So You Have a Normal TSH, SO WHAT!

I found a question in a forum about hypothyroidism that the person was having issues with their hair, blood pressure, triglycerides, irregular menstrual cycles, dry skin, fatigue, low sex drive, and weight gain. They were told that it was not a thyroid issue since ther was a normal TSH. Here was my response:

"Your doctor found a normal TSH. What does that mean?

Say the average American shovels 10 pounds of snow per week (which I just made up). I live in Florida and never shoveled snow in my life, am I abnormal? If you live
in Alaska, maybe some shovel 100 pounds of snow per week. Or maybe don't shovel
any at all because it would be a worthless task since it snows all the time. Are
both abnormal? I would guess that most Americans shovel more snow during the
winter than summer, so are they normal only when the weather is just right to
shovel 10 pounds of snow per week.

Lab analysis is a snapshot in time. You may show as borderline hypothyroid one day, normal the next. There are many factors that can influence your lab results.

Many people get a diagnosis of a normal TSH when they are actually borderline
hypothyroid, but because of the test they get no treatment. Well some
doctor's borderline hypothyroid is well into another doctors definate
hypothyroid. Why? Because some doctors have such a broad spectru of
what they consider normal TSH.

It would be similar to trying to chose a NBA center for your basketball team,
but saying anyone from 4 feet tall to 8 feet tall would be OK, or anything
between .3 and 5 is normal TSH and is OK. That's just not so.

TSH is a useful marker, but is limited in what it tells you about the
person's thyroid gland, hormone production, conversion and
utilization. It is only a piece of the puzzle.

By your explanation of your symptoms and presentation, there is something
going on. While many of the issues point to some sort of problem with your
thyroid or thyroid hormones, they may be secondary problems that are being
influenced by some other problem. So while treatment for your borderline hypothyroid (in this hypothetical case) may very well be warranted, you would also need to address the underlying problem.

Bottom line is this: there is something going on that needs to be addressed. You need to get educated yourself, as well as find a doctor that is capable of solving the problem and giving the appropriate treatment.

Using limited testing to find a problem is a poor way to locate the problem. Get more than a "normal TSH" for testing.

Also, throwing one specific drug or nutrient at a label (also known as a diagnosis) is a very poor way to treat.

You need to find the problem, and then do everything that is needed to solve that
problem."

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