Blood Lab Question?

[kpsl]

Lab work done at yearly Wellness Fair at work

Results showed 4 out of range and gave me a diagnosis of Hypothyroidism.  Is that only based on the TSh or do these other out-of-range ones apply towards the thyroid as well?

TSH-7.880
Iron,Serum-159
LDH-253
Creatinine-1.06

[goolarra]

Goitrogens are only a problem raw.  If you cook them, you can munch away to your heart's content.

[Red_Star]

Well he didn't have thyroid issues of course. My fluid retention is one my top 5 most hated symptoms of hypothyroidism list. :)

[kpsl]

Being a guy always helps : ), especially if you're a young one.  I managed to stop at 150 and go backwards and hold at 148.  There are days I'm sure water retention plays a big role.  I have horrible cramps from thighs down and above as well at times.  Always assumed from exercise. Had stopped sugan and most grains already, although I'll admit to cheats occasionally on weekends, but not bad ones, since my boyfriend is always present to shine the light on them on weekends, but extremely disciplined during week.  I also donated a kidney about 10 years ago and my daughter just sent a PubMed article (which I can't translate) about the interaction of thyroid and renal function.  I appreciate all the answers, encouragement, knowledge and help.  I suppose I will break down and go to Dr.  Thank you all!

[kpsl]

Thanks-yes, I already have Vit. d3,B12,selenium and tyrosine written down to investigate.  Going to stay away from goiterigens (spelling?), which is hard because I love them-all of them!

[Red_Star]

Yes, that isn't well known. I stumbled across that as a cause in the googleverse. :) Smoking also suppress appetite so the other cause is eating too much of the wrong foods once you stop smoking.

It's pretty hard to gain weight when you eat a very low carb diet though. One guy did an experiment of eating a massive 5800 calories a day for 21 days of the LCHF (low carb high fat) diet with only 10% carbs and LOST 3cm around his waist and only gained a mere 1.7kg.

[dgmootry]

With hypo thyroid VIT D and VIT B12 seem to come up short, and also iron, most likely you can't get those tested right now, but they might be something you would want to take. Seems like everyone I've read about were low in these Vit's.I also noticed when I went hypo my Cholesterol went way up, I've had really good cholesterol before, so getting on meds will really help you, before everything starts declinning. I would say this hormone is one of the most important for our body to work properly. deb
  

[Red_Star]

My T4 costs $5.80 for 200 days. :) Cha ching!

[goolarra]

Unfortunately, there is really no way to treat hypo except with replacement hormones.  Keep in mind that thyroid meds are not drugs, but an exact replica of what your body would make if it could.  I agree with flyingfool...thyroid meds are cheap.  Last spring, I bought enough generic to last me into 2014, and it was all of $30.  In addition to not feeling well, hypothyroidism is hard on your body and, as you are finding out, hard on your psyche as well..  

Your swollen and sore lymph node might have nothing to do with thyroid.  However, a goiter (swollen and inflamed thyroid) can cause irritation in surrounding tissue.  

People on thyroid forums are not the people who are textbook cases and respond to textbook treatments.  We get the people here who are hard to treat for one reason or another.  There are many people who start thyroid meds, feel better almost immediately, take their meds every day...end of story.

[kpsl]

Thank you.  Yes, I have had to visit Goodwill a few times just to stay in work clothes.  I have pretty much hibernated other than work.  Get up, exercise eat exercise shower go to work.  Praying no one dies or marries, cause I really have nothing to wear and shopping, even at Goodwill in dark dressing rooms is very depressing.  

Trying to investigate other methods of dealing with it.  Diet, supplements, etc.  Would really like to not have to be medicated the rest of my life.

Also, wondering wht the other out of range levels indicate and why my right under-the-jaw  lymph node is suddenly swollen and sore.

I read these forums and see so many who have spent so much time and money on doctors and treatments only to get worse.  It's frightening and discouraging.

Would so love to be able to treat all things naturally with food, habits, etc.

[kpsl]

Yep-thank you!  I should post that in the smoking forums.  No one seems to be aware of that.  They just assume you are nibbling more to make up for the lack of cigarette.

[flyingfool]

You definately sound Hypo.

Get the Free T4 and Free T3 tests.  

Hypo people find it nearly impossible to lose weight until they are optimized and then it is still an effort.  

If you do not get they thyroid levels right, it won't fix itself.  You most likely need more hormone.

I don't see any choice really than to pay for the testing and get medication if needed.  Or stay as you are and suffer which doesn't seem worth it to me.

Healthcheckusa on line you can get TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 tested I think for like $85. They will send you to the nearest clinic to get the blood drawn.  This is total out of pocket cost without insurance.  Many people even with insurance (my wife included) had to go do this out of pocket because she was unable to get a Dr to actually test for the Free T3.

When you get the information please post the results along with the reference ranges.

With the TSH above 7. you MAY be able to get your Dr to prescribe a starter dose of thyroid (T4 medication).  Ask for the generic and they are about the least expensice prescription medication that I'm aware of.  Yes still a cost. But what is the cost of you feeling like you are.  I'm sure you spent more in clothes as you've added weight that would probably exceed the cost of buying the prescription.  But I could be wrong.

I just hate seeing people suffer and feel terrible when a proper dose of medication could totally change that.

[Red_Star]

Smoking is associated with a low prevalence of thyroid antibodies. Withdrawal enhances thyroid antibody levels and may be a risk factor for the development of hypothyroidism. The risk of an overt autoimmune hypothyroidism diagnosis is more than a 6 fold increase in the first 2 years after cessation of smoking.

[kpsl]

Yes, I do.  Fatigue, sore muscles and joint aches, brain fog and depression.  I attributed it all to menopause.  Last period last spring.  I also quit smoking 6 months ago.  Had always been slender, always exercised and eaten healthily.  I increased exercise and became super careful with my diet knowing I would probably gain some weight.  But weight just flew on like a fat suit.  Have gained 25 lb.s and gone up from size 2 to 8 in 6 months, eating salads and exercising 1 1/2 hr a day and working a physical factory job.  It's not just weight either-it's fat, I wouldn't have minded muscle or being a bigger size, but I have a muffin top all around I have never had before even after three childbirths and going thru menopause.  I also have a sore lymph area under right jaw last two days.  Feel like I'm falling apart and blood test confirmed things are not right.  Felt better when I smoked!

Can't afford Dr. right now.  Just wondering if the other ones out of range were part of the hypothyroid diagnosis or something else going wrong somewhere.

Thank you for answer : )

[goolarra]

The only thyroid test there is TSH.  

TSH is a screening test at best.  Yours in on the high side, indicating hypothyroidism, but what you really need to do now is have further testing.  FREE T3 and FREE T4 are the actual thyroid hormones, and their levels are much more important than TSH.  Be sure to request FREE T3 and FREE T4.  There are also total T3 and total T4 tests, and they are not nearly as useful.

Do you have hypo symptoms?