I believe that your TSH alone is an indication of hypothyroidism. The T3 and T4 and show if other things are going on.
Hey guys ... Am I right on my thinking on this?
No. TSH only shows what the pituitary gland is doing in response to the thyroid gland. Your TSH can be perfectly normal but if your T's are low, you are hypothyroid. That's why TSH alone should never be used to diagnose hypothyroidism.
Barb
Your TSH is high and you have not been on meds long enough for them to make a difference in your free's.
Your pituitary gland is responding to something going on with your thyroid.
Say your thyroid slowed down today and is no longer putting out as much t4 and t3 as it previously had. It could take several weeks for your free t4 and free t3 to drop. So it's possible that your pituitary gland noticed a decrease in production of t4 and t3 and responded immediately to that decrease even though your frees are still within range.
Barb
okay good, cause i don't want to get poked anymore! not for another couple of months anyway! My pituitary (cortisone and something else) tests came back normal so it isn't my pituitary just going nuts.
No. TSH only shows what the pituitary gland is doing in response to the thyroid gland. Your TSH can be perfectly normal but if your T's are low, you are hypothyroid. That's why TSH alone should never be used to diagnose hypothyroidism.
Barb
Thanks for the clarification Barb. I have a lot to learn myself on this stuff. I'm still a little confused on what you said about your TSH being off and your T4 and T3 being normal. I have the same question that Mellybean does I guess in that if your TSH is higher than the normal range and you don't treat it wouldn't it continuously get worse even if your T levels are okay??
I don't know. They are in the low end of the normal range, so maybe for me my body decided that it wasn't normal? But my TSH is high for having normal T's. Stacia is right, I am on .05 mg of synthroid right now, i should keep on it then so I don't wind up going really hypo? Am I lucky in that i caught it early?
Yes, your TSH could get worse.
Your pituitary gland responds immediately to whatever your thyroid is doing or not doing. But it takes a while for it to affect your free's. I hope that answers your question. Sometimes I know what I want to say but can't put it into the right words.
Barb
Mellybean,
You do want those to be in the mid to upper part of the range. That's where most people do their best.
Keep in mind that if the thyroid is failing, it takes several weeks for the frees to go down.
Oh yes, you are lucky you caught it early. How long have you been on meds?
Barb
No that makes a lot of sense, I have been having slight symptoms for almost a year (weight gain, tiredness etc.) But only recently have i started losing hair, brittle nails, missed period for 3 months and counting, and within the week of getting my diagnoses had my first episode of complete brain fog.
It took 8-9 months of 1-2 doctor visits a month, 5 trips to the ER and one three day hospital stay before I got a diagnosis so in my book, you are very fortunate.
Barb
Oh wow! jeez, I didn't realize how long it takes someone to get diagnosed usually. I guess it was really good i had such a concrete symptom that leads to looking into the thyroid function (lack of period). I have been on .05 mg of Synthroid for 5 days. I was diagnosed a week ago today.
You really are new to this. Give it time. And don't be surprised if you feel a bit worse before you feel better. That seems to happen quite a bit. My hair loss got pretty bad after starting synthroid. But thankfully, it grew back. Have to go. I'm cooking pork chops now and almost burned them.
Catchya later!
Barb
Mellybean - you have me thinking about my past alot. I have when through the no period thing myself. I too had to take a pill to make me get it. I also once had my period for a month and they gave me something to stop it. Now I only get it for like two days. (No compaints there.) I haven't been to the gyno now in four years but I made and appt in March. I just wonder if there is more to this. Thanks for being here and open with your symptoms.
I have no idea, i know that a symptom of hypo is usually heavier periods, but i have seen places where it says that lack of period is a symptom. Hyper usually has light period. But i have also been diagnosed as having polycystic ovarian syndrome, but that may work itself out once my thyroid gets stabilized. Well like my step mom said " enjoy not getting your period now, because it will be back!"
SO many things im learning here and not from my doc! I also had no period for like 2 or more yrs. and then a heavy one for a month or more. I was tired all the time and doc did labs found I was hypo and had mono. Im sick every 3 months with bronchitis and asthma. I have soooo much to learn and you guys are the ones teaching me so thank you. I started on 0.025 levoxyl and now have been bumped to .050 levoxyl. Still feel tired all the time. My last labs said TSH 4.99 but thats it, nothing about t4 t3 or frees , which by the way, I know nothing about. Can someone help me!!!
Maybe these will help you.
[url]http://www.hsc.missouri.edu/~daveg/thyroid/thy_test.html[/url]
[url]http://www.ithyroid.com/thyroid_test_interpretation.htm[/url]
Barb
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Last edited by LuvMyLilDoggie; 01-27-2005 at 08:27 AM.
