TSH levels and symptoms

[PGphmtt75]

hello, I have several blood test results with TSH levels at 4.62, 5.04, 5.17 and 5.9. My T4 levels have been in range at 1.1, 1.16, and 1.2. And only one of my test have T3 readings, and that was in range at 152. These tests range from 2004 to 2008 and my symptoms come and go. I have one test result with a TSH reading of 2.95. Sometimes lasting a couple days, and other times lasting longer than a month or so. And sometimes I go months feeling fine. But when I feel like it's acting up, I find myself getting agitated and irritated at little things that normally wouldn't and shouldn't bother me, especially at home. Sometimes I can't relax and get stressed out and there's usually no reason to get stressed out. I feel like I don't know what to do with myself. And sometimes I get like a tightness in my right forearm on the other side of my elbow. It seems to get like that when I get stressed out and irritable. It's very annoying and frustrating. For the longest time I had no idea what was wrong, if anything, and would get depressed about it. I finally stumbled upon thyroid issues and looked at my results and saw that I'd been out of range for a while. So now I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in October and hopefully that will help. Does this story sound familiar to anyone and has anyone gone through this also?
thanks!

[goolarra]

Your TSH is a little on the high side.  The currently recommended range for TSH is 0.3-3.0.  TSH is the least important of the tests.  However, many doctors think TSH is the gold standard in thyroid testing and only consider it, completely ignoring FT3 and FT4.  

Rule of thumb for FT4 is 50% of range, and you're at 66%, which is on the HIGH side.  FT3 rule of thumb is upper half (50%+) to upper third (66%+) of range, and yours is at 84%, well up in the range.  Neither of these numbers indicates that you are hypo, in fact they're both (too) high.

If I were you, I'd get a second opinion and re-test before starting meds.  Your numbers (except for TSH) don't look hypo at all.  TSH is very volatile and can change a lot just with the time of day the blood was drawn.  

Why were you prescribed metformin?  Is your glucose high?  And the iron?  Do you have a deficiency?

[lekha18]

hey frnz...my tsh is 4.72 our of a normal range of 0.27 - 4.20
my free t3 is 4.02 out of 2.0 - 4.4
free t4 is 1.44 out of 0.93 - 1.7
t3 is 1.78 out of 0.8 - 2.0
t4 is 8.13 out of 5.1 - 14.1
am prescribed to take thyroxine sodium tablets every mrng b4 my brk fast.with a metformin and iron tablet.
am having weight gain and irregular menstrual cycle.im not clear about my problem...am i in risk? pls smebody explain me abt dis....
lekha,
india

[TamraW]

I got the news a few hours ago that I do in fact have Hashimoto's Lymphatic Thyroiditis.  My highest TSH score has only been a 2.74, so you DO NOT need to have very high TSH to have this disease.

My Free T4 is 0.8
My FT3 is 262
My Hashi (Peroxidase) antibodies are a 221, and anything over 35 is considered Hashi's.

Take care...
:) Tamra

[JayCee7]

My TSH was 4.72 (normal range 0.34-3.5), T4Free & T3 at lower end of normal.
TPOAb >1300 (range 0-59)
Thyroglobin AB 137 (range 0-59)

Endo started me on levothyroxine, but I'm having the TT because I have a Nodule - "Hurthle Cell Proliferation of Indeterminate Type"

Anyway, I agree with the others that you should ask for the Antibody Tests, and go from there.  If they are high, they will most likely want to get the ultrasound, in my opinion, to see if there is anything there before changing meds.

[PGphmtt75]

good luck with yours!  I hope your symptoms get better soon and get some relief.  Mine seems like nothing compared to yours!  thanks for the info.

[TamraW]

Also, request a thyroid ultrasound. I have four nodules. She biopsied three and they are benign (most nodules are). I am trying to get my endo to biopsy this new fourth nodule.

Take care...
:) Tamra

[TamraW]

Hashimoto's Disease is an auto-immune disease that attacks the thyroid and causes you to become hypo. I think anyone whose levels indicate hypo should have the Hashi antibodies test, just to be sure. I am still waiting on my results. Grrrr.

Yes, thyroid can make you depressed, stressed, etc. Also, stress can cause the thyroid symptoms to become worse. Stinks, doesn't it?

Here are my symptoms which slowly appeared and worsened after birthing an infant (who was also premature) and they present themselves more strongly alongside sporadic bouts of diarrhea:

Mild weight gain even while dieting
Extreme fatigue/napping
GERD/Heartburn/chest pain
Mostly constipation mixed with diarrhea
Depression/anxiety/forgetfulness/brain fog
Abdomen swells for no apparent reason
Neck/jaw pain/swelling/pressure
Scratchy voice
Migraines, dizziness and back of neck/head pain
Very cold feet and hands and sometimes a feeling like ants are biting my feet
Endometriosis (2 years ago – cured after one year of birth control)
Irregular/heavy periods and menstrual-like cramping in between periods and vaginal area sometimes is sore
Ear pressure/pain
Voice is sometimes hoarse
Knee/joint pains – finger swelling and pain
Rash or scaly skin on neck, head, chest, chin, nose, right armpit down to waist
Dry eyes and sometimes soreness
Occasionally I have a mild hot flashes or chills
Night throbbing/pounding in ears that wakes me
Toe nails feel painful and brittle
Muscles in legs sometimes go wobbly and weak when I am standing
Tingling feet/hands/lips
Body temp ranges 97-97.5
Hair clumps in shower


Take care...
:) Tamra

[PGphmtt75]

I'm sorry to hear that Jaycee, how high were your levels?  did you try medication before deciding to have a thyroidectomy?

[JayCee7]

Too bad you didn't have my GP - I went in to his office after my Ulcerative Colitis dx, and had just had a melanoma removed from my cheek, so was emotional from those - but, when I broke down crying in his office telling him I was too emotionally & physically fragile to go back to work quite yet, he referred me to a Psych.  I told him, but I don't have a history of depression, I'm just stressed out . . . . . . he then said, "Have you had your thyroid tested recently?" and that's when it all started - now, 3 months later and all the blood tests, ultrasound, uptake, FNAB, and I have a hurthle cell "undetermined" - so next week, I'm having a total thyroidectomy . . . . . . crazy, I didn't even know.I had a thyroid problem.

About the stress - my job had been getting more and more stressful and out company just went through an acquisition, then my immediate supervisor tried to steal a "deal" from me. I was SO Upset that I literally felt NUMB!  Whet he did was like a cardinal sin.  Anyway, 2 weeks later, I was in the ER with what I thought was stomach flu and turned out to be the Colitis, and then the thyroid.  I don't know what happened first, but I definitely know that one can adversely affect the other.

jaycee7

[PGphmtt75]

thanks for the info!  I'm glad I'm not alone!  for a while I had no idea what was going on, I just knew something wasn't right.  I've had 2 doctors since all this had started and neither said anything about thyroid levels.  I found out about it on my own and thankfully my regular cholesterol tests had a thyroid test on it as well so I'm able to look at the levels through the past several years.  

Do you think my thyroid could be the cause of stress?  Or do you think little everyday stress just triggers it and makes it worse?  Because sometimes there's no reason to feel stressed or anxious or tense and I do.

What exactly is Hashi's?  How would that cause hypo?

thanks again!

[TamraW]

Your TSH is high, indicating hypothyroid. T3 a 152? Was this Free T3 (FT3) or regular T3? If it is FT3, then your FT3 is low. I am assuming your T4 is FT4. When you visit your endo, ask for a Hashi's antibody test to make sure Hashi's isn't causing your hypo levels.  

I can't believe a doctor hasn't done anything for you yet. My TSH isn't as high as yours, and my endo put me on Synthroid. It has helped, but that particular drug doesn't always help everyone.

Yes, I've had your symptoms. Stress makes thyroid issues way worse. Make sure you're getting plenty of vitamins, especially D and B12. Thyroid disease tends to drain our vitamin levels, making us feel even worse, especially our muscles with the D. I take 1,000 mg of D each day.

I also recommend you read up on thyroid disease before seeing your endo. I just ordered these books:

"Thyroid Power: Ten Steps to Total Health"
Richard Shames

"The Thyroid Solution: A Revolutionary Mind-Body Program That Will Help You"
Arem Ridha

"The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss"
Mary J. Shomon

Here's an online vitamin table:

http://www.drlowe.com/nutrition/supplementlist/supplementtable.htm

Take care...
:) Tamra