I'm sorry I don't have much to offer you, as I'm not too familar with central hypothyrodism. However, the T4 and T3 tests in general are outdated and useless. I would say to push to get your freeT4 and freeT4 tests done and take it from there. Sorry you're going through this, I hope you get some answers from other members that might know more on this topic. Best wishes. :)

Thank you for replying. I hope I can get some answers too. For some reason this endo and my primary care doctor do not see the need to test the FT3 and FT4. It is very frustrating when they don't seem to take you seriously.

I totally feel your pain. I have hashimotos, but also tested positive for graves antibodies, they are not withing range, but still present. Possible hashitoxicosis. I had a terrible reaction to synthroid and was hospitalized twice with a resting heartrate of 160 bpm. I had an endo (NOW FORMER) look me dead in the face and tell my me thyroid was fine when he discharged me. I had a TSH of 32 at the time and the dr refused to do the FreeTs tests. My last resort was literally a naturopath doctor, and lucky for me he took me seriously and ran every test under the sun. I am slowly but surely starting to feel better. I too have heard many doctors tell me the freeT tests are no useful, when in actuality they are the most useful. My best advice to you is find a new doctor. I went through 5 drs in less than 2 months, and YES it was draining, but worth it in the end. Your health is worth it, please don't let your current drs do this to you.

Trust me I am not, but thank you for the encouragement! My "main disease," if you will, Pseudotumor Cerebri was more than likely caused because of some docotors playing around with my health. They kept prescribing powerhouse antibiotics for sinus infections to the point where one year I spend almost the entire year on them, and they were at the same time giving me steriod shots. Had they bothered to investigate and discover my sinus infections were being caused by severe allergies, then I wouldn't have needed all the antibiotics, they could have treated me for allergies. The combination of long term use of these powerful antibiotics and steriods can bring on PTC and unfortunately I have to live with it the rest of my life.
So with all that happening I have learned my lesson and question, requestion and triplequestion everything they say and give me. That is the biggest reason I am not willing to accept the endocrinologists explination of subclinical hyperthyroidism.
I am almost to the point where I think my body is completely revolting against me! :-)
Danielle

Hi Army! I remember you from another board. It seems you were hypo/hyper at one time before too. If you would go to Elaine's site and look around or ask her this question she might head you towards some documents on her site that you could print and take to a doctor. The Frees are most important.The tsh is also an indicator but the frees (not total) are what is in your bloodstream and your body is able to use.Stress this to the docs and if you have insurance, these will be covered.
http://elaine-moore.com/QA/tabid/57/forumid/6/scope/threads/Default.aspx

There are little tubes going from the hypothalamus to the pituitary and from there to the thyroid gland, plus others.

My ND thinks one of mine is partly stopped up, and I had heard about that problem before. Sorry, can't remember the name.

This may have nothing to do with your problem but my brain decided to put those two problems together for some reason when I read your post.

Sorry, I'm not familiar with central hypo-T either.

army wife? Maybe I'm going back too far in time but military used to pretty much go to base/post drs, etc. Is it still that way? (I'm probably REALLY dating myself here!)

Another graves and hashi AB poster. I think the only way you can dx that is via MRI. I'm getting one in the very near future to rule that out, or in.

Hi Danielle - I have had central hypothyroidism for 29 years now. For about 1 1/2 years I went through complete hell to get drs to find out what as wrong with me (I was in the Army in Germany at the time) All my thyroid tests would come back within range, finally I had the TRH stimuation test done which showed everything and I was medicated with synthroid, within 3 months I felt almost normal again. My doctor lowered my dose from 100mcg to 88mcg based on my TSH, (which I have come to find out has no bearing on this type of hypo) and I feel like crap. I decided i needed a new doc and found a wonderful endo/research center here in Florida, they work as a team with several endos to get you the proper treatment. I do know that Pituitary Dysfunction occurs frequently in people who have Primary Empty Sella. Your doctor is basing the HYPERthyroidism on your low TSH but if you have issues with your pituitary or hypothalmus, the TSH test is unreliable. A low free T4 or free T4 index and a low TSH in the setting of pituitary disease and signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism point in a straightforward manner to the diagnosis of central hypothyroidism. Like everyone else said, push to get these tests done.
P.S. I just found out last week that I have 2 nodules on my thyroid gland, mine are 4 and 5mm but they cant even do a fna on them until they are 10mm but every 6mos i will be getting an us to monitor for any growth

Gator, did they do a MRI to find out if you had a pit tumor? I'm going to be gettin an MRI, and that is one of the things I'm curious about. When I first when slightly hyper (3 yrs ago) my labs looked like that oF secondary hypo. My tsh was .35 and I had low t3 and t4,but I figured it may be the graves suppresing the tsh. I'm not looking forward to getting the MRI, but as many answers I can get the better.

Never had an MRI but my new endo said that will come soon since I've been having some vision issues and puffy eyes.
My diagnosis came from the TRH Stimulation Test is a much more sensitive test because it evaluates how well the hypothalamus, pituitary and thyroid glands are functioning and communicating together at the same time, and in real time. It's a long test that takes close to 3 hrs to complete. The TSH test replaced it but there are still a few doctors that do it, I know of 1 in New York. My TSH tests always run btwn .37 and .77 which mean nothing for central hypo. PS - and yes your psuedotumor could have everything to do with it.