Questions re lab work

care72 · 10-18-2007, 08:30 AM

Had lab work done this week. Was told my TSH was 4.96 and would recheck at my next appt in Dec. But if I started feeling bad then to give my Endocrinologist a call. All my other thyroid levels were ok. Is this considered hypothyroidism? My cholesterol panel ok except my HDL is still low at 38. Any advice on if I should start thyroid medication or try some natural remedies? Or if anyone has a low HDL and advise to boost that up? I take Metformin 1500 mg/day for IR and Cinnamon 1000mg and trying very hard to follow diet in Good carbs (nothing white and Low GI foods). Down 30 lbs since May. Just one more thing to add the list with PCOS. At least my periods are now regular with help of Metformin, exercise and diet. Thanks in advance.

lovemychris · 10-18-2007, 04:49 PM

In my opinion (I'm not a Dr), you should be on 25mcg-50mcg of Synthroid (or equivalent). You have subclinical hypothyroidism that will probably only get worse with time.

You doctor should check your thyroid antibodies (if he/she hasn't already). If your antibodies are negative, you need a scan of your thyroid to determine what's wrong with it.

If your antibodies are positive, you have Hashimoto's and it's just a matter of time before you're full-blown Hypo.

Please consider taking your current lab results to your endo. Had I been treated when my TSH was at 4.3, I probably wouldn't have been so depressed and lost 40% of my hair 6months later. When I was finally dx'ed, my TSH was at 6.53. The new ranges are .3-3.04 and you need to find a good dr who recognizes that and treats pts who are out of range. Hypothyroidism is the most easily treatable of all the auto-immune diseases, so I hope I'm not scaring you.

I believe Fish Oil or Flaxseed Oil (w/ Omega-3 Fatty Acids) will help your cholestorol.

PS- I'm surprised your dr won't treat you for being hypo, but at least s/he is checking your levels again in December, which is good.

care72 · 10-18-2007, 06:07 PM

Thanks LovemyChris for responding. Actually it was my Endocrinologist who ran the Thyroid Panel and decided no need for medication at this time. He said to call if I started feeling bad. What does that mean? Still unsure if I should just wait until Dec. and have it rechecked or call him back and start medication. Are there any vitamins that will boost the thyroid? Thanks for suggestion on low HDL. Also hoping getting back into exercising 3-4 wk will help.

lovemychris · 10-18-2007, 11:02 PM

Yeah, that's weird he told you to call if you start feeling bad. If I were in your shoes, I would print off the new TSH lab ranges and make an appointment to see him again. Show him the information and tell him you'd like to try something to bring your TSH level down. One big sign of being hypo is feeling really sluggish and not having as much energy. If that's your case, then tell him you feel that way and you think meds will help with that (and it's true they will). Hypothyroidism is referred to as "couch potato syndrome" too.

I don't know of anything that will boost the thyroid (though, that doesn't mean there isn't anything). If you are hypo, only levothyroxine (such as Synthroid or Unithroid) or Armour (dessicated pig thyroid) will really help.

If your thyroid antibodies come back positive, you could take Selenium (which is found OTC like Wal-Mart or CVS) and that could help lower the antibodies. The antibodies are what attacks the thyroid causing it to produce less thyroxine.

Someone on here may say that selenium doesn't work for everyone. That's fine....it's cheap and it's better than nothing. I don't think there is anything else that will help with the antibodies.

I'm rambling. If you visit your endo again, you may want to ask him if your antibodies are elevated. This will let you know why your thyroid isn't working like it should. It's also the most common reason for hypo.

And lastly, lol...taking B12 everyday will help with your energy level if you need it.

ddk513 · 10-18-2007, 11:03 PM

Definetly get a second opinion. I was misdiagnosed for years because my thyroid was between 4.5 - 5.5. Finally when I went to see a new endo. she said the new range was .5-3.0 but that a woman of reproductive age should be between 1-2. She checked my antibodies and sure enough they were elevated and I was diagnosed Hashimotos. There really is no supplements to cure it but some that can support your thyroid. By the way after 3.5 years of ttc I did three months after I started thyroid treatment.

Danielle