High T4

I'm not an endocrinologist but all hormone functions work thru "negative feedback". So, your TSH does not NEED to be high attempting to raise your thyroid levels because your T4 is already elevated. Did your doc do a
FREE T4? Best orders are for a Free T4 and Free T3. Our bodies convert T4 to T3 under normal circumstances. However, there are cases such as mine: LOW free T4 and LOW Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (the TSH should be high in an attempt to make more T4). This is called "secondary hypothyroidism" and in my case is due to the HPA axis suppression that is so common in CFS/ME and other similar disorders. My hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands are no longer able to join hands in that graceful dance that is our hormone/endocrine system. In my case, I'm also unable to convert the T4 to T3 and the most common thyroid medication, Synthroid, is useless to my system. I take Armour Thyroid (like the bacon company it's made from dessicated pig's thyroid) which is able to make the conversion. MANY doctors don't even know to order the most reliable tests for thyroid function. JUST TSH itself is a useless number. Be sure that they are ordering FREE T4 and FREE T3. And if you're on the lower end but still within the lab's normal range, discuss your symptoms with your MD. They shouldn't rely SOLELY on whether you fit into the ever-changing lab values of what is "normal" and I'd like to think that MD's could go on an individual's symptomatology as well (as they did in the recent past). Hope this made a bit of sense. Google a site called "Thyroid: Stop the Insanity" or I think that's what it was called. Just read it recently and it explains things in layman's terms. Wishing you high energy, less pain, moist skin, normal body temp, and all the other wonderful things a healthy thyroid gives us. marcie