Aa
Borderline Thyroid
Looking for some guidance from those who have similar symptoms.
Normally my thyroid ranged from 2.03-2.8 then jumped to 3.8-3.9 in December. Symptoms include extreme tiredness, iron deficiency, achy all over, weight loss of 40 lbs since November, rapid heart rate, palpitations (have had all heart tests done including 128 slice CT scan).
Just last week T3 (2.7)and Free T4 (.93)were done. General dr wants me to start levenolthyroxine .025 mcg.
He says I don't need an appt to talk about anything and his nurses can't answer my questions.
I am nervous about starting the medication. Is it typical to take medication if I am borderline?
I'm so confused.
Normally my thyroid ranged from 2.03-2.8 then jumped to 3.8-3.9 in December. Symptoms include extreme tiredness, iron deficiency, achy all over, weight loss of 40 lbs since November, rapid heart rate, palpitations (have had all heart tests done including 128 slice CT scan).
Just last week T3 (2.7)and Free T4 (.93)were done. General dr wants me to start levenolthyroxine .025 mcg.
He says I don't need an appt to talk about anything and his nurses can't answer my questions.
I am nervous about starting the medication. Is it typical to take medication if I am borderline?
I'm so confused.
Doctors seem to have been taught in med school that TSH accurately reflects thyroid status and that it is the only thing required to diagnose and treat potential hypothyroid patients. That is very wrong. In addition, if the TSH exceeds the range limit, then a Free T4 test will be done and if within range, the patient is typically told that symptoms are not thyroid related, but must be due to something else. Due to the erroneous methods by which ranges are established, that is also wrong. When you examine the ranges labs use for Free T4, for example, you will see that the upper range limit is typically about double the lower limit. There is just no logic to ignoring symptoms and assuming that being just anywhere within such a range is adequate for the patient. Instead, if a patient has symptoms that are frequently related to being hypothyroid and their Free T4, and Free T3, are in the lower half of their ranges, hypothyroidism should be suspected.
Adequately diagnosing and treating a potential hypothyroid patient requires much more than the typical approach described above. If this practice were valid, it could be done more effectively with a computer. No experience or judgment is required to look at test results and compare to a reference range. Good thyroid doctors have found this approach to be ineffective for their hypothyroid patients and instead they will evaluate the patient's history, evaluate for signs and symptoms, and test and adjust the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. These doctors also understand that there are also other variables that can contribute to how the patient feels, such as Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, so they will also test and optimize those as well. Everything should be about symptom relief and making the patient feel well.
I just sent you a PM with some doctor info. To access, just click on your name and then from your personal page, click on messages.
Adequately diagnosing and treating a potential hypothyroid patient requires much more than the typical approach described above. If this practice were valid, it could be done more effectively with a computer. No experience or judgment is required to look at test results and compare to a reference range. Good thyroid doctors have found this approach to be ineffective for their hypothyroid patients and instead they will evaluate the patient's history, evaluate for signs and symptoms, and test and adjust the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. These doctors also understand that there are also other variables that can contribute to how the patient feels, such as Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, so they will also test and optimize those as well. Everything should be about symptom relief and making the patient feel well.
I just sent you a PM with some doctor info. To access, just click on your name and then from your personal page, click on messages.
Your thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3 are much too low. Free T4 needs to be at the middle of its range, at minimum and Free T3 in the upper third of its range, or as needed to relieve symptoms. In addition your ferritin and Vitamin D are terribly low. D should be about 55 and ferritin should be about 70. Note that low Vitamin d has been identified as a contributor to depression. Also, low ferritin can cause the following symptoms.
Minor aches
Fatigue
Weakness
Heart palpitations
Increased pulse
Loss of energy
Loss of libido
Confusion
Irritability
Shortness of breath
Your thyroid med dose of 25 mcg is almost nothing. You need to find a doctor that will treat clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, You also need to get your D and ferritin levels optimized. As low as your levels are, you may want to try to get the doctor to give you injections of both to speed up getting your levels optimal, and then you can supplement with OTC D3 and iron.
If you will give us your location perhaps there is a good thyroid doctor that we can recommend, based on other thyroid patients' feedback.
Minor aches
Fatigue
Weakness
Heart palpitations
Increased pulse
Loss of energy
Loss of libido
Confusion
Irritability
Shortness of breath
Your thyroid med dose of 25 mcg is almost nothing. You need to find a doctor that will treat clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, You also need to get your D and ferritin levels optimized. As low as your levels are, you may want to try to get the doctor to give you injections of both to speed up getting your levels optimal, and then you can supplement with OTC D3 and iron.
If you will give us your location perhaps there is a good thyroid doctor that we can recommend, based on other thyroid patients' feedback.
1 Comments
I am near the Green Bay area in Wisconsin.
Why do doctors refuse to help someone if their numbers fall within the range yet their symptoms are sticking out like a sore thumb?
I have been struggling with all this for over 6 months and I feel like I missed out a lot on life, and that feeling continues.
Why do doctors refuse to help someone if their numbers fall within the range yet their symptoms are sticking out like a sore thumb?
I have been struggling with all this for over 6 months and I feel like I missed out a lot on life, and that feeling continues.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Did you ever start on thyroid medication? If so, what med and what dosage? Both your FT3 and FT4 are too low in their ranges; it's no wonder you don't feel well.
Both your ferritin and vitamin D are too low, also. You said you were taking iron; perhaps you need to try a different type that's more absorbable or a higher dosage. Iron is necessary for proper thyroid hormone synthesis. You should also supplement vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency can cause many hypo-like symptoms...
Both your ferritin and vitamin D are too low, also. You said you were taking iron; perhaps you need to try a different type that's more absorbable or a higher dosage. Iron is necessary for proper thyroid hormone synthesis. You should also supplement vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency can cause many hypo-like symptoms...
1 Comments
I take .25 mcg of levothoroxin and 2 tablets of iron daily. I have mentioned to the dr what else to do about the iron as my symptoms have not changed in regards to that. His response, "your fine, maybe you should make an appt with your psych, I really thing this is a lot to do with anxiety."
I cry often and feel that there is nobody who wants to help me.
My twin 4 yr olds, 7yr old and husband all are suffering due to my continued depression stupor and no energy.
I don't know what else to do.
I cry often and feel that there is nobody who wants to help me.
My twin 4 yr olds, 7yr old and husband all are suffering due to my continued depression stupor and no energy.
I don't know what else to do.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You're very welcome.
I might recommend that you ask your doctor for a vitamin D test to make sure your levels are adequate. A good share of people with hypothyroidism do not have adequate levels.
I might recommend that you ask your doctor for a vitamin D test to make sure your levels are adequate. A good share of people with hypothyroidism do not have adequate levels.
1 Comments
Had updated labs. I am still not feeling better and am sinking further into a hole of depression as no doctors want to listen.
Did get the Vitamin D test this last time too.
TSH (.358-3.740) 2.388
Thyroid Antibody panel: Antithy peroxid AB (< 9 IU/mL) <1, thyroglobulin AB (<=1 IU/mL)<1
Ferritin (8-252 NG/ML) 13
Free T4 (.76-1.46 NG/DL) .79
Note this is the one that keeps going lower EVERY blood draw! .97, .93, .87, .81
Free T3 (2.30-4.20 PG/ML) 2.7
Vitamin D (30-100 NG/ML) 25
I even asked to be referred to an endocrinologist and didn't happen.
Did get the Vitamin D test this last time too.
TSH (.358-3.740) 2.388
Thyroid Antibody panel: Antithy peroxid AB (< 9 IU/mL) <1, thyroglobulin AB (<=1 IU/mL)<1
Ferritin (8-252 NG/ML) 13
Free T4 (.76-1.46 NG/DL) .79
Note this is the one that keeps going lower EVERY blood draw! .97, .93, .87, .81
Free T3 (2.30-4.20 PG/ML) 2.7
Vitamin D (30-100 NG/ML) 25
I even asked to be referred to an endocrinologist and didn't happen.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Well, ferritin is the iron storage hormone and with your iron and % saturation levels as low as they are, your ferritin levels may be low, anyway because there's nothing to store. Of course, ferritin can be high, even with low(er) iron levels, if inflammation in the body is high, which is often the case with hypothyroidism.
For thyroid levels, rule of thumb is for Free T4 to be about mid range and Free T3 should be in the upper half to upper third of its range. Your FT4 is only at 24% of range and your FT3 is only at 21% of range. FT3 should be higher in its range than FT4 in its. You have a ways to go to get to either of these targets.
Do you know what your vitamin D level is? Vitamin D is necessary for proper metabolism of thyroid hormones, as is iron.
For thyroid levels, rule of thumb is for Free T4 to be about mid range and Free T3 should be in the upper half to upper third of its range. Your FT4 is only at 24% of range and your FT3 is only at 21% of range. FT3 should be higher in its range than FT4 in its. You have a ways to go to get to either of these targets.
Do you know what your vitamin D level is? Vitamin D is necessary for proper metabolism of thyroid hormones, as is iron.
12/26/15 labs
Thyroid was 3.81uIU/mL lab range is .358-3.74
Iron was 32 ug/dL lab range is 50-170
IBC was 398 ug/dL lab range is 250-450
% Iron saturation was 8% lab range is 15-50%
HCT was 31.7% lab range is 35-46%
HGB 10.6 lab range is 11.8-15.8
2/10/16 labs
Thyroid was 3.84 uIU/mL lab range is .358-3.74
Free T4 was .93 ng/dL lab range is .76-1.46
Free T3 was 2.70 pg/mL lab range is 2.30-4.20
Iron was 14 ug/dL lab range is 50-170
IBC was 345 ug/dL lab range is 250-450
% iron saturation was 4% lab range is 15-50%
HCT 32.8% lab range is 35-46%
HGB is 10.8g/dL lab range is 11.8-15.8
No I didn't have a ferritin drawn. I have requested that for next week when I do my month check up on the iron issue, as I had to increase to 2 iron tablets per day since my numbers are half of what they were in december.
My thyroid tests aren't to be rechecked until April.
Thyroid was 3.81uIU/mL lab range is .358-3.74
Iron was 32 ug/dL lab range is 50-170
IBC was 398 ug/dL lab range is 250-450
% Iron saturation was 8% lab range is 15-50%
HCT was 31.7% lab range is 35-46%
HGB 10.6 lab range is 11.8-15.8
2/10/16 labs
Thyroid was 3.84 uIU/mL lab range is .358-3.74
Free T4 was .93 ng/dL lab range is .76-1.46
Free T3 was 2.70 pg/mL lab range is 2.30-4.20
Iron was 14 ug/dL lab range is 50-170
IBC was 345 ug/dL lab range is 250-450
% iron saturation was 4% lab range is 15-50%
HCT 32.8% lab range is 35-46%
HGB is 10.8g/dL lab range is 11.8-15.8
No I didn't have a ferritin drawn. I have requested that for next week when I do my month check up on the iron issue, as I had to increase to 2 iron tablets per day since my numbers are half of what they were in december.
My thyroid tests aren't to be rechecked until April.
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are the reference ranges for your Free T3 and Free T4? Reference ranges vary from lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
Your TSH is higher than it should be and your Free T3 and Free T4 are, most likely, too low in their ranges, so your doctor is right to start you on medication.
Your symptoms are those of hypothyroidism, except the weight loss, which is something we, typically, see with hyperthyroidism, not hypo, though it does happen on occasion.
Do you know your exact iron level and did you have a full iron panel, including ferritin? If so, can you, please, post those results, with the reference ranges here, for us? Iron is necessary for metabolism of thyroid hormones, specifically, the proper conversion of Free T4 to the usable Free T3.
Hypothyroidism can cause anxiety and of course, the more worried you are, the more exacerbated your anxiety becomes. It can become a vicious circle that's very hard to break.
Your TSH is higher than it should be and your Free T3 and Free T4 are, most likely, too low in their ranges, so your doctor is right to start you on medication.
Your symptoms are those of hypothyroidism, except the weight loss, which is something we, typically, see with hyperthyroidism, not hypo, though it does happen on occasion.
Do you know your exact iron level and did you have a full iron panel, including ferritin? If so, can you, please, post those results, with the reference ranges here, for us? Iron is necessary for metabolism of thyroid hormones, specifically, the proper conversion of Free T4 to the usable Free T3.
Hypothyroidism can cause anxiety and of course, the more worried you are, the more exacerbated your anxiety becomes. It can become a vicious circle that's very hard to break.
Hi, it would be helpful if you would post your test results with lab ranges and when you say T3 is that a total or free test? When you say your thyroid ranged I assume you mean your TSH values....
I'm new to all of this but I have read TSH can vary 75% during the day. It might be worth repeating that and getting your free T3 and free T4 done if you don't already have those results. But you do have some symptoms that could be hypo...do you feel like something is wrong?
My experience...my TSH was not tested much over the years but I was over 3 for a few years and then it was 4. I thought the last few years I was dealing with perimenopause but then I got really sick last year when my TSH was 4. I realize now that I am on meds, the "peri" problems were never peri..it was thyroid the whole time.
Hope this helps, the thought of meds are scary I know but my case, I have come to accept I don't have a choice, I cannot go back to feeling like I was ... I am grateful these meds exist.
Hope this helps, Kel
I'm new to all of this but I have read TSH can vary 75% during the day. It might be worth repeating that and getting your free T3 and free T4 done if you don't already have those results. But you do have some symptoms that could be hypo...do you feel like something is wrong?
My experience...my TSH was not tested much over the years but I was over 3 for a few years and then it was 4. I thought the last few years I was dealing with perimenopause but then I got really sick last year when my TSH was 4. I realize now that I am on meds, the "peri" problems were never peri..it was thyroid the whole time.
Hope this helps, the thought of meds are scary I know but my case, I have come to accept I don't have a choice, I cannot go back to feeling like I was ... I am grateful these meds exist.
Hope this helps, Kel
2 Comments
Yes, those ranges I indicated were my TSH tests that I have had done multiple times since September. The T3 and T4 were the free. I am going to wait until the middle of March to get another lab draw for all again. I recently started taking more iron due to recommendation from Dr since I dropped down to 4%. I'd be curious to see if some of my symptoms change with the increase in iron consumption.
Yes I feel something is wrong, I have not been myself since September when the heart palpitations started out of nowhere which then resulted in me developing panic issues and extreme anxiety, multiple trips to the ER thinking I was dying of heart issues, which I had ruled out (Echo, CT Angiogram, Nuclear Stress Test, Holter monitors- one a 48 hr and one a 72 hr, multiple EKG's, blood test- despite being extreemely expensive). I also had 3 MRI's done and found out I have cervical and lumbar disc issues. I currently am going through physical therapy. I have worked myself up so much from all this that I have a hard time not getting my body out of tension mode, which has then created my muscles in chest and middle back to be so tense and knotted up that I again am thinking I am having a heart attack. I am just one big mess.
Yes I feel something is wrong, I have not been myself since September when the heart palpitations started out of nowhere which then resulted in me developing panic issues and extreme anxiety, multiple trips to the ER thinking I was dying of heart issues, which I had ruled out (Echo, CT Angiogram, Nuclear Stress Test, Holter monitors- one a 48 hr and one a 72 hr, multiple EKG's, blood test- despite being extreemely expensive). I also had 3 MRI's done and found out I have cervical and lumbar disc issues. I currently am going through physical therapy. I have worked myself up so much from all this that I have a hard time not getting my body out of tension mode, which has then created my muscles in chest and middle back to be so tense and knotted up that I again am thinking I am having a heart attack. I am just one big mess.
I have bad anxiety, from my hypo thyroid. Just like you with the chest and back hurting I think it is my heart.but it get test done and every thing is normal. Don't become afraid of the meds, I did that and have problem's and cause my self to have even more anxiety.
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