Anonymous
Participant
Post count: 93172

First off, it depends upon what specific process the blood lab used to evaluate your TSH levels, whether they are normal or not, and WHERE in the normal range they are. So the first thing you need to do is get a copy of the bloodwork from the doctor who has it. The lab will print its own specific range-of-normal numbers, which will show you where in the normal range your numbers were. When you look at the bloodwork, check to make sure that the doctor who ordered it, ordered a complete thyroid panel. TSH is a hormone that comes from the pituitary gland. The pituitary acts as a regulator for thyroid hormone. If you start to get too much thyroid hormone in your blood, the pituitary will LOWER its output of TSH: that is why a low number for TSH suggests hyperthyroidism. Sometimes, as a cost-saving measure, doctors only order TSH, and not a full thyroid panel. It is considered a very fine-tuned test for determining thyroid function. There is nothing wrong with only ordering TSH at the beginning. But, in your situation, if that is what happened, I would ask if they could do a complete work-up. Sometimes the T3 number (the active thyroid hormone) can be out-of-range, but the TSH only borderline. But that could be giving you symptoms. If a full panel WAS done, and all of the numbers were in the normal range, then you need to get your doctors to look for some other reason for your symptoms.

I hope you are feeling much better, soon.
Bobbi — NGDF Asst. Online Facilitator
Bobbi@ngdf.org