TSH doesn't always tell the whole story when it's low, but it's a good indicator something is wrong when it's high. In other words, you can be hypo and still have a normal TSH but you can't be normal and have a high TSH. Your TSH is VERY high, and there is no doubt you are hypothyroid. Your doc should do a Free T3, Free T4 and TPO antibodies test. The FT3 and FT4 will help them to determine if you just aren't producing enough thyroid or if you have a conversion disorder, and the TPO will tell them if you have Hashimotos. Another test they should do is a vitamin D test and also a Ferritin test, as people who are hypothyroid are often deficient in those nutrients and need to supplement. If your doc refuses to do the additional tests, see how you feel once he puts you on thyroid hormone. Synthroid, if that's what he picks, is T4 only but the body converts T4 to T3 and T3 is what gets used so if you have a conversion disorder you will still feel like crap even on Synthroid. There are natural desiccated thyroid out there, like Armour, Thyroid USP, Erfa, Naturethroid and Westhroid and those are made from pig thyroids and contain T4, T3, T2 and T1. Sometimes people who don't respond well on Synthroid respond better on a desiccated due to it's more complete nature, not to mention it's WAY cheaper. I pay 30 cents a pill for my desiccated- $9 for a month's supply.
|
