If i have no thyroid what should my tsh level b... - Thyroid UK
If i have no thyroid what should my tsh level be? Should i have any tsh at all?
Yes, because your pituitary gland is responsible for TSH, not thyroid. It senses whether thyroid hormone is needed and sends a message to the thyroid to release T4, so it can be activated and changed into T3, the actual hormone used in your cells. In fact you are right in a way, because the Thyroid Seeking Hormone cannot send a message to your non existent thyroid but will cause the T4 to be sent off for conversion. At least that is how I see it. Anyone please correct if I am wrong!
Your TSH should be low, not the way your doctor probably thinks, (around the middle of the range.) It is far better if almost suppressed. Someone probably has figures to tell you. Are you having problems with blood test results?
My tsh is low 1.96 (.35 5.5). T4 17. (9 23) was told by doctors receptionist i have normal thyroid function so dont need to see gp but still have a few symptoms tiredness cold and lethargic dry hair and skin
It may be useful to have a T3 test, if you can persuade your doc to do it. It will show whether you are converting the T 4 to T3 properly. I suspect not, as I have been there too. I now take T 3 ,(Liothyronine) in addition to T 4, although only just starting that, as have been on T3 only for 9 months. I also have no thyroid and we definitely seem to need the help of T3. If you can get the blood test done, post results here with the reference range. If it is many years that you have been on T 4, without a thyroid, I think and pray for your sake that it is low, as it gives you a stick to beat them with to ask for some T 3. May have to ask for referral to an endo first, however. Good luck.
Told by your doctor's receptionist? I'm speechless! A receptionist isn't medically qualified!
No they arn't. But they are only saying what they have been told to say by the GP, who has most likely noted "no further action" (or similar) against the results. Of course anyone is perfectly entitled to make an appointment anyway and speak to their GP, but I do often think receptionists get a raw deal for only doing what they have been told to do.
It may be of course that you just need a dose increase of Levo. You could try that first if they will let you have a trial. What dose are you on?
Hiya,
Have you had your thyroid removed? I've had a partial thyroidectomy to remove thyroid cancer and I now take levothyroxine to suppress the TSH produced by my pituatory grand. TSH needs to be suppressed to very, very low levels to prevent the return of the cancer, and if this is what's happened to you then your TSH needs to be between 0.30 to 0.50. However, some specialists think that it can be higher than this and they will review depending on an individuals circumstances. I think there is spoke for your levothyroxine to be increased as you are still having hypothyroid symptoms.
Hi yes i have had a total thyroidectomy in august and i am taking 125micrograms of levo the receptionist said that my blood tests were normal and what really made me laugh was she said i had normal thyroid fuction (strange having no thyroid) but will go back and see my gp
My own GP said the same thing to me when I went for my diabetes check up in August. I just laughed at him and told him it wasn't normal and didn't he realise that I only had half a thyroid gland because my cancer had gone undiagnosed for 4 years due to his colleagues ineptitude, I kept getting told that it was laryngitis when in fact it wasn't! I had to tell him that it needs to be seriously suppressed and that my levothyroxine will need to be increased gradually to suppress my pituatory gland from making the TSH that would encourage the return of the cancer.
Good luck with your GP, let's hope he/she isn't as ignorant has mine.
Hi
sorry to pinch your post. I have no thyroid due to thyroidectomy 30years ago
my ash is 0.03 and my T4 free is 21.3- i have other health issues and lots of meds
but its the best I've felt for me in 5 years-my doctor has asked to speak to me and i suspect wants to lower my levothroxine.
any advice would be appreciated
Writing a new question as a response on a very old thread is not a good approach.
Likely it will be missed. Or any answers you do get could get confused with the original thread. Anyone trying to answer might confuse what is already there with your question. And members who contributed to the original thread might no longer be active.
Write a brand new post.
This is a very old post/thread. I would create your own post so more members will see it and respond. If your GP wants to reduce your dose based on the TSH result then s/he is wrong to do so. You do not have to follow his advice especially if the FT3 is not tested !
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