Comments on: Thyroid Disease: A Post Web Exclusive

By: robyn

robyn — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:38:50 +0000

I was diagnosed with boarderline low thyroid. I had a couple of tests fine one result was 3.1 I was prescribed synthroid. But I did not take it because I ease not all the way low. That was 8 months ago. I now feel fatigued. Fogbrain. Light-headed . I have raspy voice dry skin. My hair is thinner. No appetite. Doc dsaid I vertigo. I’m wondering if I just need to take the sythroid. I’m am still working but feel out of it. My tempiture is always low. I thought raspy voice was allergies. I’m low on vitamen d and now liver enzymes are elevated. Would synthroid hurt me if I boarderline low.?

By: Wendy Braun

Wendy Braun — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:27:59 +0000

The following response to the question “Are there any blood tests for thyroid problems other than the standard ones?” is published in the November issue of our print magazine:

Yes, but less common tests can help only very specific situations, such as when patients are critically ill, have thyroid eye disease, thyroid cancer, or are pregnant.

“The standard blood tests for thyroid problems are TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), estimates of free T4 (thyroxine or tetraiodothyronine), total and estimates of free T3 (triiodothyronine), and thyroid antibodies; others are usually not necessary,” says Dr. Jeffrey Garber, chief of endocrinology at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates.

TSH regulates the release of T3 and T4, and blood tests of the master hormone can signal potential thyroid problems before symptoms appear.

“Thyroid antibody tests are of some benefit when TSH levels are borderline,” Dr. Garber continues. “Estimates of free T4 are particularly helpful when one’s thyroid status is in flux after changing thyroid medication, thyroid surgery, or radioactive iodine treatment. Total T3 and estimates of free T3 are used to diagnose overactive thyroid when T4 measures are normal. T3 testing, however, has no proven role in the diagnosis or treatment of hypothyroidism.

“Less common tests include those for TSH receptor antibodies to diagnose Graves’ disease during pregnancy (when radioactive iodine tests may not be performed) or to diagnose thyroid eye disease. Reverse T3 levels can help distinguish low thyroid hormone levels due to hypothyroidism from low thyroid hormone levels due to critical illness. Tests for alpha subunits (a component of TSH) are employed to diagnose rare pituitary disorders that cause an overactive thyroid. Determinations of thyroglobulin (a protein made by thyroid cells) and thyrocalcitonin (a hormone made by cells within the thyroid that don’t produce T3 and T4) are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer.”

Dr. Garber adds that people often ask about other tests when their thyroid treatment doesn’t relieve symptoms such as depression or fatigue.

“It’s important to note that treating symptoms with higher than standard thyroid hormone [doses] increases the risk of side effects as well as the chance of overlooking other important conditions,” explains the endocrinologist.

“For example, hypothyroidism can masquerade as depression, but depression can masquerade as hypothyroidism. Likewise, there are many reasons for feeling tired besides our thyroid.”

By: Jeanne McD

Jeanne McD — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:47:23 +0000

My husband has had hypothyroid for years, his Mom died from a goiter in her thyroid @age 43; his older brother died from a heart attack (he also has hypothyroidism). He takes 300 mgm every day; but the synthroid didn’t help, he’s on a new one now still @ 300 mgm a day. He had lung problems, a pacemaker,kidney problems, etc.; most recently he had a second knee transplant. He’s doing well and is good about using his oxygen and taking his meds. We’ve been married 49 yrs this year and I don’t like to see him like this. His primary care md sent us info for contacing an endocrine system me and I pray that he will get some energy back, be less grumpy, and I am glad I found this magazine in a doctor’s office and I will follow up closely. Thank you/

By: Boomer Style

Boomer Style — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:03:05 +0000

Hi, I am the editor in chief of Living Life…Boomer Style Magazine and have been reading Dr. Mark Starr’s books, as well as hearing him three different times when he has been speaking publicly. His credentials are impeccable, the years he has studied the thyroid amazing as well as the doctors he has studied under. There is an easy and very inexpensive way to test for hypothyroidism–that is to take your basal temperature for six days in a row upon waking. If your body temp is low, you have hypothyroidism.

Now, this is a simplified cliff-notes version of what Dr. Mark Starr has to say, but is meant to give you an opening to this. Get his book to find out more. We will be doing an article on this in the health section of our magazine, Living Life Boomer Style, which is why the research into this.

Thank you for the interesting article.

Warmly,
Dawn Bonner, Editor in Chief
Living Life…Boomer Style Magazine

By: Donald Willson

Donald Willson — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:54:56 +0000

I’m posting this comment for my wife, Mary, who is 76 years old. Her input would be almost a duplicate of the comment of Rose Williams whose comment preceded this. Mary has had numerous blood tests for a thyroid condition and they have all returned normal. Yet she still suffers from the known symptoms of hypothroidism. At present she is taking 75MCG of synthroid. I have heard from one doctor ( a psychiatrist and not her primary care doctor) that it is possible that the standard blood test may not tell the whole story. She is being treated for depression and anxiety and has been for the past seven years without any appreciable success.
My question is whether or not there are other tests to determine thyroid problems in addition to the standard blood test? Needless to say she is a very “unhappy camper”! Help would be greatly appreciated.

By: Rose Williams

Rose Williams — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:33:44 +0000

I have almost every symptom on the list but my doctor will only do the blood test.
I have been on thyroid mends seance 1967 and not a change.
How can I get another test when your doctor will not lessen to you.
HELP””’