high TSH negative antibodies

[215]

I was wondering what could be causing my hypothyroidism since I have high TSH readings 11.7-15 but my antibody tests are negative?  background:  28yr old F diagnosed originally in Feb with subacute hypothyroidism that now appears to be permanent since I relapsed after being taken off of the synthroid.  Of course i am not back on the medication.  Thanks for any insight.

[215]

I meant of course I am NOW back on my medication not the other way around............

[goolarra]

Did your doctor suspect one of the "temporary" forms of thyroiditis, like silent thyroiditis or DeQuervain's?  I know that even though these are considered temporary, they can last for several years, and they can become permanent.

Has your doctor been checking your free T3 and free T4 levels as well as TSH?  T3 and T4 are the actual thyroid hormones and much better indicators of thyroid status than TSH.  Medication adjustments made on the basis of TSH alone are a prescription for disaster.  If you have FT3 and FT4 results, please post them along with their reference ranges.

[215]

I originally had a TSH of 15 (I dont know what the ref range was).  This was in Feb.  Around July I became hyperthyroid from the medication and my dose was cut in half to 37.5mcg but I still displayed hyperthyroidism and was refered by my PCM to an endo.  When I saw him my TSH was barely registering on the blood tests at all I dont remember the FT4 numbers but they were high. he stopped my meds altogether and 2 follow up blood test for TSH and FT4 were normal.  In September I started to get really fatigued and asked for the TSH/FT4 tests which were TSH = 11.7 and FT4 was .9  

I then asked to have the antibody tests done which were negative.  I have also developed a swollen lymph node under my jaw.  I am currently waiting to see the endo again in December.  I have never had a T3 test done.  Thank-you for replying to my post.  

[goolarra]

Many labs use obsolete ranges for TSH.  Several years ago, the AACE recommended a new range of 0.3-3.0 for TSH.  A lot of labs and doctors have not caught up with that yet (it's only been six years, after all!).  However, that's the range we use here on the forum.

So, what dosage are you on now?  75 down to 37.5 and then down to zero is a very big jump.  It sounds like you may just need a very small daily dose to keep your hypo symptoms at bay, so you don't get hyper symptoms.  

T3 is the "active" form of the thyroid hormones.  T4 is the "storage" form.  T4 basically circulates in your bloodstream until it is needed, at which point your body must convert it to T3 before it can be used.  T3 is about four times more potent than T4.  It's often hard to get doctors to test FT3 (none of us can figure it out, either!), but it's a very important test, especially in indicating hyperthyroidism (or overmedication).

I always have to make sure my doctor orders it...even if he doesn't care about it, I do.