~I really need some thyroid help! Please! I just dont understand~

avenue · 04-10-2008, 07:32 PM

Okay so my TSH levels was slightly high at (4.14 or 4.41 I forget which) and my clinic considers normal up to 4. So I was slightly high and had to beg the doctor to put me on thyroid meds because I am losing hair, not having a period etc and metformin alone wasn't helping. So now I am 25mg of synthroid.

The thing was although my TSH was slightly high my T3 and T4 were normal. The pharmacist explained it as "well of course your t3 and t4 are normal, thats because your thyroid is working hard to keep it that way. Thats why your TSH is high."

In July when I was on bcp my TSH was 1.71. Years ago when I was first diagnosed my TSH was 6.36 (that was considered SLIGHTLY high as well and no further investigation was done) I have always been thin. My Dr says that since I am thin and my T3 and T4 is normal that he doubts this is my issue.

I argue that that my family is very thin, I eat well and excersise. My tummy is always bloated (I looke preg) tho. And then I have the other symptoms of fast heartbeat, trouble sleeping, drowsy, no sex drive, no periods and the fact that my TSH showed up as high along with other symptoms. I think maybe because my thyroid problem is in its early stages (Im 21) I dont have all the side effects that some people have when its discovered. I think since my TSH is high, I get symptoms from that but because my T3 and T4 are still normal I dont get the symptoms that people would have when those hormones are out of range.

In the end my doctor said I could take the synthroid and see what it does. He says since its a low dose it wont hurt. Any advice would be SO appreciated. Thank you! p.s. Also all my other hormones were normal, cept my LH but he said thats because Im in my "luteal" phase. IF everything else was normal and my TSH was abnormal thats the only thing I can think of! I do believe I have a *mild* case of pcos as well but I believe I have a *mild* case of both then!

funkadelica · 04-10-2008, 10:30 PM

Most who I've spoken with seem to think that TSH in people without thyroid disease is around 1. I personally was at 4.7 and I felt like absolute CRAP all the time, and even though I'm down to 2.37 I still am not totally right (which is why I started investigating PCOS.)

My only advice is to find a doctor who knows that you know your body and know when it's not functioning properly. If a doctor is willing to dismiss your symptoms just because you don't fit the profile of a certain condition, then he's not doing his job. I'm not going to pretend that it's easy - I had to look for 8 years and move 2,000 miles before I found one willing to admit that I know when there's something wrong with me.

Best of luck!

Victoria070505 · 04-10-2008, 10:39 PM

Have they checked for Antibodies yet? If you have Hashimotos Thyroiditis it can cause your thyroid to fluctuate to Hypo to hyper to normal. Basically it works sometimes, over works sometimes and underworks sometimes. But the basically your body is trying to fight off your Thyroid and eventually it will stop working completley I was told it usually takes 5 years for it to finally stop completley causing you to develop Hypothyroid. I dunno if that is whats up with you but its an idea. Ask to be checked for the antibodies that are caused by Hashimotos Thyroiditis, its worth checking.

avenue · 04-10-2008, 11:24 PM

I did ask him about it but he refuses to check! Instead hes refering me to an edno and the wait list is 6 months. I hope synthroid wont harm me if I take it in the mean time.

mommavia · 04-11-2008, 08:57 PM

The pharmacist is correct...your thyroid hormone levels are normal b/c your thyroid is working hard to keep it that way, hence the elevated TSH. Your isn't elevated too high, and some docs won't treat. It will be a good idea for you to find an endocrinologist, it doesn't sound like you are seeing one. Am I correct? And endo will do a better job at treating your thyroid dysfunction.

The Synthroid won't hurt you in the mean time because you are hypothyroid. When I was diagnosed as hypo, my TSH was over 100 but my T4 was right on the dot. My thyroid was working super-duper-into-the-night-overtime to get my body what it needed. At the time 25 mcg of Synthroid was all I needed to get back into the groove.

Good luck,
Cynthia