What tests should I ask for?

KeirasMom · 04-27-2012, 04:58 PM

I'm going for my 6-8 week bloodwork after starting low dose levothyroxine, probably sometime next week. I'm on 25 mcg and have seen just a little improvement. I'm still fatigued and cold, I have a "tight" feeling in my throat (not really sore or like a blocked airway) and now I'm losing hair like crazy, etc. I suspect Hashimoto's and I'm reading a bunch when I can. Is there an easy list of labs I should ask for? I found a quite long list on stopthethyroidmadness.com, but don't know if I need all of the tests.

Thanks so much in advance!

watcher513 · 04-27-2012, 05:15 PM

That's the tiny starting dose which is pretty normal. TSH (if they insist), Free T4, Free T3 (NOT Totals) and TPO Antibodies (to rule in/out Hashimoto's). If you're getting the labs yourself, healthcheckusa online has the Thyroid Panel II which runs those first 3 but not the TPO Antibodies (addiitonal charge), for $85. With check-out code 12345, there's a 10% discount off the stated charge. Sign up online and go to a lab near you. They email back the results and also mail them.

KeirasMom · 04-27-2012, 06:46 PM

Thanks Terry!

Leo41 · 04-28-2012, 05:09 AM

Dawn
Keep in mind that the antibodies test is unreliable, and you can have Hashimoto's even if you don't show sufficient antibodies. That's what happened to me. I eventually had a fine-needle biopsy of one of my thyroid nodules, and the pathologist was able to confirm Hashimoto's.

When my endo got the report, he told me that he was glad for the diagnosis because he'd suspected I had Hashi's, but my antibody level was too low for a diagnosis based on the labs alone.

Apparently, the antibody level only rises when the thyroid is actually being attacked, and unless the blood draw happens at that time, there won't be sufficient antibodies to confirm Hashi's.

My point is that if you get a negative report, don't assume that you don't have Hashi's. The treatment is the same as for any hypothyroid condition, so there's usually no problem. In fact, many doctors don't even bother testing for Hashi's because negative results are meaningless.

I'm sure your doctor will raise your dosage at this visit. Most of us began with a similarly low dose because the body needs to adjust to incoming hormones.

KeirasMom · 04-28-2012, 05:34 AM

Thank you Leo. I had read about the needle biopsy/aspiration as a more conclusive test. I haven't found an endo yet, so I'm still relying on my primary, who at least caught the hypo the first time I complained of symptoms.

Leo41 · 04-28-2012, 08:48 AM

Dawn- Just to be clear, I didn't have the needle biopsy for the purpose of checking for Hashimoto's. The doctor was checking the nodule to insure that it was benign and not cancerous. the Hashi's diagnosis was a secondary result because the pathologist analyzes the material extracted.

I doubt that any doctor would order something as invasive as a biopsy just to check for Hashi's. But you may already know that. I just wanted to be clear and not mislead you.

04-27-2012, 04:58 PM	#1
KeirasMom Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 7,346 Gallery: KeirasMom Stats: 277.6/155-159/165, 5'9", 40 y.o., Hypothyroid WOE: In Place of a Roadmap Start Date: Maintenance 1/23/13	What tests should I ask for? I'm going for my 6-8 week bloodwork after starting low dose levothyroxine, probably sometime next week. I'm on 25 mcg and have seen just a little improvement. I'm still fatigued and cold, I have a "tight" feeling in my throat (not really sore or like a blocked airway) and now I'm losing hair like crazy, etc. I suspect Hashimoto's and I'm reading a bunch when I can. Is there an easy list of labs I should ask for? I found a quite long list on stopthethyroidmadness.com, but don't know if I need all of the tests. Thanks so much in advance! __________________ Dawn Atkins 10/24/11 @ 277.6 JUDDD 12/12/11 @ 267.8 5:2 1/23/13 for maintenance at 165 In Place of a Roadmap 5/17/13 at 155

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04-27-2012, 05:15 PM	#2
watcher513 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 2,643 Gallery: watcher513	That's the tiny starting dose which is pretty normal. TSH (if they insist), Free T4, Free T3 (NOT Totals) and TPO Antibodies (to rule in/out Hashimoto's). If you're getting the labs yourself, healthcheckusa online has the Thyroid Panel II which runs those first 3 but not the TPO Antibodies (addiitonal charge), for $85. With check-out code 12345, there's a 10% discount off the stated charge. Sign up online and go to a lab near you. They email back the results and also mail them.

04-27-2012, 06:46 PM	#3
KeirasMom Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 7,346 Gallery: KeirasMom Stats: 277.6/155-159/165, 5'9", 40 y.o., Hypothyroid WOE: In Place of a Roadmap Start Date: Maintenance 1/23/13	Thanks Terry!

04-28-2012, 05:09 AM	#4
Leo41 Senior LCF member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,426 Gallery: Leo41 Stats: 340 then/145 now WOE: Low carb/calorie cycling	Dawn Keep in mind that the antibodies test is unreliable, and you can have Hashimoto's even if you don't show sufficient antibodies. That's what happened to me. I eventually had a fine-needle biopsy of one of my thyroid nodules, and the pathologist was able to confirm Hashimoto's. When my endo got the report, he told me that he was glad for the diagnosis because he'd suspected I had Hashi's, but my antibody level was too low for a diagnosis based on the labs alone. Apparently, the antibody level only rises when the thyroid is actually being attacked, and unless the blood draw happens at that time, there won't be sufficient antibodies to confirm Hashi's. My point is that if you get a negative report, don't assume that you don't have Hashi's. The treatment is the same as for any hypothyroid condition, so there's usually no problem. In fact, many doctors don't even bother testing for Hashi's because negative results are meaningless. I'm sure your doctor will raise your dosage at this visit. Most of us began with a similarly low dose because the body needs to adjust to incoming hormones.

04-28-2012, 05:34 AM	#5
KeirasMom Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 7,346 Gallery: KeirasMom Stats: 277.6/155-159/165, 5'9", 40 y.o., Hypothyroid WOE: In Place of a Roadmap Start Date: Maintenance 1/23/13	Thank you Leo. I had read about the needle biopsy/aspiration as a more conclusive test. I haven't found an endo yet, so I'm still relying on my primary, who at least caught the hypo the first time I complained of symptoms.

04-28-2012, 08:48 AM	#6
Leo41 Senior LCF member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,426 Gallery: Leo41 Stats: 340 then/145 now WOE: Low carb/calorie cycling	Dawn- Just to be clear, I didn't have the needle biopsy for the purpose of checking for Hashimoto's. The doctor was checking the nodule to insure that it was benign and not cancerous. the Hashi's diagnosis was a secondary result because the pathologist analyzes the material extracted. I doubt that any doctor would order something as invasive as a biopsy just to check for Hashi's. But you may already know that. I just wanted to be clear and not mislead you.