thyroid problems

[bonnie102359]

hello, i am a 50 year old woman that has been taking synthroid for my hypothyroidism for many years now.  i don't ever seem to feel any better while on this medication.  the doctor does blood tests every year or so and says that my thyroid is in the normal range because i am taking this med.  it must be in the lowest normal range.  is it possible for something to be wrong with your thyroid and it not show up in your blood test?  my daughter is having the same symptoms as me and has had blood tests a couple of times for checking her thyroid and it always comes back stating that her thyroid is in normal range and there is nothing wrong with it.  is there another way to test or check your thyroid?

[Barb135]

I agree with both FTB4 and Puddin57 - please post your latest labs, with reference ranges, since these vary from lab to lab and must come from your own report.  If you do not have a copy, your doctor is required, by law, to give you one upon request.

Many people are in the "normal" ranges, but doctors don't take into consideration WHERE in the range, your results fall.  "Normal" on the lab report, may not be "normal" for you.

In addition, you DO need more than just a TSH test.  TSH is a pituitary hormone and can vary widely, even within a day.  You need to have the Free T3 and Free T4 tests done in order to see what your actual thyroid hormone levels are; they may not be adequate for you.  Same goes for your daughter.

Another thing I'd recommend is that you get tested for antibodies (if you haven't already been), to confirm/rule out Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  You would need to get Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGab).  Some people only have TPOab, some have TGab, and some have both, so you need to have both tests done.  

A thyroid ultrasound would also be in order, as would getting your levels of Vitamin D and B12 tested.  

The goal is to alleviate your symptoms, so if you still have hypothyroid symptoms, you aren't being tested/treated properly.

[Puddin57]

For twenty years the doctor only checked my TSH and never felt good. My dose was never changed.Then I found out, after all those years that was the wrong testing. Hopefully your doc is not watching just he TSH, but Ft4 and Ft3.

Don't let a doctor do this to you.

[FTB4]

It might be a good idea to post your lab results from your last blood work, if you do not have them, you can get a print-out from your MD, There is the TSH, FreeT3 and Free T4, and the Reference ranges provided, this way members can see where you are in relation to your thyroid.  Good Luck FTB4