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What Does My Thyroid Test Result Indicate?

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Posted on Thu, 29 Jan 2015
Question: My TSH from a blood test is 5.65 [mIU/L when the normal range is 0.27- 4.20.
Is it recommended to start a low dose of thyroid medication?

My mother and 2 older sisters had thyroid nodes that were removed and were on thyroid medication the rest of their lives. I am now 77 and my hair has become brittle, my skin dry and scaly and I feel a lot of agitation at night that keeps me from sleeping even though I am tired.
My MD recommended thyroid replacement but I said I wanted to be sure as I do not wish to commence a treatment that I may not need. I am being cautious
I ask for your suggestion or recommendation.
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Please note:
I am NOT currently on any thyroid medication.

I also have restless leg syndrome
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Thyroid

Detailed Answer:
I have noted your TSH result and overall medical condition.

You likely have a condition called 'Primary Acquired Subclinical/mild permanent hypothyroidism due to chronic autoimmune (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis'

What this long jargon simply means is that you have a mildly under active thyroid gland due to a common condition in women called Hashimoto's disease. The body's own defenses (which protect against infection), begin attacking your own thyroid cells causing variable degrees of destruction.
This process is not painful. The variable degree of damage results in mild under-activity in some versus complete loss of thyroid hormone production in others.

With your TSH being slightly above the upper limit of normal, it is not urgent to start treatment.

There is also one more diagnostic possibility called 'Recovery from Transient thyroiditis'. This is a temporary condition which often corrects itself without requiring any treatment.

When I see someone like you in my practice I do the following:

Check blood levels of Free T4 preferably on the same blood sample as the TSH. If this is not possible then another blood sample as close to the date of the TSH draw is desirable. This helps me ascertain if the condition can be labeled Mild versus Overt.

If many days have lapsed then I discuss all options with the patient and see if they wish to run tests now versus 6 weeks later.

So if there is no neck swelling ('goiter') and no strong family history of this condition then I generally recommend not starting any thyroid medication and waiting 6 weeks and then running the following tests:

CBC
CMP
TSH
Free T4
Thyroid auto antibodies = anti TPO (thyroid peroxidase) and anti Thyroglobulin antibodies

None of these tests require any fasting and can be done at anytime of the day.
If roughly 6 weeks from the day of the first TSH, the next set of labs show a similarly elevated TSH in the presence of positive thyroid auto antibodies (even one of the two is sufficient), then it is likely that this is a permanent condition.
Treatment with thyroid medication is worth considering.
However, there is evidence that in older individuals, mildly high TSH does not necessarily represent any abnormality.

If the 6 week lab results how normal TSH and negative auto antibodies then it is likely you were recovering from the temporary condition. In such a situation it is advisable to check TSH again in couple months to make sure it stays normal.

Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shehzad Topiwala

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 1663 Questions

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What Does My Thyroid Test Result Indicate?

Brief Answer: Thyroid Detailed Answer: I have noted your TSH result and overall medical condition. You likely have a condition called 'Primary Acquired Subclinical/mild permanent hypothyroidism due to chronic autoimmune (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis' What this long jargon simply means is that you have a mildly under active thyroid gland due to a common condition in women called Hashimoto's disease. The body's own defenses (which protect against infection), begin attacking your own thyroid cells causing variable degrees of destruction. This process is not painful. The variable degree of damage results in mild under-activity in some versus complete loss of thyroid hormone production in others. With your TSH being slightly above the upper limit of normal, it is not urgent to start treatment. There is also one more diagnostic possibility called 'Recovery from Transient thyroiditis'. This is a temporary condition which often corrects itself without requiring any treatment. When I see someone like you in my practice I do the following: Check blood levels of Free T4 preferably on the same blood sample as the TSH. If this is not possible then another blood sample as close to the date of the TSH draw is desirable. This helps me ascertain if the condition can be labeled Mild versus Overt. If many days have lapsed then I discuss all options with the patient and see if they wish to run tests now versus 6 weeks later. So if there is no neck swelling ('goiter') and no strong family history of this condition then I generally recommend not starting any thyroid medication and waiting 6 weeks and then running the following tests: CBC CMP TSH Free T4 Thyroid auto antibodies = anti TPO (thyroid peroxidase) and anti Thyroglobulin antibodies None of these tests require any fasting and can be done at anytime of the day. If roughly 6 weeks from the day of the first TSH, the next set of labs show a similarly elevated TSH in the presence of positive thyroid auto antibodies (even one of the two is sufficient), then it is likely that this is a permanent condition. Treatment with thyroid medication is worth considering. However, there is evidence that in older individuals, mildly high TSH does not necessarily represent any abnormality. If the 6 week lab results how normal TSH and negative auto antibodies then it is likely you were recovering from the temporary condition. In such a situation it is advisable to check TSH again in couple months to make sure it stays normal.