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[Chi chi]

In my ongoing struggle to find out what all my symptoms mean I joined a thyroid forum, posted my latest results along with my symptoms and a couple of people have suggested that I could have central hypothyroidism? It's where there's a problem with the pituitary gland rather than the thyroid.
Just wondered if anyone here has this?

[Peroxideblader]

Hi sorry I can't answer but I'm having private thyroid blood test next week as I'm sick of the basic nhs one saying normal. All my symptoms are either perimenopause or thyroid (;family history of it) but my readings of below range t4 normal tsh points to pituary gland thyroid issue like you. I'm hoping my tests next week that do the full 8 thyroid tests will confirm that. I hope someone on here can help you can I ask why you think it's thyroid not meno and what are your symptoms thanks

[countrybumpkin]

From what I remember/have read a normal or slightly high tsh reading with low free T4 would point to central hypo rather than primary hypo. i can't remember your readings - does this apply to your readings?
Central hypo is usually due to rare diseases ( brain)  or secondary to radiation treatment for brain tumours.
Can you go back to your GP with your findings/worries and ask how you can get tested for this - again I would imagine neuro or endo would be the speciality needed.

[Chi chi]

Hi, I'm the same! So fed up of being told "normal" even when things are out of range! I mean what's the bloody point of the ranges in the first place??
I've been on HRT for approx 3years now, initially things improved as my low levels increased but then it seemed to plateau and things just went back to pre HRT.
My symptoms are as long as my arm but are all ignored by my GP, I had to go private to get my sex hormones tested and treated as my GP said I was too young to be having "those" kinds of problems!
Tiredness, Anxiety, depression, lethargy, always feeling cold, always needing to empty bladder (day and night) burning feet/restless legs, no libido, bloating like I'm pregnant, swollen neck, dizziness, foggyness, feeling of wetness on legs when they're bone dry, daily headaches, always thirsty, sweet cravings, no motivation or excitement, puffy fingers, eyes, feet the list goes on!
Which tests are you having?

[Chi chi]

From what I remember/have read a normal or slightly high tsh reading with low free T4 would point to central hypo rather than primary hypo. i can't remember your readings - does this apply to your readings?
Central hypo is usually due to rare diseases ( brain)  or secondary to radiation treatment for brain tumours.
Can you go back to your GP with your findings/worries and ask how you can get tested for this - again I would imagine neuro or endo would be the speciality needed.

Yes my results are
TSH                  1.86.              Range 0.27-4.2
Free T4.            12.2.              Range 12-22
T4.                    89.                Range 59-154
Free T3              4.2.               Range 3.1-6.8

[dahliagirl]

  free T4 level 14.7 pmol/L [9 - 23]
  TSH level     2.63 miu/L [0.25 - 5]
 I always feel cold and lethargic, with permanent constipation, but mine are always bang in the middle

[Peroxideblader]

I have all your symptoms too chi chi I'm eliminating thyroid first or not then hrt..my worst is the insomnia I cannot get to sleep til 3 or 4 am EVERY NIGHT it'll be 4 years in August and no one can find a cause. I've narrowed the symptoms down to hypo or peri. The blood test is through blue horizon it's their thyroid 10 test they test all thyroid and vit d and ferritin biit it'll be another week til I hear back then have to go to my own useless gp. I have a lump in my neck too so I'm having to have a biopsy so right now I can't start hrt or anything til they test for lymphoma. If I got more than 4 hours sleep a night I'm sure half my symptoms would go but if it's thyroid I'm the same as you it's pituary problem. Their scale lowest range was 9 and I had t4 of 6.8 they said that's normal. How!@!@

[dahliagirl]

Looking through my notes, heatbeat bpm is 78, with a range of 0-80 

[countrybumpkin]

From what I remember/have read a normal or slightly high tsh reading with low free T4 would point to central hypo rather than primary hypo. i can't remember your readings - does this apply to your readings?
Central hypo is usually due to rare diseases ( brain)  or secondary to radiation treatment for brain tumours.
Can you go back to your GP with your findings/worries and ask how you can get tested for this - again I would imagine neuro or endo would be the speciality needed.

Yes my results are
TSH                  1.86.              Range 0.27-4.2
Free T4.            12.2.              Range 12-22
T4.                    89.                Range 59-154
Free T3              4.2.               Range 3.1-6.8

Your tsh is so normal its very confusing!  Would expect it to be higher than that for it to be central hypo but your free t4 is def low. have you had it tested again since this test as there are so many things that can affect your thyroid readings from a minor infection like a cold to stress!!  Possibly first thing to do is ask for a repeat of the test to see if your free t4 is still borderline and then if it is this is the time to discuss your worries about central hypo. 

[dahliagirl]

Is there anything that affects a thyroid test - ie does it change from morning to evening, after a run, or sitting still in a waiting room for and hour?  Or will it always come out the same?

[Chi chi]

Ooh I forgot to list my constipation! When I do go it always feels incomplete like there's more there 
Haven't had my levels checked since my last time, they were done end of April but I'm getting a 24hr urine test as I'm told this will show what my thyroid is doing over a 24 hr period rather than a snapshot of when bloods are taken.
I don't have a lump as such just like a band of puffiness around my neck, funny because one of the Drs at my practise ALWAYS asked me to swallow whenever I saw her (she's left now) while she watched, nothing was ever said about it though? A private GP recently felt it and said it doesn't feel like the thyroid itself is swollen??
Peroxideblader that is ridiculous! Why don't they take notice of the ranges is beyond me!

[Peroxideblader]

I've checked my results from over a year ago my t4 was 8.2 so I'm well under this scale but my tsh was 1.4 but because my tsh wasn't raised and was in the normal range they said i was fine. I asked about a month ago for a re test but they said as I was normal in their eyes last time there's no need hence why I've arranged my own full private one. What do you think of my results in your opinion?

[Chi chi]

I've checked my results from over a year ago my t4 was 8.2 so I'm well under this scale but my tsh was 1.4 but because my tsh wasn't raised and was in the normal range they said i was fine. I asked about a month ago for a re test but they said as I was normal in their eyes last time there's no need hence why I've arranged my own full private one. What do you think of my results in your opinion?

I'm sorry I really couldn't tell you, I'm as new to all this as you 
I could post a link to the thyroid forum if I'm allowed??  There's loads of info and all seem really nice and helpful 

[Jinja]

Not menopause related but I'm having the same problem with my daughter's doctors. She is being seen for gastro problems chronic heartburn/ indigestion. They tested her thyroid as I told them she had erractic periods her first TSH was just out of the normal range at 4.89 with normal t4 at her last appointment different doctor I asked if he could redo them he was reluctant but agreed in the end and her TSH had gone up to 6.7 still normal t4, they still don't seem bothered about it. She's going to a different hospital to see a gastro specialist so I shall be pushing for more tests. But hate having to fight to get the answers

[countrybumpkin]

thyroid measurements can alter within a few hours so when you have your tewst it really is just a snapshot of that moment in time, bit like hormone tests!  Loads of things affect the result but the most common are any infections/viruses and stress.

In an ideal world just like insulin dependant diabetics, thyroid patients would have their own blood moniter and could do a test every day and adjust their dosage accordingly just like diabetics do.  a blood moniter was invented in america but it is very expensive and not as far as I know available in uk.

I once had thyroid tests two days running due to my gp doing one and then the next day being admitted to A&E and I had totally different results
So 24 hrs made a massive difference to my results although they were still within the normal range but it was a good example of how much it can fluctuate.