I had my thyroid tested approx. a year ago and the results were "normal" according to my doctor -

TSH - 2.08
T3- 3.94
T4 -6.9

Are these "normal" and what is "normal"??

I was prompted to go to see my doctor because of the following:

severe PMS
more frequent menstrual periods
headaches
dry skin
dry hair
tingling in my hands and feet
low/non-existant sex drive
tiredness
difficulty losing weight
gaining weight quickly
low body temp. readings.

Any advice would be most appreciated

According to my latest tests, the normal ranges:

TSH .35-4.94
T4 4.5-12
T uptake .7-1.2
FTI 5-12

Looks like yours are well within normal ranges.

but upon reading other posts and going to Mary Shomon's site it appears to me that I am along the high end of "normal" particularly now with the AACE changing their TSH boundaries. I believe I have been living with mild thyroid problems for years. I was tested when I was 10 yrs old and was considered a 'borderline' case (no meds were prescribed) - that's how long I have been battling weight problems (I'm now 35). I have also suffered with continual sinus infections and allergies - again since I was 10.

It's been a year since I was tested and my doctor (who thankfully is very open minded and doesn't mind input from her patients) wanted me to come back for testing again in a year - so I'll let you know the results.

If you still feel bad, definately go back. It took them forever to diagnose my thryoid problem and it took me going back last September to insist on an increase in my hormones. There are recent studies that show that populations with no thyroid problems have TSH's between 1 and 2. That is where I told my doctor I wanted to be with mine. Like yours, he actually listens to his patients and agreed.

Please do post your new results. A year can bring big changes-especially if your thryoid is starting to shut down.

Alyson,

For your own reference, I am a sufferer whose TSH was 2.8 before finally beginning medication. I am now at just under 1.0, and this is where I function best. In fact, Mary Shomon claims to operate best at a TSH under 1.0 on her site. My co-worker also is at just under 1.0 and optimal at this level.

Not only has the TSH range been modified by the AACE to 0.3 to 3.0, but there is an article published in the BMJ entitled Hypothyroidism: Screening & Subclinical Disease by A.P. Weetman, Professor of Medicine [you can find it at this link: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/314/7088/1175] and it states a TSH of above 2.0 indicates hypothyroidism.

Have you heard of Dr. Broda Barnes? He's a big name in the thyroid field, and he published a book in 1976 called "Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness". Dr. Barnes wrote about the successes of his patients on thyroid medication, even when they tested "normal" on all of your standard blood tests. If you are interested in more information on Dr. Barnes, his Research Foundation's number is 203-261-2101.

I just got a book by Dr. WIlliam G. Crook called "The Yeast Connection" and he references a doctor out of Denver who prescribes his patients to T3 if they consistently log in at body temperatures below 97.6. The doctor's name is Ken Gerdes, and he's one of just many doctors who now believe that symptoms are more important than any blood work results.

After all - no one knows your body better than you do!

I wish you the best of luck. If you want to drop a line about any other thyroid issues I'm always open to discussions - since getting diagnosed myself, I love to share my experiences with other people in the same boat.

You can find me at http://diagnosis.4t.com

Margie :-)