what is the difference between a supressed tsh and a low tsh

[annamae26]

so full of questions today  does anyone know what is the difference between a suppressed tsh and a low tsh- was reading the new research and can t find the difference

[Smilerdeb]

My FT4 is usually around 17.0  (10.0 - 19.0)
My FT# is usually around 4.6 (3,0 - 5,5)

Anyone looking at the FT3 level would say it is too low but any higher and I get the same thing...HYPER and h/rate around 140-160,

TSH is always good between 2.3 -2.5 (0,5 - 4.0)

I have no aches and pains, I have no hypo/hyper symptoms at these levels and I have no thyroid lol.

Bear in mindd though that I have had a murmur since birth and also suffered with Bradycarda and Tachycardia.

My FT4 when first diagnosed in 2007 was around 29,9 and my FT3 was around 33,0.

So since these levesl are good for me,.....I tend to stick to them.
Doc says super high drug sensitivity so goes along with what I do.

Sometime I may get hyper symptoms so I cut back on 12.mcg in that week and the levels stay the same.

I call it weird lol but am happy with my levels.

Umm I dont see my Doc as much for thyroid as I used to ...he says I have it down to a 'fine art' lol.

I have never taken T3 (as I dont need it ) and had every test possible.

But I must add that prior to RAI...I was so sick I wanted to die.

I got my life back....one of the lucky ones.

[gimel]

How much do you charge your doctors as a consulting fee?  LOL

My TSH has been less than .05 for over 25 years, in order to get my thyroid hormone levels high enough to relieve most symptoms.  Obviously our TSH results show pretty clearly the fallacy of the "Immaculate TSH Belief".  By the way, I'm curious as to what are your FT3 and Ft4 levels that work so well for you.

[Smilerdeb]

So what do you think of my doses Gimel lol .
I am on T4 as follows:

Week 1 = 62,5mcg 4 x week and 50mcg 3 x week
Week 2 = 62,5mc x 3 week and 50mcg 4 x week.

I have gone up the thyroid ladder to 75mcg daily and wham! bad HYPER
Then went to 62,5 mcg daily and again..by 4th week...HYPER.
So now I do it the way as posted above and am fine.

Disregard my TSH that went to over 7.0 because of the Pit, Tumour (now removed).

Doc agrees with my dosing and Cardio says I know thyroid inside out and also heart issues too and to continue the good work lol.

I cant have my TSH lower than 2.3 or I get A fib.

Personally I think it is being undiagnosed for many years...as Docs traced back my thyroid issues to 1985 yet was only dx in 2007.

That is basically the reason I have mitral and triscuspis valve prolapses....from  the heart overworking for too may years.

I guess I am on one of the lowest levels of T4 compared to others and feel great too.

[gimel]

Just ran across an article written by a doctor that I have communicated with in the past and was favorably impressed with his knowledge and approach to treating thyroid patients.  His comments on TSH were very interesting and I thought would be a worthy addition to this thread.  

The doctor was speaking with a patient who was concerned that a low TSH was a dangerous condition that indicated too much medication and was a potential cause of bone loss.  This doctor stated that the reverse was true, that a test result that showed a TSH greater than zero was an indication the the body was still asking for some thyroid hormone. I thought this was a very interesting thought --that the body is still asking for some thyroid hormone, rather than the interpretation we've all heard -- that a suppressed TSH says the body has too much TSH.  

He also said, "Fortunately, doses less than 120 mg (2 grains) per day of Armour Thyroid (equivalent doses would be 200 mcg/day Synthroid/Levoxyl (T4) or 50 mcg/day Cytomel (T3)) have been studied long term and do not cause any long-term side effects, not even osteoporosis. In fact, those taking thyroid had thicker bones than those patients not on medication!13  Doses greater than that have not been studied, so to be safe, we will need to do annual bone density screening if we go higher than 120 mg/day. "

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/woliner.htm

[goolarra]

I agree with you, Deb.  WE don't even really need bloodwork, because WE know how WE feel...at least we do once we've been at this thyroid game for a while.  It's our doctors who need the bloodwork because it's the only way they can "get inside our bodies" and see what's going on.  But, it's no replacement for the "real" thing (feeling the symptoms).  Your symptoms will tell you everything...you just have to be a bit cautious about interpreting those that can "cross over".

[Smilerdeb]

My attitude has always been that 'if you feel unwell' then you most probably are.....for the simple fact that YOU know your body better than any Doc/Endo/Surgeon.

Most times I have been right on this and even my own Doc who has worked with me on my thyroid issues says the same.
He says.."Debs, if you dont feel right then you are probably right" and then one by one we eliminate the symptoms and tests to get to the bottom of it all.

Ive had this Doc for over 25 years....hes a year older than me and open to anything I sugggest.
he also has the attitude that I may not always be right in my way of thinking but am very rarely wrong.
I doubted what I was able to do and had no confidence after the 'bashing' that Graves gave me.
I call him my Lifesaver.

He was the one who encouraged me to do my med endorsed Div. 2 Nursing.