Thyroid

[flwhitetiger22]

My recent lab work my TSH is a 5.61 , back in april my TSH was 2.82 and my thyroglobulin was 1250?  Should I be wooried and what this means?

[gimel]

TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that at best it is only an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4.  Doctors have been taught that TSH accurately reflects levels of the actual thyroid hormones, but in reality, TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T3 or Free T4, much less correlate with symptoms.  

So, don't let your doctor medicate you based on TSH level.  That doesn't work.     A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

Make sure they test you as recommended above, and you also should find out if the doctor is going to be willing to treat you clinically, as described.  If not, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.

[flwhitetiger22]

Thank you so much for the information, the doctor never gave me a diagnosis but is starting me on synthroid smallest dose 0.25, I was looking up symptoms and mine are quite similiar. I'm having night sweats, I'm constantly cold, I'm always tired, very on edge as well but could also cry at the same time, at times depressed, but my worst symptom are my eyes they itch all day and are red feel dry but with moderate drainage? But eye symptoms are usually only with graves disease? I also told doctor I feel something when I swallow some mild pressure, but doctor  didn't seem too concerned with that I just hope that the medicine helps? But once in a blue moon I can get up and have so much energy and want to do as much as I can , then after that I will be overly exhausted for what seems like forever?They say anything over 5.5 so I didn't think that 5.61 would tip all these symptoms so much?

[gimel]

From the TPO ab test, along with increasing TSH, I'd say it is most likely Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  Hashi's is the most common cause for diagnosed hypothyroidism.  With Hashi's the autoimmune erroneously determines that the thyroid gland is foreign to the body and produces antibodies to attack and destroy the gland.  As the gland's ability to produce natural thyroid hormone is diminished, it has to be replaced by thyroid med, in order to prevent hypo symptoms.  Are you having any symptoms yet?.  

This not something you need to be overly concerned with, if you find a good thyroid doctor.  by that I mean a doctor that will treat clinically, by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 (the biologically active thyroid hormones), as necessary to relieve hypo symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  

If I were you I would go back and request tests for Free T3 and Free T4 (not the same as Total T3 and T4), along with Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  If the doctor resists, just insist on those and don't take no for an answer.  When you have results, please post, along with reference ranges, and members will be glad to help interpret and advise further.   the next time you see the doctor I would also ask if he is willing to treat clinically, as described.  If not, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor  that will do so.

[flwhitetiger22]

Yes it is thyroglobulin antibodies what are your thoughts?

[gimel]

I assume that the thyroglobulin test you mention is for Thyroglobulin antibodies (TG ab).  Can you look at the lab report and confirm my assumption?  If so, that would tie in to the increasing TSH results.