gut feeling it's thyroid related

hopeless · 12-26-2003, 01:10 AM

Before I was diagnosed with PCOS, I was sure that my hair loss was hormone related. I bugged my derm for hormone tests and when he humored me and got them....they came back with abnormal results.

I've had this gut feeling that my thyroid plays a role here as well. My TSH is 1.3, but nothing else has been tested. (T4 was checked years ago and was also normal) I just can't shake the feeling that there's something not right with my thyroid. And I know that getting hormones tested was the right thing to do...and that was a gut feeling also.

Has anyone here been diagnosed, but always had normal TSH? What tests did you have done?

prunepie · 12-26-2003, 01:30 AM

hi .. i knew for years my thryoid was off...but most drs only test tsh and most drs go by the old guidelines of tsh can be up to a 5 and considered normal..now anything above a 3 should be considered hypo......

also... even if your tsh is in the new normal guidelines..you can have low t4 or t3..or have thyroid antibodies... so you need all the tests done.

tsh
t4
t3
thyroid antibodies

without all the tests you just dont know

and please if you get the tests done..get copies of the labs to see where your numbers fall within the ranges..because lets say your t3 is 1.1 and you are told its normal...but lets say the cut off is 1.2... you have a problem make sense???

good luck and demand those tests if you feel something is off
xoxo jenn

nobimbo · 12-26-2003, 08:23 AM

Jenn is right about all the other tests that need to be done. With Hashimoto's in particular, TSH is often within normal ranges, at least at first. I want to add that the typical Total T4 and Total T3 is not sufficient; Free T3 and Free T4 are suggested, as they show the actual amount of thyroid hormones your body is USING, not just what is present in your blood. With Hashi's, the T4 is often within normal range as well, but the T3 may be in the low range and there may be antibodies present.

I insisted on all the necessary tests and my doc complied. My TSH and FT4 are in normal range, my T3 is in low normal range, and I tested positive for the TPO antibodies, although the lab range for that was ">60" and mine was 58. I have many symptoms being hypo, but am not yet on meds for it.

I highly recommend you spend some time reading the many informative posts on this thread from another board. It will enlighten you, I promise!:

http://www.low-carb-friends.com/bbs/...l+are+you+sure

Linda

prunepie · 12-26-2003, 08:38 PM

thanks linda i forgot to mention the free t3 and free t4..xoxo jenn

hopeless · 12-30-2003, 09:43 PM

Thanks for the reply.

I had to basically beg for the T4 test. (and my doc had to lie and say my TSH was normal....labs won't do the test otherwise) So, I think this will be an uphill battle. I'm going to be seeing a new doctor though, and he's the type that doesn't think "normal" lab results rule things out automatically.

I'll definetly ask him about the other tests. Thanks!

prunepie · 12-31-2003, 01:10 AM

if a dr orders it specifically a lab will do the other tests, but you are right... routinely they only do t3 if t4 is off...but i am glad you ahve found a new doc that goes not only by the numbers let us know what happens xo jenn