Hey guys
I have been on this site to seek guidance for what my doctor though was a mild thyroid problem. However I believe my problem is another hormone imbalance because no thyroid meds ever worked for me (tried them all)
I noticed that for the past 2 yrs my growth hormone (GH) levels are always showing as 0.3 ng/mL. I have read that GH levels rise and fall sporadically throughout the day, so this value alone can't be used as a diagnosis. Therefore my doctor checks my IGF-1 levels too and my IGF-1 level is always 200 ng/mL.
My question is this: Is my GH level too low?
Could this be the reason for severe fatigue, concentrated belly fat, chronic insomnia, low mood, slow digestion, and metabolism? I have read that for men a normal range is <5 and for women <10. The fact that my GH level is always 0.3 no matter when they take blood is concerning. No doctor has taken this seriously. But at this point my life is falling apart and I have become severely depressed.
Does anyone know if my GH values are normal? Should they be higher? Does anyone else seek treatment for GH deficiency. I am 34 years old. Any help at all would be fine.
Sincerely
Hypothyroidism and low GH often go together, because you need decent levels of T3 to make GH.
Do you have your thyroid test results - the actual numbers, results and ranges - not just what your doctor thought. Because very often what doctors think is a 'mild' thyroid problem, often isn't 'mild' at all.
Tsh 1.15 mIU/L range 0.4-4.5
T4 1.2 ng/dL range 0.8-1.8
T3 2.3 pg/dL range 2.3-4.2
As you can see my t3 is low. When my dr checked again it was 2.7 which is still low. I am debating on just taking t3 alone because i have horrible side effects with all forms of t4. But i figure if there is something wrong with my growth hormone then I need take a medication for that. Not to sure and dr isnt helpful
Growth hormone isn't easy. There is not 'medication' as such. You would need growth hormone injections every day - outrageously expensive, and not something you can self-treat with because you can't get hold of the growth hormone like you can thyroid hormone. I don't expect your doctor does know anything about it. Seems to me it would be easier to try and raise your GH by raising your FT3 - which is dire. Getting GH injections will only solve one problem. Raising your FT3 will solve two.
Yes, it's quite possible that you have problems with T4, so try T3 only. Why not?
I see others are suggesting a pituitary problem - a possibility but not necessarily the case. You would need to see and endo to check that out, as they say. But, has your TSH ever been any higher than 1.15?
Oddly enough me tsh has never been higher than 1.5 but my t4 and t3 have been bottom end of range on most blood draws for last 2 yrs
OK, so it probably is a pituitary problem. You need to tell your doctor that you have reason to believe that you have Central Hypothyroidism, where the problem lies with the pituitary (Secondary Hypo) or the hypothalamus (Tertiary Hypo) rather than the thyroid itself (Primary Hypo). GPs only know about Primary Hypo, so need the problem waved under their noses.
Only an endo can do all the necessary tests and scans for Central Hypo, to you need to insist on a referral. But, first, read up on it so that you know what you're talking about, and can convince him.
endocrinologyadvisor.com/en...
pituitary.org.uk/informatio...
Yes I never thought of that! I will definately read up on this so that I may be armed for my appt in July. I will let you know how this plays out! Thank you!
You're welcome.
Good luck!