TSH Blood Test

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) Blood Test

American Associated of Clinical Endocrinologists narrowed the TSH range for acceptable thyroid function from 0.5-5.0 to 0.3-3.04 in 2003.

TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is also called thyrotropin.
The pituitary gland releases TSH after the hypothalamus releases TRH (thyrotropin-­‐ eleasing-­‐hormone). This is the most common marker used by M.D.s to assess thyroid function.
TSH levels increase when the T4 levels drop, and the TSH falls when T4 levels increase.
A TSH test alone does not consider overall thyroid metabolism, H.P.A. feedback loops, or autoimmune factors that are identified by thyroid antibody testing.
A high TSH with or without changes in T4 or T3 is diagnostic to determine hypothyroidism. If the thyroid is not making enough T4 the pituitary will pump out TSH to stimulate its production.
A low TSH is used to determine hyperthyroid activity. If the thyroid is overactive, such as in Grave’s disease, the antibodies bind to active thyrotropin (TSH) receptors on the thyroid cells and stimulate T4 production without the influence of TSH. Some antibodies may inhibit thyroid function by inactivating instead of stimulating thyrotropin receptors. This is called an autoimmune hypothyroid. These patterns will demonstrate a hypothyroid pattern (elevated TSH) with elevated thyroid antibodies.
TSH Laboratory Reference Range: 0.35 – 5.5 (varies from one lab to another). (Australian Lab still using 0.5 to 5)
There are new ranges released in 2012 but many labs still continue to use the old ranges.
TSH Functional or Optimal Reference Range: 1.5 to 3.0

Hashimotos

Jan 262017
 

Video – Natural Solutions for Thyroid Disorders

44 minutes

 

Top things to do to treat Hashimotos

4 min

Thyroid Pharmacist Izabella Wentz

  • Reduce Stress
  • Supplements for nutrient deficiencies
  • Reduce / remove Gluten
  • Careful diet – Sugar free, Grain free, Dairy free, Paleo, Low GI index
  • Supplements B12, D3, digestive enzymes, ferritin/ iron, omega 3
    Selenium 200 mcg, Betaine with pepsin, Curcumin, Zinc 30 mg, l- Glutamine
  • Lifestyle changes – relaxation, massage, sauna
  • TSH levels <1-2
  • LDN
  • Probiotics or fermented foods

The Elimination Diet
Dr. Izabella Wentz with Tom Malterre on the Elimination Diet

45 min

The most common triggers in Hashimoto’s are nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), stress, an impaired ability to get rid of toxins and in some cases, infections. Optimizing your health starts with food. Figuring out which foods nourish you, and which ones cause you harm is the single most important thing you can learn in your health journey.

I’ve found that recognizing and eliminating reactive foods can be a life-changer for most people with Hashimoto’s.

Reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity in particular has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten.

Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people, will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function!

What’s Your Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism Root Cause?

2 min

 

Dr. Izabella Wentz Can Thyroid Issues & Hashimoto’s Disease Be Reversed Naturally?

22 min

Blood Tests for Thyroid Disfunction

Jan 262017
 

Typically your GP will ask for TSH test on your blood sample.

The TSH alone will not generally be a good indicator, a full suite of tests normally needs to be done.

TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, FTI, Resin T3 Uptake, Reverse T3, TPO and TGB Antibodies.

 

Free  (T3) triiodothyronine

Reverse T3

Free (T4) thyroxine

TSH – thyroid-stimulating hormone

TSH is produced when the hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then triggers the pituitary gland to release TSH. TSH causes the thyroid gland to make two hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).

Thyroid antibodies. TPO

  • Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb)
  • Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)

This is because it is possible to have normal T4 and TSH levels yet still have low T3 if the body is not converting T4 to T3 sufficiently.

 

In addition other tests can provide more indicators,

for instance, having been diagnosed with a lump in the thyroid, as shown by ultrasound scan, and with having a fine needle biopsy being inconclusive, my specialist ordered the following:

PTH  Parathyroid hormone

TFT  Thyroid Function Test

CMP  Cmprehensive Metabolic panel

FBE  Full blood examination

Thy ABS –  thyroid antibodies  TPO

Vitamin D

CLE

COMP

 

 

A complete test might consist of the following:

Complete Metabolic Panel, not a basic metabolic panel. You have a thyroid disorder and you need as much information as POSSIBLE!

A complete thyroid panel which needs to include TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T4, Free Thyroxine Index, Resin T3 Uptake, TPO and TGB antibodies, TBG and Reverse T3.
You NEED to know as much about your thyroid gland as possible and ALL of these blood tests will tell you.

A complete lipid panel and a CBC with auto differential which breaks down the white and red blood cells.

Testing for gluten reactivity, gut function, cross-­‐ reactive foods and other parts of your body that your immune system could be attacking.

An ASI (Adrenal Stress Index) which checks your adrenal glands. Your adrenal glands are your “stress glands.”

A 2105 stool microbial test looking to see if you have parasites or h-­‐pylori or fungi or mold in your gut.

An Organic acid test which tests for carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, energy production markers, and detoxification markers to name a few.