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Labs, classic hypo symptoms, breastfeeding
My TSH level was 4.080 (0.400-5.000) I have not had any other thyroid labs drawn. I have classic symptoms of hypothyroidism. I am currently breastfeeding my 18 month old. The doctor says she will not do any treatment or diagnose me until I am 3 months post breastfeeding.
background....I did have a Free T4 level draw last year that was 1.4 (within normal) and I've had several TSH levels drawn over the years with a simply well program at work, only one that was elevated at 5.84. (all were over 3 though).
Can hypothyroidism be diagnosed with my symptoms and TSH level, or does the Free t4 have to be low?
Please any advise is welcome!
background....I did have a Free T4 level draw last year that was 1.4 (within normal) and I've had several TSH levels drawn over the years with a simply well program at work, only one that was elevated at 5.84. (all were over 3 though).
Can hypothyroidism be diagnosed with my symptoms and TSH level, or does the Free t4 have to be low?
Please any advise is welcome!
Glad to hear that you have made some progress with your doctor. For the future I suggest that you make sure that they always test for both Free t4 and Free T3, along with TSH. FT3 is the most important because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions. Scientific studies have also shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while FT4 and TSH did not correlate.
T4 meds like Synthroid will work for you as long as your body converts the T4 to T3 adequately. That is why you need to track your FT3, along with the other tests. Your FT3 will need to be increased until you get symptom relief. I gave you a good link on clinical treatment above. Since you are a nurse, I think you may be interested in learning more about why some of these things are important. Can't post it here, but will send you a link to the most comprehensive site about thyroid that I have yet located in all my searching.
T4 meds like Synthroid will work for you as long as your body converts the T4 to T3 adequately. That is why you need to track your FT3, along with the other tests. Your FT3 will need to be increased until you get symptom relief. I gave you a good link on clinical treatment above. Since you are a nurse, I think you may be interested in learning more about why some of these things are important. Can't post it here, but will send you a link to the most comprehensive site about thyroid that I have yet located in all my searching.
Well, here I am months later! It took me a while to remember which forum this was posted. Anywho, I had a doctor who I work with (I'm a nurse) order some labs as I was telling her about my symptoms, which seem to be getting worse. I also had a miscarriage in May and my periods have been wacked since. So, she thought thyroid tests were in order.
TSH 5.030 (0.400-5.000)
FT4 0.7 (0.6-1.5)
Finally, a number outside of normal. No, I'm not happy, but finally someone will treat me. She said it's subclinical hypothyroid. She told me she'd start a low dose of synthroid and check labs in 6 weeks.
Now, I've been reading about Armour vs synthroid, etc. I'm just hoping that the synthroid will do the trick and my symptoms will go away!
TSH 5.030 (0.400-5.000)
FT4 0.7 (0.6-1.5)
Finally, a number outside of normal. No, I'm not happy, but finally someone will treat me. She said it's subclinical hypothyroid. She told me she'd start a low dose of synthroid and check labs in 6 weeks.
Now, I've been reading about Armour vs synthroid, etc. I'm just hoping that the synthroid will do the trick and my symptoms will go away!
Going to an Endo probably won't get you what you need. Most of them have the "Immaculate TSH Belief" and only want to go by that one test. Most will not treat you if test results are within the ranges, even though the ranges are far too broad. Very few will treat patients clinically as I have described. You might as well try to influence your doctor to do this, but I expect that you will have to find a good thyroid doctor. If you will tell us your location, perhaps some member may be able to recommend someone.
I like my Dr, but I don't agree with her this time. Should I just go see an endo or ask my dr to be treated? She wants to repeat labs in 3 months. So frustrated right now!
The typical range for FT4 is .6 - 1.5. For FT3 about 2.3 - 4.2. The currently recommended range for TSH is .3 - 3.0. So with those labs and your symptoms, you should be treated for being hypo. You are definitely not a wimp.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a patient clinically by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 adequately to relieve symptoms. Symptom relief should be all important, not test results. If your doctor has a problem with this approach then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will treat you in this manner.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a patient clinically by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 adequately to relieve symptoms. Symptom relief should be all important, not test results. If your doctor has a problem with this approach then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will treat you in this manner.
I had my labs redrawn yesterday. They still don't want to treat me even though I had many symptoms.
My FT4 was 0.7
FT3 was 3
TSH 4.180
I don't know the reference ranges. Do all of the labs together point to being hypo? Or am I just being a wimp?
My FT4 was 0.7
FT3 was 3
TSH 4.180
I don't know the reference ranges. Do all of the labs together point to being hypo? Or am I just being a wimp?
Thanks for your information, I really appreciate it. I will ask for my FT3 and FT4 levels to be drawn. She said that until I'm done breastfeeding and for 3 months after, my thyroid levels might change b/c I am nursing. I haven' t seen any information about this other than the postpartum thyroiditis. (which sounds like it's usually not past a year and my DD is 18 months).
Your doctor is wrong not to be looking further at this beuase you are breastfeeding. Breastfeeding doesn't affect thyroid levels.
Your TSH is on the high side, and considering you have symptoms definitely you should be further evaluated.
You need to have FT3 adn FT4 tested. Most people feel ok when these are mid range or better. So if yours are low in the range and considering your symptoms you should still be treated. If your doctor won't help please see if you can see another doctor.
Levels of Ft3 and FT4 and how you feel are far more important than TSH. However, many doctors only look at TSH. Truely normal TSH, however, is probably in the range of 1 - 2.
LEt us know how you go.
Your TSH is on the high side, and considering you have symptoms definitely you should be further evaluated.
You need to have FT3 adn FT4 tested. Most people feel ok when these are mid range or better. So if yours are low in the range and considering your symptoms you should still be treated. If your doctor won't help please see if you can see another doctor.
Levels of Ft3 and FT4 and how you feel are far more important than TSH. However, many doctors only look at TSH. Truely normal TSH, however, is probably in the range of 1 - 2.
LEt us know how you go.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that it is inadequate as a diagnostic for thyroid. At best it is an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4. FT3 is the most important because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions. Scientific studies have also shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while TSH and FT4 did not correlate very well at all.
Another thing to be aware of is that the ranges for FT3 and FT4 are far too broad for results within the limits to be indicative that all is well. Many patients here report having hypo symptoms when their FT3 and FT4 levels are in the lower part of their ranges. There are reasons for this, but I won't get into that right now. Suffice it to say that if you have hypo symptoms, and your FT3 and FT4 are in the lower half of their ranges, this is very indicative of being hypo and needing medication. This is a good link for reading on this subject.
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
Another thing to be aware of is that the ranges for FT3 and FT4 are far too broad for results within the limits to be indicative that all is well. Many patients here report having hypo symptoms when their FT3 and FT4 levels are in the lower part of their ranges. There are reasons for this, but I won't get into that right now. Suffice it to say that if you have hypo symptoms, and your FT3 and FT4 are in the lower half of their ranges, this is very indicative of being hypo and needing medication. This is a good link for reading on this subject.
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
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