tsh levels

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

My doctor said that my tsh level on my last blood test was 9.55.. t4 normal..

can anyone tell me what normal tsh levels are?

Thanks so much,

Robin

[Guest guest]

Thank yo Cindi... with those tsh values sounds like mine 9.55 is through the

roof? It must really be stressing.

Robin

Re: tsh levels

In a message dated 1/10/2005 11:08:57 AM Eastern Standard Time,

zami9@... writes:

> can anyone tell me what normal tsh levels are?

>

.3 to 3.0 according to the latest guidelines.

many labs are still using 5 as the upper range however.

guidelines may be changed even lower than 3.0 according to info.

cindi

[Guest guest]

When I was first diagnosed hypothyroid, my TSH was at 9.89. I had

been feeling tired, depressed, stupid, and had been constipated and

packing on the pounds for nearly 3 years. At the time of diagnosis, I

had been suffering insomnia, multiple sinus infections, swelling,

hearing loss, dysphasia, and violent mood swings. I'd even had an

episode of hyperpigmentation from adrenal failure. The physician

described this as " mild hypothyroidism " in my charts, and was

reluctant to treat me with a TSH that was so low.

Several years and many doctors later, I asked one physician what

distinguishes mild/moderate/severe hypothyroidism. Her answer was

indirect, ( " I've seen people walk in my office with a TSH of 200! " )

but it told me what I needed to know - find another doctor!

So, from personal experience, 9.55 is sky high, but I have two

friends (both Hashi's) who were subclinical for 10 years or more,

both with TSH over 100 and seemed fine until symptoms manifested.

These are just 3 data points, but they are still quite telling.

Consider the odds of any one person having direct knowledge of 3

extreme outliers and the data points become more valuable!

When are physicians going to learn to get rid of the worthless TSH

test and start treating based on symptoms? I am sick to death of

hearing comments like " You can't possibly feel THAT bad - your TSH is

normal " .

Stepping off soap-box now.

> Thank yo Cindi... with those tsh values sounds like mine 9.55 is

through the roof? It must really be stressing.

>

> Robin

[Guest guest]

Pituitary dysfunction is very common in hypothyroidism. I've read

studies that found ranges of about 15% to 40% of thyroid patients

have pituitary problems. The pituitary makes TSH to tell the thyroid

to make hormone, so if thryoid replacement is adequate, the

pituitary shouldn't need to make very much TSH at all.

I was one of those who was sick at 2.5 TSH and when I got to 3.0 I

was falling to pieces. There are numberous studies done over the

years that have found that TSH correlates poorly with how the

patient feels.

Tish

[Guest guest]

> I was one of those who was sick at 2.5 TSH and when I got to 3.0 I

> was falling to pieces.

EXACTLY the same with me. I remember my TSH being 2.7, and I was

getting ready to apply for S.S. Disability.

Janie

[Guest guest]

OK so I won't say that when I went to my Dr with a complaint of heavy

periods she ran a blood test and my TSH was 94!!!!! Looking back on

it that was my major complaint. Unless I had had Hashi's so long my

body got used to it.

I did go for my blood test today. No problem so in the future I will

ask to go to Quest Diagnostics. When I told her that my Dr's office

couldn't get enough blood she assured me she could and put a blood

pressure cuff on my arm so the vein wouldn't collapse. She got 4

tubes.

I'll post the results when I get them. And if I have to meet with

someone I will meet with the MD and not the whacked PA.

Louise

>

> > I was one of those who was sick at 2.5 TSH and when I got to 3.0

I

> > was falling to pieces.

>

> EXACTLY the same with me. I remember my TSH being 2.7, and I was

> getting ready to apply for S.S. Disability.

>

> Janie

[Guest guest]

Same here. My tsh was 2.2 when I first started riding the doctor-go-round, and

I was absolutely useless. Interestingly, after I was given Cytomel and retested

a month later, I felt better but my tsh was up to 2.9. Can anyone say

" pituitary " ? Is this maybe why we keep saying that tsh is useless?

-- prr

> I was one of those who was sick at 2.5 TSH and when I got to 3.0 I

> was falling to pieces.

EXACTLY the same with me. I remember my TSH being 2.7, and I was

getting ready to apply for S.S. Disability.

Janie