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Normal TSH but low Free T4
I am 37 and 7 months postpartum. Lost baby weight of 16lbs 2 months poastpartum. By 4 months postpartum I had gained 20 pounds. Stopped nursing at 5 months postpartum. Over two years ago, my hair stylist noticed me losing hair. Since having the baby I have lost so much hair that friends have commented about the hair loss. Used to put my hair in a pony tail and twist the band 2x....now it takes 4x. Dr. took me off valtrex thinking that might be the cause... Tested my thyroid in January 2009. TSH was 1.46, Free T4 0.6. Retested in March of 2009 and TSH was 2.07, Free T4 0.6. My hairs loss is still very extreme...handfuls wen I wash my hair. Noticing a lot of bruising and fatigue. Have Fibromyalgia and Ulcerative Colitis. Dr. wants to send me to an endrocrinologist but it is a few months wait. He feels my tests are within normal range eventhough my Free T4 says it is low. Is this a thyroid problem? Really scared to lose more hair...
I'm not famililar with American lab units, but if your T4 is low (which you say it is), is there any harm in giving you some supplemental thyroxine & pushing that T4 up towards the middle to upper limits of normal, at least until you can see your endocrinologist ... especially since you're so symptomatic? You say you've been losing hair for about 2 years now. Have your TSH & T4 levels been normal for the past 2 years?
I think our doctors have been trained to look at the TSH as the definitive factor, which doesn't make much sense in my mind because TSH is simply a measure of how hard the pituitary is pushing the thyroid to produce T4. It would be interesting to know what your free T3 is, because the T3 is the actual active hormone, most of which is produced from T4 ... so I'm thinking, if your T4 is low, your T3 might be really low. I wonder if you've got some sort of post-partum thyroiditis going on here? They say that 80% of post-partum hypothyroid cases resolve spontaneously, but 20% of patients remain hypothyroid. Could you convince your physician to check your antimicrosomal antibody titres (TPO antibodies), along with your free T3? Apparently, the higher the antibody titre, the more likely your risk of remaining hypothyroid (your endo might be interested in your antibody titres too). If your doc refuses the tests, at least try to ensure he follows up the TSH & T4 every 4-6 weeks, because these values are a moving target and many people will spontaneously correct. As a pharmacist I know how difficult it can be to convince some physicians of anything ... so, good luck and hang in there!
From personal experience, hair loss is my immediate tip off that my thyroid is out of whack, and the first symptom to respond to a dose increase. Go figure!
Hope this helps!
Dallas
I think our doctors have been trained to look at the TSH as the definitive factor, which doesn't make much sense in my mind because TSH is simply a measure of how hard the pituitary is pushing the thyroid to produce T4. It would be interesting to know what your free T3 is, because the T3 is the actual active hormone, most of which is produced from T4 ... so I'm thinking, if your T4 is low, your T3 might be really low. I wonder if you've got some sort of post-partum thyroiditis going on here? They say that 80% of post-partum hypothyroid cases resolve spontaneously, but 20% of patients remain hypothyroid. Could you convince your physician to check your antimicrosomal antibody titres (TPO antibodies), along with your free T3? Apparently, the higher the antibody titre, the more likely your risk of remaining hypothyroid (your endo might be interested in your antibody titres too). If your doc refuses the tests, at least try to ensure he follows up the TSH & T4 every 4-6 weeks, because these values are a moving target and many people will spontaneously correct. As a pharmacist I know how difficult it can be to convince some physicians of anything ... so, good luck and hang in there!
From personal experience, hair loss is my immediate tip off that my thyroid is out of whack, and the first symptom to respond to a dose increase. Go figure!
Hope this helps!
Dallas
Hello, I read your story and am learning myself about what is "normal" and if my symptoms are from my Thyroid. I want to share with you that my TSH is 2.3 and "normal", but my T4 was 0.9 when my endocrinologist tested it two years ago. I felt horrible and continue to feel horrible. My antibodies are elevated now and I have to find out what my T4 and T3 are now. Unfortunately, these tests were not all done together b/c my endocrinologist did not request them. Now I am going to try a different endo and insist I be checkd for all levels. I have two children and know that it is normal for a Mom to be tired, but this tired is very different.
You mentioned the hair stylist and believe it or not, they probably really know what they are talking about when it comes to the hair. My sister has hypothyroid and did not tell her hair stylist. One day she was getting her hair cut and was told by the stylist that she must have a thyroid problem bc of how her hair felt. My sister said that she normally has dry and course hair, but the stylist said that she can feel it in her hair and it is different from normal dry hair. Hang in there! Is this your first child?
You mentioned the hair stylist and believe it or not, they probably really know what they are talking about when it comes to the hair. My sister has hypothyroid and did not tell her hair stylist. One day she was getting her hair cut and was told by the stylist that she must have a thyroid problem bc of how her hair felt. My sister said that she normally has dry and course hair, but the stylist said that she can feel it in her hair and it is different from normal dry hair. Hang in there! Is this your first child?
Hello and WELCOME! I'm sure some others will jump on in with some advice but wanted to say hi!
C~
C~
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