Aa
First diagnosis
I went to a rheumatoid doctor for pain in my joints. After several tests (that all came back negative for arthritis) He told me that I had low vitamin counts and a TSH of 7.03. He said this was the high side of normal and would do a second more thorough test. It came back as TSH 8.05 T4 1.01 I have been reading up on this and it seems that 7 is not the "high side of normal" but WAY over the norm. And now it's 8.05. I'm tired all the time, I seem to keep all of my extra weight even with a change in diet to a more healthy and regulated amount/type of food. I understand that the TSH level I have makes me Hypo, but I don't understand what the T4 rating means. I will be asking my doc (whenever I am able to get a hold of him :( ) But can anyone explain to me a bit more about the T4 test? And I have also noticed that with T4 most sites talk about T3 and antibodies. Neither of which was mentioned to me. Should I demand tests for those as well? Or just ask for a referral to an endocrinologist?
I will go and make an appt with my pc and request the tests you suggested AR. It's so sad to think that docs just don't want to help us.. *sigh*
I had the same experience! [Except I only had TSH 4.7, FT4 .08] Your rheumy IS NOT a thyroid expert and neither was mine I was sent to him because of what was thought to be early rheumatoid arthritis, with mild swelling etc. He ruled out RA so returned to my GP. Skip forward....GP discovered that I had Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroiditis), mild hypothyroid, and a diffused mild goiter after a sonogram. Started on 25 mcg of thyroid hormone and within 3 days the deep, dull joint achiness that I had had for over 1 year almost vanished. Eventually increased the med to 50 mcg and it has continued to improve. Many doctors wouldn't have treated me...but fortunately, mine did and I am feeling soooooo much better. Good luck with finding a doctor you like -- it sure sounds to me like you need medication too.
I agree with AR.
Actually, my endo (chief of Endocrinology at Georgetown) says anything over a TSH of 2 with positive antobodies should be treated.
Actually, my endo (chief of Endocrinology at Georgetown) says anything over a TSH of 2 with positive antobodies should be treated.
You should ask for antibody testing.
TPOab - Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies
TGab - Thyroglobulin antibodies
TSI - Thyroid Stimulating Immunogobulin (to rule out Grave's disease)
You should ask for a Free T4 test and a Free T3 test along with another TSH test.
There are several types of T4 tests and T3 tests. Ask for a Free T4 and a Free T3.
Your thyroid produces T4 and T3. Mostly T4, but a small percentage of T3 as well. When the thyroid releases the hormones into the blood over 90% of the hormones are bound by proteins and made unusable. The remaining 10% or so is called Free T4 and Free T3, as it is free to be used by the body.
Your body uses T3 to feed cells. T4 is a storage unit that is converted into T3 upon demand. So if the doctor wants to know if your body's cells are getting what they want he/she has to look at the Free T3. (They seldom do, but I am trying to explain the mechanics here.)
SO...measuring your total T4 is a waste of time, because it does not measure the Free T4, it measures ALL of the T4.
Free T3 testing is a bit more expensive and most hospitals have to send the test out and it takes a week to get the results back. Doctor's hate that. So they don't run the test.
If you have the antibody tests run, and you have an autoimmune thyroid disease, which you don't want, the treatment will start sooner.
Hashimoto's is autoimmune hypothyroidism. It is THE MOST COMMON form of hypothyroidism. A positive antibody test and a TSH above 5.0 provides a diagnosis requiring treatment.
TPOab - Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies
TGab - Thyroglobulin antibodies
TSI - Thyroid Stimulating Immunogobulin (to rule out Grave's disease)
You should ask for a Free T4 test and a Free T3 test along with another TSH test.
There are several types of T4 tests and T3 tests. Ask for a Free T4 and a Free T3.
Your thyroid produces T4 and T3. Mostly T4, but a small percentage of T3 as well. When the thyroid releases the hormones into the blood over 90% of the hormones are bound by proteins and made unusable. The remaining 10% or so is called Free T4 and Free T3, as it is free to be used by the body.
Your body uses T3 to feed cells. T4 is a storage unit that is converted into T3 upon demand. So if the doctor wants to know if your body's cells are getting what they want he/she has to look at the Free T3. (They seldom do, but I am trying to explain the mechanics here.)
SO...measuring your total T4 is a waste of time, because it does not measure the Free T4, it measures ALL of the T4.
Free T3 testing is a bit more expensive and most hospitals have to send the test out and it takes a week to get the results back. Doctor's hate that. So they don't run the test.
If you have the antibody tests run, and you have an autoimmune thyroid disease, which you don't want, the treatment will start sooner.
Hashimoto's is autoimmune hypothyroidism. It is THE MOST COMMON form of hypothyroidism. A positive antibody test and a TSH above 5.0 provides a diagnosis requiring treatment.
It sounds like you are hypothyroid, and you need to seek a second opinion.
A normal healthy TSH is somewhere betwween 0.8 and 1.8, with some people falling slightly outside that spread. Above 2.0 is not really normal and a TSH of 5.0 deserves more testing and treatment unless your Free T3 is in range, which yours is not.
It's not life or death serious, but it needs to be probed further and more than likely you need replacement hormones.
You could probably go the rest of your life like you are right now, but you will have memory problems and joint problems and digestive problems and emotional problems and high cholesterol.
They will treat one symptom at a time and soon you will be on half a dozen meds to treat a half dozen symptoms and more symptoms will develop.
Get a second opinion since your doctor has been questioned on the issue and is not going to treat you.
A normal healthy TSH is somewhere betwween 0.8 and 1.8, with some people falling slightly outside that spread. Above 2.0 is not really normal and a TSH of 5.0 deserves more testing and treatment unless your Free T3 is in range, which yours is not.
It's not life or death serious, but it needs to be probed further and more than likely you need replacement hormones.
You could probably go the rest of your life like you are right now, but you will have memory problems and joint problems and digestive problems and emotional problems and high cholesterol.
They will treat one symptom at a time and soon you will be on half a dozen meds to treat a half dozen symptoms and more symptoms will develop.
Get a second opinion since your doctor has been questioned on the issue and is not going to treat you.
I just spoke with a nurse at my doctor's office and she insists that a TSH test between 0.15 - 7.0 is normal. And that My TSH was 8.45 not 8.05 and the FT4 is normal as well. Nothing was mentioned about ft3 or antibodies. I'm getting very concerned. Does anyone have a clue as to how serious this might be?
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