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Secondary Hypothyroidism, are you?
I didn't realize there were different classifications of hypo. How do you know which one you have. I understand if secondary, that deals with the pituitary gland, but does that mean to have this you would have to have a tumor or a malfunction of the pituitary gland. Below is an insert from the Pituitary Institute of California. Found this in my search for TSH treatment not being the sole test for treatment, not sure if this applies to me. Anyone have any experience with this?
Secondary (or central) hypothyroidism is caused by disorders of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Generally, secondary hypothyroidism is associated with low TSH and low T3 and T4. However, TSH levels may also be normal or even slightly elevated. For this reason, TSH is often an unreliable measure of secondary hypothyroidism and should not be used to assess the adequacy of thyroid replacement in these patients. The inappropriate use of TSH levels to determine hormone replacement is one of the more common mistakes that we see in the patients we follow, and patients should be cautious if another physician discusses changing their thyroid hormone dose. Many patients have returned for their one-year follow-up visits having had their doses lowered in response to "low TSH levels." Most of them feel poorly, but improve after we increase or restart their medication.
Secondary (or central) hypothyroidism is caused by disorders of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Generally, secondary hypothyroidism is associated with low TSH and low T3 and T4. However, TSH levels may also be normal or even slightly elevated. For this reason, TSH is often an unreliable measure of secondary hypothyroidism and should not be used to assess the adequacy of thyroid replacement in these patients. The inappropriate use of TSH levels to determine hormone replacement is one of the more common mistakes that we see in the patients we follow, and patients should be cautious if another physician discusses changing their thyroid hormone dose. Many patients have returned for their one-year follow-up visits having had their doses lowered in response to "low TSH levels." Most of them feel poorly, but improve after we increase or restart their medication.
Oh I am sure it isn't as easy as I put it.
It was a short cut answer.
Let us know what you come up with:)
It was a short cut answer.
Let us know what you come up with:)
That's good enough. I'll go to it to read more. Thanks.
In the meantime, I hope you get more answers and good luck.
In the meantime, I hope you get more answers and good luck.
Thwacking head, can't figure out how to do a link.
here is where I found that info:
California Center For Pituitary disorders at UCSF Pituitary 101
here is where I found that info:
California Center For Pituitary disorders at UCSF Pituitary 101
Hi all,
Thanks for your input. What I didn't find is, if you had primary hypo, was this upon diagnoisis only, or after treatment, because I am sure my TSH was way high when diagnosed. Most of what I read online was bouncing toward more dramatic outcome such as tumors and cancer or injury. But I do think it is not that cut and dried as Stella5349 pointed out, lots more complex, as all thryoid issues are.
After being on meds for 20 years, would it be productive to have the TRH test....hmmm.
My only eating disorder is that I love to.
Could not testing for specific results of Hypo explain why so many can not get well, becasue the treatment is ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
Thanks everyone, great info. I will be back with the link to the info.
Thanks for your input. What I didn't find is, if you had primary hypo, was this upon diagnoisis only, or after treatment, because I am sure my TSH was way high when diagnosed. Most of what I read online was bouncing toward more dramatic outcome such as tumors and cancer or injury. But I do think it is not that cut and dried as Stella5349 pointed out, lots more complex, as all thryoid issues are.
After being on meds for 20 years, would it be productive to have the TRH test....hmmm.
My only eating disorder is that I love to.
Could not testing for specific results of Hypo explain why so many can not get well, becasue the treatment is ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
Thanks everyone, great info. I will be back with the link to the info.
I dont' think primary and secondary hypothyroidism only effects just the thyroid and pituitary.
I think it is a range of things like primary adrenal dysfunction and hypothyroidism too.
I am sure other things can contribute to a Dx of Primary #1 disease and Secondary #2 disease.
But there should be basic tests done and then further work ups to determine the issues.
I think it is a range of things like primary adrenal dysfunction and hypothyroidism too.
I am sure other things can contribute to a Dx of Primary #1 disease and Secondary #2 disease.
But there should be basic tests done and then further work ups to determine the issues.
I have recently been dx central hypothyroidism and also have hashimotos. In my experience after seeing many different endos, all of them apart from new confused low tsh for hyper eventhough obviously all hypo symptoms still present. So no.1 really important attentive, informed endo! Anyway if there is a doubt to evaluate the hypothalamic ,pituitary,throid axis you should also have an TRH test which will provide a means to differentiate between, primary, pituitary(secondary) or hypothalamic(tertiary) hypothyroidism.
The problems with this axis is not necessarily tumour but can also be malfunctioning from injury or even more commonly from eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Any long periods of starvation can seemingly play havoc with this system. Best of luck!
The problems with this axis is not necessarily tumour but can also be malfunctioning from injury or even more commonly from eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Any long periods of starvation can seemingly play havoc with this system. Best of luck!
Very good question.
I had to get screened for this while going through diagnosis, that's how it came onto my radar. I think if your dr were suspecting the same he/she would let you know it was part of what you were getting tested for, at least I'd hope.
I was curious to read more on what you shared so I put that facility's name into a Google search. Nothing came up. Can you please share the specific link? Thanks.
I had to get screened for this while going through diagnosis, that's how it came onto my radar. I think if your dr were suspecting the same he/she would let you know it was part of what you were getting tested for, at least I'd hope.
I was curious to read more on what you shared so I put that facility's name into a Google search. Nothing came up. Can you please share the specific link? Thanks.
Good question.
One indicator would be this; if you have thyroid antibodies, you have an autoimmune form of the disease. If you have no antibodies, then further testing would be warranted to flesh out a specific cause and diagnosis.
The chances of having a pituitary driven hypothyroid condition and thyroid antibodies at the same time would be unlikly.
But it shows the importance of getting a specific diagnosis.
"Hypothyroid" is a condition, not a diagnosis. It is important to understand why you are hypothyroid if the doctor says that's the problem.
Being diangnosed as hypothyroid means that the doctor needs to start you on meds and run tests to pinpoint the cause. Too often the "further testing" doesn't get done.
One indicator would be this; if you have thyroid antibodies, you have an autoimmune form of the disease. If you have no antibodies, then further testing would be warranted to flesh out a specific cause and diagnosis.
The chances of having a pituitary driven hypothyroid condition and thyroid antibodies at the same time would be unlikly.
But it shows the importance of getting a specific diagnosis.
"Hypothyroid" is a condition, not a diagnosis. It is important to understand why you are hypothyroid if the doctor says that's the problem.
Being diangnosed as hypothyroid means that the doctor needs to start you on meds and run tests to pinpoint the cause. Too often the "further testing" doesn't get done.
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