General question regarding TSH ...

[abyz321]

Dear all,

If any of you can give me any insight regarding my question I will be very grateful...

It takes for the TSH about six weeks to show its true value when dose of Levo is changed, I am wondering in this period how does the TSH/FREE T3/FREE T4 behave ? specially TSH, does it change monotonically or makes oscillations until it get stable ?

I really appreciate any help if you know the answer,

Best,

[abyz321]

Also is it possible to forward a question to a specialist in this forum, I tried but it says that it is not accepting, is there any where else were it is possible ??

Thanks again,

[abyz321]

Sorry for writing again and again I just feel a little sad and symptomatic and my doctor does not listen :-(

Is there anybody who does go by TSH and they can balance them selves using TSH? if so, can you give me examples of your TSH tests values when you we optimally balanced ??

I really appreciate your help,

Thanks a lot,

[gimel]

When the link I gave you above is back online, you can read in there that "TSH should not be used to determine medication dosage".  A good thyroid doctor will test and adjust Free T4 and Free T3 as necessary to relieve hypothyroid symptoms, without being influenced by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  

Have you been tested for Free T4, Free T3, Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin?  If so, please post results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also, please tell us about any symptoms you have.

If your doctor is unwilling to treat clinically, as described above, then you can give him a copy of the entire paper in the link above and ask him to read and reconsider.  If that doesn't work, perhaps we can suggest a doctor that has been recommended by other thyroid patients, if you will tell us your location.  

[abyz321]

Bump ...

Any other suggestions or support !!

Thank you,

[gimel]

When T4 thyroid med dose is increased, it takes about 6 weeks for the increase to be essentially fully reflected in serum levels of T4.  This is because the half life of T4 is about one week.  As this is occurring, the TSH and T3 levels gradually change in response.  So that answers your question, but I would also like to point out that all three exhibit a circadian rhythm, with TSH having the greatest variation over a 24 hour period.  In fact studies have shown that TSH varies as much as 70% over the day.  Following is a link about that.

http://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2012-12/thyroid-stimulating-hormone-fluctuates-time-day

As for your second post, there really is no available doctor/specialist to answer questions on hypothyroidism.  However, there are a number of experienced and knowledgeable members who would be glad to try and answer your questions.  In addition, you can find answers to most anything you want to know about hypothyroidism in the following link.

http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf