new to thyroid disorders

[c8baseball]

First of all i found out that i had a lump on the right side of my thyroid in dec 2010 and had that half of it taken out middle of jan 2011. now today i went in for blood work i was told my tsh level is 193 but i feel great. the doctor said most common symtoms i should be feeling is being tired alot and constipation. i have neither of these and wondering what i should do? seek second opinion? have them check my levels again? i just dont understand?

[c8baseball]

No I was in the Army and trying to get back in now. Another reason I don't want to be on meds

[ShelleyN720]

I can certainly understand your not wanting to take meds. When I told my chiropractor what was going on - that I was diagnosed with hashimotos, he didn't want me to start the meds knowing I'd end up having to stay on them for the rest of my life. I remember crying off & on for days until I knew, for me and all my awful symptoms, I had to do something.
But you seem to be symptom free - your are young - and you are only a month post surgery so just give it time like Redhead said and see how you feel.
I just recommend cderating your own medical file - asks for copiues of all your pathology, lab work etc - it is so very helpful to have on hand.
And when you do go for more blood tests, ask for the FreeT3 & FreeT4 too! It will provide the information you will need to monitor your hormone levels.
Are you Air Force? My daughter & son-in-law just returned from Spangdahlem AFB in Germany this past fall : )

[c8baseball]

The side that was removed was benign. It has only been out for 4 weeks so is it possible that the TSH is so high just cuz the left side has to catch up on what the right was producing and may go back down after a while. I guess I'm trying to find any way of not taking any medication which is what the doctor seems to be pushing but if I dont feel anything I dont see the why I should. I will also call them back about Free T4 and T3

[c8baseball]

I do not have any of the paper work from the results so I'm not sure what the Free T4 and T3 level they just called me yesterday and told me about my TSH over the phone

[ShelleyN720]

What was your TSH reading before you had your right lobe removed? Was it that level before the surgery? I ask this because if it wasn't that high previously, perhaps this is just your pituitary gland reacting to the fact that only one lobe is producing thyroid hormone.
However, I do believe that high levels of pituitary hormone (TSH) circulating in your blood can impact the rest of the delicate endocrine system, eventually. Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism.
I think that if your pituitary is cranking out TSH for a long period of time it could impact the function of that gland as well as the hypothalamus.
Have you had labs taken for your thyroid hormone levels - the FreeT4 and FreeT3 that you read about on the forum?
The TSH is not a reliable tool for measuring thyroid hormone levels, but it is an indication that your pituitary gland senses that something is amiss.
I think its wonderful that you feel great - and I hope you stay that way!
May I ask how the pathology turned out from the lobe you had removed?

[redheadaussie]

Hi there, TSH is a hormone in the body which is made by the pituitary gland. If you feel good, why mess with it? The important testing to be done soon is the Free T4 and Free T3 thyroid levels as well as your TSH.  Often the other side left will be a little temperamental in the first few months and your TSH is a reflection of that at the moment.
  In many cases there is no need for medication once the 'good' side takes on the job of producing the thyroid hormones.

It is still amazing doctors think the TSH is the be all and end all of everyone's thyroid issues.  Many of us feel lousy at a measly 2.75, whilst others like yourself plough along and do well at such a high number! (technically it's low but that just confuses newbies!)

So the deal is; if you feel great, then leave it alone!