range of thyroid

[shaveta786]

my tsh is 11.84 and my t3 and t4 is in normal range. now what can i do?
Is it normal range or not?
what is the treatment of tsh?


thanks & regards

[Super_sally888]

A tsh of 11 is too high, it's like a horse being whipped to make it run.... but after a while the horse will be exhausted and no matter how hard you whip it it can't run any more.  The thyroid hormones being in range just mean that your thyroid is still coping, but only just.

With a TSH of 11 you need to be started on thyroid meds already.

Yes, TSH is an indicator hormone, but it tends to be a very good indication of hypothyroid when it is high.  High TSH means hypothyroid and means you need to be started on thyroid hormone.  Target TSh is 1 - 2.

I very doubt there is any pituitary issue.  Pituitary issue happen when the TSH is very low, but the thyroid hormones are low. They are also not very common, and far less common that regular hypothyroid.  

Testing for antibodies, however, is recommended so you have a better picture of what is going on with your thyroid.

Hope this helps.

[rumpled]

I would also ask the doctor to test you for thyroid antibodies and as well as more pituitary hormones in addition to what is listed above, to see if the problem is really your thyroid, or it lies in your pituitary.

[gimel]

The first thing you should understand is that TSH is a pituitary hormone that serves only as a signal to the thyroid glands to increase/decrease output of the actual thyroid hormones T4 and T3.  As such, you really don't treat TSH.  At best it is only an indicator of thyroid condition, not a diagnostic.  Treatment should be based on symptoms and the levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, which are free T3 and free T4.  Symptom relief should be all important.

I expect that your other tests were for total T3 and total T4.  If that is the case, you would really know a lot more if you are tested for free T3 and free T4 (FT3 and FT4).  That's because most T3 and T4 in the body is bound up with protein and thereby inactive.  Only the portion that is not bound to protein, thus known as free T3 and free T4, are biologically active in regulating metabolism and most other body functions.

So I have a couple of thoughts for you.   First, what symptoms do you have that relate to being hypothyroid?  Second, please post the actual results of your lab tests along with the reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Test results and ranges vary among labs, so it is important to know the actual results and where they fall within the range.