What was your TSH...

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2005
What was your TSH...
4
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 12:42am

Hey!

I just looked up my lab results for my thyroid at work and I have some questions. In March, my TSH was 5.6 and my T4 was normal but I didn't really have any problems other than being tired all the time but I just figured it was from working nights. Now my hair is falling out, my period is messed up and my nails are peeling. I went to the MD today and had him recheck this and now my TSH is 5.4 and my T4 is normal. My MD said that in March the thyroid wasn't really messed up enough to worry about but I'm wondering if it's time to see and Endo MD and be evaluated because it's been like that for a year and I have never had an off test result.

So I guess my question is what was your TSH when they decided you needed intervention?
Is this something that loosing weight would fix?
Could this be from working a stressful job on straight nights for the last three years?

I'm a psych nurse so I don't know enough about the thyroid stuff to know what to do. I do know that if people are stressed it effects the thyroid but most all of our pts have this done and very rarely have I ever seen anyone's results off.

Julie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 11:42am

When I first went in with symptoms of foot and joint pain and weight gain in Nov.2005, my Dr. said it sounded like my thyroid. Eventhough when I had it tested that past April all the numbers looked "normal" My TSH came back 6.3; she said it was subclinical hypothyroid and since I was having symtoms she put me on a low dose of levoxyl. This helped dropped my numbers a little.

It depends on the doctor and the lab with what they consider normal. I was told anything under 5 for your TSH was normal, but according to the new stuff I've read the new "normal" is a TSH below 3. The endo I went to did want to see my tsh a little lower(last bloodwork was 3.8) but he really wasn't any help.

I would definately get a second opinion. To me the TSH number you have is to high especially with such obvious hypothyroid symptoms.

good luck

Dana

Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 10:34pm

Hi Julie,


I would agree with Dana that you should get a second opinion.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2005
Sun, 11-19-2006 - 11:53am

Yeah I can get in pretty quickly :) The hospital I work at has lots of MD's and residents so I should be able to get in to see someone. Plus they love their nurses so we're usually able to get pretty fast appointments. :)

I am just really embarassed by this. I feel like my body isn't taking care of me. Even thought I have other heath issues, I have never felt like a sick person. But in a way it feels good that if there is something wrong then at least I know why I'm gaining weight. I don't know.

Thanks for everyone's support.

Julie

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-01-2005
Tue, 11-28-2006 - 11:33pm
my doctor is trying to get mine below 2.5 but I have type 2 diabetes also. im on 112 mcg of levothyroxine and my last TSH was over 6.

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