Is there anyone out there who had slightly elevated TSH and went on to receive treatment? I'm wondering how the meds helped and if there was a dramatic difference in the way you felt or in severity of symptoms. For example, less hair loss? Less "Brain Fog"? Less fatigue? Better, more regular cycles? Less Vertigo? Improvement is dry skin/hair? What about that lumpy-throated-feeling?
My June labs showed a TSH of 4.19. After some great help from the cysters on this board, I talked to my RE, who said he would retest and if the retest was over 4, he'd treat me. Now my retest has come back at 4.96, and he says he is not convinced treatment would be beneficial. (The lab values are up to 5.5 as normal.)
Of course, he wanted to do an Antibody test, but it didn't get marked on the lab sheet, so I still need that done.
I can tell he is not thrilled with my pressuring about this, but at least he admits a low dose trial probably wouldn't be harmful either. Still, he does not think I'd see/feel any differences....I'm not so sure.
I should also add, my Gluc therapy has brought my Testoterone levels back to earth (in fact they are normal again) and all my other blood tests were A+, but still no O or AF. I'm wondering if my marginally high TSH is enough to throw it off?
Sorry this got so long, as always, thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.
when i was initially diagnosed hypothyroid it was based on my free T4. I went on thyroid hormones and felt worse. I then went to a naturopath in Dec. of last year who ran a thyroid panel and my TSH came back at 4.2 He put me on a natural supplement which contains kelp, L-Tyrosine, copper, zinc, bovine pituitary extract and my TSH has gone down to 1. I'm feeling great now too.
Danielle
__________________ Have been prescribed Diane-35 and Alesse and couldn't tolerate them. Prescribed Metformin 03/24/03-hair loss and hair growth stopped, almost regular menstration!!
dx as Hypothyroid (May 2001)
5 lbs. to go!!
I am not mild hypo right now and I'll tell you why. (don't get me started!) 8 1/2 years ago I felt something was wrong. I had extremely low energy and was gaining weight like crazy. I was excersizing and I don't think I was eating the best best but when you are exhausted it is hard to cook great meals or to not crave high energy foods. I had strange aches, liquid from my nipples, and other problems that seemed to me, an untrained person, to be odd, yet doctors did not connect the dots. I complained of the weight and energy and wanted to be tested for a thyroid problem. The doctor practically rolled her eyes at me and said she would test me but she did not think it was the problem, that I needed to watch what I ate and excersize more (60 minutes 5 days enough of cardio was not enough for her I guess). When my results came back 'within the normal range' but yet slightly elevated at about a 5 at the time, despite my complaints, she considered it a fine #. When I was finally diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago my TSH was at a whopping 43.5! And all the stigma and shame of the weight and fatigue, not to mention the lingering lasting affects of prolonged thyroid problems angers me greatly.
From all that I have read (read "The Thyroid Solution" by Dr. Ridha Arem and "Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need To Know" by Mary J. Shomon) they both state that your TSH level should be under 2.0. And even if your doctor thinks that your levels are 'normal' they may not be normal for you. Studies have also shown that people with low grade hypothyroidism usually progress to a more full blown hypothyroidism.
If I were anyone with this disease that has not read these books, I'd read them ASAP. I know that The Thyroid Solution is often at public libraries.
Good luck, and I highly recommend seeing another doctor who takes you seriously.
April
My last thyroid test came back at 4.08 up from 3.65 3 years ago. My RE said that it was borderline and had me have a complete thyroid panel which came back normal so told me I didn't need medication at that time. At my next visit I mentioned to him that I was having problems with my throat, the lumpy feeling that you mentioned and he placed me on medication because he thought that even thought my results were normal I could still be having problems. To make a long story short(too late ), I have been on 50 mcg of Synthroid for almost a month, and I feel a lot better. My throat is feeling great and I don't have to pry myself out of bed every morning like I did in the past. And my brain fog has really improved. I would insist on getting treatment from your current doctor, and if he refuses, find a doctor that will listen to you. Your TSH might be borderline for some people but it may be too high for you. Good luck.
Jennifer
__________________ Jennifer
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3 angel babies
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Adopting two children from Kazakhstan. Hoping to bring them home in January 2006!
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The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. --Psalm 28:7
Anyone with "Mild" Hypo getting treatment? 
), I have been on 50 mcg of Synthroid for almost a month, and I feel a lot better. My throat is feeling great and I don't have to pry myself out of bed every morning like I did in the past. And my brain fog has really improved. I would insist on getting treatment from your current doctor, and if he refuses, find a doctor that will listen to you. Your TSH might be borderline for some people but it may be too high for you. Good luck.
