[Anonymous May 30, 1997 at 2:48 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161276

Nothing scientific here. I didn’t feel normal until my TSH was 4.5, but
then my Free T4 was right in the middle of the normal range. The TSH just
shows how hard your pituary is sending signals to your thyroid to put
out hormone. My TSH being higher meant that the PTU was working well and
my thyroid was having to work around it. At that point my dosage was
lowered. I really think it’s your Free T4 or regular T4 and T3 that
effect how you feel.

[Anonymous May 30, 1997 at 2:52 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161277

I don’t know what normal range was for your particular lab, so, were you low, high, or within normal range on your TSH?

[Anonymous May 30, 1997 at 4:10 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161278

I had my T4 and TSH tested a couple of weeks ago, my T4 was within normal range, my TSH was .11 which is low but was up from .07. I feel hypo and was confused also so I’ve read quite a bit about this TSH, T3, T4 stuff. I read that the optimum time to put someone on hormone therapy was just before they went hypo, (as they were going hypo). It had something to do with how your body stores this hormone. Anyway, the only conclusion I have come to is that, there is absolutely no “one” way to treat any of this. Much of it has to do with the individual, much of it has to do with the doctor’s beliefs of treatment, but nothing is “standard.” Normal ranges, are normal ranges regardless of how laboratories measure – that is for sure, bue there are also many variables which would make normal levels different, i.e., I read that if you are taking a thyroid supplement, your levels could show elevated in those ranges used to measure without supplement, but because of the treatment this would still be considered normal? Undersand? If you do, your doing better than me. I give up.

[Anonymous May 30, 1997 at 4:48 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161279

Hi, Valerie:

Different labs use different chemicals to test the blood, and as a result there can be a variation in ranges. The thing to do is to LOOK AT the test results. The lab will actually put the words “out of range” or will have a “normal” column and an out-of-range column.

That said, my guess is that either one of your two doctors didn’t read the lab report, or that you heard the number wrong. While there is a variation, none of the variations that I have seen include a TSH of .13 within the normal range. Now, 1.3 in most lab results would be “normal” range.

I’m glad you’re feeling better.

Bobbi

[Anonymous May 30, 1997 at 4:55 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161280

Low according to my internist. –Hyper
Low normal according to my endo.

Valerie

[Anonymous May 30, 1997 at 4:59 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161281

You are right!! It is SO confusing. All I know is that I feel hyper still.
However, it is better than it was a few weeks ago, so I guess that is all that I can ask for right now.

Valerie

Thanks for the good info.

[Anonymous May 30, 1997 at 5:02 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161282

Thanks! I see the endo again next week. I’ll get a clarification then.

Valerie

[Anonymous May 30, 1997 at 5:20 pm Post count: 93172]

#1055568

I’ve been lurking around the bulletin board, keeping up with the message traffic, but not writing. I think I have been playing “wait and see” about my situation.

I’m confused about test results concerning TSH and why different labs and doctors have different standards concerning what is “normal range”. My TSH on PTU has gone from 0.00 to 0.13 in about 6 weeks. My internist says I am still hyper and I still feel hyper (although better). My endo says that 0.13 is in normal range.

I’ve read the posts concerning T3 and T4 and the need to use them when making the determination. However, it seems that each lab and doctor uses a different standard for hyper and hypo.

Do any of you feel “normal” at a TSH that low? It certainly doesn’t feel normal.

Thanks,
Valerie

[Anonymous June 12, 1997 at 4:57 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161283

I AM NEW TO THIS MESSAGE BOARD, I WAS DIAGNOISED OCTOBER OF 96 WITH
GRAVES DISEASE. AFTER 6 MONTHS OF RUNNING AROUND FROM DOCTOR TO DOCTOR
WITH SWOLLEN EYELIDS PAIN IN THE EYES AND WHAT LOOKED LIKE A YELLOW
BLISTER HANGING OUT OF ONE EYE ALL THESE WONDERFUL DOCTORS TOLD ME I HAD
A SINUS INFECTION. FINALLY AT MY PERSISTANCE I WALKED INTO A WELL KNOWN
NY HOSPITAL AND WAS ACTUALLY DIAGNOISED ON SIGHT. I WAS TREATED WITH TAP
AZOLE FOR THE THYROID AND WAS REFERRED TO A OPHTHALMOLOGIST. MY THYROID
IS UNDER CONTROL NOW BUT MY EYES HAD RECENTLY FLARED UP ONCE AGAIN NOW
WORSE THAN EVER (DOUBLE VISION) I AM ON 60 MG’S OF PREDISONE. I WAS TOLD
THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL MY EYES STABILIZE. ANYONE WITH A SIMILAR
CASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,

SCARED

[Anonymous June 12, 1997 at 6:01 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161284

Hello and welcome! You’ll find this is a very friendly place full of helpful and tremendously supportive people who have “been there and back” with all aspects of Graves Disease. What you are describing with your eyes sounds like the typical manifestations of Graves Eye Disease. Those of us who have gone (and who are GOING) through this have experienced the problems you are outlining. Graves Eye Disease will often flare up several months after treatment of the underlying thyroid disease. Although the two are related, they are separate autoimmune processes. It sounds as if you are going through that period where the symptoms really flare up and you get double vision, constant tearing, periorbital swelling and sometimes, eye pain. The Prednisone is to try and control some of these symptoms and inhibit muscles swelling behind your eyeball that if untreated, can lead to optic nerve damage. There is a belief in the medical literature that these processes can, and sometimes do “burn” out or stop on their own after a period of time. That is why most opthalmologists tend to treat this disease conservatively, in the hopes it will spontaneously remit with time. I have Graves Eye Disease and will be happy to answer any questions you may have, as I am sure many others on the Board will respond to your post. Please feel free to e-mail me. Best wishes and hang in there!

Luci C. in Texas

[Anonymous June 12, 1997 at 11:32 pm Post count: 93172]

#1161285

Hello and welcome to this BB. I am fairly new to the BB myself .All the “warriors” here have a lot of experiences to share. We can relate to what you are going through. Things will get better but it takes awile, so be patient. I have had Graves since 1982.If I can help feel free to e-mail me. Good luck. Eloisa

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