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...

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sudden drop in thyroid function?

claymom
claymom
I'm wondering how quickly thyroid function can drop. Can one transition from normal function to hypothyroidism in as little as a few weeks? Does thyroid function vary significantly enough that multiple tests might be required to get a true picture? Or is it typically a steady, slow decline?
My last test showed "slightly low". My doc is asking ME if I want to treat it! Anyone have experience with treating a "slightly low" case of hypothyroidism? Any info before I see my doc again would be appreciated.
cd3764
cd3764
I have a sneaking suspicion that your doctor has only been checking your TSH.

I also suspect that your TSH just went above-range quite recently yet you've been dealing with hypothyroidism for quite some time.
This is very common.

While the site I'm linking below doesn't have the best info, it does have very comprehensive information as to how hypothyroidism can manifest.

No one will have every symptom on the list. However, if you've been dealing with any of the symptoms on the list for any length of time, you have probably been dealing with hypothyroidism all along and your TSH-watching doctor is only starting to realize it.

There's no disrespect intended with these comments....this is just the reality of things.

Here's the link:

http://www.hypothyroidismrevolution.com/hypothyroidism-symptoms/

So, when you see your doctor, it would be a good idea to get a copy of the lab report.

Ideally, your doctor has not only been checking pituitary hormone TSH but also the actual thyroid hormone levels: FreeT4 and FreeT3.

Here's some info about the right way to be diagnosed and treated for hypothyroidism:

http://www.mercola.com/article/hypothyroid/diagnosis_comp.htm

Please feel free to share your labs results here and we'll show you how to interpret them. You'll need to post the reference ranges for results since different labs use different ranges and your results can only be properly interpreted within the context of your lab's ranges.
claymom
claymom
Thank you very much! I will definitely pursue this.
bransnana
bransnana
Hi there...I would think if the doc's saying "slightly low" you probably need treatment. They tend to be VERY conservative in handing out prescrips for low thyroid function. Yes, it can change in a few weeks for sure. Like CD said, if you post results we can give you an idea if you need treatment or not. Most don't feel well if they are in the low ranges for FT3 and 4 with a tsh over 2.