Thyroid tsh levels
Common Questions and Answers about Thyroid tsh levels
armour-thyroid
That belief assumes that TSH perfectly reflects the levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4. In actuality, TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T3 or Free T4, much less with symptoms, which are most important. The best correlation of TSH to Free T3 and Free T4 that I have yet to find is shown in Fig. 2 of this link. As you can see and read, the correlation is poor.
http://nahypothyroidism.
It means that you probably have higher thyroid hormone levels. Ideally, when TSH is high, thyroid hormones are low and when TSH is low, thyroid hormones are high.
What are your FT3 and FT4 levels? Please post them, along with reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
What, if any, symptoms do you have?
8. I was put on .75mcg of synthroid and After six week my levels were TSH 5.19, t4 1.5, t3 3.1. The doctor increased the synthroid to .88mcg to bring down the tsh and I feel worse than before. They took more blood and my TSH is now .664, t4 1.59, t3 3.3. She says my blood work is now normal, but I feel so tired and I think the TSH seems low and should be closer to 1. Am I over medicated now?
I have felt awful for some time now and seem to have so many thyroid symptoms. My levels of tSh have always been 1.2, 2.3... Last year I was feeling awful and it was up to 4.5. My doctor did not see this as a big deal. I am once again feeling INCREDIBLY anxious, not sleeping, hoarse, .... The list goes on... Went for bloodwork yesterday. TSH is 3.7 and Free T4 is 1.2. What does this mean? My mother had thyroid cancer a couple of years ago and had hers removed.
TSH is useless for long term monitoring of thyroid hormones. The fact that your doctor is only looking at TSH and that the TSH has stayed so low despite decreases in medicine should have raised some sort of alarm for him - that the TSH was not reflecting the real thyroid hormone situation. Obviously it didn't.
You need to test FT3 and FT4. Your meds should be adjusted based on this. TSH should be ignored from here on.
Most likely you need to go back to your .200 mg dose.
I recently had a FT4 and TSH levels done. My FT4 was 0.9 ng/dl and TSH was 0.72 mIU/L
I believe these are in the normal range although low normals. Can you be in the normal range, have symptoms and need treatment, ie. I would guess that "normal" ranges may not be normal for all. I experience fatigue, dry skin and hair, brittle nails, body temp generally 97.8- 98.
I have had a thyroidectomy a little over 2 months ago. I was first given 150cmg of Synthroid and then after 30 days tested for levels. The TSH came back at 1.66, but I wasn't feeling well, so doctor raised it to 200. Now, after 60 days, had my blood taken again and TSH 0.24 and freeT4 1.4. I am still not feeling better. Doctor says everything looks good, and wants to keep me on the same dose. Is this the new "normal" I am supposed to be feeling?
At best it is an indicator to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4 (not the same as Total T3 and T4).
If you haven't been tested for Free T3 and Free T4, then that should be a high priority for you. Also, please tell us what symptoms you have that might be related to hypothyroidism.
Low TSH can be a symptom of problems other than hyperthyroidism. That is why I suggested getting the "Frees" tested, as a diagnostic help. Also, going to just any endocrinologist does not guarantee expertise in thyroid problems. Many specialize in diabetes. I would get the blood testing done and discuss options with the doctor, and with members here, then you can determine the need for a good thyroid doctor.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that moves in opposite direction from thyroid hormone levels. Although TSH is usually inadequate as a diagnostic, when it is as high as yours, it is a pretty good indication that you are hypothyroid. Since Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is the most common cause for diagnosed hypothyroidism, you should ask to confirm that by testing for for both Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies and Thyroglobulin antibodies. Those tests are listed as TPO ab and TG ab.
Many things can affect it besides thyroid hormone levels. What your TSH really indicates is more testing. FREE T3 and FREE T4 (different from total T3 and total T4, which are not nearly as useful) will tell you your actual thyroid hormone levels. TSI is an antibody blood test.
TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) is the definitive test for Graves' disease, which is almost synonymous with hyperthyroidism.
Your doctor might also want to run two other antibody tests...
0 should be top of the range for
It means you could be hypothyroid. 11.42 is your TSH, and the normal range for it is 0.3-3.0. The higher your TSH, the more your thyroid is underperforming. You should have a free T3 and free T4. This will give a better idea of how your thyroid is performing. Make sure they don't run total T3 and total T4, as these are antiquated tests and don't provide as much info as the frees. Do you have any hypo symptoms? Google hypothyroid symptoms and go down the list.
If you feel well, the goal is to suppress the TSH as much as possible so that the TSH doesn't stimulate regrowth of thyroid tissue. As far as thyroid cancer is concerned, your TSH looks very good. So, if you feel well, don't worry about your TSH. Do you feel well?
With central there is a dysfunction in the hypothalamus/pituitary system resulting in TSH levels that are too low to adequately stimulate the thyroid gland to produce hormone.
Please understand that the thyroid med you are taking will not likely be enough to adequately raise your FT4 and FT3 levels. You will need further increases. It is likely that you will need to get your FT4 to around mid-range, and FT3 into the upper half of its range, or as needed to relieve hypo symptoms.
2 years ago my thyroid was tested and the TSH was .01. I was then placed on Propylthiouracil to help this. After 2 months, my levels were rechecked and the TSH was 13. I was told that i was hypothyroid. I have been tested every month since that time and my levels go from to high to too low. Doctors kept putting me on synthroid and then taking me off when it couldn't be adjusted properly. 2 months ago my TSH level was once again .
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