THYROID LOW...symptoms, treatment, bloodwork??

[bluetou]

I am sorry if this is in the wrong place I was not sure where to post it.

I had to go in today to do a second thyriod blood panel. The first one I had done came back and my FREE T4 was low.

I am confused.....I must admit I know quite a bit about the body and hormones..etc...but the THYRIOD thing is confusing me....and how to read my blood work test results....

My father has a low thyroid, and most of my aunt and uncles have issues with thyriod (some have high, some have low)...so I am not surprised to have my thyroid bloodwork pick simething up...??

BUT my question is, what is a low thyroid, what is not functioning correctly? Is it the pituatory gland, and the hormones that stimulate this?

What is FREE T4? this is what is low ACCORDING TO MY blood work NORMAL is 12-22, mine is 11. SO IT Is not overly LOW...but is still low.

MY PROLACTIN is 3.6 and normal is 3.4-24.1. SO this is not considered low to doctors standards, but is really on they low end. AND WHEN I do a search on it, 3.6 is considered low to some people's standards.

Anyway, any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Peace
Blue
:pray:

[Calinda]

Hi,
I have hypothryroidism and it sounds right although I don't understand all about it. They usually do the blood work and then determine where you are at with your thyroid.
It's not too bad of a disease to have because the medication has no side effects really. I started with Synthroid, then switched to Armour Thryroid (but the company had a stop in manufacturing), so now I take Westhroid. I am chemical sensitive is why I don't take the Synthroid anymore.
When you start on the medication it might take a while to get the right dosage for you. So they may re-check your blood in a couple of months.
I can tell when my dosage is off because I gain weight, get really cold, and super duper tired.
It's reall ynot a bad thing to have as illnesses go. It's treatable--although I do think that you don't always feel 100%. It affects alot of your body functions so the medicine can only do so much. It mostly affects my tiredness level I think.

[bluetou]

Thank you for your post. I know I am very tired...and I have gained a bit of weight (like four pounds)....but this is a lot for me (considered I do not gain weight every, because of the way my body type is)...and I work out daily...I could tell somethign was off...my eyes are hard to open in the morning and my body is exhausted....getting out of bed is a chore...and then I struggle all day with my energy level. And like I said, I am an avid exerciser (teaching fitness classes, and working out) always on the go...eat really well, and it seems like these four pounds just crept on....

Thanks for the info on the meds I will look into them.
You mentioned being chemical sensitive...why did synthroid bother you? or how did it bother you? isn't synthroid a natural med?
Thanks for your info...and insight...

Peace
Blue
:pray: