Question about what is "normal"

[Amy]

I have just received my first piece of good news after 2 inconclusive thyroid biopsies....my third one came back benign! WOO HOO!!
Here is my question. My levels were within the normal ranges....barely, and my endo said there was no sense in treating them because they are normal....but I feel terrible. My hair is no longer shiney/rather brittle, my skin is so dry, I'm ALWAYS tired, irritable, depressed, upset stomach all the time, etc...
My TSH was .58 with a normal range of .49-4.67
My FT4 was .71 with a normal range of .71-1.85

Should I push this or just let it go and pray I start to feel better?

[Maria]

The TSH is great, but the FT4 is a bit low. Treating might help, but have you asked your endo about possible other causes for your symptoms?

[Amy]

I'm just not sure what to ask! I've told him all my symptoms, but he doesn't seem to want to do anything else now that we know it isn't cancer. I just don't know to do/say!

[AZQuitter]

Amy wrote:

I'm just not sure what to ask! I've told him all my symptoms, but he doesn't seem to want to do anything else now that we know it isn't cancer. I just don't know to do/say!

The Free T4 is way too low - it should be around mid way. They need to test free T3 too, and that needs to be in the upper 1/4 of the range. If this doc will not go any further, find a new doc.

[Amy]

I'll try...unfortunately, my hands are tied by insurance...lovely government/military health care....there are only 3 endorinologists within a 2 hour radius and this is the 2nd one I've tried. I wanted to see the 3rd, but he wasn't accepting anymore military healthcare patients, so I'm stuck with the one I have...

[AZQuitter]

Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and go outside of your insurance plan. You may have to pay out of pocket. You could do research and see if you can educate them on thyroid.