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Some people feel much better when taking thyroid hormones, even though some thyroid tests might indicate that they do not need it. For sub-clinical cases, a short-term thyroid trial is appropriate.
The best lab tests to consider if low thyroid function is suspected are TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), Free T-4, and Free T-3. Your doctor may or may not require lab testing before giving you thyroid hormone on a clinical trial basis, when symptoms indicate. If your doctor refuses to give you a clinical trial and does not provide a convincing reason, you may wish to get a second opinion.
Oral temperatures during the day are a reasonably accurate method of monitoring your thyroid status and the effectiveness of any thyroid medication. Since the thyroid regulates the body's metabolic rate, greater thyroid activity usually results in a higher body temperature. Your body temperature should be greater than 98.2°F (36.8°C).
Directions
Thyroid lab testing can be done while you are on your thyroid medication. The timing of the test and when you take your medication does not make a significant difference on the test results.
Expected Outcome
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists officially stated in 2001, that a "TSH level between 3.0 and 5.0 µIU/ml ... should be considered suspect since it may signal a case of evolving thyroid underactivity." This is a dramatic reversal, as they have traditionally held that patients should never be treated with thyroid hormone unless the tests were clearly abnormal, above 5.5. This supports the belief that many patients have been misdiagnosed and undertreated in the past based on the lab tests and the arbitrary normal ranges.
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Test Thyroid Function can help with the following:
KEY | | May do some good |  | | Likely to help |  | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Anxiety
Apprehension of danger, or dread, accompanied by nervous restlessness, tension, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath unrelated to a clearly identifiable stimulus.
Autoimmune Disease (Autoimmune, Autoimmunity)
One of a large group of diseases in which the immune system turns against the body's own cells, tissues and organs, leading to chronic and often deadly conditions. Examples include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, Bright's disease and diabetes.
Chronic (Chronicity)
Usually referring to chronic illness: Illness extending over a long period of time.
Eczema
Swelling of the outer skin of unknown cause. In the early stage it may be itchy, red, have small blisters, and be swollen, and weeping. Later it becomes crusted, scaly, and thickened.
Hormones (Hormone)
Chemical substances secreted by a variety of body organs that are carried by the bloodstream and usually influence cells some distance from the source of production. Hormones signal certain enzymes to perform their functions and, in this way, regulate such body functions as blood sugar levels, insulin levels, the menstrual cycle, and growth. These can be prescription, over-the-counter, synthetic or natural agents. Examples include adrenal hormones such as corticosteroids and aldosterone; glucagon, growth hormone, insulin, testosterone, estrogens, progestins, progesterone, DHEA, melatonin, and thyroid hormones such as thyroxine and calcitonin.
Hypothyroidism (Hypothyroid)
Diminished production of thyroid hormone, leading to low metabolic rate, tendency to gain weight, and sleepiness.
IU (mIU, uIU)
International Unit: An arbitrarily defined but agreed upon unit that depends on what is being measured.
mIU: 0.001 or one thousandth of an IU.
uIU: 0.000001 or one millionth of an IU.
Menorrhagia
Abnormally heavy and/or long menstrual period.
Menstruation (Menses, Menstrual, Menstrual Cycle, Menstrual Cycles, Menstrual Flow, Menstrual Phase, Monthly Cycle)
The periodic discharge of blood, tissue fluid and mucus from the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that usually lasts from 3 - 5 days. It is caused by a sudden reduction in estrogens and progesterone.
Metabolism (Metabolic, Metabolize, Metabolizes, Metabolizing)
The chemical processes of living cells in which energy is produced in order to replace and repair tissues and maintain a healthy body. Responsible for the production of energy, biosynthesis of important substances, and degradation of various compounds. Also defined as the sum total of changes in an organism in order to achieve a balance (homeostasis): Catabolic burns up, anabolic stores and builds up; the sum of their work is metabolism.
Milliliter (mL)
0.001 or one thousandth of a liter.
Panic Attack (Panic Attacks)
A brief, irrational episode of fear that is perceived as so real that an individual may be driven to escape from the place or situation where it occurs. The attack is sudden and increases in severity until it leaves, usually within ten minutes. Panic attack symptoms are numerous and involve both mental and physical signs and symptoms. A panic attack can occur in other anxiety states such as agoraphobia and with certain activities and places. It may occur spontaneously without an apparent cause.
Tendonitis
Inflammation of the tendons (structures that attach muscles to bones).
Thyroid (Thyroid Gland)
The thyroid gland is an organ with many veins, anchored around the front of the throat near the voice box. It is essential to normal body growth in infancy and childhood. It absorbs iodine from the diet and releases thyroid hormones - iodine-containing compounds that help govern the rate of the body's metabolism (its total life processes), affecting body temperature, and regulating protein, fat and carbohydrate catabolism in all cells. They keep up growth hormone release, skeletal maturation, and heart rate, force, and output. They promote central nervous system growth, stimulate the making of many enzymes, and are necessary for muscle tone and vigor. To a high degree, metabolism is regulated by the hormone thyroxine, which can be made by the thyroid if enough organic iodine is available. An enlarged thyroid gland that is not cancer is sometimes called goitre.
Thyroiditis (Chronic Thyroiditis, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis)
Inflammation of the thyroid; there are several forms of thyroiditis, including chronic or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (also called autoimmune or chronic lymphocyctic thyroiditis), subacute thyroiditis, and painless or postpartum thyroiditis. Thyroiditis often results in hypothyroidism.
Last updated: Apr 13, 2008
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