Here are my results, sorry I forgot the ranges in my first post, I had to access my patient labs online to get correct ranges.
TSH 1.49 range is > or = 20 Years 0.40-4.50 mIU/L
T4 1.0 range is 0.8 -1.8 ng/dL
T3 2.3 range is 2.3-4.2 pg/mL
As you can see my T4 and T3 are hanging on by a thread. All but one doctor dismisses me as normal but I know I have a thyroid deficiency. My thyroid labs have been similar to this for the last 10 years! I have every last textbook symptom too.
I also have 2 nodules. They were found to be non-cancerous after I had a biopsy. I have a normal looking neck and the nodules were small with one larger than the other and was listed as "hypodense". All doctors dismiss the nodules. Honestly, I don't know what they mean either. No doctor bothered to explain what these mean and when I asked they just say "yeah that happens sometimes". I don't know if they automatically reduce the function of the thyroid or you can have nodules and get away without taking medication ? If anyone is familiar, please feel free to comment.
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Nicole1027
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Most people have thyroid nodules, even if they don't have thyroid problems. As long as they're not too big, they're rarely a problem.
Your Frees are low, but doctors only look at the TSH, it's the only thing they understand - and that's not saying much! - they know nothing about the actual thyroid hormones. So, unless one of them goes under-range, I doubt you're going to find a doctor to diagnose you.
Thank you! That makes me feel better. Its so funny that some doctors do test your T3 and T4 but they still only pay attention to TSH! I am thankful for this website so that we all can inform and encourage each other. I am going to continue fine tuning my self-treatment.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid and can cause symptoms in their own right and/or affect Thyroid test results
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Hi Nicole, I noticed from your ng/dL that you must be in the US. SlowDragon hits the nail on the head with her advice but in the US you will not get Medichecks nor Horizon, our equivalent is True Health Labs (and there might be others but this is the only one I know - and use). You can find them on the Internet, and you take the purchase order to a local Quest lab for the blood draw. I buy a Total Thyroid Panel, it costs about $280 and it is the very best first step, it will tell you EVERYTHING, you can narrow the field later, and it will be less expensive. With that panel and with everything SlowDragon has told you you will be able to sort yourself out.
I have been diagnosed with two nodules that after 2 FNAs and a Veracyte gene test are said to have a 50% chance of cancer. Medullary cancer was ruled out by the genetic test. Thank God.
My question to you Nicole is how did they rule out cancer in your case? Granted most of the time they are non cancerous. But then you have ME! lol.
They sent the specimen to get a cytopathology report here are the words they have written:
No malignant cells identified... Follicular epithilial cell groups shown... Based on the cellular compositon.. . Findings are associated with adenomatoid or colloid nodule with cycstic degeneration.
Granted I dont really know what this means either but several endos have looked at this and said it was nothing to worry about or be treated for. I have never had any genetic testing or any other testing. I tried to google cystic degeneration and suprisingly it doesnt have a literal meaning like it sounds?? If anyone else is familiar with the terminology feel free to comment
I read on Wikipedia and a site called HealthCareMagic (ask a doctor) that a colloid nodule refers to an adenomatous goiter which means a non cancerous enlarged thyroid. It could be enlarged because it is working overtime so to speak. The cystic degeneration sounds like a sort of description of a gelatinous mass. I am not a doctor so don't quote me. I would think your doctor might want to follow up every 6-12 months with an ultrasound to make sure nothing changes.
Thanks! Yes I got the same impression about a gelatinous mass but wasnt sure. Im definately gonna get a yearly ultrasound. Its so funny, at sime point in life my whole throut area became elarged. I had my tonsils taken out last month along with uvula bacause they were causing sleep apnea... The dr said they were bigger than what he expected pathology report said my tonsils had proliferation of tissue
I have held onto my tonsils all these years. Mine are very big. Did the removal help with the sleep apnea? I have a friend with very extreme apnea and maybe this could help her.
Yes!! I no longer snore and finally sleep with closed mouth! It got so bad this past year where I would wake up every 5 min. I became depressed and developed insomnia with daytime sleepiness. Funny thing is now that I don't snore and can breath properly, my thyroid interferes with my falling asleep, but at least I eliminated a huge issue, just need to work out these thyroid meds.
I had to fight to get the procedure done!! The exact name of the surgery is UPPP. You can only have it in the United States if you have been diagnosed via sleep study and you want insurance to pay. Also, you must say or prove you tried a CPAP machine for at least 1 year. However, 90% of doctors will still not NOT do the procedure! They say things like "its old, only 50% chance of working, recovery is too severe...blah, blah, blah". This isn't true, the procedure will work and yes the recovery is annoying but it isn't as dreadful as people claim. I went to no less than 5 ENT doctors who all fed me this line until I realized what was going on. So before making appts, I asked to speak to the doctor's nurse and ask specifically if the doctor does the procedure, if you don't do this you will waste money on visits. Also, I discovered that you should always look for a provider that is associated with a University/medical school/research facility anytime you want a procedure done that is being touted as "nontraditional or passe". These doctors are more willing to take chances and offer more treatment options. Plus it gives them a chance to teach their students. Also, sometimes it is hard to get diagnosed in sleep study (you can google this). Many people know they have it but study will say inconclusive! (similar to doctors not treating thyroid). I had 3 sleep studies and only 1 was positive!
I hate to say this but if you have a sleep study it is best to take some sort of sleep aid (for relaxation) and to purposefully hold your breath periodically to make sure the computer picks up on your lack of oxygen because you may not get diagnosed! I didn't believe this either until a healthcare friend told me what to do. I wasted so much money on 3 studies! This is happening to millions of people with undiagnosed sleep apnea according to forums I visited. If you are not severely obese, you will not get diagnosed!
I truly believe that here in the US they are eliminating procedures and ban medications that actually WORK so they can keep you coming back and spending money! They make sure you never heal! Ive seen this time and time again. Procedures and meds that work are performed in other countries but not here!
Hope this helps, I try to spread the word about horrible healthcare. We have to be our own advocates!
Nicole You are so right! Its all about follow the money too. The pipeline for opium must have dried up so now they want all of us to take gabapentin for everything! My hydrocodone worked so well for me. It helped me be able to continue working. Now my pain is uncontrolled and I find myself sitting around. I've gained 30 pounds! Makes me wonder if its my thyroid...
I am so excited to talk to my friend Bonnie about the procedures you had done that helped you. Bonnie is not obese, has been dx with apnea, got a cpap machine, but was using an appliance instead. Her apnea is becoming a bad issue for her. She will be moving to Kansas City where there are a lot more docs etc than where she is at now. She has AFIB now too. They think it is related to her o2 levels going so low at night and starving her heart muscle. The best advice I had for her was to raise the head of her bed so she could try to keep her airway open better.
I'm with my bf for the next few days in Hilton Head SC at a family reunion. When I get home I have an endocrinologist appt. I am not sure I am looking forward to it. And I'm scared to have someone hack off half of my thyroid! The way I feel physically though makes me want to try. I have been hoarse and had a dry hack for over a year. My throat hurts. I am fat and uncomfortable, especially here in this heat.
Great! I will keep you posted about this thyroid journey. I know how you feel about endo visits. I just have a list to ask short direct questions. When I forget something i just call the nurse and have her ask the doctor (youve paid for the visit already and have earned the right to call now... Lol)
Tell ur friend that 7-10 days after the sugery the apnea will be worse than before (dont panic) then miraculously around day 12 its a whole new world! My dr told me exactly what to expect and was right on the money. I say take off work for 8 days. Doctor said over next 3 months the soft palate gets stiffer which good! But she will be functinong normal in 2-3wks time.
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