General Medicine

» javatlkrs - Ideal levels/ranges of TSH, T4, and T3

Elaine,
What are the ideal levels/ranges of TSH, T4, and T3. I was diagnosed with Graves in Sept.and started taking methimazole (5mg 3X daily), for one month.(TSH .02, T4 1.4, T3 2.9) In Oct. I was increased to 10mg 3X daily and felt great in Nov. My TSH was 1.81, and my T4 was 1.0. Then the beginning of Dec. I started to feel bad, (headaches, tense, random muscle pain, low energy, difficulty concentrating. I went in for another blood test and it came back TSH 1.81 and T4 1.0. I don't know what my T3 is because my Dr. didn't test for it. Could I be going hypo? Do you think that I should lower my dosage again? I don't want to second guess my Dr., but I've had a taste of feeling myself again, and I'm hoping that I can find that level again.

Thank you so much for this website. It has been so helpful for me, and my family. Reading your advise, and the stories of others who have this condition has helped to give me a sense of control and hope.

Anne K.

-- posted by javatlkrs

» nurseheatherone - Ideal levels/ranges of TSH, T4, and T3

In response to Ideal levels/ranges of TSH, T4, and T3 posted by javatlkrs:
Hi anne, I have read your post and wanted to let you know that I am going through something very similar to you. I started Tapazole in July and after one month on 10 mg I became Euthyroid. Ever since then I have not been able to get my FT4 above 1.4 and have actually felt worse now that I am being treated. my last labs on only 2.5 mg of tap a day were TSH 1.5, FT4 1.04, FT3 268. I feel worse than ever at these numbers and my endo calls these levels normal. I am in the middle of trying to find a new endo and have lowered my dosage to only 1.25mg of tap a day. I have learned so much about this condition from this board and if it were not for Elaine I probably would still be on 10 mg of Tap and probably severely hypo. I am still searching for that perfect level, I wish you luck!
Heather

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» javatlkrs - Ideal levels/ranges of TSH, T4, and T3

In response to Ideal levels/ranges of TSH, T4, and T3 posted by nurseheatherone:

Elaine,
I just re-read my positing and see that I made an error in my most resent blood test numbers...on 12/4 my TSH was 4.13 and my T4 was .8.

Thank you nurseheatherone for your posting, it prompted me to re-read my post. I have read all of your postings. They have been very helpful for me. I hope that you can find a Dr. who can help you get your health back. Over the last year I've experienced many of your symptoms, (hair loss, tremors, body aches, etc.) I thought it was just part of being middle aged until one of my eyelids was swollen and wouldn't go down. If it weren't for me joking with the eye Dr. that my hair was falling out, I wouldn't have know that I had Graves. Sometimes this condition feel like solving the rubic's cube, but I'm determined not to give up. Having read Elaine's advise and encouragement to you and other postings has been a valuable source of information and hope for me. Thanks to both of you. Good luck to you too Heather.
Anne

-- posted by javatlkrs

» nurseheatherone - New labs

In response to New labs posted by nurseheatherone:
Elaine,
I went to F/U with my primary care this morning, since it has been a little over a week since all of those symptoms started, I am feeling much better now that my period has ended. She did not really think that my thryoid hormones were too low, or that I should be having symptoms of hypo at these levels. She also could not explain to me what the correlation was with my menstrual cycle and thyroid hormone, she just said that this must be hormonal and to F/U with my endo, oh and to stay on Prilosec( she is convinced I have GERD,even though I have no sypmtoms). I am afraid that my endo is going to think the same thing and I am going to be stuck feeling this way. I do have a OB appointment next monday maybe he will be a bit more helpful, but just so I am prepared, what is the relationship of thyroid hormone and your menstrual cycle? and why do you think my body gets completely thrown off when it is that time of the month?oh, I have continued to take my basal temp, just for kicks, and all of my temps have been below normal. I have a feeling that my only saving grace is going to be Mary Shomans Dr. but that is not until the end of February, too long too wait!
Thanks Elaine,
Heather

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» Elaine Moore - New labs

In response to New labs posted by nurseheatherone:

Hi Heather,
You could have Hashimoto's that's in a hyperthyroid phase, or you can have hashitoxicosis, where you're primarily hypothyroid but have transient symptoms of hypert caused by TSI.
Your antibodies show an inflammatory autoimmune process. It sounds like you may have started out hypo, then moved into hashitoxicosis (which can be a stepping stone for Graves' Disease). Perhaps with early treatment you were able to reduce the hyper phase enough. This could explain the fluctuations, quick moves into hypo, unusual weight changes, etc. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Androgen Levels

In response to Androgen Levels posted by aviano:

Hi Ava,
Since there is confusion with the HBIg passive vaccine, the hormone transport protein is now referred to as Sex hormone-binding globulin precursor (SHBG); Sex hormone-binding immunoglobulin (SHBIG); (Sex steroid-binding protein) (SBP); (Testis-specific androgen-binding protein) (ABP); androgen binding immunoglobulin (SBIb). These are all names for the transport proteins that rise in response to elevated hormones. By making more sites for hormone transport available, elevated levels of these proteins can increase the amount of androgens and other sex-hormones in the blood circulation. Best, elain

» Elaine Moore - struma ovarii

In response to struma ovarii posted by aviano:

Hi,
What the elevated transport proteins do most noticeably is cause breast enlargement in men with hyperthyroidism. Do a search on google or pub med for increased SHBG in hyperthyroidism and this will be a good starting point for you. Best, Elaine

» nurseheatherone - New labs

In response to New labs posted by daisyelaine:

Hi Eliane, I was negative for all other antibodies, except for right before I was treated my antithyroglobulin antibodies were 53, now they are all negative. Do you have to be positive for other antibodies besides TSI with Hashimotos? is Hashimotos and hashitoxicosis the same, hashitoxicosis being they hyper phase? my RAIU was 53%,if you were looking at that wouldnt that indicate GD?I always thought that my symptoms of weight gain, high BP and high chole were more hypo than hyper. Also is May 06 my TSH , the only one I have had on record before all of this was 2.5. What is the treatment for this, if this were the case? Would I need to be on ATD's? I have been reading your book and doing some research on this and it seems as though this fits me better. I am assuming you can have both GD and hashimotos, I guess I will have to wait until the end of December when I see my endo to discuss this!
Thanks again!

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» aviano - struma ovarii

In response to struma ovarii posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine:
In this particular post, I was asking about struma ovarii or ectopic thyroid tissue that can cause hyperthyroidism. However, as I understand it, increased SHBG would mean lower levels of free hormone..when taking estrogen..androgens and FREE androgens increase..along with TSI. A mystery and one I really need to find a way around. Estrogen really helps with my mood and urogenital symptoms, but its apparent exacerbation of the Graves process is frustrating. Any ideas appreciated.
Also, do you know how close the medical community is to treating with monoclonal antibodies? (Studies in Barcelona Spain). Any studies in the U.S.? I would JUMP to participate.
As always, thanks for your excellent help and expertise.
Avi

-- posted by aviano

» Elaine Moore - hydrocortione/cortisol for Graves

In response to hydrocortione/cortisol for Graves posted by aviano:

Hi Avi,
If there's definitely a low cortisol level confirmed with blood tests, including a stimulation test, then cortisol could offer benefits for the immune system overall. But when there's not a deficiency, your body ends up producing less cortisol because the feedback mechanism is flawed. Using cortisol inappropriately is the most common cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency. So it pays to be cautious. You might want to read my articles on adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease. Best, Elaine