I have normal - middle range- numbers for my T3 AND T4 levels, but a high (8) TSH. all the literature/research says I have sub clinical hypo.
I may need to retest if all the other numbers are ok except for the TSH .
Feedback please!!!!!!
Sub clinincal hypohthyroidism-what is it exactly?
The former poster is wrong. You can have normal numbers and still be hypothyroid. You could have Hashimoto's thyroid or have symptoms of being hypothyroid. Many Endocrinologists will tell you your numbers are fine and yet you are raging hypothyroid. TSH is not the end all and be all of thyroid. In fact, before 1973, doctors used to treat thyroid problems by symptoms because there was no such thing as the TSH test. Before I had my thyroidectomy, I had what you would consider normal thyroid numbers. I had all kinds of probelms yet my "lab values" were "normal". And if you were wanting to go by your TSH, it is rather high at 8. The norm (depending on who you talk to) is between 3-5. However, I'd be more concerned if you have had any of these symptoms:
Less stamina than others
Less energy than others
Long recovery period after any activity
Inability to hold children for very long
Arms feeling like dead weights after activity
Chronic Low Grade Depression
Suicidal Thoughts
Often feeling cold
Cold hands and feet
High cholesterol
Bizarre and Debilitating reaction to exercise
Hard stools
Constipation
No eyebrows or thinning outer eyebrows
Dry Hair
Hair Loss
Dry cracking skin
Nodding off easily
Requires naps in the afternoon
Inability to concentrate or read long periods of time
Forgetfulness
Foggy thinking
Inability to lose weight
Always gaining weight
Inability to function in a relationship with anyone
NO sex drive
Moody periods
PMS
Excruciating pain during period
Nausea
Swelling/edema/puffiness
Aching bones/muscles
Osteoporosis
Bumps on legs
Acne on face and in hair
Breakout on chest and arms
Hives
Exhaustion in every dimension–physical, mental, spiritual, emotional
Inability to work full-time
Inability to stand on feet for long periods
Complete lack of motivation
Slowing to a snail’s pace when walking up slight grade
Extremely crabby, irritable, intolerant of others
Handwriting nearly illegible
Internal itching of ears
Broken/peeling fingernails
Dry skin or snake skin
Major anxiety/worry
Ringing in ears
Lactose Intolerance
Inability to eat in the mornings
No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows
Joint pain
Carpal tunnel symptoms
No Appetite
Fluid retention to the point of Congestive Heart Failure
Swollen legs that prevented walking
Blood Pressure problems
Varicose Veins
Dizziness from fluid on the inner ear
Low body temperature
Raised temperature
Tightness in throat; sore throat
Swollen lymph glands
Allergies (which can also be a result of low cortisol–common with hypothyroid patients)
sore feet (plantar fascitis); painful soles of feet
now how do I put this one politely….a cold bum, butt, derriere, fanny, gluteus maximus, haunches, hindquarters, posterior, rear, and/or cheeks. Yup, really exists.
Hypothyroidsm is where your body is not producing enough thyroid hormones.
By the way, you need to ask your doctor to check FREE T4 and FREE T3, TPO, TSH, Ferritin, Adrenal Function, and your sex hormones to get a much better overall picture than the pitful tests you were given. (I know...same thing happened to me.) I've included a really good website to check out about thyroid issues too.
Reply:Think of the thyroid (makes T3 and T4) as a house furnace, and TSH as the thermostat. If the furnace isn't working very well, you'll keep turning up the thermostat to keep the house the same temperature. If the thyroid isn't working so great, your body makes more and more TSH to try and get the thyroid to make enough T3/T4 to keep the 'house' warm enough.
Often, subclinical hypothyroidism will resolve on its own. Sometimes, it can be the beginning of clinical hypothyroidism, often caused by the autoimmune disease Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Your doctor probably wants to follow your levels to make sure you are okay, and treat you with thyroid hormone replacement if you develop hypothyroidism.
Reply:TSH is irrelevant. It's not even a thyroid hormone. T3 and T4 are the important tests. They are the thyroid hormones. If you have no symptoms, and your T3 and T4 are normal, then you are fine.
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