Guest guest Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Well, that was an interesting doctor visit. I have a primary care physician and also a hematologist due to past and current blood clotting issues. The clotting was his main interest in my visit, but since I spend most days feeling like I have been hit by a truck, I asked about my most recent thyroid levels. My TSH is 10.70, my free T4 is 1.08 and my free T3 is 2.26. What does this mean? Other than the TSH, it looks like my numbers fell almost within normal limits. Why then, do I still feel like crap? I did get to show off a little and hope I got my information right. (nothing like trying to show how educated and well read you are and having it come out all wrong) He asked about my $ynthroid dose and I told him it was only 25 mcg and he said it sounds like my dosage needs to be increased. So then I said (correct me if I am wrong) that isn’t it true though, that you can pump all kinds of synthetic T4 into my body, but if my body can’t do much to convert it, then I am basically SOL? He did at least say that yes, then I would have to take a T3 supplement. I said, “Why are all doctors married to Synthroid for this problem?” and you know, pretty much, blah blah best known, yadda yadda best results. The answer was so vague and pointless that I honestly don’t remember what he said. He did say that you’d be hard pressed to find an internist who would prescribe Armour Thyroid that these prescriptions come from endocrinologists. Is that true? He did at least admit to not being as well-versed in thyroid disease as some, but since Dr. Blood isn’t treating my thyroid, I was preaching to the choir anyway. What else: BP 122/60 (high for me), temp was 96.8, pulse was 67. I am going to see if I can get a referral to an endocrinologist, but in the meantime, does anyone have any thoughts on why I am still such a mess? Thanks! Carol P.S. Topper, you know I meant to ask – I never did see Kingdom Hospital, was it any good? It’s gone now, right? I have just been so bored with TV lately. Husband is working tonight so I am renting The Stand – I have never seen the movie! Read the book at least 100 times, so I will go on your recommendation that my favorite literary characters ever will be well represented J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 This is just my opinion, but DON'T go to an endocrinologist unless you want to investigate your pituitary function and take an in depth look at adrenal function. They are NOT the ones that prescribe Armour. In fact they are the most rigid doctors for thyroid treatment of all and almost exclusively prescribe Synthroid and try their darnedest to keep patient's lab numbers exactly centered no matter how they feel. Why not try a top doc from the list at http://www.thyroid.about.com. You may have an auto-immune disease where antibodies are attacking thyroid hormone in the blood. This would make everything look normal. But, maybe your pituitary is sensing that your tissues aren't getting enough. You may actually be low thyroid for you. Ranges are just that, ranges. People vary greatly in what is normal for them and it is not difficult for some to fall outside the ranges. Ranges are also skewed toward hypothyroidism due to how they are determined. They are determined by who has the test and it is usually people with some degree of low thyroid function since as we age thyroid function declines and if we are sick, it declines. Every person is unique and normal ranges are not law. Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Hi Carol, When you asked and got your Thyroid levels by any chance did you also get the lab ranges for these tests? In my humble opinion, without knowing the lab ranges, your TSH is WAY OUT OF RANGE (too high). Your Free T3 could be higher and the T4 could be lower. I'm a bit rusty to help with where the ranges should be, so this is all just my humble, rusty, opinion. Gossimer > Well, that was an interesting doctor visit. I have a primary care physician > and also a hematologist due to past and current blood clotting issues. The > clotting was his main interest in my visit, but since I spend most days > feeling like I have been hit by a truck, I asked about my most recent > thyroid levels. My TSH is 10.70, my free T4 is 1.08 and my free T3 is 2.26. > What does this mean? Other than the TSH, it looks like my numbers fell > almost within normal limits. Why then, do I still feel like crap? > > I did get to show off a little and hope I got my information right. (nothing > like trying to show how educated and well read you are and having it come > out all wrong) He asked about my $ynthroid dose and I told him it was only > 25 mcg and he said it sounds like my dosage needs to be increased. So then I > said (correct me if I am wrong) that isn't it true though, that you can pump > all kinds of synthetic T4 into my body, but if my body can't do much to > convert it, then I am basically SOL? He did at least say that yes, then I > would have to take a T3 supplement. I said, " Why are all doctors married to > Synthroid for this problem? " and you know, pretty much, blah blah best > known, yadda yadda best results. The answer was so vague and pointless that > I honestly don't remember what he said. He did say that you'd be hard > pressed to find an internist who would prescribe Armour Thyroid that these > prescriptions come from endocrinologists. Is that true? He did at least > admit to not being as well-versed in thyroid disease as some, but since Dr. > Blood isn't treating my thyroid, I was preaching to the choir anyway. > > What else: BP 122/60 (high for me), temp was 96.8, pulse was 67. > > I am going to see if I can get a referral to an endocrinologist, but in the > meantime, does anyone have any thoughts on why I am still such a mess? > > Thanks! > Carol > > P.S. Topper, you know I meant to ask - I never did see Kingdom Hospital, was > it any good? It's gone now, right? I have just been so bored with TV lately. > Husband is working tonight so I am renting The Stand - I have never seen the > movie! Read the book at least 100 times, so I will go on your recommendation > that my favorite literary characters ever will be well represented :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Hi Carol, When you asked and got your Thyroid levels by any chance did you also get the lab ranges for these tests? In my humble opinion, without knowing the lab ranges, your TSH is WAY OUT OF RANGE (too high). Your Free T3 could be higher and the T4 could be lower. I'm a bit rusty to help with where the ranges should be, so this is all just my humble, rusty, opinion. Gossimer > Well, that was an interesting doctor visit. I have a primary care physician > and also a hematologist due to past and current blood clotting issues. The > clotting was his main interest in my visit, but since I spend most days > feeling like I have been hit by a truck, I asked about my most recent > thyroid levels. My TSH is 10.70, my free T4 is 1.08 and my free T3 is 2.26. > What does this mean? Other than the TSH, it looks like my numbers fell > almost within normal limits. Why then, do I still feel like crap? > > I did get to show off a little and hope I got my information right. (nothing > like trying to show how educated and well read you are and having it come > out all wrong) He asked about my $ynthroid dose and I told him it was only > 25 mcg and he said it sounds like my dosage needs to be increased. So then I > said (correct me if I am wrong) that isn't it true though, that you can pump > all kinds of synthetic T4 into my body, but if my body can't do much to > convert it, then I am basically SOL? He did at least say that yes, then I > would have to take a T3 supplement. I said, " Why are all doctors married to > Synthroid for this problem? " and you know, pretty much, blah blah best > known, yadda yadda best results. The answer was so vague and pointless that > I honestly don't remember what he said. He did say that you'd be hard > pressed to find an internist who would prescribe Armour Thyroid that these > prescriptions come from endocrinologists. Is that true? He did at least > admit to not being as well-versed in thyroid disease as some, but since Dr. > Blood isn't treating my thyroid, I was preaching to the choir anyway. > > What else: BP 122/60 (high for me), temp was 96.8, pulse was 67. > > I am going to see if I can get a referral to an endocrinologist, but in the > meantime, does anyone have any thoughts on why I am still such a mess? > > Thanks! > Carol > > P.S. Topper, you know I meant to ask - I never did see Kingdom Hospital, was > it any good? It's gone now, right? I have just been so bored with TV lately. > Husband is working tonight so I am renting The Stand - I have never seen the > movie! Read the book at least 100 times, so I will go on your recommendation > that my favorite literary characters ever will be well represented :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Hi Carol, When you asked and got your Thyroid levels by any chance did you also get the lab ranges for these tests? In my humble opinion, without knowing the lab ranges, your TSH is WAY OUT OF RANGE (too high). Your Free T3 could be higher and the T4 could be lower. I'm a bit rusty to help with where the ranges should be, so this is all just my humble, rusty, opinion. Gossimer > Well, that was an interesting doctor visit. I have a primary care physician > and also a hematologist due to past and current blood clotting issues. The > clotting was his main interest in my visit, but since I spend most days > feeling like I have been hit by a truck, I asked about my most recent > thyroid levels. My TSH is 10.70, my free T4 is 1.08 and my free T3 is 2.26. > What does this mean? Other than the TSH, it looks like my numbers fell > almost within normal limits. Why then, do I still feel like crap? > > I did get to show off a little and hope I got my information right. (nothing > like trying to show how educated and well read you are and having it come > out all wrong) He asked about my $ynthroid dose and I told him it was only > 25 mcg and he said it sounds like my dosage needs to be increased. So then I > said (correct me if I am wrong) that isn't it true though, that you can pump > all kinds of synthetic T4 into my body, but if my body can't do much to > convert it, then I am basically SOL? He did at least say that yes, then I > would have to take a T3 supplement. I said, " Why are all doctors married to > Synthroid for this problem? " and you know, pretty much, blah blah best > known, yadda yadda best results. The answer was so vague and pointless that > I honestly don't remember what he said. He did say that you'd be hard > pressed to find an internist who would prescribe Armour Thyroid that these > prescriptions come from endocrinologists. Is that true? He did at least > admit to not being as well-versed in thyroid disease as some, but since Dr. > Blood isn't treating my thyroid, I was preaching to the choir anyway. > > What else: BP 122/60 (high for me), temp was 96.8, pulse was 67. > > I am going to see if I can get a referral to an endocrinologist, but in the > meantime, does anyone have any thoughts on why I am still such a mess? > > Thanks! > Carol > > P.S. Topper, you know I meant to ask - I never did see Kingdom Hospital, was > it any good? It's gone now, right? I have just been so bored with TV lately. > Husband is working tonight so I am renting The Stand - I have never seen the > movie! Read the book at least 100 times, so I will go on your recommendation > that my favorite literary characters ever will be well represented :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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