Re: Re: Had my daughter tested - lab tests

[Guest guest]

Well the TSH range is wrong it has been revised to 0.3-3.00. It is considered anything over 2.00 is almost certainly hypo...................I'd try to find another doc if you can't get this one to prescribe meds.... point out her symptoms to the doc........................Meleese in Oz xxx

-------Original Message-------

From: mrstezee

Meleese in Oz -

Thanks for your reply. I myself am hypo and believes she is hypo,

HOWEVER, since her numbers are in the "normal range" do you think a

dr will start her on meds for thyroid?

Cindy

>

> She is hypo and needs meds, maybe test antibodies/ferritin/B12/

iodine

> loading/ adrenals (24-hour saliva test) . Her TSH once on meds

needs to be

> under 1.00, close to zero if she has Hashi's, FT3 needs to be at

the top of

> the range, FT4 around the 3/4 mark.................Meleese in Oz

xx

>

> -------Original Message-------

>

> From: mrstezee

>

> Hi,

>

> My daughter has these symptoms, cold fingers, nose, toes, tired,

> weight gain, dry skin, - these are the ones I have noticed.

>

> So I got her blood work done thru Health Check.

>

> FT4 1.2 range 0.8 - 1.8

>

> FT3 3.3 range 2.3 - 4.2

>

> TSH 2.358 range 0.35 - 5.50

>

> So now what? Should I have tested for something else?

>

> Cindy

>

[Guest guest]

Way to many, unfortunately. My doc is at least open to my wanting my TSH as close to 1 as we can get it.Kate wrote: Our lab's "normal" range is between .5-5.0 From what I've read, "behind the times."In August, mine was 2.1 I've read that many doctors don't treat hypo unless you go beyond 10?You can't help but wonder how many people's lives are completly in the dumps due to lack of treatment.~KateKathy >^,,^<KitzCat146@...http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcatkitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messengerkitzcat on MSN MessengerIn a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

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[Guest guest]

Way to many, unfortunately. My doc is at least open to my wanting my TSH as close to 1 as we can get it.Kate wrote: Our lab's "normal" range is between .5-5.0 From what I've read, "behind the times."In August, mine was 2.1 I've read that many doctors don't treat hypo unless you go beyond 10?You can't help but wonder how many people's lives are completly in the dumps due to lack of treatment.~KateKathy >^,,^<KitzCat146@...http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcatkitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messengerkitzcat on MSN MessengerIn a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

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[Guest guest]

I think there's another article that is not specific to those on treatment. I'll see if I can find it tomorrow if I don't see it posted by someone else.

I just did a very quick look and it said "on treatment" re: tsh test ranges. Meaning, this number doesn't apply to those who are not on any treatment?

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[Guest guest]

I think there's another article that is not specific to those on treatment. I'll see if I can find it tomorrow if I don't see it posted by someone else.

I just did a very quick look and it said "on treatment" re: tsh test ranges. Meaning, this number doesn't apply to those who are not on any treatment?

Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the new Yahoo.com

[Guest guest]

The lab my doctors office uses has the outdated ranges too, but he's at least open to my suggesting changing my dosage depending on my labs. I'm still paying for the last labs, but they did show a drop in my free T3 and free T4 and a slight rise in my TSH. They charged me $100 for the free T3 test alone. Fortunately my insurance covered some of it, but I still wound up owing the doc about $135. I could have gotten the whole set of labs done for $125 at HealthCheckUSA.com. My insurance has changed since last year when it comes to lab work and I didn't know it had, so the bill was quite a shock. I just had labs drawn last Friday, so now I'm just waiting for the report to come back. Unfortunately all he ordered was the TSH and free T4 along with iron. He's absolutely opposed to my TSH being lower than 1 though. He still isn't totally agreeable to everything yet although he usually listens to

me. wrote: Curious, what is his personal preference (if you didn't have any)re: TSH level?Fortunately, how you feel matters more to him than a number.~Kate>> Way to many, unfortunately. My doc is at least open to my wanting my TSH as close to 1 as we can get it.> Kathy >^,,^<KitzCat146@...http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcatkitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messengerkitzcat on MSN MessengerIn a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb

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[Guest guest]

The TSH is so hard to judge when you're on medication. I understand it's use for newbies, but once your taking the hormones everything changes, especially if you're on Armour. Before starting Armour, my TSH was 1.18 and I was in no way 'hyper'. My FT4 was top in range and my TT3 and RT3 were both midrange. After being on a combination of Levo and Armour for about 2 months, my TSH dropped tenfold to ..118, but my FT4 dropped just a smidge and the TT3 stayed exactly midrange. There is a classic example of TSH not telling the whole story. If you're only on Levo, a TSH near 1 may work for you, but if you're on Armour, it may not be low enough. Does anyone know why Armour suppresses the TSH so much more? It must be the direct T3 that pushes it down. Also (I'm sure you know this), but don't take any thyroid meds the day of the test. Taking them in the AM will push down the TSH and it won't have time to come back up by the time you do your labs. That's probably where the entire problem lies. Because we're giving our bodies a days worth of thyroid hormones in one dose instead of little bits throughout the day, our pituitary thinks that there is plenty of hormone and stops sending out the TSH signals... Judy

Unfortunately all he ordered was the TSH and free T4 along with iron. He's absolutely opposed to my TSH being lower than 1 though. He still isn't totally agreeable to everything yet although he usually listens to me.

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[Guest guest]

The TSH is so hard to judge when you're on medication. I understand it's use for newbies, but once your taking the hormones everything changes, especially if you're on Armour. Before starting Armour, my TSH was 1.18 and I was in no way 'hyper'. My FT4 was top in range and my TT3 and RT3 were both midrange. After being on a combination of Levo and Armour for about 2 months, my TSH dropped tenfold to ..118, but my FT4 dropped just a smidge and the TT3 stayed exactly midrange. There is a classic example of TSH not telling the whole story. If you're only on Levo, a TSH near 1 may work for you, but if you're on Armour, it may not be low enough. Does anyone know why Armour suppresses the TSH so much more? It must be the direct T3 that pushes it down. Also (I'm sure you know this), but don't take any thyroid meds the day of the test. Taking them in the AM will push down the TSH and it won't have time to come back up by the time you do your labs. That's probably where the entire problem lies. Because we're giving our bodies a days worth of thyroid hormones in one dose instead of little bits throughout the day, our pituitary thinks that there is plenty of hormone and stops sending out the TSH signals... Judy

Unfortunately all he ordered was the TSH and free T4 along with iron. He's absolutely opposed to my TSH being lower than 1 though. He still isn't totally agreeable to everything yet although he usually listens to me.

Check out the New Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.

[Guest guest]

The TSH is so hard to judge when you're on medication. I understand it's use for newbies, but once your taking the hormones everything changes, especially if you're on Armour. Before starting Armour, my TSH was 1.18 and I was in no way 'hyper'. My FT4 was top in range and my TT3 and RT3 were both midrange. After being on a combination of Levo and Armour for about 2 months, my TSH dropped tenfold to ..118, but my FT4 dropped just a smidge and the TT3 stayed exactly midrange. There is a classic example of TSH not telling the whole story. If you're only on Levo, a TSH near 1 may work for you, but if you're on Armour, it may not be low enough. Does anyone know why Armour suppresses the TSH so much more? It must be the direct T3 that pushes it down. Also (I'm sure you know this), but don't take any thyroid meds the day of the test. Taking them in the AM will push down the TSH and it won't have time to come back up by the time you do your labs. That's probably where the entire problem lies. Because we're giving our bodies a days worth of thyroid hormones in one dose instead of little bits throughout the day, our pituitary thinks that there is plenty of hormone and stops sending out the TSH signals... Judy

Unfortunately all he ordered was the TSH and free T4 along with iron. He's absolutely opposed to my TSH being lower than 1 though. He still isn't totally agreeable to everything yet although he usually listens to me.

Check out the New Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.

[Guest guest]

My daughter's TSH (not hypo, no medication) is 1.18, so she fits nicely into that statistical group... Judy

This finding could bolster the assertions of some practitioners and many patients that the optimal TSH levels are between 1 and 2, and that levels above that may in fact represent an abnormality. It certainly points up the need to reconsider the basis for most U.S. labs measuring hypothyroidism as only at levels of approximately 5.0 and above

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

The “diagnostic” TSH levels, as revised by the AACE (American Association of Endocrinologists), in 2002, is roughly 0.3 to 3.0. The “treatment” TSH level they recommend, is 1.0 to 2.0 for titrating (adjusting thyroid medication levels) however, many patients feel better, at the 1.0 and even down to the lowest TSH normal level of just above 0.3. Some patients even need a TSH that is slightly below the normal treatment level, due to slightly sluggish pituitary function that causes a TSH level that doesn’t accurately represent the actual thyroid hormone levels but these cases require close monitoring by their Doctors. For the general population of hypothyroid patients, the treatment range of 1.0 to 2.0, is the standard.Unfortunately, if a Doctor uses the diagnostic TSH range, a patient may be receiving inadequate treatment because this would mean that he or she would recognize even the highest-normal TSH, as being sufficient treatment, when it is not. For example, if a patient is treated on thyroid hormone replacement medication and their dose only suppresses their TSH down to 3.0, the Doctor who is not using the treatment TSH, will recognize this level as being sufficient and the patient may continue to experience hypothyroid symptoms. This scenario is even worse, when the lab a Doctor is using, is still using the old “diagnostic” TSH level of 0.5 to 5.0, that was revised by the AACE, in 2002, to help diagnose developing hypothyroidism, being the current; 0.3 to 3.0.

I think there's another article that is not specific to those on treatment. I'll see if I can find it tomorrow if I don't see it posted by someone else.

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[Guest guest]

The “diagnostic” TSH levels, as revised by the AACE (American Association of Endocrinologists), in 2002, is roughly 0.3 to 3.0. The “treatment” TSH level they recommend, is 1.0 to 2.0 for titrating (adjusting thyroid medication levels) however, many patients feel better, at the 1.0 and even down to the lowest TSH normal level of just above 0.3. Some patients even need a TSH that is slightly below the normal treatment level, due to slightly sluggish pituitary function that causes a TSH level that doesn’t accurately represent the actual thyroid hormone levels but these cases require close monitoring by their Doctors. For the general population of hypothyroid patients, the treatment range of 1.0 to 2.0, is the standard.Unfortunately, if a Doctor uses the diagnostic TSH range, a patient may be receiving inadequate treatment because this would mean that he or she would recognize even the highest-normal TSH, as being sufficient treatment, when it is not. For example, if a patient is treated on thyroid hormone replacement medication and their dose only suppresses their TSH down to 3.0, the Doctor who is not using the treatment TSH, will recognize this level as being sufficient and the patient may continue to experience hypothyroid symptoms. This scenario is even worse, when the lab a Doctor is using, is still using the old “diagnostic” TSH level of 0.5 to 5.0, that was revised by the AACE, in 2002, to help diagnose developing hypothyroidism, being the current; 0.3 to 3.0.

I think there's another article that is not specific to those on treatment. I'll see if I can find it tomorrow if I don't see it posted by someone else.

Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Yahoo! Messenger's cheap PC-to-Phone call rates.

[Guest guest]

The “diagnostic” TSH levels, as revised by the AACE (American Association of Endocrinologists), in 2002, is roughly 0.3 to 3.0. The “treatment” TSH level they recommend, is 1.0 to 2.0 for titrating (adjusting thyroid medication levels) however, many patients feel better, at the 1.0 and even down to the lowest TSH normal level of just above 0.3. Some patients even need a TSH that is slightly below the normal treatment level, due to slightly sluggish pituitary function that causes a TSH level that doesn’t accurately represent the actual thyroid hormone levels but these cases require close monitoring by their Doctors. For the general population of hypothyroid patients, the treatment range of 1.0 to 2.0, is the standard.Unfortunately, if a Doctor uses the diagnostic TSH range, a patient may be receiving inadequate treatment because this would mean that he or she would recognize even the highest-normal TSH, as being sufficient treatment, when it is not. For example, if a patient is treated on thyroid hormone replacement medication and their dose only suppresses their TSH down to 3.0, the Doctor who is not using the treatment TSH, will recognize this level as being sufficient and the patient may continue to experience hypothyroid symptoms. This scenario is even worse, when the lab a Doctor is using, is still using the old “diagnostic” TSH level of 0.5 to 5.0, that was revised by the AACE, in 2002, to help diagnose developing hypothyroidism, being the current; 0.3 to 3.0.

I think there's another article that is not specific to those on treatment. I'll see if I can find it tomorrow if I don't see it posted by someone else.

Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Yahoo! Messenger's cheap PC-to-Phone call rates.

[Guest guest]

I think it is the t3 that suppresses the TSH much more.

I was on levoxyl only and had a TSH near 2 and low end T34 and T34.

We added T3 cytomel and my T3F went to high end range and my TSH went to near 0 while my T34 stayed low end...

Sue

I'm on Armour and no, I didn't take my meds the morning of the test. I put them in my pocket pill box and took them once I got out to the car. I'm hoping the labs show room for a change of dose again. I should know by Friday since they didn't call today. I didn't notice the switch from Synthroid from Armour dropping my TSH noticeably at all.

Judy P wrote:

The TSH is so hard to judge when you're on medication. I understand it's use for newbies, but once your taking the hormones everything changes, especially if you're on Armour. Before starting Armour, my TSH was 1.18 and I was in no way 'hyper'. My FT4 was top in range and my TT3 and RT3 were both midrange. After being on a combination of Levo and Armour for about 2 months, my TSH dropped tenfold to ..118, but my FT4 dropped just a smidge and the TT3 stayed exactly midrange. There is a classic example of TSH not telling the whole story. If you're only on Levo, a TSH near 1 may work for you, but if you're on Armour, it may not be low enough. Does anyone know why Armour suppresses the TSH so much more? It must be the direct T3 that pushes it down. Also (I'm sure you know this), but don't take any thyroid meds the day of the test. Taking them in the AM will push down the TSH and it won't have time to come back up by the time you do your labs. That's probably where the entire problem lies. Because we're giving our bodies a days worth of thyroid hormones in one dose instead of little bits throughout the day, our pituitary thinks that there is plenty of hormone and stops sending out the TSH signals... Judy

[Guest guest]

excellent point maureen!! p.s. great site!!

Re: Had my daughter tested - lab tests

Hi, all,

I just have to write -- perhaps the problem with your daughter isn't hypothyroidism? Raynaud's phenomenon can cause very cold extremities (fingers, toes, nose), and can certainly make you lethargic (which could lead to weight gain). I suggest that you go back to the doc and ask that he/she test for the thyroid antibodies, but also consider other possibilities. Often, in families, if one relative has autoimmune thyroid disease, someone else can have another autoimmune condition. It's really impossible for any of us to diagnose each other -- and it can be dangerous, too.

Maureen Pratt

www.maureenpratt.com