hypothyroidism

[candifree]

Can takiing klonopin and diazepam effect the level of thyroid hormone your thyroid puts out?  Could your test results show as normal and you still have symptoms of low thyroid.  I've come across numerous articles on the internet that  the tests for TSH are not really reliable and that the TSH test miss a lot of people that actually have low thyroid when their tests show normal, especially for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome  because of the autoimmune triage of different disorders going on with these illnesses, I've heard there is a specific reference range for people with these conditions to go by, not the normal lab references.  Are there other types of tests to take to see if the thyroid is putting out enough thyroid hormones besides TSH, T3 and T4 test? Like checking for a subtance called transthyretrin (also known as prealbumin) along with the TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) stimulation test.  Another test I have heard of is the Barnes Basal temperature Test were you check your Basal temperature axillary first thing in the morning when you wake before getting out of bed with a glass thermometer, if hormone is low , your temperature would be below 97.8F (normal throughtout the day is 98.6F, and if it is consistently low every morning for at least 2 weeks, it is said that low body temperature indicates a low thyroid, plus also the Achilles  deep tendon reflexes test.   I am asking these questions because I have all the symptoms of low thyroid, and my TSH keeps coming back that my thyroid is normal. And just recently got accidently put on benzodiazepines with a 2 week hospital stay, not knowing anything about this medicine with horrible withdrawal symptoms, trying to taper off.

[Red_Star]

I'm not sure about those drugs affecting thyroid hormone production.

I had no knee reflexes prior to taking thyroxine. I have myxedema all over except the tops of my hands, (look up myxedema skin pinch test - NO other condition causes this skin condition but hypothyroidism). I just used my digital thermometer before i got out of bed to check my temperature. At times it was down in the 35C range (95F range).

My free T3 and free T4 were in optimal range with these clinical tests. That is the joy of cellular issues. My labs finally changed when Hashimoto's thyroiditis decided to do a number on my thyroid.

[goolarra]

I have never heard of those particular drugs affecting the level of thyroid hormone you thyroid produces.

For many reasons, the ranges used for thyroid tests are very flawed.  For that reason, many of us find we have symptoms until FT3 and FT4 are at least in the upper half of the range.  TSH is a screening test at best and should only be used alone in the absence of any thyroid symptoms.  This is not because the TSH is unreliable, but because TSH is a pituitary hormone, influenced by any number of factors in addition to thyroid hormone levels.

FREE T3, FREE T4 and TSH are the tests that determine thyroid status.  If you haven't had all three, then your thyroid profile is not complete.  If you have, please post results and reference ranges (vary lab to lab so have to come from your own lab report).  Just being "in range" is often not enough to make us feel well.

The other tests you mention shouldn't be necessary to diagnose primary hypothyroidism.

Some people use the temperature test.  Personally, I have not so can't comment on it.

Please post actual numbers for any tests you've had.