I have all the symptoms of low thyroid --- except that my labwork always comes back right smack in the middle of normal.
I've tried researching on this forum as well as the whole net, and nothing I read makes sense.
How do you know if you have Hashimotos? And how do you treat it?
Have you been tested for anti-thyroid antibodies? You can have Hashimoto's and still have normal thyroid lab panels. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disorder and one of the most common causes of hypothyroidism.
In fact, Dr. Datis Kharrazian wrote a book called "Why Do I STILL Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal"
Even if the test is positive, the docs still won't help you, because they are handcuffed by their own artificial, arbitrary and goofy rule about how high the TSH level needs to be before they will act (by the way, they debate among themselves about what the number should be, kinda like "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin" type arguments). And when they do act, they will offer nothing but replacement thyroid hormones - which will not treat or cure the underlying autoimmune disorder.
http://drclark.typepad.com/dr_david_clark/2011/11/hashimotos-causes-suffering-even-if-tsh-is-normal.html
Medical doctors and endo's have nothing to offer for autoimmune attacks on the thyroid but replacement hormones anyway. They just put you on Synthroid or Armour but do not address the underlying autoimmune process, so in the long run you end up not feeling much better even with the hormones.
It is estimated 80% of women taking thyroid hormones are guaranteed to continue suffering, because of the 25 causes of thyroid dysfunction, only one cause is helped by hormone replacement.
So what can you do to help yourself?
Strictly avoid grains, dairy, soy and coffee in your diet for at least 4 months. Drink coconut milk and use virgin unhydrogenated coconut oil - your thyroid will find it very soothing. In fact, if you can go on the Paleo autoimmune diet (no grains, dairy, soy, coffee, eggs, nuts, nightshade plants (tomato, WHITE potato, eggplant, peppers) ) all the better.
I would try to find one of the doctors who subscribe to the Dr. Datis Kharrazian protocol for the proper bloodwork tests and recommended supplements- they are listed on his website.
What do you mean by the middle of "normal"? I find that I feel best when my TSH is around .9 to 1.0. Some doctors think that 2 or 3 is middle of normal. Some doctors say that 4 is normal, but it isn't.
When I was first feeling chronically unwell, my TSH was checked every month during follow-ups as it was fluctuating. Then the numbers were normal.
My symptoms were hypothyroid...GP...did not know what to do...and I was naive...concerned with other issues and said "then leave it alone" and help with XYZ.
Bottom line: I think the monthy monitoring were actually catching flares.
Dear Daughter end of 7th grade, bless her heart, physically crashes,.....ER.....5 hrs. to stabilize her....no kidding....Her thyroid. Dr. says if she was older they would consider radiation....OMG. They used Beta Blockers, She was a mess!!!!
Fast forward: Rheum tests me last year after I mention numerous thyroid issues and surgeries in females in family. She tests and I am positive for "start" of thyroid anti-bodies. I eat using the Metabolism Miracle...easy to follow, nothing extra...just common sense. You can search it. Got rid of the puffy "Pillsbury Dough Girl" look...and my clothes fit again. :)
So I would get Rheum to test...at least you would have a baseline and start some monitoring.
I have not read this book: Maybe your library has it or you can request it. I see it posted on some other forums. Take what you can use and leave the rest...is my motto.
Stephen Langer, M.D., who coauthored the popular thyroid book Solved: The Riddle of Illness with James Scheer,
Hi :)
About.com has a really good thyroid forum and lots of good info on thyroid issues. Hashimotos is autoimmune thyroiditis but other things can also cause hypothyroidism.
Take care - Scottie :)
i am so happy to see this question, because for YEARS i've had every symptom of low thyroid, yet every blood test has been "normal" to every doctor--and i've gone to several. my ANA is high-positive, but even my thyroid auot-bodies are negative. so i keep living my life fat, tired, freezing cold, with dry skin and hair, etc....
i will look into better monitoring and into Dr Kharrazian's website!
I was having symptoms of underactive Thyroid for years but my GP would only do the TSH test - the result was always normal.
I'd had a couple of choking episodes so I asked the GP to examine my Thyroid, he felt a lump so sent me for an ultrasound. I had a multinodule goiter with 2 massive nodules. Soon I was in for a biopsy and ended up with a Total Thyroidectomy.
The pathology then showed I had Hashimotos and Pre-Cancerous Cells.
All with a perfectly Normal TSH !!!
It really bugs me that Drs place so much emphasis on the TSH test.
Please ask your Dr to Physically examine your thyroid too.
Wishing you all the best
Aussie Mum
aussie mum--that is so scary! my 'other' thyroid tests are usually 'normal' as well. i DO have a nodule or two, but they are, according to the doctor, small enough to ignore for now... i wish a good thyroid doc was easier to find!
You're right Bubbles,
When the pathology reports came back I felt like I'd dodged a bullet. I was quite annoyed at my GP and wondered if we'd used his TSH test method only, what would the result have been for me. Luckily the surgery was all I needed. Now it's just stabilising the medication.....but he'll only test the TSH for that too >:( I fell like I'm bashing my head against a brick wall at times.
Thankfully they are monitoring you.
My biggest nodules were 5cm x 2.5cm and the other 2.5cm in diameter. The biggest had calcification too. No wonder I was choking at times.
I think we all have to trust our instincts and not be dismissed by TSH obsessed Drs.
Hi :)
The sad thing about the obsession with tests and TSH is that the tests were only invented during the 70s. (I realise that is a while ago now but thyroid problems were treated way before that) Before blood tests thyroid problems were dxd on symptoms - and treated!
My GP said I was OK with a TSH of 6. (This was on a dosage of thyroxine) I felt every bit as unwell as I felt when my TSH was 42 (pre-thyroxine)
I begged to be sent back to the endocrinologist. She sent a letter to my GP asking him to keep my TSH between 0.3 and 2. This suits me much better. Top of normal range - I feel ill!! I'm sure others do too.
Take care - Scottie :)
Hi,
I have Hashimotos and "normal" thyroid test results. I had all sorts of symptoms associated with it. My first endocrinologist wouldn't treat me. He was one of those doctors who want to see the test results degenerate before he will treat. (A very good doctor, but not in this regard. He did however signal that he though I may need artificial saliva one day - way before I'd heard of sjogrens! Anyway that's another story.)
I left feeling really mad that he thought something was going on and yes I had hashimotos, but wasn't going to do anything.
I did my own research and discovered that the "normal" band for thyroid function is quiet wide and different people operate at different spots along this band. So you could be smack bang in the middle, but usually function at the higher or lower side of this. I also discovered that some doctors will treat you, based on your symptoms, and monitor your levels, before your function drops so that they keep you well rather than letting you feel revolting!
I went to my GP (who is fantastic!), told him I felt like crap and what I had discovered. I said that if some specialists had the idea of treating early and monitoring me then why couldn't he just do that instead of a specialist and we'd see how I went?
He told me I was correct (YAY for a doctor who listens!) and medicated me. It did make a difference. As a result my thyroid levels have remain consistent and I felt better. I must admit that at the same time he did tests for autoimmune disorders that cluster and sorted out some extra problems.
I hope this will help.
Tracy