TSH Level??

[Concfriend]

I just had my TSH level done and it came in at 4.69. My Dr. says this is at the high end of normal and no treatment is necessary right now. I've been reading over and over again that they've lowered the labs to "normal" being below a 3.0. I told her this and she said no, they mean that that is the range they want you to fall into once you're ON medication. This is not how I'm understanding the whole process. I need some input please. I really like this Dr and don't want to rock the boat with her, but I also want to be treated if I need treatment. She says I do not present as a patient with hypothyroidism. Also, can stress at the time of the blood work make a difference in the outcome? Thank you for any and all help with this. OH, one thing - I am retaining fluid - edema - eyelids, hands, ankles, calves etc. She says it is probably more from the heat (live in Florida) and menopause more than anything else. Blood pressure is fine. I've read that edema can be a symptom of hypothyroidism.
Thanks again for any input - greatly appreciated.

[Smilerdeb]

Forgot to mention...mine was to stop the rollercoaster and have a TT.
RAI was scheduled a week later as surgery was too risky at that time.

[Smilerdeb]

Nicely and calmly ask her what harm there would be in starting you on 25mcg Thyroxin.
Dont do what most do and did (me included) and charge in like a raging bull demanding Synthroid lol.
That will get her back up straight away and also make her feel inferior.
Explain something to her like I did my Doctor when I was Hyper...
Here goes.....

Hold up yr hand in front of you and say to her....

1. I have this finger that will do housework today and I am giving it to you as i dont have the energy to do it, so wont need it.
2. Take this finger as I dont feel like my old self anymore and dont need it either.
3. Take this finger as I feel like I am going mad and cant continue this rollercoaster anymore. I wont need it.
4.Take this finger as I have been for test after test and am sick of them and I wont be needing it.
5.Take this thumb as I have a hubby/partner who has needs too that I cant fulfill so I dont need it.

Then hold up your hand and say.....
You have a thumb and four fingers of mine.
If I could have one wish in the world, it would be to have just ONE finger back.
One finger to be able to make me FUNCTION properly.
Then ask her...'What would you do if you was in my shoes?

Then ask her.....Would it really hurt so much to be put on a very small level of Synthroid?
If I go hyper, I would stop immediately and consult you.
I need those fingers like I need my TSH lower.
And I am prepared to work with you on this.

This was how I explained my 'inner feelings' to my Doctor although to be honest , I had really come to the 'end of the road' and was crying.
Worth a try if you really FEEL Hypo.
if all else fails..shop elsewhere as they say.

[goolarra]

If she doesn't know, she doesn't know.  You can try to educate her, but it will probably be difficult.

I wasted a year with a PCP who hadn't a clue.  She wasn't a monster, either, but she THOUGHT she knew about thyroid...now I doubt she even knew where it was.

Menopause definitely mucks up the whole situation.  Also part of the reason it took 18 months for my hypo to be diagnosed.

Don't waste a lot of time with someone who is clueless.  If she's depending on TSH only, she's irresponsible, in my opinion.  Get FT3 and FT4...they're both cheap and much better indicators of your thyroid status.

[Concfriend]

Hi guys,
  Thanks so much for responding. I KNOW she's wrong about the range being normal - but she is adament that she is right and said we will re-test again in 3 months. No, just the TSH level was done. I want a full thyroid panel at this point. Like I said, I really like her but I know 4.69 is too high - ideas about how to get her to respond to me? She's not a monster by any stretch of the imagination - I actually think I may have caught her off guard by questioning her and she "knee" jerk responded because she didn't know the correct answer.
I have other symptoms - tiredness, moody, weepy, the edema I've already mentioned, among other things....I'm also in menopause as I mentioned so I don't know what the heck is going on with the symptoms, if they're menopausal or thyroid related....I'm just starting my journey with this and already I am very frustrated and a little worried that my Dr. doesn't know the current protocol for this. I guess I would be better served by seeing a specialist huh? The problem is that I don't have health insurance right now and this Dr. is very affordable.
Thanks again...it looks like it's going to be a long road.

[goolarra]

I agree that your doctor is wrong.  0.3-3.0 is the currently accepted "normal" range for TSH.  But what's more important is that TSH is coming increasingly under scrutiny as correlating very poorly with thyroid symptoms.  FT3 and FT4 are essential.  They will give a much more complete picture of your thyroid status.

The list of thyroid symptoms is as long as your arm (google "hypothyroid + synptoms" for a list).  Although I agree that it's extremely annoying to have thyroid symptoms attributed to something else, one symptom is not enough to make a diagnosis.  Would you go down the list and indicate others?  

[Venora Moonwind]

Hi there . WEll your doc is worng!!!  that is high! Your doc should be treating you by  symptoms and not just the numbers Also did  you get your free T3 and 4 and antibodies . This is very important as well.
I am guessing this is a regular md and and not an endocrinologist that specializes in thyroids
Are you haveing any other symptoms than the edema?
I know I am getting on my soap box here but I am really tired of the medical community blaming womens  problems on menopause or the humidity argggg. And youd is a woman too??? ARGGG!! In my case when I complained of food stuck in my throat and tiredness all the time my reg doc told me to loose weight and drink more water. and wouldnt even order blood tests.It took a surgeon doing a breast biopsy that notice my neck swollen from a goiter .doulble arrg. ( as you can see I still irritable about that)
If you are having other hypothyroid symtoms besides the edema loose the woman doc and get  an endo that specializes in thyroids not diabete and go from there.
Dont be afrraid to dematd good health care from your providers We have to be our own best advocates for our health
Keep coming here for support and let us know what you find out.
Love Venora