High TSH Doctor says it's normal!!!!

[Pixsy]

Hello everyone!

Wondering if anyone could offer an opinion regarding my wee problem.

I recently was tested for thyroid function by my GP as i have been complianing of symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Phoned my GP today and asked for the results informed the test came back normal despite the following,

TSH is 5.9 (normal range is 0.3-3.8)
Free Thyroxine is 12 (normal range 10-24).

I am more than a wee bit concerned as i have a family history of hypothyroidism, mother, maternal grandmother have hypothyroidism and my paternal grandmother has subclinical hypothyroidism, with elevated antibodies.

What should i do??? Am i at risk of developing the disease or should i just ignore it and not ask for further tests?

Thanks

[CelticSpirit]

You should take your test results and call an endocrinologist...

THAT IS NOT NORMAL! OH HOW I GET TO TICKED OFF OVER THESE IDIOTS DOING THIS CRAP TO WOMEN!

Ok, now that I've got that out of my system...if you're experiencing the symptoms of hypothyroid, and your results are what they are, then you are hypothyroid. Pure and simple. You need to find a decent doctor who will treat you since there are so many things that can go wrong with thyroid disease...it can really affect you.

So...get yourself an endocrinologist and get it treated.

Also, you need to have your Free T3 tested AND your antibodies (to determine if it's autoimmune).

Another thing...find yourself a new GP...

[Pixsy]

Put an appointment on with my GP today to discuss my results, he said that he will do further tests, but he's only going to do the antithyroid antibodies. I expressd my concern and he said if they were elevated I would have subclinical hypothyroidism and would receive treatment. Least it sounds like he's prepared to do something, but why tell me the results were normal over the phone!?

[shenacat]

Let me 2nd this:

IT IS NOT NORMAL!! GRR!

Your doctors are simply not as informed as they should be.

Please visit this web site and look for a doctor to see for a 2nd (third) opinion:
http://www.thyroid-info.org/

Click on 'top docs'.

[luvtigger]

My GP keeps insisting that my test results are within normal ranges too, but I recently went to another dr who thought that this wasn't so. She put it this way:

The average height of men are between 5' and 6' and the average weight of men are between 130 lbs and 200 lbs. Now a man that is 5' and 200 lbs and a man who is 6' and 130 lbs are both considered to be within the "normal" ranges of what defines a healthy man, but neither could really be considered healthy, right?

So what really defines "normal" thyroid levels? Shouldn't it really be based on what is right for the individual, and not on some arbituary standard of normal?

Take care!

[Pixsy]

I have since had further tests for antithyroid antibodies, the results of which were elevate (result 264 lab range 0-50). MY GP contacted me at home to arrange a further appointment when he received these results. He told me i was subclinically hypothyroid and commenced me on Levothyroxine, and told me i'd have to be on medication for life!! I did not think they would treat me ad my freethyroxine results were low but in normal range. Should i be taking thyroxine for this????? HELP

[prunepie]

yes bc you have hashimoto's . please go to www.thyroid.about.com to learn more about your condition. xxoo jenn

[CelticSpirit]

Ah Pixsy,

Welcome to the wonderful world of hashimoto's thyroiditis...I have it too. Yes, you will be on meds for the rest of your life. The reason...just because your T4 and other hormones are normal, your antibodies are out of control. That will effect the way your thyroid works (remember, antibodies mean that something is being attacked by your body...in this case it's your thyroid). Sooooooo, if you don't take meds, you will wind up in worse shape than you are now.

Check out that site that was recommended. It's a great source of information.

Hang in there, and don't panic. It's treatable and you'll be fine as long as it's treated the right way.

Big hugs!

StacieD

PS Feel free to ask us as many questions as you want...also check out the search function to see if there might be a thread with the info. you need.

[Pixsy]

thanks for the link to the site, plenty information and thanks again for everyones help!