Question about tsh and Armour

[DebOnWeb]

It's been a long time since I posted here. My thyroid was removed about 20 years ago. I'm on ERFA thyroid and doing pretty doggone well.

My question is this: Whenever I have my tsh tested, it's always something like .002. Way out of range. According to the test, I'm hyper as hell. I should be suffering from anxiety, heart palpitations, etc. I don't. I'm just fine.

It doesn't matter how much my meds are adjusted, my tsh stays the same.

My doctor doesn't even test tsh on me anymore. She tests the FTs and she's great. I'm feeling good on my dosage. But whenever my GP (not my med doctor) tests me, that tsh is .002. It drives him batty.

My question is: I've been told many times that my tsh will be whacked because I don't have a thyroid and I'm on natural thyroid. Does anyone have any clue why this is? I'm asking because several people have the same problem and of course they have lousy doctors who believe only in tsh. Is there some research or information that explains why tsh is so high with certain people? I would like to be able to help them figure out what they can say to their docs (besides you're fired) to get them to understand.

If you know of something and can point it out to me, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks, and I hope you're all doing well.

Debbie

[Leo41]

Since your thyroid doctor isn't concerned, perhaps you should ask her this question. The fact that other doctors react means that this is probably something related to the total absence of thyroid that only a specialist would be aware of.

You'd be amazed at how little most doctors know outside of their own specialty.

You can then convey her explanation to your other doctors.

[watcher513]

"My doctor doesn't even test tsh on me anymore. She tests the FTs and she's great. I'm feeling good on my dosage. But whenever my GP (not my med doctor) tests me, that tsh is .002. It drives him batty."


Ah yes. You should tell your GP to get with the program and test Free T4 and Free T3 to see where they are and Not rely only on the TSH test, which doesn't tell the real story.

[DebOnWeb]

I'm sorry, I thought I made it clear that I was asking for someone else.
Ooops!

Ok, I am wondering if anyone knows of the research. But that's ok, found it!

This is excellent, for those of you who are interested.

http://www.ccjm.org/content/77/11/803.full.pdf

[watcher513]

"I'm sorry, I thought I made it clear that I was asking for someone else.
Ooops!"


I'm not sure who 'someone else' is but you did start a post on a public message board.

[DebOnWeb]

I apologize, I was asking for research if anyone knew. I should have simply posted this:

My question is: Is there some research or information that explains why tsh results are so low with certain people? I would like to be able to help them figure out what they can say to their docs (besides you're fired) to get them to understand that it's not because they're hyperthyroid.

I don't know if you've checked out that link, but it's invaluable to someone who is consistently chastised by their docs for having such low tsh numbers. It's great!

I appreciate your time. Thank you, Terry.

[Lokarbiebarbie]

I think my answer to that would be: The TSH test is skewed. It's a pituitary test, first off. And secondly, that link hasn't 'swayed' most doctors to do anything BUT a TSH.

So...some people have VERY low TSH (naturally, I am NOT talking about patients on replacement).

The fact IS that doing a TSH does not test actual thyroid hormones in ANY way at all....and the test was based on ONLY males (hmm..think about it...almost ALL the Hashimoto's patients are FEMALE) and that, IMHO, was the start of a skewed test.

The test is cheap and quick and allows many many patients to never get treatment.

I was extremely hypothyroid when first tested, and my TSH started out at .002 and many doctors jumped to the conclusion I was 'hyPERthyroid'. I'm not. No matter WHERE my TSH is at...my FT's are in the 'toilet' when not replaced.

We need to be researching and more proactive about testing the actual hormones and teaching doctors to interpret based on those tests.

[DebOnWeb]

Thank you, Barbie. I agree wholeheartedly.

[watcher513]

No problem at all Deb.