Rebecca Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Dear Hive, My TSH came back at 4.55 which is just over the 4.5 normal. My doctor would not even talk about treating it. I would like to hear from anyone with experience. Is there anything natural or something I can do on my own to help it? Thank you for your help, Rebecca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 I just read thru the other thyroid thread below. I don't know what to do in terms of who to go to for care. 10 years ago I had postpartum thyroiditis, a positive antibody score, and saw a worthless endocrinologist. It resolved at 9 months postpartum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Do you have symptoms? I would try to get in to see a good endocrinologist if possible. Even a good internal medicine dr could be helpful. I've had Hashimotos for many years. I was under treated for years by my family dr. Finally got to an endocrinologist about 5 years ago. He did a full thyroid panel and changed my medication. For me, my TSH needs to be below 2 to not have symptoms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 What are your symptoms? I have fatigue, brain fog/confusion, joint pain, hair loss, lowered immunity, and inability to lose weight except for when I am seriously sick. Then I lose. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 Also low body temp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/10/28/how-thyroid-gland-functions.aspx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I would go find another doctor. Try your OB/Gyn, maybe? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 What are your symptoms? I have fatigue, brain fog/confusion, joint pain, hair loss, lowered immunity, and inability to lose weight except for when I am seriously sick. Then I lose. Thanks. I get those symptoms plus anxiety and insomnia (despite being really tired). I think a visit to another dr would be a good idea. A good endo, ideally. Even my ob/gyn was more helpful with my thyroid than my family dr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 (edited) for starters - tsh isn't very informative. you really want to know what your FREE t3 and t4 are. (my doc wouldn't even run them. I asked her to, and she got the totals .. completely worthless.) I was on levothyroxin - I didn't like it, was still hypo, my doc wouldn't increase the dose. I found emerald laboratories thryoid. it contains 350mg (per 2 capsules) of desicated bovine thyroid from new zealand. it's the whole thing. it's available OTC (I buy it from amazon. super supplements and whole foods also carry the brand.), and I felt better on this than just the levo. I am process of switching to armour (which is porcine desiccated thyroid. reportedly, it's more similar to human thyroid.). I have another appointment with the ND later this week. eta: someone has posted a poster of optimum thyroid levels several times. Edited March 22, 2016 by gardenmom5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I just read thru the other thyroid thread below. I don't know what to do in terms of who to go to for care. 10 years ago I had postpartum thyroiditis, a positive antibody score, and saw a worthless endocrinologist. It resolved at 9 months postpartum. Um, hate to break it to you but you have Hashimotos, it doesn't just go away. 4.55 TSH puts you at risk for various health issues, besides what it means for your thyroid, normal people have a TSH around 1. Also, as said TSH is a measure of your pituitary you really need more tests. You need to read on Stop the Thyroid Madness mentioned above and find a different dr. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Did your doctor also measure T3 and T4? TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) only tells you how hard your body is working to produce T3 and T4, the actual hormones produced by the thyroid. TSH doesn't tell you if the body is succeeding in its efforts. My TSH was about that same level, but both my T3 & T4 were low, so even producing that much TSH, my body wasn't succeeding in actual thyroid hormone production. I was very symptomatic Even still, it took talking to two doctors before I found one that would treat. So, my first recommendation is to ask for T3/T4 if you don't already know those numbers. Then if the dr still won't treat, take those results and go to another doc. Ask local friends or on FB for docs that are willing to treat thyroid issues. It is very frustrating how many prefer to monitor while you suffer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 among the things the thyroid puts out - are FIVE different thyroid hormones. allopaths will rx one. maaayyyybbbeee two. if you push, or are doing really badly. also - stored iron levels can really have an impact on thyroid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 (edited) Did your doctor also measure T3 and T4? TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) only tells you how hard your body is working to produce T3 and T4, the actual hormones produced by the thyroid. TSH doesn't tell you if the body is succeeding in its efforts. My TSH was about that same level, but both my T3 & T4 were low, so even producing that much TSH, my body wasn't succeeding in actual thyroid hormone production. I was very symptomatic Even still, it took talking to two doctors before I found one that would treat. So, my first recommendation is to ask for T3/T4 if you don't already know those numbers. Then if the dr still won't treat, take those results and go to another doc. Ask local friends or on FB for docs that are willing to treat thyroid issues. It is very frustrating how many prefer to monitor while you suffer. you want the FREE t3/t4. (NOT!!! total. -my dr only tested my totals, despite being told exactly what I wanted. :cursing: I'm now going to a different doc. )​ you want to know how your body is using it. it's possible to have an adequate supply floating around of t3/t4 - but your body isn't using it adequately. Edited March 22, 2016 by gardenmom5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 The Dr said he expected the T4 to be normal and gave me a lab script to have it tested in 6 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 Thank you so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I finally got a doctor to listen to me and run some tests. If you look up on Stopthyroidmadness or something like that they have a list of supportive doctors. I also googled for "thyroid doctor reviews" near me (not endocrinologist- I was looking for keyword thyroid) and read reviews. I found one near me who more than one person had specifically mentioned helped them when others wouldn't. He was great! It took me about 3 months and lots of blood- he didn't just throw the drugs at me since I was borderline- and I feel so much better. I feel like a real person again instead of a sleepwalker! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 The Dr said he expected the T4 to be normal and gave me a lab script to have it tested in 6 months. 6 months? So you are expected to continue feeling like crap for another 6 months at the bare minimum? This, this is why I think some dr's are a**holes. My mom's TSH kept creeping up and creeping up until finally it went out of even their range, the dr said well it is out of range but I don't think we should do anything about it. Really? If thyroid problems were more of a man's issue then I think it would be a different story, Thyroid stuff is not an easy fix by any means but doing nothing will ensure that get no closer to getting your levels normalized.As I said it increases your risk of other health problems, most specifically heart disease!!!! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 (edited) 6 months? So you are expected to continue feeling like crap for another 6 months at the bare minimum? This, this is why I think some dr's are a**holes. My mom's TSH kept creeping up and creeping up until finally it went out of even their range, the dr said well it is out of range but I don't think we should do anything about it. Really? If thyroid problems were more of a man's issue then I think it would be a different story, Thyroid stuff is not an easy fix by any means but doing nothing will ensure that get no closer to getting your levels normalized.As I said it increases your risk of other health problems, most specifically heart disease!!!! just wanted to emphasize this one. . . . my last doc was obsessed with my liver numbers. she (yeah - a WOMAN, so, this isn't a male doc thing. it was actually a male doc that put me on levo.), anyway, she didn't want to twiddle my thyroid meds (even though it's not working for me - and I was bluntly asking!!!!) bad thyroid can 'CAUSE' bad liver numbers. . . . . but let's just ignore those thyroid numbers. yessiree . . . . Edited March 22, 2016 by gardenmom5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 Soror, That is exactly exactly what I felt and thought. I also have slightly elevated cholesterol. This does run in my family but it is also a component of hypothyroid. :( The truth is I felt bad at 2.5 TSH and could not lose weight for anything but no medical person would consider it. And I just keep going on... I had a very bad experience with an endocrinologist 10 years ago that gave me a bad taste. Anyway, we have moved twice (600 miles) since that first thyroiditis and I am new to this Dr. Trying to find a good primary care. :( I haven't had consistent primary care in these last ten years I am thinking about making an appointment with my OBGYN. I have to see if I need a referral for an endocrinologist. I know the dr I saw yesterday wouldn't give me one. Ugh. Thank you all very much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 There are labs where you can go and get your own tests drawn. You may have to pay out of pocket, but I think Stop the Thyroid Madness has a list of the labs that do it. (Many are mainstream labs.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 My labs (TSH, T3, T4) were practically perfect (TSH 1.4 or something), but my doctor was willing to look deeper. I had a strong family history, hashimotos, and lots of symptoms- especially outer third of eyebrows falling out. He tested my reverse T3, which was very high, and saw that despite plenty of sun exposure my Vit D cannot stay high enough, and my temps were always low, so he gave me a low dose of meds. Definitely look for a doctor who will advocate for you! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 just wanted to emphasize this one. . . . my last doc was obsessed with my liver numbers. she (yeah - a WOMAN, so, this isn't a male doc thing. it was actually a male doc that put me on levo.), anyway, she didn't want to twiddle my thyroid meds (even though it's not working for me - and I was bluntly asking!!!!) bad thyroid can 'CAUSE' bad liver numbers. . . . . but let's just ignore those thyroid numbers. yessiree . . . . I had a similar experience. My cholesterol was up (not worrisome high, but high for me) and the doctor said right away "Don't worry about that, it's due to your thyroid." But my liver counts were all messed up and he didn't say one word about that being due to my thyroid. He asked me if I'd been drinking too much (I don't drink at all) and started mumbling about doing more blood work to check for hepatitis and maybe a biopsy if things didn't improve in a few weeks. Despite a 7.68 TSH and many other symptoms besides the increasing cholesterol and liver counts, he encouraged me to NOT start medication (although he was okay with me choosing to start). When I got home I spent less than five minutes with Dr. Google and found out on the Mayo Clinic site that elevated liver numbers are common with hypothyroidism. Six weeks later (and six weeks of being on levothyroxine) I went back to have my liver rechecked and everything was normal again. The doc's comment on the online portal was "I'm not sure what was causing the problem." Duh. Needless to say, I'm looking for another doctor. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Dear Hive, My TSH came back at 4.55 which is just over the 4.5 normal. My doctor would not even talk about treating it. I would like to hear from anyone with experience. Is there anything natural or something I can do on my own to help it? Thank you for your help, Rebecca Your doctor is behind the times. The range is up to 3 now as of the early 2000's, and the best docs know it should be in the 1 range or even below. This guy doesn't know what he is doing. Find someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Dear Hive, My TSH came back at 4.55 which is just over the 4.5 normal. My doctor would not even talk about treating it. I would like to hear from anyone with experience. Is there anything natural or something I can do on my own to help it? Thank you for your help, Rebecca Time to find another doctor. Immediately if not sooner. On FB Hashi's pages, functional medicine doctors get the biggest kudos, but anyone can treat you properly. Be aware that the average number of doctors that people go through before finding the right one is *five.* You might be able to help some with diet (the Autoimmune Protocol--AIP--is what is usually recommended), although since we only know that your TSH is very elevated, we don't know if you're only hypothyroid or if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disease. AIP might or might not help if it's hypothyroid and not Hashi's, though. You need to find someone who will do a complete thyroid panel, at a minimum, and preferably a complete everything to rule out Hashi's plus other issues. These are the labs you need, and if your doctor won't do them all, at least the thyroid basics, which will identify Hashi's: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Post #25 from king reported as spam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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