hi im new so glad found other hypo's

[slinkylins]

Hey all
Im lins new to site (yesterday)
im hypo have been since 1999 and still dont think my levels are right
my latest reports show
TSH: 5.7 (0.35-4.5 range)
Free thyroxine: 11.6 (11.0-26.0 range)

Ive never understood much about the lab reports but have been put up on meds from 125 to 150 a day
im in UK and only prescribe levothyroxine here (generic of synthoid?)
will be having another report given back to me today from Consultant with results from test done 3weeks ago so hopefully he can explain more
sorry to babble just wanted to say hi and look forward to getting to know alot of you guys
i am currently preparing for Atkins i want to start on Induction (but cant at present as am pregnant but am learning and getting ready for when i do -in June) looking to lose nearlly half of me and make this a lifetime promise to myself

[GCC]

Re: hi im new so glad found other hypo's

Slinky, you are hypOthyroid and you are being under-medicated.
Here is why.

TSH = thyroid stimulating hormone. Its a pitutary horome.
Its high because your pitutary gland is trying to stimulate your thyroid gland to make more thyroid hormone (because your pitutary gland sences that your thyroid hormone levels are too low).
That is why optimal TSH is a LOW number. Yours is way too high becuse your thyroid hormone levels are too low.
Optimal TSH is low, around 1.0

FREE T4 or Free Thyroixne is an actual thyroid hormone.
So, optimal for this is at least the middle of the 'normal range' or better yet a little above the middle, NOT the lower part.
Yours is at the bottom!!!

And there is another thyroid hormone that needs to be tested, its called FREE T3.
Your body can convert T4 into T3, the reason to test the FREE T3 is to find out if your body is converting enough for you to feel good/normal.
Since your FREE T4 is so very low, your FREE T3 is likely even lower (since you are on a T4 only med like Synthroid).

I hope this helps, best wishes.

[slinkylins]

Re: hi im new so glad found other hypo's

bloods showing up
TSH 4.0
T4 13.1 so still not right have had bloods took again yesterday and going back in 5 wks time and consultant said if still in upper normal(tsh) then will increase to 175mg so i think she is trying to get it within the 1.0-2.0 mark and ultimately the T4 will go up too so hopefully nearer the higher end
keeping fingers toes and everything else crossed

[imagood1]

Re: hi im new so glad found other hypo's

Welcome to . I hope you can get your medical problems controlled with this way of eating (WOE) and along the way find a new way to live your life. Good luck on your journey

[Alexa]

Re: hi im new so glad found other hypo's

Hi SLinkylins,

I'm hypo and in the UK too - I sure wish we had more med options here. Often I find GPs quite slack on this issue.

Congrats on being pregnant. I think it is great to have a plan and be getting ready for after!

[slinkylins]

Re: hi im new so glad found other hypo's

Hey alexa we sound pretty similar all round. im 28 , and hw was 220lbs in feb 2002 and lowest being 131lbs god knows when i think maybe before i was showing symptoms so about 1998 !!!! so anyways i aim to get down to about 140-145 post pregnancy so i am 199 today and trying not to over gain in the next 11 wks youre doing good by the look of it keep up the hard work i take it it is a little harder working with all the ups and downs of trying to get meds right all the time. at least i can be thankful thanks to the obs consultant is on top of things and hopefully getting my meds right now xxx
catch you round the boards x
Lins

[GCC]

Re: hi im new so glad found other hypo's

Slinky, hello.

Free thyroxine is an actual thyroid hormone & yours is at the bottom of the range. Thats NOT good. Thats like getting a "D-" on a math test and being told its ok, because you passed.

Optimal for that test would be at least the middle of the 'range' or better yet a little above the middle of the range.

Don't settle for less than optimal.

TSH is a pitutary gland hormone. It job is to stimulate the thyriod gland to make more thyroid hormone. The pitutary sences that your thyroid hormone levels are too low and has increased its production of TSH.

But for some reason your thyroid gland can't make enough (but the pitutary gland is still making more TSH anyway).
That is WHY a high TSH number usually means a low thyroid hormone level. And why a low TSH number means high thyroid hormone levels.
Thats also why optimal TSH is a low number around 1.0.


The FREE Thyroxine or FREE T4 is the measure of the actual hormone.
You don't want that number in the low part of 'normal' , but the mid to upper part of 'normal'.

There is also another thyroid hormome called FREE T3.
See if they are testing that and what that number is.

[Organic-NoSoy-LC4Life]

Re: hi im new so glad found other hypo's

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

It's not very well written, but it's full of good information.
I know it's hard for you UK ladies to get proper treatment.
It's even harder than it is here in the U.S.

I think the key to adequate thyroid treatment is education. As patients we have to educate ourselves, and become active participants in our healthcare. Doctor's may not like that, but they're practicing on us, while we have to live with the results.



LC4Life