Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

[michelle23464]

Ok.. got my thyroid checked because of serve dry skin.

My TSH is 3.86
My T4 is 1.1

Doctor said that all is normal.

[Georgiana]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

Is there any reason why you wouldn't trust your doctor? If that is the case, you should ask for a second opinion from another doctor, if you have this possibility.

As written in the TOS, we are not medical experts here, so I think your doctor's opinion is the one that matters.

[Sherri]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

Ok.. got my thyroid checked because of serve dry skin.

My TSH is 3.86
My T4 is 1.1

Doctor said that all is normal.

Hi Michelle,
Georgiana has a point, we're not doctors but I do have Hypothyroidism and know that your numbers fall into the high end of normal.
T-3 Reference range is 2.4-3.9
T-4 Reference range is 0.6-1.2
So your numbers look great to me.
Maybe your dry skin is just due to winter dryness. A good lotion ought to do the trick.
As Georgiana suggested if you're still not comfortable with the results your doctors lab gave you. You can get a second opinion.
Sherri

[michelle23464]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

Is there any reason why you wouldn't trust your doctor? If that is the case, you should ask for a second opinion from another doctor, if you have this possibility.

As written in the TOS, we are not medical experts here, so I think your doctor's opinion is the one that matters.

Yes there is a reason .. I have been doing some research on this and Noticed the AACE has given new guidelines for dx thyroid problems. The new standard is .03 - 3.04 for TSH . But most doctors are using the old standard of .05 - 5.0 for a TSH and still believe that nothing is wrong. And yes i am getting a second opinion in April. I was merely asking if anyone had any other thoughts on my numbers based on their research or condition.

My dry skin is not a winter problem but a life long problem that I have had.

[Sherri]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

My dry skin is not a winter problem but a life long problem that I have had.

Good evening Michelle,
Oh, okay, then maybe a visit to a dermotologist can help you with that.
Also Michelle, here's a good read you may be interested in
The TSH Reference Range Wars: What's "Normal?", Who is Wrong, Who is ...
That's great that you're getting a second opinion.I hope you get the answers you're searching for.
Sincerely, Sherri

[samanthav]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

I think you need to take these numbers to a doctor that you can get to believe you. If this one won't, move on. But you might have better luck by doing a little research to make sure the doctor you see is likely to listen to you before you waste your time and money on him/her. My TSH number just came in at 3.7 and my (new) doctor fortunately had his upper limit at 3.5, so I am finally getting treatment after 7 years of hellacious mood and other hypo symptoms (I saw several dr's for each and every symptom - I definitely dont recomend you do that). There are many doctors who are out there, some of which have written the books on thyroid, who are treating at a TSH of 2.0, and even lower.

[GCC]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

Your TSH is too high and your FREE T4 looks too low.

What is the reference range for the FREE T4 (that your lab uses -differnt labs use different reference ranges).

I bet your FREE T4 is near the bottom of the 'normal range' or refernce range' . FREE T4 is an actual thyroid hormone. Optimal for FREE T4 is the middle to UPPER part of the 'normal range', NOT the lower part.

TSH is a pitutary hormone. The higher it is the more your pitutary gland is begging your thyroid gland for more FREE T4 and FREE T3.
That is why optimal TSH is a low number, around 1.0 or at least BELOW 2.0

But a good TSH does not trump a very low FREE T4.

Lots of people have to switch doctors more than once to get proper treatment. Too many doctors will call a TSH of over 2.0 just fine (even if the FREE T4 is way too low ).
Its not just about lab numbers; symptoms matter too!

[Sherri]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

Thank you for clearing that up for us GCC. My thyroid numbers are still in the low range but not experiencing any symptoms.
Are you a physician? Or do you have a thyroid disorder? You seem to know so much about the thyroid.
Thanks for the info.
Sincerely, Sherri

[GCC]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

Hello Sheri,
Your wt loss is great! Good for you!

I was answering Michelle and her labs.

I am a nurse and have been hypothyriod since 1981.
(But what I am posting I did not learn in nursing school but from my own experiences).
I was poorly treated with Synthroid (only) until 2006- for a long time my TSH was kept too high (with a too low dose of Synthroid) & then years ago I started seeing an endocrinologist who knew optimal TSH is lower than previously thought. Optimal is around 1.0 (NOT as high as 3.5 like many lab reports still say).
But that guy still ignored my low FREE T3 (even after my TSH was down to 1.0).
Synthroid is a T4 only med and Free T4 can often get too low on Synthroid alone.
I was not converting T4 into T3 very well.

I stumbled upon some information about FREE T3 and Cytomel and/or Armour Thyroid.
It took a long time to find doctor who would use Armour - but its been so worth it.
Best wishes.

I now take Armour and feel worlds better.
I think if you feel ok with a higher TSH thats great.
But if someone doesn't feel good and their TSH is high, they need to do something. At the very least...increase the Synthroid dose.
I had to find a better doctor who would do something about my very low FREE T3.

And different labs use different reference ranges. I bet Michelle's lab uses a different reference range and her T4 is at the very low end of the range.

Plus the T's that need to be tested are called FREE T4 & FREE T3.
"FREE" is the measure of a hormone that is free and usable. If it does not say 'free' on the lab report than its not 'free' .
It would then be 'total'. Total is the mesure of the 'free' and the bound added together. Thats not a very good measure.

Best wishes.

[Sherri]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

Thank you so much GCC, I appreciate what you said.
Michelle, I apologize for hijacking your thread. Please forgive me.
Sincerely, Sherri

[GCC]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

Sherri, did you get my message?
I am not familiar with these boards & hope I sent it correctly.

[Lyndyn]

Re: Thyroid numbers .. what do you think?

Ok.. got my thyroid checked because of serve dry skin.

My TSH is 3.86
My T4 is 1.1

Doctor said that all is normal.

Michelle,

Based on my personal experience (and a whole lot of research,) I would say that it is unlikely that your thyroid is "normal." At its highest, my TSH was only 3.56, but I had raging hypo symptoms. Nevertheless, 3 different endos dismissed me over about 10 years - and I kept getting worse and worse. I finally had ballooned to over 300 lbs. The worst part, though was that I felt like I was developing some sort of early onset Alzheimer's!

Finally, I got mad - and started to do my own research. I discovered, as you have, that many doctors and labs are still using the old "normal" range for TSH. I went to a website created by Mary Shomon - if you google her - you will find it, if you haven't already. On this site, was a lot of information as well as a source for doctors who were thyroid savvy.

I found a doctor through this site who gave me all the usual range of Thyroid tests that I had had a dozen times before - but this time, she added a test for thyroid antibodies.

When she called to tell me that I had the antibodies - which means that I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis - I whooped! I was so happy! She was surprised at my response to say the least and I explained that she was the first person who hadn't told me to go away, eat right, exercise, and maybe get my stomach bypassed!

That was two years ago. We are still working on getting my TSH down under 1, but I feel a MILLION times better and have lost a lot of weight. I started out as a size 30/32 and am now down to an 18/20 and still working on it.

The weightloss is what other people see and tend to focus on, but, honestly - it was the least of it. The cognitive problems, the joint pain - all of that was the worst part. Not to mention the low level depression that I didn't even know I had till it lifted after being on the thyroid meds for about 8 days. It was like someone had turned on the lights!

GOOD LUCK to you. Don't give up till you find someone that can make you feel better. I wish that I had not meekly gone away feeling like a loser after all those other doctors patted me on the head and sent me away telling me that I was "fine." I feel like I was in a waking coma for most of the last decade.

Do not give up. Get copies of your test results. Make sure that you get an antibodies test. Hashi's sounds like it must be some rare exotic disease, but it is actually a very common cause of hypothyroidism in the US.

Best of luck!

PS: I was also diagnosed with Insulin resistance and PCOS and given metformin for this. Atkins is perfect for this.