Recently diagnosed and just saw lab results...

dl24x · 06-25-2012, 05:38 PM

Hi!
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism on April 3, 2012. My doctor started me off on 100mg Levothyroxine sodium, which I thought was pretty high for my first prescription. I wasn't able to discuss my lab results until today and I found out that my TSH level was 357!! That's pretty bad right? I'm still learning about all this thyroid stuff. I hope eventually I won't have to hobble around with painful joints, feet, etc. I'm only 26 and I feel so old. I'm discovering this condition forces you to learn patience, whether you want to or not.

watcher513 · 06-25-2012, 06:15 PM

Welcome!

Yes, that's high.

Can you put the lab results up with the range to the right of each one?

kylady · 06-25-2012, 08:21 PM

357! How are you functioning? Actually what you will learn is that TSH is actually a measure of pituitary functioning NOT how much thyroid your body has.

I started having real problems around 2001, but wasn't diagnosed for a couple years because my useless TSH wasn't elevated (and I had a terrible doctor). She didn't do a full panel until I complained about heart palpitations and then she noticed my gland was more inflamed than usual... She farmed it out to an endo instead of dealing with it herself. I go to a different doctor now and am MUCH happier.

dl24x · 06-26-2012, 05:54 PM

I basically was not functioning. I had absolutely NO energy, losing hair, weight gain, horribly dry skin, etc., etc. I'm so happy to report that as of yesterday, my TSH level has dropped to 2.33. I'm amazed that after just about 3 months of 100mcg levothyroxine, it has dropped soo much. I never thought I'd have to research and be so educated about the thyroid.

Kylady - I'm so glad you found a doctor you like and who understands what you're going through!

Lokarbiebarbie · 06-28-2012, 06:33 AM

I have known patients actually hospitalized with a TSH of 5, and I've seen patients run a marathon and win with a TSH of over 400. This is WHY TSH should NOT be used to determine 'how hypothyroid' the patient is.

What is your Free T4 and Free T3? What if you don't NEED T4 (which is levothyroxine) but it's T3 that you need and you cannot convert your T4 into T3 (this happens often).

Yes, research is a good thing. That way you'll find out that TSH isn't the measurement of your actual thyroid hormones at all and that it goes up and down several points in any given day.

People who have hypothyroidism caused by the pituitary (with a tumor that can be removed) sometimes have HUGE high TSH's.

dl24x · 06-28-2012, 04:44 PM

Hmm, I was not told any T4 or T3 numbers. I've seen those numbers mentioned a lot on various websites, but I don't think I quite understand what they are.

Things have improved soo much since the TSH dropped, but I did notice that after I started taking the meds, my legs, knees, and feet hurt A LOT...more so than before the diagnosis. My doctor only recommended that I start a multivitamin daily and to contact her if things didn't improve. I've gotten pretty good at just coping with random ailments associated with hypothyroidism.

inatic · 06-28-2012, 05:41 PM

can i make a suggestion to always GET and KEEP copies of your labs in a file. On it write your symptoms and any meds you were taking at the time. They are yours and you have a right tot them.

Those numbers are important because Ft3 and Ft4 tell how your body is using the medication on a cellular level. STTM is a good website for some easy to understand info.

watcher513 · 06-29-2012, 12:53 AM

I'd call and ask if the did any other tests besides TSH and ask for the results to be mailed to you (please).

Lokarbiebarbie · 06-29-2012, 05:12 AM

T4 is the main thyroid hormone. T3 is the other thyroid hormone, the energy one. Our thyroids, IF they work properly put out T4 and then part of it is converted into T3.

If you only GET T4 and you cannot convert it to T4...then it has to be (well, should be) added.

TSH is just telling how the pituitary is 'responding'...it's not an actual thyroid hormone test.

FT4 and FT3 are the 'Free T4 adn Free T3' and tell how much hormone is actually available to your use! T4 and T3 are 'totals' and just tell how much is circulating around in the bloodstream, so you ideally want Free's to be done too.

AND T3 Uptake has nothing to do with T3 hormone! It's actually just a test to see binding of T4.

TPO AB is thyroid peroxidase antibodies and tell you if you have Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism.

dl24x · 07-06-2012, 06:51 AM

Thank you all for the information! So far I'm feeling pretty good, but I think next time I go get checked again I will ask about all the other hormone levels. I've read on many sites that people have a hard time convincing their doctors to check them for the different hormone levels. I hope that doesn't happen for me.

I have some good news.....I've lost 35lbs!! I'm sooo excited! I haven't seen the scale move in that direction in at least 2-3 years.

06-25-2012, 05:38 PM	#1
dl24x Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 9 Gallery: dl24x	Recently diagnosed and just saw lab results... Hi! I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism on April 3, 2012. My doctor started me off on 100mg Levothyroxine sodium, which I thought was pretty high for my first prescription. I wasn't able to discuss my lab results until today and I found out that my TSH level was 357!! That's pretty bad right? I'm still learning about all this thyroid stuff. I hope eventually I won't have to hobble around with painful joints, feet, etc. I'm only 26 and I feel so old. I'm discovering this condition forces you to learn patience, whether you want to or not.

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06-25-2012, 06:15 PM	#2
watcher513 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 2,639 Gallery: watcher513	Welcome! Yes, that's high. Can you put the lab results up with the range to the right of each one?

06-25-2012, 08:21 PM	#3
kylady Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Henderson, KY Posts: 6 Gallery: kylady WOE: Atkins/Bernstein's Start Date: April 2012	357! How are you functioning? Actually what you will learn is that TSH is actually a measure of pituitary functioning NOT how much thyroid your body has. I started having real problems around 2001, but wasn't diagnosed for a couple years because my useless TSH wasn't elevated (and I had a terrible doctor). She didn't do a full panel until I complained about heart palpitations and then she noticed my gland was more inflamed than usual... She farmed it out to an endo instead of dealing with it herself. I go to a different doctor now and am MUCH happier.

06-26-2012, 05:54 PM	#4
dl24x Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 9 Gallery: dl24x	I basically was not functioning. I had absolutely NO energy, losing hair, weight gain, horribly dry skin, etc., etc. I'm so happy to report that as of yesterday, my TSH level has dropped to 2.33. I'm amazed that after just about 3 months of 100mcg levothyroxine, it has dropped soo much. I never thought I'd have to research and be so educated about the thyroid. Kylady - I'm so glad you found a doctor you like and who understands what you're going through!

06-28-2012, 06:33 AM	#5
Lokarbiebarbie Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 255 Gallery: Lokarbiebarbie Stats: 185/120/125 WOE: Atkins 1972 Start Date: December 2008	I have known patients actually hospitalized with a TSH of 5, and I've seen patients run a marathon and win with a TSH of over 400. This is WHY TSH should NOT be used to determine 'how hypothyroid' the patient is. What is your Free T4 and Free T3? What if you don't NEED T4 (which is levothyroxine) but it's T3 that you need and you cannot convert your T4 into T3 (this happens often). Yes, research is a good thing. That way you'll find out that TSH isn't the measurement of your actual thyroid hormones at all and that it goes up and down several points in any given day. People who have hypothyroidism caused by the pituitary (with a tumor that can be removed) sometimes have HUGE high TSH's.

06-28-2012, 04:44 PM	#6
dl24x Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 9 Gallery: dl24x	Hmm, I was not told any T4 or T3 numbers. I've seen those numbers mentioned a lot on various websites, but I don't think I quite understand what they are. Things have improved soo much since the TSH dropped, but I did notice that after I started taking the meds, my legs, knees, and feet hurt A LOT...more so than before the diagnosis. My doctor only recommended that I start a multivitamin daily and to contact her if things didn't improve. I've gotten pretty good at just coping with random ailments associated with hypothyroidism.

06-28-2012, 05:41 PM	#7
inatic Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alpharetta,Ga. Posts: 17,805 Gallery: inatic Stats: 182+/126 5'4 50!yo 16/4 5 kidlets later! WOE: Coach:Erik Ledin leanbodies consulting Start Date: LowER C since 2/02 wt training 10/15/02	can i make a suggestion to always GET and KEEP copies of your labs in a file. On it write your symptoms and any meds you were taking at the time. They are yours and you have a right tot them. Those numbers are important because Ft3 and Ft4 tell how your body is using the medication on a cellular level. STTM is a good website for some easy to understand info.

06-29-2012, 12:53 AM	#8
watcher513 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 2,639 Gallery: watcher513	I'd call and ask if the did any other tests besides TSH and ask for the results to be mailed to you (please).

06-29-2012, 05:12 AM	#9
Lokarbiebarbie Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 255 Gallery: Lokarbiebarbie Stats: 185/120/125 WOE: Atkins 1972 Start Date: December 2008	T4 is the main thyroid hormone. T3 is the other thyroid hormone, the energy one. Our thyroids, IF they work properly put out T4 and then part of it is converted into T3. If you only GET T4 and you cannot convert it to T4...then it has to be (well, should be) added. TSH is just telling how the pituitary is 'responding'...it's not an actual thyroid hormone test. FT4 and FT3 are the 'Free T4 adn Free T3' and tell how much hormone is actually available to your use! T4 and T3 are 'totals' and just tell how much is circulating around in the bloodstream, so you ideally want Free's to be done too. AND T3 Uptake has nothing to do with T3 hormone! It's actually just a test to see binding of T4. TPO AB is thyroid peroxidase antibodies and tell you if you have Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism.

07-06-2012, 06:51 AM	#10
dl24x Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 9 Gallery: dl24x	Thank you all for the information! So far I'm feeling pretty good, but I think next time I go get checked again I will ask about all the other hormone levels. I've read on many sites that people have a hard time convincing their doctors to check them for the different hormone levels. I hope that doesn't happen for me. I have some good news.....I've lost 35lbs!! I'm sooo excited! I haven't seen the scale move in that direction in at least 2-3 years.