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What Does These TSH Values Indicate?

Posted on Fri, 11 Apr 2014

Question: at TSH of 6.3 is it necessary take thyroid medications?

Answered by Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Why was the test done? Detailed Answer: Hi! Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic.com. I'm glad you are asking this question. The first thing you must remember is that a lab test is USELESS without actual physical symptoms. Why was the test done? Were you feeling tired or gaining weight? Or feeling chills etc? Also, if you could, please upload the Full Thyroid function test to the website so I can go through it and explain the situation to you more thoroughly. So, when you can, tell my what your symptoms have been like and upload those results for me and we can discuss. Sound like a plan? Take care. Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic.com

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj (5 hours later)

Hi, Thanks for response. I am feeling tired and gaining a little weight but not too much. At present i am 55 years old. My left eyebrow has some swelling and some swelling in the left hand fingers. i have also some pain in the left leg. My blood test results as follows: Hemoglobin 11.4 g/dl. Total erythrocytes 4.06 MCV 82.6 fL Mentzer Index 20.3 Uric acid 4.2 mg/dl. Free T3 2.35 pg/ml Free T4 0.68 ng/dl TSH 6.38 25OH Vitamin D3 29.1 bg/ml Please advise.

Answered by Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Thyroid labs are Borderline Low Detailed Answer: Hello again! Thanks for following up! Fatigue and weight gain are 2 signs associated with hypothyroidism and must be evaluated. Other signs are chills and weak muscle reflexes. Poor bowel movements etc. The thyroid profile you have sent me shows low levels of T3 and T4 and a HIGH TSH. The labs are certainly borderline.. but they do suggest hypothyroidism. So when putting the above two together, I would be inclined to say that you probably have Hypothyroidism and you need to be started on medication for the same. The borderline nature of the labs is rather striking though. It could be that you are JUST developing the issue or that this is a transient event and the labs will normalize soon (common illnesses and infections can causes fluctuation in thyroid levels, so can stress). This is where a good physical exam (which i cannot do for obvious reasons) and experience come to be relevant. Some endocrinologists will look at these labs and you examination and decide to start Synthroid (The drug for Hypothyroidism). Others will wait and watch and redo the blood tests in a few weeks to see if they are consistently low. Either way, it is important you bring these results to your primary doctor or to an Endocrinologist and discuss with them. I hope this helps. Take care and always feel free to follow-up! Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic.com

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj