Confused about blood test results

[SteelDude]

So heres the thing,

My doctor made me do a blood test back in February which showed a high TSH level and apparently this indicates that I might have Hypothyroidism. He never actually gave me the results so I’m not exactly sure what all my values were but here are the ones I was told :

TSH : 6.81 ( 0.20 - 4.00)
T4 : 20.15 ( 12 - 22)

All I know is that the values not listed here (including TG antibodies) were all in a normal range.

To make sure the test wasn’t faulty, he made me do another blood test a few days ago but this time my TSH level seemed fairly normal. My TG antibodies on the other hand were really high all of a sudden. I should point out that I have gotten absolutely no treatement so far. Here are the results of the 2nd blood test:

TSH : 3.04 ( 0.20 - 4.00 )
T4 : 17.40 ( 12 - 22)
T3 : 6.29 ( 2.80 - 7.10 )
anti TPO : 22 ( 0 - 34)
anti TG : 524 ( 0 - 115 )

The test results seem a little inconsistent. What could this 2nd test mean? Does it still indicate Hypothyroidism or does it look like something completely different? Since my doctor is on a break right now I won't be able to reach him for a while but I'm just really curious what's going on. If anyone could help me out I'd really appreciate it :p

[LazyMoose]

Technical wording differences aside, some here do feel well. At one time they did not feel well, learned what to do / try here, and got better!  Many come here for help, get better, then leave. Some stick around to help others (its like payback). I felt great last November, until my brand med was discontinued, getting better slowly on another brand. I am one of the few that some brands do not work on very well.

There was a post on thyroid succes a few weeks ago. I agree its good to read that stuff. But its not human nature to do that it seems.

If I had no thyroid replacement med, my body would eventually shut down. Ten years ago med was an option to some extent, but Hashimoto makes the thyroid progressively worse unlike standard hypo (non-disease).

[TamraW]

Since starting my gluten-free diet and other dietary changes, I'm using a lot less thyroid meds than before. However, if I was to quit taking my thyroid pills altogether, I'd be a zombie. I don't like being dependent on them, but, for me, they are a necessity in order to feel well. And, yes, I feel well and healthy.

If I would have started my dietary changes prior to the antibodies eating most of my thyroid gland, then maybe I wouldn't need the pills now. However, 20/20 hindsight, I did not know I had Hashimoto's up until a year ago, and neither did my many clueless doctors. I did not know until a few months ago that there is a lot of new research linking gluten to antibody attacks. If I would have known all of these things about six years ago, when I believe this all started, then I could have altered my diet and maybe prevented the attacks that ate my thyroid. My antibody attacks stopped when I changed my diet.

:) Tamra

[wtf333]

All I'm saying is that before you start on these types of meds, you need to make sure you need them. Have a complete bloodwork done, get the results and seek a 2nd opinion. This meds aren't like taking an asprin of even an antibiotic. These meds affect your Thyroid Gland! Just for the record I stated" That 95% of the people in this forum don't feel well" not 95% fo people on Thyroid meds. Is there a forum for succesfull Thyroid users? I would love to read some success stories!

[LazyMoose]

I have to side with goolarra.   wtt33:Your comment that 95 % of the people dont feel well on thyroid replacement is incorrect.  People on this forum dont feel well, most  their thyroid issues are more complicated than the norm, and they are seeking help besides doctors. I mean why on earth would someone be posting questions on the web if they feel fine??

I know plenty of people in real life (not on line ) that have improved dramatically on thyroid hormone replacement.

Technically there are more forms of thyroidism than std hypo, Hashimoto, and Graves - which are the norm. Conversion issues, thyroid hormone resistance, Wilsons Syndrom, - things that are out of the norm of 95% of thyroid cases is what some patients on this forum have issues with.

If T4 med worked for me like most, I would never bothered looking for this place.

[goolarra]

I think you're misinterpreting the number of people on thyroid meds who are dissatisfied with their treatment.  The patients on this forum are a very small fraction of the total number of thyroid patients.  We don't hear from the people who ARE happy and feel well.  Furthermore, forum members are often members because their medical treatment (including both meds and doctors) has failed them in some way.  I'm feel very well on T4 meds, and would probably never have found my way to this forum if I hadn't had a pituitary issue which causes my TSH to be permanently elevated.  Inept doctors kept trying to get my TSH to come down regardless of the fact that it didn't move no matter how much T4 I took (and I was asymptomatic).

I tend to be very conservative on taking any meds.  If my Hashi's had been diagnosed before I was symptomatic, I'd probably have railed against taking meds.  However, in retrospect (always 20/20), I think starting thyroid meds earlier might be beneficial.  First, meds can stop you from descending into hypo he// (a big plus).  Second, by supporting the thyroid and not forcing it to work too hard, you can prevent some of the "physical" effects of goiter (enlarged thyroid) and nodules, which can include neck/head/face pain, difficulty swallowing, etc., etc.

Yes, finding the right dose of meds does take patience, and it's an ongoing project for the rest of your life.  But, if you have Hashi's, you will be on meds eventually, and if some of the awful symptoms can be avoided, then it's probably worth it.  It's something you can only ignore for so long.

Some people feel that Hashi's should be treated as soon as it's discovered.  Others think that no treatment should be offered until the patient is symptomatic (sick) or, worse yet, until their labs are "out of range" (no matter how long they might have been sick until that happens).  I would encourage SteelDude to research both sides of this issue and decide which camp he falls into.  

SteelDude:

Elevated TGab can indicate either of the two autoimmune diseases, Hashi's (hypo) and Graves' (hyper).  Have you had TSI tested?  TSI is the definitive test for Graves'.  Your doctor is testing total T3/4 rather than free T3/4, which is unfortunate since totals are not nearly as helpful in diagnosing and treating thyroid disease as the frees are.  However, for what they're worth, your TT3/4 are both on the high side, which could indicate hyper (Graves').  I think you should have FT3 and FT4 tested, along with TSI.  Those tests will offer a much more complete picture of your thyroid function than you have right now.  In addition, you might as well have TSH retested, also.

[wtf333]

Are are you feeling??? If your feeling healthy and wel,l I sure in the world wouldn't start any Thyroid meds!!!!!! If you read all the comments made in this post, 95% of the people on them don't feel good still. I started on them 8 yrs ago because of the anti depressant my doctor put me on while I was going through a divorce. Celexa causes hypothroidism! When I found that out I got off that crap! Truth is, only time can heal  a broken heart. I didn't know that at the time. Now my thyroid is really out of whack and the meds make my joints hurt so bad the Dr tested me for Rhematiod Arthristis( test was negative thank God). I feel better off the meds but my TSH level was 86.00!!! That scared me. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Please weigh all your options here. These meds are NOT user friendly but may be necessary for some people. Just make sure your one of them!

[TamraW]

Hashimoto's will eventually lead to hypothyroidism if left untreated. You have elevated Hashimoto's antibodies. Hashi thyroids tend to swing from  high to low to normal in the early stages and back again as the thyroid and the antibodies duke it out. This explains your fluctuating TSH. However, TSH is a pituitary hormone and not always reliable. Your doc should be testing and treating your frees (FT3/4), the most direct measurement of thyroid hormone.

My antibody attacks have stopped since eliminating gluten from my diet. Read my journal and posts or message me with any further questions.

Take care...
:) Tamra