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Can one have normal labs and have thyroid problems
I just heard back from my doctor's nurse. She said all my labs were normal. I had Free T3 and Free T4, TSH, and both antibody tests. Can all of my labs look normal and still have thyroid problems? I have so many symptoms and my mother, sister, neice are hypo and my daughter has graves.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I went through something similar to McMillan -- for years, I was tired, gaining weight, constipated -- most of the "classic" symptoms of hypo, but at times, I'd suddenly start losing weight, getting diarrhea, etc - hyper symptoms -- always stayed tired. Most of my doctors kept wanting to put me on anti-depressants because they insisted that depression was my problem -- none of them ever checked my thyroid and *I* had no inkling that could be a problem.
Finally, in 2007, one doctor DID check my thyroid levels, but he only tested TSH and Total T4 -- they came back normal. Shortly after, a different doctor decided to check b12 levels and dx'd me with pernicious anemia. I was started on b12 shots and all was supposed to be great........not so. The shots helped immensely, but I was still dead tired all the time, constipated, and suddenly gained about 30 pounds over a period of < 3 months. One day when I was in the doctor's office getting my b12 shot (I now do them myself), the nurse suggested that I make an appt to get my thyroid checked. I made the appt and saw the NP -- at first, she refused to order the thyroid tests, but she finally did -- my TSH came back at 55+, with FT4 at 0.6 (range 0.8-1.8); at that time she didn't test FT3 and *I* didn't even know about it until I came on MH. When I asked her later about FT3, she said "oh, we don't do that; that's only for research purposes"...........yeah, right.
Anyway, I believe that I have been bouncing back and forth between hyper and hypo for many years and the one time my thyroid levels were tested, the results were "normal".....I also have Hashi's with multi nodular goiter.
So, I agree with everyone else -- results can be "normal" and you can still have a thyroid issue.......
Finally, in 2007, one doctor DID check my thyroid levels, but he only tested TSH and Total T4 -- they came back normal. Shortly after, a different doctor decided to check b12 levels and dx'd me with pernicious anemia. I was started on b12 shots and all was supposed to be great........not so. The shots helped immensely, but I was still dead tired all the time, constipated, and suddenly gained about 30 pounds over a period of < 3 months. One day when I was in the doctor's office getting my b12 shot (I now do them myself), the nurse suggested that I make an appt to get my thyroid checked. I made the appt and saw the NP -- at first, she refused to order the thyroid tests, but she finally did -- my TSH came back at 55+, with FT4 at 0.6 (range 0.8-1.8); at that time she didn't test FT3 and *I* didn't even know about it until I came on MH. When I asked her later about FT3, she said "oh, we don't do that; that's only for research purposes"...........yeah, right.
Anyway, I believe that I have been bouncing back and forth between hyper and hypo for many years and the one time my thyroid levels were tested, the results were "normal".....I also have Hashi's with multi nodular goiter.
So, I agree with everyone else -- results can be "normal" and you can still have a thyroid issue.......
wow
Thank you for sharing your story McMillan. This whole thyroid thing can be so scary.
Thank you for sharing your story McMillan. This whole thyroid thing can be so scary.
I too had "normal" labs for years. My TSH was "a little low, nothing to worry about" Okay then why did I feel like crap ? I should have forced the point. No one ever checked my Iodine level either.
I totally agree with lazyMoose and everyone here, Get a copy of all your lab results and request to speak with the doctor. In my case, I started to have symptoms in 2003, swinging between Hypo and Hyperthyroidism, of course back then I had no idea what was going on or even what a thyroid was.
It was not until 2006 that i went for a health screening, you know one of those traveling screening groups that check your arteries, look for anurisum, ultrasound your thyroid, test you bone density etc.. costs abotu $250 for the whole ball of wax.
Well this screening turned up "nodules" or Cysts on the right side of my thyroid. The tech said oh that is common but you might want to tell your doctor about it. Asked my doctor about ti and he said na,, your Labs look fine little low TSH but your in range go home your are fine..
Well. I went to the traveling health screening thing again in 2008 and this time I had multiple, larger nodules on both sides of the thyroid. This time the Ultrasound tech was concerned and explained a little bit about thyroid disease to me and why I had probably gained so much weight, am exhausted all the time etc. He said go to your doctor.
I fierd my old doctor, went to a new doctor and told him my story .. this time since I had ultrasound proof and my TSH was low enough, he sent to an endocrinologist.
I had a new ultrasound done by the hospital (radiology report and my labs are in my journal) and it turns out that even though my labs were so "normal" I have "Toxic Multinodular Goiter" which means that I have several fairly small nodules in my thyroid that are acting like mini thyroids within my thyroid producing hormone on their own, and this hormone from the nodules can not be regulated by the Pituitary gland / TSH. These extra hormones are different every day and out of control . It is very possible that my labs look totally normal one day then for lunch I have seafood and lots of iodized salt on my fries and bingo, I feel like crap and wala my numbers are then all wacky.
Sorry for the long post and I am also not implying that you have the same situation as me, but I am drawing the conclusion that yes, your labs could look normal and you can still be broken. In my case I went for way too long without treatment because I did not force any doctor to listen to me. I still would not know about the nodules if I did not go for the health screening. Most of those Health screening things you can pick and choose what tests you want. Pretty cheap considering that I would never have known otherwise.
Good luck, I am sure if you post your numbers here you will get plenty of helpful feedback.
McMillan
I totally agree with lazyMoose and everyone here, Get a copy of all your lab results and request to speak with the doctor. In my case, I started to have symptoms in 2003, swinging between Hypo and Hyperthyroidism, of course back then I had no idea what was going on or even what a thyroid was.
It was not until 2006 that i went for a health screening, you know one of those traveling screening groups that check your arteries, look for anurisum, ultrasound your thyroid, test you bone density etc.. costs abotu $250 for the whole ball of wax.
Well this screening turned up "nodules" or Cysts on the right side of my thyroid. The tech said oh that is common but you might want to tell your doctor about it. Asked my doctor about ti and he said na,, your Labs look fine little low TSH but your in range go home your are fine..
Well. I went to the traveling health screening thing again in 2008 and this time I had multiple, larger nodules on both sides of the thyroid. This time the Ultrasound tech was concerned and explained a little bit about thyroid disease to me and why I had probably gained so much weight, am exhausted all the time etc. He said go to your doctor.
I fierd my old doctor, went to a new doctor and told him my story .. this time since I had ultrasound proof and my TSH was low enough, he sent to an endocrinologist.
I had a new ultrasound done by the hospital (radiology report and my labs are in my journal) and it turns out that even though my labs were so "normal" I have "Toxic Multinodular Goiter" which means that I have several fairly small nodules in my thyroid that are acting like mini thyroids within my thyroid producing hormone on their own, and this hormone from the nodules can not be regulated by the Pituitary gland / TSH. These extra hormones are different every day and out of control . It is very possible that my labs look totally normal one day then for lunch I have seafood and lots of iodized salt on my fries and bingo, I feel like crap and wala my numbers are then all wacky.
Sorry for the long post and I am also not implying that you have the same situation as me, but I am drawing the conclusion that yes, your labs could look normal and you can still be broken. In my case I went for way too long without treatment because I did not force any doctor to listen to me. I still would not know about the nodules if I did not go for the health screening. Most of those Health screening things you can pick and choose what tests you want. Pretty cheap considering that I would never have known otherwise.
Good luck, I am sure if you post your numbers here you will get plenty of helpful feedback.
McMillan
"You say you got this message from a nurse, make an appointment to go and speak to your doctor again." -Excellent point.
Sometimes we need to 'talk' to the doc, even if the nurse said so and so..
Some nurses have there own opinions as well and it can even differ than the doctor they work with. Sometimes this is good, and sometimes not at all. I met a nurse that was very one sided (with meds) and even argumentive. She was not my doctor, I had to remind her that. Like doctors, they are people too.
Sometimes we need to 'talk' to the doc, even if the nurse said so and so..
Some nurses have there own opinions as well and it can even differ than the doctor they work with. Sometimes this is good, and sometimes not at all. I met a nurse that was very one sided (with meds) and even argumentive. She was not my doctor, I had to remind her that. Like doctors, they are people too.
hi Milda
I had a letter from my doctor after my last set of blood tests " your thyroid hormones are now in the normal range...." basically the letter seemed to be saying I should be better now and all she was offering, beyond the 75mg of thyroxine I'd been on for the last six weeks, was cognitive behavioural therapy....
I was freaked out and worried, you hear so many horror stories of people getting poor treatment from their doctors and having symptoms but not being taken seriously because their lab results don't conform to what's expected.
but I was worrying needlessly. I was putting a whole load of meaning into what was written beyond what it actually said. I thought it was saying "you are normal now, go away" but I went to my doc and said "my tests say normal but I don't feel normal, what happens next?" She asked me about my symptoms and ended up increasing my thyroxine dosage, which was what I felt I needed but had been scared she would refuse.
You say you got this message from a nurse, make an appointment to go and speak to your doctor again. They only way they can know what's going on for you, is if you talk to them. I was amazed at how easy the conversation I had with my doctor ended up being when I just told her what was going on for me.
Tests are informative but they are only part of the whole picture, a good doctor should know that and listen to you. If you haven't got a good doctor, you can always get another one, but do give the one you've got a chance first.
I know lots of people do have a real struggle to be heard and have an awful time with health issues and medical professionals not listening, but there's only one way to find out what your doc will say and what other treatment they might be able to offer you....if you talk to them.
I had a letter from my doctor after my last set of blood tests " your thyroid hormones are now in the normal range...." basically the letter seemed to be saying I should be better now and all she was offering, beyond the 75mg of thyroxine I'd been on for the last six weeks, was cognitive behavioural therapy....
I was freaked out and worried, you hear so many horror stories of people getting poor treatment from their doctors and having symptoms but not being taken seriously because their lab results don't conform to what's expected.
but I was worrying needlessly. I was putting a whole load of meaning into what was written beyond what it actually said. I thought it was saying "you are normal now, go away" but I went to my doc and said "my tests say normal but I don't feel normal, what happens next?" She asked me about my symptoms and ended up increasing my thyroxine dosage, which was what I felt I needed but had been scared she would refuse.
You say you got this message from a nurse, make an appointment to go and speak to your doctor again. They only way they can know what's going on for you, is if you talk to them. I was amazed at how easy the conversation I had with my doctor ended up being when I just told her what was going on for me.
Tests are informative but they are only part of the whole picture, a good doctor should know that and listen to you. If you haven't got a good doctor, you can always get another one, but do give the one you've got a chance first.
I know lots of people do have a real struggle to be heard and have an awful time with health issues and medical professionals not listening, but there's only one way to find out what your doc will say and what other treatment they might be able to offer you....if you talk to them.
I had four nodules, all my labs were "normal" except the TPOab, which was an indication of Hashimotos. My dad and two brothers all had hashi's...when they eventually took out half my thyroid due to vocal hoarseness, they found cancer. Had a TT and suggested my other siblings get tested, one of my sisters had the same cancer and had TT, the other younger sister has nodules that are being watched. I have eight siblings, so far 5 of us have thyroid trouble. If you have nodules, they should be watched carefully, even when your thyroid is functioning normally.
There were discussions about cases like yours just recently. At the time, no one chimed in to say 'hey, thats me'. Multi-nodules with normal labs is rare. Most nodules are thought to originate from antibodies, you had no antibodies either, and had both antibody tests? Many 'lurking' would like to hear about this info, its rare.
In my case....All labs were normal, however I had a Thyroid Goiter with multi-nodules and I eventually had to have a TT. I had no symptoms besides feeling uncomfortable when wearing anything around my neck due to the enlargement.
"Can all of my labs look normal and still have thyroid problems?"
If you have the #'s, it cant hurt to post them.
It is possible If the doctor bases his/her main decision on the TSH test. Most do. The TSH range was updated in 2003. Some labs still use the old test range, it's higher. What is normal range and what is not is an opinion of medical professionals that is not always agreed upon in the USA, and your profile says you are located in the windy town of Mitchel, USA. (not as windy as Sioux Falls though!).
By the way, you mention symptoms. Which ones do you have?
If you have the #'s, it cant hurt to post them.
It is possible If the doctor bases his/her main decision on the TSH test. Most do. The TSH range was updated in 2003. Some labs still use the old test range, it's higher. What is normal range and what is not is an opinion of medical professionals that is not always agreed upon in the USA, and your profile says you are located in the windy town of Mitchel, USA. (not as windy as Sioux Falls though!).
By the way, you mention symptoms. Which ones do you have?
"She said all my labs were normal"
Normal is sometimes an opinion.
As a patient, its your right to ask for and receive paper lab test results.
You may post them here with the ranges the lab uses for some insight from us.
By the way, what symptoms have made you question possibly having thyroid problems?
Normal is sometimes an opinion.
As a patient, its your right to ask for and receive paper lab test results.
You may post them here with the ranges the lab uses for some insight from us.
By the way, what symptoms have made you question possibly having thyroid problems?
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