Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
Hi there, I am new to this group. Looks like lots of great info is shared on this forum! I am trying to learn a lot about this condition.
I want to keep this short, but basically my history is that I have felt absolutely terrible since the beginning of 2013 and have gone to several doctors without them having any clue as to what is wrong. Finally with a friends help she told me about a specialist 2 hours away that she uses so I just established with this Dr. and feel I am at least getting somewhere. This new Dr. had me do lots of blood work. I did the BW in two parts and so far have only received results on the first set of labs, but in 2 weeks should get the other lab results when I go back for a f/up appt.
I'd like to share the results and see if someone could help me understand them better:
TSH 3.04 (range: 0.40-4.50)
T4, Free 1.1 (0.8-1.8)
T3, Free 2.7 (2.3-4.2)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies < 10 (< 35)
Ferritin 15 (10-154)
I am really hoping to get some help from this doctor. I have been so fatigued all day, poor concentration, brain fog, dizzy, and have been dealing with low blood sugar. All this over the past several months. Do not feel like my old self. Very frustrating, as so many of you can relate!!
I want to keep this short, but basically my history is that I have felt absolutely terrible since the beginning of 2013 and have gone to several doctors without them having any clue as to what is wrong. Finally with a friends help she told me about a specialist 2 hours away that she uses so I just established with this Dr. and feel I am at least getting somewhere. This new Dr. had me do lots of blood work. I did the BW in two parts and so far have only received results on the first set of labs, but in 2 weeks should get the other lab results when I go back for a f/up appt.
I'd like to share the results and see if someone could help me understand them better:
TSH 3.04 (range: 0.40-4.50)
T4, Free 1.1 (0.8-1.8)
T3, Free 2.7 (2.3-4.2)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies < 10 (< 35)
Ferritin 15 (10-154)
I am really hoping to get some help from this doctor. I have been so fatigued all day, poor concentration, brain fog, dizzy, and have been dealing with low blood sugar. All this over the past several months. Do not feel like my old self. Very frustrating, as so many of you can relate!!
You're going to a specialist now? an Endocrinologist?
None of my Endocrinologists (I've seen 3) would help me with hypothyroidism, but I am a special case. Still, they seem to think that being on the hypo side of the normal range is a good thing, saying, "It's Hyperthyroidism that kills."
If I didn't have both Hashi's and Graves' one of the PCPs I've had lately would have treated me for hypothyroidism if I had had numbers like you have reported in your post. Even if I were barely as high as 3.0 TSH she would have treated me. (She took maternity leave for a few months, so I had to find another doctor.)
As it was, my new PCP is treating me, or allowing me to treat myself within limits, and I have made a great recovery.
At least endocrinologists are good at testing. Many doctors would just run the TSH and skip the other tests.
You said you expected to get results from additional testing in two weeks from your post date? What were they?
I don't know about your Ferritin... I just know that when it comes to hormones, maybe particularly the thyroid, there are a lot of other things that are interrelated.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ferritin/
@FernRL
I'm so very happy for you that you finally found a helpful doctor! I'm amazed at the leeway you were given with your dose and I hope the great recovery continues.
Lots of great info here..and wonderful folk..
It's been a god-send for me..