of us have had to educate our doctors on what to order or simply demand the full panel.
Endocrinologists are the specialists who deal with thyroid problems. However, just because they are endos does not guarantee they are good thyroid doctors. There is a whole array of different types of doctors that we all see, and the key seems to be finding someone who is not only knowledgable, but will listen to symptoms and use whatever therapy is necessary to relieve symptoms.
What type of ablation did you have? Was it radiofrequency catheter ablation?
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