TSH, T3, and T4

[ShannieK]

Hi, Many of you who stay tuned in to all this are probably familiar with me now and my story, have made several posts here recently.  I have a question, i'm hoping someone can shed some light on.  I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's, when diagnosed, was very sick.  After talking with my doctor, we both came to the realization that my problems arose 4 years prior upon the birth of my twin girls.  My understanding is that Hashimoto's is diesease that over a period of time will destroy my thyroid.  I have not been subject to alot of dr's who are knowledgable on all of this, i'm afraid.  I live in a small town, and my dr's, have admitted they are confused.  I have learned from all of you that having your T3 levels and T4 tested are just as important as the TSH.  I have never had a T3 or a T4 done.  My doctors have always come back with a normal TSH reading.  Is it possible that I may have already become Hypothyroid?  Would my antibodies from my Hashimotos's still be present?  I'm thinking now that i've had the Hashimoto's all these years, just didn't know it.  I'm wondering how I could have ended up in the hospital almost dead and unable to function and my TSH was normal.  I also hear that Hashimoto's makes you bounce back and forth with symptoms from Hyper and Hypo.  That is not my case, I always have extreme Hypo symptoms.  Fatigue, hair loss, constipation, lethargic, reoccuring fungal infections and bladder infections, dizziness, brain fog, the lists just goes on. could a dr. of misdiagnosed without seeing my T3 and T4?

[aggie988]

A related discussion, So confused was started.

[christine01]

I dont know the exact levels for T4 and T3, but always ask for a copy of your results. There should be ranges listed and your number and this will tell you if you are in the range or not. It sounds like your talking about the uptake scan, which I refused. They wanted me to drink some liquid and do scans checking for nodules. My endo told me that she was glad I refused, because this does kill the thyroid gland and is usually not a good idea. Just keep in mind this is your body and your treatment, dont do anything you are not comfortable with. This radiation **** seems to me a standard practice for thyroid even though it doesnt really tell them anything, except if you have nodules and if they are hot or cold.  Then they end up removing the thyroid anyway to be sure its not cancer. They kept saying my thyroid was so swelled it was closing off my airway, but it ended up being acid reflux. I would have been glowing in the dark for nothing. From my experiences none of them know what they are talking about and being an informed patient is your best diagnoses.

[ShannieK]

Thanks for getting back. What do I need to be looking for in my test  results?  T3 and T4, I know nothing of those numbers.  I have been told on here that it's the TSH and those numbers that diagnoses hypothyroidism.  See, I think I started with Hashimoto's and was never diagnosed, Every time I became pregnant, I had huge flares, I have very severe hypo symptoms, I think I'm already there. doctors here really don't have a clue.  I see a specialist in another town at the end of August.  My doctor here thinks they will want to do the iodine radiation treatment on me, I don't understand why they feel I would be a candidate for this,  I'm so tired and sluggish right now, I think that would kill me off for good, not just not my thyroid. it's hard to even get referred to a specialist from here, because none of the doctors here want to admit they don't know what's going on.  I went in with a thyroid storm, they thought I was having a heart attack, still after being at the doctor for 4 hours, they sent me home with nothing, I had to return to the doctor 3 times, before a doctor put me on the synthroid and propranolol

[christine01]

Yep, they sure can. I have heard stories similiar to yours. TSH is normal and still having severe symptoms. Are there any big cities close to where you live? If so, maybe you need to find a good endo in the city. If not, discuss your concerns with whoever you are seeing and tell them you would like the T3 and T4 checked as well.