Hello, New here from the U.S.

[LastingLove23]

I don't know if the levels and measurements are the same in the UK as the U.S. but I am desprite for help for my mother. Her TSH is 50.41 and her Free T3 and Free T4 are low. Is she in danger of dying?

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, LastingLove23.

No, your mother isn't in danger of dying with TSH 50 if she gets thyroid replacement which is usually Synthroid or NDT in the USA. She will probably be started on quite a low dose initially and will need blood tests every 6/8 weeks after each dose increase until her TSH is the low normal range. Most people on medication are comfortable with TSH just above or below 1.0.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/diagno...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[harleychick]

no she is not in danger. she will be fine. where do u live in the U,S.

[faith63]

The TSH, is not a good indicator of thyroid function. How low are her free's, how does she feel? These can give you more info than TSH..If she is cold, low bp and low temps, swelling, she can go into a Coma. But, you would see that coming and hopefully the hospital will giver some t3. For people like me, who don't convert the t4 to active t3..the hospital would likely allow me to die. Free t3, is the most important test as well as Reverse t3. All of this is what i have read and some of it my opinion. I am from the US too.

[Heloise]

I would think any doctor seeing that lab report would be putting her on some sort of hormone replacement. In the U.S. they often prescribe levothyroxine or other generic rather than natural thyroid like Armour which may be preferable. You could request it anyway. I can't believe any doctor would refuse to prescribe in this situation but it would be good to see her other thyroid results if you have the actual numbers. Once she is diagnosed the TSH for hypothyroids should be suppressed at around 1.0.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/l...

[PR4NOW]

reallyfedup123, it is true that in 2002 the NACB did say that in the future they thought 2.5 would be the top and it is also true that AACE came out with a statement saying 3.0 should be the top but unfortunately these were never really adopted, instead much controversy ensued. Generally speaking the top of the range in the US is 4.0-6.0 mIU/L and between that and 10 is subclinical hypothyroidism, much as it is in the UK. The advantage we have is that we don't have a GMC. In the US doctors are licensed by the state they practice in and some states are more progressive than others. Naturopathic doctors can be licensed as primary care docs in about 16 states and write scripts if they choose. Many MDs have left the insurance model and transitioned to Holistic, Integrative, Functional, CAM, or Anti-Aging and will quite often treat with regards to clinical presentation. So it is a patchwork here in the US with the allopathic world being very similar to the UK and the non-allopathic world as an option if you can afford it. The professional endocrine organizations in the US are aligned with those in Europe as far as treatment standards although the ATA's latest 2014 Guidelines are the first that I know of to incorporate "somatoform disorder" in the guidelines. PR

[PR4NOW]

With a TSH of 50.41 there should be no question that your mother qualifies for treatment. You need to get a TPO antibody and Tg antibody test done to see if it is Hashimotos. As others have mentioned you also need to check Vit D, folate, B12 and a full iron panel. PR

[shaws Administrator]

Your mother must feel quite unwell. Once she is on thyroid hormone she will begin to feel better but the dose must be increased gradually until her TSH reduces to 1 or below. I know Synthroid in the USA is much more expensive that our generic levothyroxine, so I don't know if in the USA they do a cheaper version than the Brand Synthroid. I do believe you can get levothyroxine compounded in your pharmacies and that a nurse can prescribe. In the UK only registered doctors can prescribe levothyroxine. We don't have a brand name at the moment.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/o...

I don't agree with STTM view of T3 and take T3 only once daily and I am well. I follow Dr Lowe's method (he was a scientists too): Excerpt

And finally, why do I specify that the typical patient use one full dose of non-timed-release Cytomel for life? Because extensive testing has shown that this is safe, effective, and most economical—when used within the context of our entire protocol.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[lynnimp]

Hi:

I live in the UK -- but was initially diagnosed and treated in the US. I still consult an integrated physician in the Boston area and get compounded T3 from the US. If you want to private message me -- I'd be happy to give you details. Good luck to you & your mom.