Re: No answers

August 30, 2004

I really hate this. I am going through something similar. I think my

prescription needs to be increased because I am having all these

symptoms, but the doc says my levels are normal. a year ago they were

a little high, but I felt so good he didn't change them. Now they are

normal and I feel bad. How do they determine what " normal " is and why

do they think normal is for everyone??

Maybe in the meantime you can do somethings to help your thyroid

health and try to feel better on your own? Not sure if this would

work, but if I still had a thyroid and the doc said all that I would

see what I could do on my own for optimum thyroid activity.

Good Luck!

Deanna

> Hi all;

>

> Well, the results are back from the endo in Vancouver and there are

no

> answers. The results are as follows:

>

> AM cortisol: 367 (140-700)

> 2 hr: 822

> 4 hr: 992

> (i.e. normal response to ACTH stim test - good news!)

>

> FSH: 4.9 (2.0-11 follicular)

>

> Estradiol: 229 (<587 follicular)

>

> Basically, the endo's report says I do not have a pituitary

problem, and am

> not hypothyroid. He says that 2.5% of the population have a low T4

as a

> normal result (mine was 8, norm 10-22), and this would explain why

my TSH

> is not elevated despite the low T4. He repeated his thought that TSH

> deficiency alone is " exquisitely rare " (in person his words were

> " vanishingly rare " , he sure likes his adjectives), and therefore I

am not

> hypothyroid at all.

>

> Of course, he never saw me when I was very symptomatic (completely

cold

> intolerant, mid-day body temp of 96 or 97-something, non-pitting

edema

> particularly in my lower legs, slow heartbeat, low/normal blood

pressure,

> dry skin, breaking hair, short-term memory loss, etc, etc, etc), and

> ignores the fact that I was *much improved* when my dose of

Synthroid was

> upped to 0.1 mg - just not completely improved, hence my asking more

> questions this spring. He himself admitted in our conversation that

0.1 mg

> was not enough for a woman of my size (5'8 " , 160 lbs) if I was

indeed

> hypothyroid, that I should be getting 0.15 mg. But never mind that.

>

> I guess I have to believe the expert with 33 years of experience

when he

> says it is impossible that I have a selective TSH deficiency, that

all else

> is " normal " and therefore I am not hypopituitary, nor hypothyroid.

>

> Just turned 37 two days ago, since I was 25 I have suffered with

this.

> Physical symptoms and abnormal test results that other docs have

> documented, marked improvement on Synthroid, but disappearing

menses (2.5

> days a month and dropping), almost zero libido - lost the love of

my life

> as a result, am close to losing the man who was my second great

chance at

> happiness - but apparently I am completely normal, and reading

between the

> lines of his report, it's all in my head.

>

> I see my GP in 3 days, will ask for a second opinion, am unlikely

to get

> one with all the cuts to Canadian health care.

>

> Cheers,

> Deb

August 30, 2004

whap me in the head.. I thought I recognized you... I just responded to this in the hypopituitary group!!! heheheheh

Topper ()

On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 12:36:41 -0700 dpitt writes:

Hi all;Well, the results are back from the endo in Vancouver and there are noanswers. The results are as follows:AM cortisol: 367 (140-700)2 hr: 8224 hr: 992(i.e. normal response to ACTH stim test - good news!)FSH: 4.9 (2.0-11 follicular)Estradiol: 229 (<587 follicular)Basically, the endo's report says I do not have a pituitary problem, and amnot hypothyroid. He says that 2.5% of the population have a low T4 as anormal result (mine was 8, norm 10-22), and this would explain why my TSHis not elevated despite the low T4. He repeated his thought that TSHdeficiency alone is "exquisitely rare" (in person his words were"vanishingly rare", he sure likes his adjectives), and therefore I am nothypothyroid at all.Of course, he never saw me when I was very symptomatic (completely coldintolerant, mid-day body temp of 96 or 97-something, non-pitting edemaparticularly in my lower legs, slow heartbeat, low/normal blood pressure,dry skin, breaking hair, short-term memory loss, etc, etc, etc), andignores the fact that I was *much improved* when my dose of Synthroid wasupped to 0.1 mg - just not completely improved, hence my asking morequestions this spring. He himself admitted in our conversation that 0.1 mgwas not enough for a woman of my size (5'8", 160 lbs) if I was indeedhypothyroid, that I should be getting 0.15 mg. But never mind that.I guess I have to believe the expert with 33 years of experience when hesays it is impossible that I have a selective TSH deficiency, that all elseis "normal" and therefore I am not hypopituitary, nor hypothyroid.Just turned 37 two days ago, since I was 25 I have suffered with this.Physical symptoms and abnormal test results that other docs havedocumented, marked improvement on Synthroid, but disappearing menses (2.5days a month and dropping), almost zero libido - lost the love of my lifeas a result, am close to losing the man who was my second great chance athappiness - but apparently I am completely normal, and reading between thelines of his report, it's all in my head.I see my GP in 3 days, will ask for a second opinion, am unlikely to getone with all the cuts to Canadian health care.Cheers,Deb

August 30, 2004

whap me in the head.. I thought I recognized you... I just responded to this in the hypopituitary group!!! heheheheh

Topper ()

On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 12:36:41 -0700 dpitt writes:

Hi all;Well, the results are back from the endo in Vancouver and there are noanswers. The results are as follows:AM cortisol: 367 (140-700)2 hr: 8224 hr: 992(i.e. normal response to ACTH stim test - good news!)FSH: 4.9 (2.0-11 follicular)Estradiol: 229 (<587 follicular)Basically, the endo's report says I do not have a pituitary problem, and amnot hypothyroid. He says that 2.5% of the population have a low T4 as anormal result (mine was 8, norm 10-22), and this would explain why my TSHis not elevated despite the low T4. He repeated his thought that TSHdeficiency alone is "exquisitely rare" (in person his words were"vanishingly rare", he sure likes his adjectives), and therefore I am nothypothyroid at all.Of course, he never saw me when I was very symptomatic (completely coldintolerant, mid-day body temp of 96 or 97-something, non-pitting edemaparticularly in my lower legs, slow heartbeat, low/normal blood pressure,dry skin, breaking hair, short-term memory loss, etc, etc, etc), andignores the fact that I was *much improved* when my dose of Synthroid wasupped to 0.1 mg - just not completely improved, hence my asking morequestions this spring. He himself admitted in our conversation that 0.1 mgwas not enough for a woman of my size (5'8", 160 lbs) if I was indeedhypothyroid, that I should be getting 0.15 mg. But never mind that.I guess I have to believe the expert with 33 years of experience when hesays it is impossible that I have a selective TSH deficiency, that all elseis "normal" and therefore I am not hypopituitary, nor hypothyroid.Just turned 37 two days ago, since I was 25 I have suffered with this.Physical symptoms and abnormal test results that other docs havedocumented, marked improvement on Synthroid, but disappearing menses (2.5days a month and dropping), almost zero libido - lost the love of my lifeas a result, am close to losing the man who was my second great chance athappiness - but apparently I am completely normal, and reading between thelines of his report, it's all in my head.I see my GP in 3 days, will ask for a second opinion, am unlikely to getone with all the cuts to Canadian health care.Cheers,Deb

August 30, 2004

whap me in the head.. I thought I recognized you... I just responded to this in the hypopituitary group!!! heheheheh

Topper ()

On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 12:36:41 -0700 dpitt writes:

Hi all;Well, the results are back from the endo in Vancouver and there are noanswers. The results are as follows:AM cortisol: 367 (140-700)2 hr: 8224 hr: 992(i.e. normal response to ACTH stim test - good news!)FSH: 4.9 (2.0-11 follicular)Estradiol: 229 (<587 follicular)Basically, the endo's report says I do not have a pituitary problem, and amnot hypothyroid. He says that 2.5% of the population have a low T4 as anormal result (mine was 8, norm 10-22), and this would explain why my TSHis not elevated despite the low T4. He repeated his thought that TSHdeficiency alone is "exquisitely rare" (in person his words were"vanishingly rare", he sure likes his adjectives), and therefore I am nothypothyroid at all.Of course, he never saw me when I was very symptomatic (completely coldintolerant, mid-day body temp of 96 or 97-something, non-pitting edemaparticularly in my lower legs, slow heartbeat, low/normal blood pressure,dry skin, breaking hair, short-term memory loss, etc, etc, etc), andignores the fact that I was *much improved* when my dose of Synthroid wasupped to 0.1 mg - just not completely improved, hence my asking morequestions this spring. He himself admitted in our conversation that 0.1 mgwas not enough for a woman of my size (5'8", 160 lbs) if I was indeedhypothyroid, that I should be getting 0.15 mg. But never mind that.I guess I have to believe the expert with 33 years of experience when hesays it is impossible that I have a selective TSH deficiency, that all elseis "normal" and therefore I am not hypopituitary, nor hypothyroid.Just turned 37 two days ago, since I was 25 I have suffered with this.Physical symptoms and abnormal test results that other docs havedocumented, marked improvement on Synthroid, but disappearing menses (2.5days a month and dropping), almost zero libido - lost the love of my lifeas a result, am close to losing the man who was my second great chance athappiness - but apparently I am completely normal, and reading between thelines of his report, it's all in my head.I see my GP in 3 days, will ask for a second opinion, am unlikely to getone with all the cuts to Canadian health care.Cheers,Deb

August 30, 2004

That's just it Deanna, if the doc does not actually understand how to interpret the lab results.. what good is normal?

Most folks find that the Free T4 should be mid range.... and that Free T3 should be in the upper part of the range... to have them both in the bottom of the range - which is still 'normal' leaves them feeling like crap and exhibiting hypo symptoms...

That is why it is so very important to get your lab results and see them for yourself.. and if you don't understand them.. post them here and we'll help you....

Topper ()

On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:59:06 -0000 "De" writes:

I really hate this. I am going through something similar. I think my prescription needs to be increased because I am having all these symptoms, but the doc says my levels are normal. a year ago they were a little high, but I felt so good he didn't change them. Now they are normal and I feel bad. How do they determine what "normal" is and why do they think normal is for everyone?? Maybe in the meantime you can do somethings to help your thyroid health and try to feel better on your own? Not sure if this would work, but if I still had a thyroid and the doc said all that I would see what I could do on my own for optimum thyroid activity.Good Luck!Deanna

August 30, 2004

That's just it Deanna, if the doc does not actually understand how to interpret the lab results.. what good is normal?

Most folks find that the Free T4 should be mid range.... and that Free T3 should be in the upper part of the range... to have them both in the bottom of the range - which is still 'normal' leaves them feeling like crap and exhibiting hypo symptoms...

That is why it is so very important to get your lab results and see them for yourself.. and if you don't understand them.. post them here and we'll help you....

Topper ()

On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:59:06 -0000 "De" writes:

I really hate this. I am going through something similar. I think my prescription needs to be increased because I am having all these symptoms, but the doc says my levels are normal. a year ago they were a little high, but I felt so good he didn't change them. Now they are normal and I feel bad. How do they determine what "normal" is and why do they think normal is for everyone?? Maybe in the meantime you can do somethings to help your thyroid health and try to feel better on your own? Not sure if this would work, but if I still had a thyroid and the doc said all that I would see what I could do on my own for optimum thyroid activity.Good Luck!Deanna

August 31, 2004

I probably shouldn't say this, but here goes: Do you don't have to lose the man of your dreams just b/c of a low libido? Can you not give him what he wants/needs whether you want/need it or not? I know this may go against the grain with some, but it's a shame to miss out on a really good thing b/c of a somewhat minor inconvience. We all do a lot of give and take in any relationship. Why can't we give and take in this area?

Blessings,

Debbie K.

>Hi all; almost zero libido - lost the love of my lifeas a result, am close to losing the man who was my second great chance athappiness - but

August 31, 2004

I probably shouldn't say this, but here goes: Do you don't have to lose the man of your dreams just b/c of a low libido? Can you not give him what he wants/needs whether you want/need it or not? I know this may go against the grain with some, but it's a shame to miss out on a really good thing b/c of a somewhat minor inconvience. We all do a lot of give and take in any relationship. Why can't we give and take in this area?

Blessings,

Debbie K.

>Hi all; almost zero libido - lost the love of my lifeas a result, am close to losing the man who was my second great chance athappiness - but

August 31, 2004

I probably shouldn't say this, but here goes: Do you don't have to lose the man of your dreams just b/c of a low libido? Can you not give him what he wants/needs whether you want/need it or not? I know this may go against the grain with some, but it's a shame to miss out on a really good thing b/c of a somewhat minor inconvience. We all do a lot of give and take in any relationship. Why can't we give and take in this area?

Blessings,

Debbie K.

>Hi all; almost zero libido - lost the love of my lifeas a result, am close to losing the man who was my second great chance athappiness - but

August 31, 2004

Personally, I don't think it's very healthy to be intimate with

someone when you don't feel like it. Either your partner can try to

help you feel like it, or you don't get into it at all.

Someone who leaves a relationship because of low libido caused by a

medical problem, is perhaps not someone you want to be in a

relationship with in the first place.

blithe

I probably shouldn't say this, but here goes: Do you don't have to lose

the man of your dreams just b/c of a low libido? Can you not give him

what he wants/needs whether you want/need it or not? I know this may go

against the grain with some, but it's a shame to miss out on a really

good thing b/c of a somewhat minor inconvience. We all do a lot of give

and take in any relationship. Why can't we give and take in this area?

Blessings,

Debbie K.

August 31, 2004

My husband has been very supportive. For a while he thought I didn't

find him attractive or didn't love him anymore. I assured him that

was not the case. We fought a couple of times about it...then we

found out it was caused by my thyroid issues and he has never gotten

upset since. Once he understood I could not help it, but I would try

to fix it then all was good. I am currently looking into a

testosterone supplement to help get things started. The doc seems to

think that would help.

It is depressing when you can't express your love to your partner. I

have no hangups about sex. I am not a prude, I excersize and do yoga

so I feel pretty self-confident and I LOVE my husband deeply. It's

just one of those weird things I don't feel I have control over.

Maybe they will find a wonder hormone for all us women

Deanna

> I probably shouldn't say this, but here goes: Do you don't have

to lose

> the man of your dreams just b/c of a low libido? Can you not give

him

> what he wants/needs whether you want/need it or not? I know this

may go

> against the grain with some, but it's a shame to miss out on a

really

> good thing b/c of a somewhat minor inconvience. We all do a lot

of give

> and take in any relationship. Why can't we give and take in this

area?

> Blessings,

> Debbie K.

August 31, 2004

That's certainly a valid point. I guess it depends on the situation and only we can judge for ourselves what is best for us.

Blessings,

Debbie K.

-----Original Message-----From: blithezb00tik Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 9:38 AMTo: The_Thyroid_Support_Group Subject: Re: No answersPersonally, I don't think it's very healthy to be intimate withsomeone when you don't feel like it. Either your partner can try tohelp you feel like it, or you don't get into it at all. Someone who leaves a relationship because of low libido caused by amedical problem, is perhaps not someone you want to be in arelationship with in the first place. blithe

August 31, 2004

That's certainly a valid point. I guess it depends on the situation and only we can judge for ourselves what is best for us.

Blessings,

Debbie K.

-----Original Message-----From: blithezb00tik Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 9:38 AMTo: The_Thyroid_Support_Group Subject: Re: No answersPersonally, I don't think it's very healthy to be intimate withsomeone when you don't feel like it. Either your partner can try tohelp you feel like it, or you don't get into it at all. Someone who leaves a relationship because of low libido caused by amedical problem, is perhaps not someone you want to be in arelationship with in the first place. blithe

August 31, 2004

That's certainly a valid point. I guess it depends on the situation and only we can judge for ourselves what is best for us.

Blessings,

Debbie K.

-----Original Message-----From: blithezb00tik Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 9:38 AMTo: The_Thyroid_Support_Group Subject: Re: No answersPersonally, I don't think it's very healthy to be intimate withsomeone when you don't feel like it. Either your partner can try tohelp you feel like it, or you don't get into it at all. Someone who leaves a relationship because of low libido caused by amedical problem, is perhaps not someone you want to be in arelationship with in the first place. blithe

August 31, 2004

I see nothing on these tests to indicate that you had your thyroid hormones

tested, other than your comment about a TSH test, but we don't know what

that is at this point. What were your Free T3 and Free T4 readings?

No answers

> Hi all;

>

> Well, the results are back from the endo in Vancouver and there are no

> answers. The results are as follows:

>

> AM cortisol: 367 (140-700)

> 2 hr: 822

> 4 hr: 992

> (i.e. normal response to ACTH stim test - good news!)

>

> FSH: 4.9 (2.0-11 follicular)

>

> Estradiol: 229 (<587 follicular)

>

> Basically, the endo's report says I do not have a pituitary problem, and

am

> not hypothyroid. He says that 2.5% of the population have a low T4 as a

> normal result (mine was 8, norm 10-22), and this would explain why my TSH

> is not elevated despite the low T4. He repeated his thought that TSH

> deficiency alone is " exquisitely rare " (in person his words were

> " vanishingly rare " , he sure likes his adjectives), and therefore I am not

> hypothyroid at all.

>

> Of course, he never saw me when I was very symptomatic (completely cold

> intolerant, mid-day body temp of 96 or 97-something, non-pitting edema

> particularly in my lower legs, slow heartbeat, low/normal blood pressure,

> dry skin, breaking hair, short-term memory loss, etc, etc, etc), and

> ignores the fact that I was *much improved* when my dose of Synthroid was

> upped to 0.1 mg - just not completely improved, hence my asking more

> questions this spring. He himself admitted in our conversation that 0.1 mg

> was not enough for a woman of my size (5'8 " , 160 lbs) if I was indeed

> hypothyroid, that I should be getting 0.15 mg. But never mind that.

>

> I guess I have to believe the expert with 33 years of experience when he

> says it is impossible that I have a selective TSH deficiency, that all

else

> is " normal " and therefore I am not hypopituitary, nor hypothyroid.

>

> Just turned 37 two days ago, since I was 25 I have suffered with this.

> Physical symptoms and abnormal test results that other docs have

> documented, marked improvement on Synthroid, but disappearing menses (2.5

> days a month and dropping), almost zero libido - lost the love of my life

> as a result, am close to losing the man who was my second great chance at

> happiness - but apparently I am completely normal, and reading between the

> lines of his report, it's all in my head.

>

> I see my GP in 3 days, will ask for a second opinion, am unlikely to get

> one with all the cuts to Canadian health care.

>

> Cheers,

> Deb

August 31, 2004

You said it sister. Yes, it's good to give and take, but this is one area

that, when you don't feel well, why would your partner get angry because of

that? If he can't wait now, what will he be like later? If he can't help

you through this, then how good are the vows of " in sickness and in health "

that haven't even been said yet? Gee, we all would love to have good sex

lives, not just the men! Sounds like he did her a favor to me. Thank

goodness there is someone better going to come along.

Re: No answers

> Personally, I don't think it's very healthy to be intimate with

> someone when you don't feel like it. Either your partner can try to

> help you feel like it, or you don't get into it at all.

>

> Someone who leaves a relationship because of low libido caused by a

> medical problem, is perhaps not someone you want to be in a

> relationship with in the first place.

>

> blithe

>

> I probably shouldn't say this, but here goes: Do you don't have to lose

> the man of your dreams just b/c of a low libido? Can you not give him

> what he wants/needs whether you want/need it or not? I know this may go

> against the grain with some, but it's a shame to miss out on a really

> good thing b/c of a somewhat minor inconvience. We all do a lot of give

> and take in any relationship. Why can't we give and take in this area?

> Blessings,

> Debbie K.

August 31, 2004

Re: the libido thing, certainly there is give and take in any

relationship HOWEVER people need boundaries to be healthy. For

victims of abuse/assault in particular (and I am unfortunately one),

there is a need to save that part of yourself for yourself, to be

given to someone ONLY when it can be done freely.

I, too, am no prude and ordinarily this would not be a problem - i

was the appearance of this particular symptom was one of the signals

that something was seriously wrong!

Deb

August 31, 2004

Re: the libido thing, certainly there is give and take in any

relationship HOWEVER people need boundaries to be healthy. For

victims of abuse/assault in particular (and I am unfortunately one),

there is a need to save that part of yourself for yourself, to be

given to someone ONLY when it can be done freely.

I, too, am no prude and ordinarily this would not be a problem - i

was the appearance of this particular symptom was one of the signals

that something was seriously wrong!

Deb

August 31, 2004

Re: the libido thing, certainly there is give and take in any

relationship HOWEVER people need boundaries to be healthy. For

victims of abuse/assault in particular (and I am unfortunately one),

there is a need to save that part of yourself for yourself, to be

given to someone ONLY when it can be done freely.

I, too, am no prude and ordinarily this would not be a problem - i

was the appearance of this particular symptom was one of the signals

that something was seriously wrong!

Deb

August 31, 2004

Hi - I've posted the latest results a couple of times here

before, here's the complete list of T's since diagnosis - I don't have

the real old ones handy but they were TSH only and never above mid-

range:

May 2002 TSH 0.93 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 8 (10-22) - unsupplemented

May 2002 Anti-thyroperoxidase <10 (normal)

Jul 2002 TSH 1.76 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 10 (10-22) - on 0.05mg Synthroid

Sep 2002 TSH 0.95 (0.4-4.0); no T4 (lab refused) - on 0.05mg Synthroid

Feb 2003 TSH 1.68 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 10 (10-22) - switched to

0.075mg Synthroid

Jul 2003 TSH 1.40 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 12 (10-22); Free T3 4.1 (3.4-

7.2) - switched to 0.1mg Synthroid

Oct 2003 TSH 0.53 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 18 (10-22) - on 0.1mg Synthroid

Feb 2004 TSH 0.48 (0.4-4.0); no T4 (lab refused) - on 0.1mg

Synthroid*

May 2004 TSH 0.21 (0.4-4.0); no T4 (lab refused) - on 0.1mg

Synthroid*

Jul 2004 TSH 0.85 (0.4-4.0; Free T4 16 (10-22); Free T3 4.8 (4.0-6.8)

* no hyper symptoms, suspect T4 was mid-range as before and after were

I have no indication of primary hypothyroidism or Hashis, everything

points to secondary hypothyroidism but the endo claims I am not hypoT

at all, despite the labs and the symptoms. trying the GP again this

week.

Thanks for your interest,

Deb

> I see nothing on these tests to indicate that you had your thyroid

hormones

> tested, other than your comment about a TSH test, but we don't know

what

> that is at this point. What were your Free T3 and Free T4 readings?

>

August 31, 2004

With your last labs (July 04).. your Free T3 is still low.... how are you feeling??? I'm surprised that the TSH is as low as it is.. considering that the T4 is just now getting to where it should be and the T3 is still low....

TSH is the thyroid stimulating hormone.. the higher that number the louder your body is calling for more thyroid hormone... I wonder why it's not hollering loud... hmmmmmm At any rate... once on thyroid meds... the most important values are the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4....

Are you taking any selenium to help increase your conversion? That especially important when you are taking a T4 only synthetic (Synthroid) .... Perhaps, for now.. working on increase conversion rates to increase the Free T3 will help... T3 is the active hormone, the one that your body uses... T4 is the storage hormone....

Topper ()

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 23:38:09 -0000 "dbora67" writes:

Hi - I've posted the latest results a couple of times here before, here's the complete list of T's since diagnosis - I don't havethe real old ones handy but they were TSH only and never above mid-range:May 2002 TSH 0.93 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 8 (10-22) - unsupplementedMay 2002 Anti-thyroperoxidase <10 (normal)Jul 2002 TSH 1.76 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 10 (10-22) - on 0.05mg SynthroidSep 2002 TSH 0.95 (0.4-4.0); no T4 (lab refused) - on 0.05mg SynthroidFeb 2003 TSH 1.68 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 10 (10-22) - switched to0.075mg SynthroidJul 2003 TSH 1.40 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 12 (10-22); Free T3 4.1 (3.4-7.2) - switched to 0.1mg SynthroidOct 2003 TSH 0.53 (0.4-4.0); Free T4 18 (10-22) - on 0.1mg SynthroidFeb 2004 TSH 0.48 (0.4-4.0); no T4 (lab refused) - on 0.1mgSynthroid*May 2004 TSH 0.21 (0.4-4.0); no T4 (lab refused) - on 0.1mgSynthroid*Jul 2004 TSH 0.85 (0.4-4.0; Free T4 16 (10-22); Free T3 4.8 (4.0-6.8)* no hyper symptoms, suspect T4 was mid-range as before and after wereI have no indication of primary hypothyroidism or Hashis, everything points to secondary hypothyroidism but the endo claims I am not hypoT at all, despite the labs and the symptoms. trying the GP again this week.Thanks for your interest,Deb

September 1, 2004

Thanks, Topper;

Yup, I know about the differences between TSH, T4, T3 etc - thanks.

The fact that the TSH is not " shouting louder " is part of why the

endo says I am not hypothyroid, that the low T4 levels I have are

normal for me. And I'd buy that, except for the fact that I was very

symptomatic before the Synthroid dose was upped! I feel " okay " , have

some remaining fatigue, memory problems and lack of libido, plus the

new female problems. I don't blame the thyroid for my current

symptoms, necessarily - I thoght that since my TSH indicated a likely

secondary cause, I wondered if some of my symptoms *might* be a

result of some other pituitary deficiency. The endo thinks no. And

no, I am not taking any vitamin or mineral supplements at the moment -

the Chinese doc had told me to stop a while back.

Remaining puzzled,

Deb

> With your last labs (July 04).. your Free T3 is still low.... how

are you

> feeling??? I'm surprised that the TSH is as low as it is..

considering

> that the T4 is just now getting to where it should be and the T3 is

still

> low....

>

> TSH is the thyroid stimulating hormone.. the higher that number the

> louder your body is calling for more thyroid hormone... I wonder

why it's

> not hollering loud... hmmmmmm At any rate... once on thyroid

meds... the

> most important values are the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4....

>

> Are you taking any selenium to help increase your conversion? That

> especially important when you are taking a T4 only synthetic

(Synthroid)

> .... Perhaps, for now.. working on increase conversion rates to

increase

> the Free T3 will help... T3 is the active hormone, the one that

your body

> uses... T4 is the storage hormone....

>

> Topper ()

September 1, 2004