Question about TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)

[Boyshockeymommy]

I am a 53 year old female.  During a routine physical 6 months ago, I was found to have two large lumps on the right side of my thyroid.  At that time my TSH was .66.  Since then, a flurry of ultrasounds, cat scans and two surgeries (long story) later, I  am one month post removal of my two large benign goiters and half my thyroid.  I am now experiencing days of extreme exhaustion where I can barely stand.  Some days are not so bad.  When I mentioned this to the surgeon at my post -op visit last week, she ordered another test of my TSH.  This one measured at 1.12 which she says is still in the normal range.  So then, how come I feel so tired sometimes, like I can barely get myself out of bed?  

[flyingfool]

You need additional testing done.  TSH is a screening test at best.  It can fluctuate by as much as 70% in a single day. So it is a inaccurate snapshot.

You will want to demand that you be tested for BOTH the
1) Free T4 test. This is relatively common test now and should not be that horribly difficult to get your Dr to agree to add to the lab testing.

2) Free T3.  This test is often times a harder "sell" to some if not most Dr's. As this is the ACTUAL thyroid hormone your body uses. It seems like it would be a "no brainer" to be tested. But it is not.  Sometimes it is like pulling teeth to get the Dr to authorize the test.

Be PARTICULARLY specific about it being the "FREE" tests.  As there is an obsolete and less informative "total T4 and "ttotal T3" tests.  If you are not extremely specific, you will get the "total" tests which as I said are not that valuable.

Fatigue can also be deficency in several other vitamins etc.  So it would also be a recommendation to get the following tested:
Vitamin D3
Vitamin B12
Iron
Ferritin
being low in any one or more of the above list also will cause fatigue.

If you get these tests done, please come back and post your results along with the reference (normal) ranges for each.  Then many people will be better able to provide recommendations.

Just my thoughts on the matter.