Slightly hypothyroid. What do you think?

[greeny79]

I hope this post finds people well today. Or better.

Just got my blood tests back from my alternative MD.

Before starting any medication (I was prescribed 30 mg (porcine) Thyroid 1x day) -- I thought I'd post my results and see what your thoughts were on my TSH 3rd generation level. It's *just* over the line, which is why I hesitate, and my T3 and T4 levels are normal.

TSH, 3rd Generation - 4.53 mIU/L ref. range (according to Quest diagnostics) .4-4.5
T4, Free 1.2 ng/dL ref. range .8-1.8 ng/dL
T3, Free 3.1 pg/mL ref. range 2.3-4.2 pg/mL

I don't know a lot about this condition quite yet, but if the range for TSH is .4-4.5 (and something to note is that I'm seeing the range differ across the boards), I don't understand why 4.53 is really something to treat?

Open to any explanations. My MD is a few states away, and when I asked, she just said, 'It's a little high. You could give the medication a try.'

I really prefer to take things when I absolutely need them. I have been feeling very tired, more anxious, cloudy-brained, but I have other health issues. We're in the 'sort-out' phase, if you kwim. I should add that I have a very fast metabolism and trouble keeping weight on, which doesn't jive with hypothyroidism, does it?

Thank you if you'd made sense of my babble thus far and have any words of advice, or thoughts.

[GD Women]

The Lab reference ranges, are they from your Lab, that is, Quest diagnostics the lab that did your testing?? Each Lab is different in the way they measure and test. Each will have a little different level ranges due to their own method of testing. For instant, my Labs TSH reference high range is 4.780. Lab Corp one of the biggies, is 5.5, if they haven't changed since last I used them. So your TSH would be in those Lab ranges. We have to be sure about getting our Labs own reference range and not to go by other Labs for it could lead us down the wrong path.

I am a little confused - you have two doctors and they both want to treat with different medications.(?)

Are you taking Porcine Pig Thyroid, if so, were your levels done before Porcine Pig Thyroid medication or after.

When on Porcine Pig Thyroid, if TSH is high Porcine Pig Thyroid dose is too low.

I am not sure I answered your question because I am not sure I understood correctly.

If a person has no symptoms, no goiter/nodule and FTs are nbormal, doctor will not feel the need to treat until TSH is at least 10. But will and should treat based on those with a TSH between 5 and 10. However this is an individual requirement and needs to be discussed between you and your doctor.
Your doctor knows you and your health best.

Good luck!

[greeny79]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I have one doctor treating me with the Porcine thyroid med.

The lab where I had my test done (Quest) gave that range of values as 'normal'. So, I'm .03 above normal, and I guess I was surprised that the .03 made it necessary to take something.

I do think that it may be worth a shot if I'm feeling some symptoms that end up not be attributed to something else.

I was just curious what other peoples' experiences were.

Thanks again! It's a lot to think about.

[GD Women]

I have a better understand now - thanks!

Well I don't take the stuff I am too hyper with FT levels high side of Labs if not out and TSH on the low side if not out. So they are relating to each other in the manner that they should other than regulating thyroid and meds. In other words, no other issues such as conversion issue.

So my only experience with Porcine Pig Thyroid or other T3 medications is through reading and listening to other experiences in taking Porcine Pig Thyroid.

It might be to you and your symptoms benifit to up your dose to the next dose and get test no sooner than 4 weeks and no later than 6 weeks. Porcine Pig Thyroid inters the system faster than T4 medications, so its necessarly to test sooner. But doses should be done low and slow so as not to over shoot goal level. Also it should be used twice daily and NOT once a day. The major reason is that the T3 component has such a short half life and needs to be taken twice daily to achieve consistent blood levels.
The body seems to do better with a steady state of energy. T4 acts slowly but T3 is rapid to come and leave. Therefore, to maintain a steadier blood level of T3, it is best taken in divided doses. Splitting the daily dose into 2 or 3 portions stresses the adrenals less than taking the entire dose once daily and therefore leads to more stable temperatures.

Just a few tid-bit, that perhaps you already know.

[Andros]

I hope this post finds people well today. Or better.

Just got my blood tests back from my alternative MD.

Before starting any medication (I was prescribed 30 mg (porcine) Thyroid 1x day) -- I thought I'd post my results and see what your thoughts were on my TSH 3rd generation level. It's *just* over the line, which is why I hesitate, and my T3 and T4 levels are normal.

TSH, 3rd Generation - 4.53 mIU/L ref. range (according to Quest diagnostics) .4-4.5
T4, Free 1.2 ng/dL ref. range .8-1.8 ng/dL
T3, Free 3.1 pg/mL ref. range 2.3-4.2 pg/mL

I don't know a lot about this condition quite yet, but if the range for TSH is .4-4.5 (and something to note is that I'm seeing the range differ across the boards), I don't understand why 4.53 is really something to treat?

Open to any explanations. My MD is a few states away, and when I asked, she just said, 'It's a little high. You could give the medication a try.'

I really prefer to take things when I absolutely need them. I have been feeling very tired, more anxious, cloudy-brained, but I have other health issues. We're in the 'sort-out' phase, if you kwim. I should add that I have a very fast metabolism and trouble keeping weight on, which doesn't jive with hypothyroidism, does it?

Thank you if you'd made sense of my babble thus far and have any words of advice, or thoughts.

The TSH and the FT4, FT3 don't always work in sync. There is often a lag time. So, untreated, it is possible that the TSH will continue to rise and eventually the others will go down.

It would be highly recommended by myself to get the following antibodies' tests.

TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin),TPO (antimicrosomal antibodies) TBII (thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin), Thyroglobulin Ab, ANA (antinuclear antibodies), (thyroid hormone panel) TSH, Free T3, Free T4.

You can look this stuff up here and more.........
http://www.labtestsonline.org/unders...s/thyroid.html

The results of these tests would most certainly settle any doubts you may have.

Welcome.

[greeny79]

Thank you both -- those tests suggestions and link are helpful. I see my hematologist (I'm seeing him because my platelet level has also dropped down to 100K) here in a week and will ask for them.

[Andros]

Thank you both -- those tests suggestions and link are helpful. I see my hematologist (I'm seeing him because my platelet level has also dropped down to 100K) here in a week and will ask for them.

You are most welcome. Please let us know how you are doing and what the game plan is.