TSH and T4

Kenny-
Kenny- Member Posts: 99 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Got my 2nd NED today officially (6 months out). however, came back with high TSH (10) but normal T4. Going to be referred to an endo. 

Is a TSH of 10 high? It looks like the normal range is up to 4, so 10 definately looks scary to me. 

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    thyroid

    Kenny,

    Mine went from 6 to 4 to over 8 as the meds were being adjusted and my thyroid went on the fritz.  I am not sure what it is today, but I have a blood test in the morning/

    And I almost always feel tired.

    Matt

     

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,034 Member
    edited September 2016 #3
    Thyroid failure

    Kenny, 

    Many years ago, my Radiation Oncologist told me that I should always have my Thyroid checked with each bloodwork done. His reason was simply stated "It's not a matter of "IF" your Thyroid will fail, but a matter of "When" it will fail". I was lucky as my Thyroid (TSH) levels stayed within range for 5 years. Then, at the 5 year mark, I felt fatigued more than normal. Bloodwork done and my local Doctor started me on Levothyroxine, generic for Synthroid, low dose and worked me up to 0.075MG. It helps with the fatigue.

    Edited to include the following piece of information I just read in an article:

    (When the thyroid gland becomes inefficient such as in early hypothyroidism, the TSH becomes elevated even though the T4 and T3 may still be within the "normal" range.)This rise in TSH represents the pituitary gland's response to a drop in circulating thyroid hormone; it is usually the first indication of thyroid gland failure.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

  • SylMarie
    SylMarie Member Posts: 91 Member
    edited September 2016 #4
    CivilMatt said:

    thyroid

    Kenny,

    Mine went from 6 to 4 to over 8 as the meds were being adjusted and my thyroid went on the fritz.  I am not sure what it is today, but I have a blood test in the morning/

    And I almost always feel tired.

    Matt

     

    Matt, have they checked your

    Matt, have they checked your T4, T3, and reuptake levels? Some people's bodies have trouble converting T4 hormone to T3, which is the "active" of the thyroid hormones from which we get most of our energy. I know this because I have struggled with hypothyroidism for years and I felt terrible until I went to an endocrinologist that understood this balance. Many people I know take levothyroxine (Synthroid), which replaces T4, along with Cytomel, which replaces T3. Adding that T3 made all the difference. Other people take a pill that combines both hormones. I take Armour Thyroid, which contains the T4, T3, as well as T2 and T1 (other minor players). For most people I know, adding the T3 replacement made a huge difference. 

    Many endocrinologists will tell you that the standard treatment is just T4 (Levothyroxin or Synthroid brand name). They won't even discuss adding T3. It's unfortunate.

     

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