Dear David Brown and Thyroid Folks,
> Should I ask for special T3 and T4 tests to be run ...
Yes, get your T3 and T4 tested.
T3 and T4 are measures of your thyroid gland output.
TSH is not produced by your thyroid gland. You may feel
better knowing that your blood is tested for thyroid output,
so that your thyroid treatment can be carefully adjusted,
based on thyroid gland performance - and not solely
based on how your other glands are trying to manage
your thyroid.
> Should I get the updated TSH first and then follow up with these
>if it is still abnormal.
It may be possible you're not getting the point.
You've already had an abnormal follow-up test, which
confirmed the "high TSH" reading. It might be time
to accept that something is possibly wrong and start
selecting trial options for remediation.
> Can excessive workouts prior to testing drive the TSH results
>up?
I don't know - it doesn't seem very likely, but, I'm not a
doctor. Eating organ meats before the test could mess
it up. Or, living on nothing but broccoli for several months,
maybe? Any other ways to mess up the tests that we've
found over the years, folks?
Or, you might just have a problem with the health of your
thyroid gland - as your doctor has suggested. Because
the effects of low thyroid - hypothyroid - can cause what
we call "brain fog," and MANY other subtle symptoms,
you might have lots of low grade symptoms, that doctors
today rarely ask about, and you've overlooked or accepted.
Remember Occum's razor - simple answers are often right.
> Does taking the standard prescription for a high TSH tend to
>shut down your thyroid? If so, I would very much prefer to
>determine if I really need it, or to perhaps seek alternatives.
I think you mean T4 daily, for life, when you say "standard
prescription." T4 is usually adjusted, in that form of
"treatment," to make your TSH test somewhere in the
"normal" range. This would not necessarily "shut down" your
thyroid gland. It might be a better analogy to say your thyroid
gland would be able to slack off, or coast and not work so
hard, or (if your doctor prefers TSH of the low side) even
make your thyroid almost "idle." [There are thyroid conditions
in which doctors destroy the thyroid gland (radiation, etc.) or
surgically remove the thyroid gland - we are not talking
about that in the case you describe, but some of the
members of this group have endured those "treatments."]
Indications from your TSH are that your own thyroid gland
IS NOT ABLE to produce enough T3 and T4 for the
needs of your body. The issue is not to get rid of your
thyroid gland, nor to shut it down. Instead, your thyroid
gland needs help and support to get the daily job done.
I really think you may be missing something vital, by not
digging into this health issue a lot more for yourself.
We are sympathetic, and we have experience in exactly
these issues, but ultimately it is only you, yourself,
who will be talking to your doctor to determine your
treatment. You must have a better handle on this, or
you're going to get bamboozled, as way too many people
do, I'm afraid.
Have you searched the Thyroid Archives for your
questions? We've been talking about this stuff for 10
years or so, and there is a great deal of very good
information in the archives, just waiting for you to ask.
<smile>
> Would getting referred to a specialist help?
No.
Not particularly - unless *you* get more engaged in
your own treatment - you'll be at the mercy of others.
[I hope others who do not agree will speak up on this
point.]
Any doctor worth the name can treat you properly,
if you know what you want and they really care about
your health.
I hope this helps.
I wish you well, my friend.
Pax,
Ballew Kinnaman <[log in to unmask]> +1 425 788 5337
LISTSERV Discussion list owner: Allergy, Rubber, Thyroid
Thyroid
Discussion Group http://www.Emissary.Net/thyroid/index.html
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