Aa
Hyper or Hypothyroid
Thank you for responding to my inquiry.
What confuses me is if I am hypothyroid and since I don't have a TSH from this report from the endocrinologist, the TSH of 9.06 was from a blood screening done a month earlier from the Rotary Club at our hospital, why would the endocrinologist suppress the gland with 50mcg Synthroid?
That was why I was taking 1 gm of iodine in kelp because I thought I was hypothyroid from the TSH level, and needed more iodine but his nurse said because of my TPO of 168, I needed to suppress the gland with 50 mcg Synthroid, which leads me to believe I am hyperthroid?
It's confusing.
What confuses me is if I am hypothyroid and since I don't have a TSH from this report from the endocrinologist, the TSH of 9.06 was from a blood screening done a month earlier from the Rotary Club at our hospital, why would the endocrinologist suppress the gland with 50mcg Synthroid?
That was why I was taking 1 gm of iodine in kelp because I thought I was hypothyroid from the TSH level, and needed more iodine but his nurse said because of my TPO of 168, I needed to suppress the gland with 50 mcg Synthroid, which leads me to believe I am hyperthroid?
It's confusing.
No,
The medical profession doesn't usually advise supplementation or alternative methods to treat disease.
What I've read over the years is that often in menopause progesterone levels plummet and you become estrogen dominant that can lead to many problems and that hypothyroid can be one of them.
As for the kelp, the thyroid gland can be unable to absorb iodine from food sources and I was supplementing with a food source as thyroxin is a combination of an amino acid and iodine.
But after the nurse said the 50mcg of Synthroid were to suppress the gland, I assumed I was getting too much iodine which would stimulate the gland further.
I began tapering down from the 1gm of iodine I was taking in kelp.
I've read that many drs just want to go by the TSH levels and may not factor in free T3 or free T4. This endocrinologist isn't very receptive.
I was researching saliva and blood testing for thyroid as well as hormone levels when my TSH came back at 9.06 and sought the endocrinologist.
I do have an appt. with an MD, not until end of Aug. to discuss these types of tests, they do measure TSH, ft3, ft4, TPO plus hormones and he also uses a compounding pharmacy. Thank you for your input.
The medical profession doesn't usually advise supplementation or alternative methods to treat disease.
What I've read over the years is that often in menopause progesterone levels plummet and you become estrogen dominant that can lead to many problems and that hypothyroid can be one of them.
As for the kelp, the thyroid gland can be unable to absorb iodine from food sources and I was supplementing with a food source as thyroxin is a combination of an amino acid and iodine.
But after the nurse said the 50mcg of Synthroid were to suppress the gland, I assumed I was getting too much iodine which would stimulate the gland further.
I began tapering down from the 1gm of iodine I was taking in kelp.
I've read that many drs just want to go by the TSH levels and may not factor in free T3 or free T4. This endocrinologist isn't very receptive.
I was researching saliva and blood testing for thyroid as well as hormone levels when my TSH came back at 9.06 and sought the endocrinologist.
I do have an appt. with an MD, not until end of Aug. to discuss these types of tests, they do measure TSH, ft3, ft4, TPO plus hormones and he also uses a compounding pharmacy. Thank you for your input.
TSH is a pituitary hormone in response to thyroid hormones T4 and T3 in the blood. Basically it signals the thyroid glands to produce more, or less, hormone. A high TSH usually means that you are low on thyroid hormones. That is why the Endo would be starting you on thyroid medication. When the nurse mentioned suppressing the gland, she was talking about suppresssing TSH level by increasing the level of thyroid hormone with Synthroid.
In the future, I suggest that you get the doctor to also check free T3 and free T4, along with thyroid antibodies. Free T3 and free T4 are the active components of thyroid hormones and largely regulate metabolism and other body functions. Free T3 is the most important, since it correlates best with hypo symptoms and is four times as potent as T4. The most effective way to treat a hypo patient is to test and adjust free T3 and free T4 levels as required to alleviate symptoms. Trying to achieve this by using TSH to determine your med. dosage, does not work as well.
In the future, I suggest that you get the doctor to also check free T3 and free T4, along with thyroid antibodies. Free T3 and free T4 are the active components of thyroid hormones and largely regulate metabolism and other body functions. Free T3 is the most important, since it correlates best with hypo symptoms and is four times as potent as T4. The most effective way to treat a hypo patient is to test and adjust free T3 and free T4 levels as required to alleviate symptoms. Trying to achieve this by using TSH to determine your med. dosage, does not work as well.
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