Thyroid tests are normal?? Are you sure?

[inatic]

Bumping

[Karsen]

I have my blood results~ finally.
Doc said all was "normal"...
Here they are for you to look at.
I am on .88 Synthroid.

TSH = 0.85 (Range 0.34-5.60)
T3 Uptake = 41.6 " 32.0-48-4
T4 = 8.33 " 6.9-12.23
FtI = 8.67 " 5.93-13.13

T3,Free = 2.6 " 2.3 - 4.2
T4,Free(Direct) = 0.86 " 0.58-1.64

Ferritin,Serum = 84.6 " 11.0-306.8
On hormones, I think she just drew estrogen levels. They wrote on Results
Hormone profile showed probably menopause, all else Ok. They did not send me any numbers.. (I have had complete hyserectomy)

THANKS Pam

[inatic]

Pam wont be available for a day or two.. She is seeking treatment in the hopsital for her Pneumonia.

Based on those results you are undermedicated and need some T3 added in. Both of your FREE T 3 and 4 are at the bottom of the lab values. TSH is good as it should be under 1 but women feel best when FT3 and FT4 are midrange OR HIGHER.

You either need to find another doc from the Top doc list or get your doc to A) administer Amour or B) added some cytomel.

Ferritin is not bad. THey say women, for thyoid function should have it between 70-100 would also want the antibodies test TPO to test for Hashi's

Chances are since the doc says "normal" they wont know what or how to advance.

Do you need a list of docs for your area.

[Karsen]

YES! Do you need zip code or what?

Pam, I hope you feel better fast!

[inatic]

no just tell me what state your in.

[inatic]

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/doctors/a/topdocs.htm

[Karsen]

Tennessee -
(Jackson)
Is it another certain test? or a particular TYPE Dr.? My ins. has change the 1st of the month and there is a particular clinic I can go to - a Nurse Practioner - (I know her personally & I think I could get her to run whatever blood test I want her to run on me - better than the reg. Dr. I was going to)
Plus my co-pay is just $15.00.
Thanks.

[Lilgrnize]

Hi!

First of all, Ileen & Pam, I want to thank you so much for bumping this thread and keeping it in front of everyone! Being over 2 yrs old, it would have been so easy for it to disappear, and stumbling across it may have saved my life!

I've been struggling to find out what was wrong with me for over 5 yrs. My thyroid has been swollen and I had most of the classic symptoms all this time, but docs kept telling me my labs were in normal range, and it was just stress. (Basically, they were telling me I was a hypochondriac!) In the meantime, I have continued to feel progressively worse, while continuing to make myself function without a break.

A few months ago, after finding this thread, I insisted my dr. run FT3 & FT4 (I found they had just run TSH, but at the time I was too ignorant to know that wasn't enough). They told me those labs were "in normal range" as well, but this time I knew to insist they provide me with copies of the lab reports. My FT3 & FT4 were both in the very low end of the range. My thyroid was still very swollen, and I was becoming so fatigued and had severe brain fog, and it was becoming difficult to function at work.

I PM'd my results to nonstickpam, and she has been my coach, my cheerleader, and my handholder for the last 2 months. She gave her dx, but guided me on what other tests to request, even some that might rule out thyroid. In the meantime, my dr. decided my problems were liver related, and kept sending me for tests for that, but I continued to insist on a TPO antibodies test. He finally allowed it, "just to shut me up" and it came back very high, indicating I have Hashi's. They didn't even notify me...they stuck it in my file, and it took me 3 weeks of calling their office to get those results. My dr wouldn't even discuss the labs with me, and had his office twit tell me he'd prefer I see a specialist. That was it.

By this time (about 2 weeks ago) I had become so ill, I couldn't function and didn't even feel safe driving. I was so weak I could barely prepare food (I would put food on the stove and forget it was there until the house was filled with smoke), I had severe flu-like symptoms, and the brain-fog was so intense, I couldn't remember conversations that took place an hour before. I often didn't eat because I didn't have the strength.

Pam got me connected to a thyroid group in TX, and thru them I found a recommended doc in San Antonio. He was able to see me immediately, and even spoke with me on the phone for quite awhile before the appointment. He started me on a low dose of armour, and wants to see my labs after a month. After 10 days on armour, although I was back at work and feeling somewhat better, I was still extremely fatigued and felt like I was barely crawling thru the day. I called him and, again, he spoke w/me personally on the phone, listened to me, and agreed I should be feeling a little better and increased my dose of armour a little more. (He started me on 15 mg for one week, increased to 30 mg after that until my 1 month followup, but has now increased to 45 mg.) I know this is still very conservative, but he promises he will continue to work with me until we find the right dose, it will just be a slow process.

This dr. is not on my insurance plan, but after all these years of being ignored, I'm so thrilled to find a dr. that will listen and work with me, I decided getting better is what is more important right now, and I'll just find other things I can do without that aren't as important.

The moral of this story...don't just accept your dr's answers if they don't feel right. Do your research. Insist upon the tests you need. If your dr. won't work with you, find another dr. Your health is much too important to just blindly put into someone else's hands. Your health is not as important to them as it is to you!

I just recently took the initiative to educate myself, and I still have alot to learn, but wanted to jump aboard, tell my story, and let you all know I'll be here, learning from you all, sharing my progress, and answering any questions I do feel I can assist with.

Thanks again to all of you here who taught me how to take care of myself!

And Pam, sending you get well wishes...I'll be thinking of my guardian angel!

[Karsen]

LIL - Interesting story!

[inatic]

Here is the link for the yahoo thyoid group. Once a member look under FILES for a complete list of doc's in your state. It doesnt necessarily have to be a "endo"

Join your state group. The people of your STATE will be more help and accurate in the support you seek in finding a good doc.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group...yroidPatients/

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cChhQio...Groups-USA.doc

[scott737]

Hi all. I have a question conerning my daughter. She is 5, tall for her age, a little above average weight (but good for her height), active, smart... (enough being the bragging parent . About three weeks ago, she developed a cough that was quite persistant through the week so we went to the Dr. He noted the tyroid was swollen, which could be irritating the throat and causing the cough. They took blood sample for tests, which "proved normal" (I didn't get the results). It was evident after the doc said it was swollen that I could see and when felt, it was something like a walnut size. She developed a fever, so the doc sent us to the hospital for more blood work, here is the results of that test:

T-4 Free 1.2 (indicated normal range on report 0.9-1.4)
TSH 1.09 (indicated normal range on report 0.4-5.5)

Doc said nothing wrong w/ thyroid but has something viral but sounded a bit perplexed by the thyroid being swollen. Got some cough meds and left somewhat happy, and that got us through the viral thing.

Now, three weeks later, the cough is gone, but the swelling is still there. It doesn't seeem larger, but maybe more defined (harder). When asleep she seems warmer compared to everyone else in the home. Another thing that was interesting, when we went in the first time for the issues (10 months after her previous checkup) she grew 3 inches. Is that normal http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/ne...e=1&p=4990484#
Confused

Please let me know what you all think.
All suggestions are welcome.

[nobimbo]

Sounds like she may have subacute thyroiditis, although it didn't show up in her blood tests so I'm not sure (but that may have to do with what stage it's in at the time of the tests). Here's some info:

Subacute thyroiditis is an uncommon condition thought to be caused by viral infection of the thyroid gland. The condition often occurs after a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Mumps virus, influenza virus, and other respiratory viruses have been found to cause subacute thyroiditis.

The most prominent feature of subacute thyroiditis is gradual or sudden onset of pain in the region of the thyroid gland. Painful enlargement of the thyroid gland may persist for weeks or months. The condition is sometimes associated with fever. Hoarseness or difficulty swallowing may also develop.

Symptoms of thyroid hormone excess (hyperthyroidism) such as nervousness, rapid heart rate, and heat intolerance may be present early in the disease. Later, symptoms of too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) such as fatigue, constipation, or cold intolerance may occur. Eventually, thyroid gland function returns to normal.

Subacute thyroiditis occurs most often in middle-aged women with recent symptoms of viral respiratory tract infection.

Laboratory tests in the early phase of disease may reveal:

High serum thyroglobulin level
Low radioactive iodine uptake
Low serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level
High serum free T4 (thyroid hormone, thyroxine) level
High erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Laboratory tests in the later phase of disease may show:

High serum TSH level
Low serum free T4
Anti-thyroid antibodies are either undetectable or present at low levels. Thyroid gland biopsy shows characteristic "giant cell" inflammation. Laboratory abnormalities return to normal as the condition resolves.

[nonstickpam107]

This is how my son started into hypothyroidism...but at the age of 3. The doctors never checked for antibodies then. I would want an antibodies check, and your child seen by a pediatric endocrinologist (because HGH is often involved with thyroiditis at that age). Also, virus' trigger autoimmune thyroid disease. I hope all goes well, and that it subsides.

Pam

[Linny]

Scott - my best wishes go to your daughter

[scott737]

Thanks for all your input. And thanks for caring.

Where should I start looking?? We have an excellent Children's Hospital in St. Louis. I looked there and they have a handfull of pediatric endocronolgists there. How can I tell who might be a good start? Is it trial and error???? Or is there something I can go on to make a good educated guess?

Again, thanks.

[nonstickpam107]

On the site: www.about.thyroid.com there is a section on their forum (you'll have to sign up for the forums if you haven't signed in at about.com or delphiforums) for parents of children with thyroid disease. If you post there for help I'm sure someone will have been through this already. Let us know how it is going and the best of luck to you.

Pam

[scott737]

Pam, that is an incredible site!!! Lots of info. I have a small correction to the URL. I found it at thyroid.about.com

This a great online community!

[nonstickpam107]

Thank you much for the correction...that site was quite invaluable to me when I first started my thyroid patient advocacy in my own state. Another site that is quite good is www.thyroidmanager.org Hope things go well for you and your little one.

Pam

[dlslds]

Bump...i am now on page 8 and need this bumped to cont my education!

thanks all
xo

[theredhead]

Pam (or anyone else in the know) - I've become more aware of my hypothyroid symptoms since I've been reading this forum. I finally got my bloodwork through Heathcheck USA and here are the results. I'd really appreciate your observations on this:

Thyroid Studies
Triiodothyronine Free 3.1 (2.3 - 4.2 pg/ml)
Free Thyroxine (FT4) 0.9 (0.8 - 1.8 ng/dl)
TSH (3rd Generation) 1.637(0.35 - 5.50 mciu/ml)

Now, to me, these results seem normal. I'm wondering if maybe this is more perimenopausal symptoms. I just went off the pill two and a half months ago and haven't had a period since. The hot flashes and night sweats are suddenly horrible. My weightloss has been stalled for about a year, although I never cheat (except for too many legal foods sometimes). It's getting pretty frustrating.

[nonstickpam107]

See the FT4? It should be about midway or higher in it's range, and so should the FT3....but....I agree that menopause throws a monkey wrench into the bargain. Overall, the panel looks halfway decent...but the low FT's are telling you that your hormones are out of balance...do you have a estradiol, estriol, and progesterone too?

You see, when the female hormones start dropping at menopause, the thyroid tries to "take over" for them, and this is WHY many menopausal women go fully hypothyroid....you might also want to be checked for Hashimoto's (TPO antibodies), but most good thyroid docs would try and balance the female hormones first, then see if it takes the stress off the thyroid. You do know that taking soy, and OTC menopause remedies can make you go hypothyroid...right? If it were me, I'd be seeing the doc (making sure he/she knows enough to Rx. bio identical, not synthetic, hormones, should you need them.

Pam

[lk2dnce]

Pam- Is it okay to take Black Cohosh for my hot flashes, or will it hinder the Armour that I am taking?

[nonstickpam107]

Black cohosh isn't something anyone with autoimmune anything should take....black currant oil is better. If you are going peri or menopausal than any type of estrogen source (including OTC stuff, currant oil, etc.) is going to bind your Armour....all of it....this is why most of we hypothyroid/Hashi's folks have to have the bio identical HRT....and a doc to watch all our levels to balance it. Black current oil would be far preferable to black cohosh, ok? Can be had OTC, try to get a very good, pure brand. I couldn't use any of the OTC stuff, as it would send my thyroid into a tailspin, but I know some who are going through a 'normal' meno to use that instead of cohosh. HTH

Pam

[Carb&Driver]

Hello, I need some help with interpreting these lab results. Hashi's and other thyroid problems run in my family. My 6 yo DD has been missing WAY too much school (much more than most other children) because of recurring strep throat (verified with swab tests). She gets feverish, and all stuffed up and seems to be on antibiotics every other month. I begged the doctor during the past three visits for DD's strep to test her for autoimmune problems. The doctor refused to check her for Hashi's (saying that I won't have to worry about that), but finally, for my "peace of mind" checked her TSH, FT4 and T3 levels. I specifically requested the Free T3 test, but instead I got this:

T3 TOTAL R Result: 3.1 (Range 0.7 - 2.1 NMOL/L)
What the heck does that mean?

And for TSH her result was 1.29 (Range 0.30 - 4.70 MU/L)

Her Free T4 was 14.7 (Range 9.1 - 23.8 PMOL/L)

They wrote on the lab result "Flu". Could her strep throat have influenced her test results?

I also have some of her other blood test results eg. hemoglobin etc, which I have to find and post later for some input.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[nonstickpam107]

You NEVER, NEVER take thyroid labs when a patient has any type of infection or flu. It skews the results everytime (this is WHY the hospital won't run a thyroid panel on an admitted patient). Yes, flu skews the results, but that T3 is mighty high...and why WOULDN'T Hashi's be a concern? Babies are BORN with it.

Pam

[Carb&Driver]

Thanks Pam for your input. So despite her having strep throat at the time, it wouldn't have skewed it so much to make the T3 result that high? If I push for her to have Hashi's tested and it comes out positive, what can the doctor do? Would she go on thyroid meds to bring her TSH level down lower?

[nonstickpam107]

I suggest you read up on Hashimoto's and other autoimmune thyroid diseases. I just think you should have a FREE T3 done and the FT4, TSH when she is well again, ok? Just to make sure. Are you aware that Hashi's and Graves disease is triggered by virus at times? Many who have had EBV (mono) trigger their autoimmune thyroid disease by having it. I'm just saying that the TT3 she had might have been skewed by the flu virus...and you should re-run those tests (that Total T3 only showed what was 'floating around' not what she has to use in her body) when she is well again. And keep the copies of both in your own personal file for her for the future. Hope she feels better soon.

Pam