Help needed please - TSH 18 but normal FT4

[Guest guest]

I was recently referred to an endo privately by my GP as I have been feeling

very unwell for the last couple of months. I have tingling in my hands and

feet, weird feelings in my head (sort of like lightheadness but weirder), memory

problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, vertigo, tiredness, insomnia, anxiety etc and

went to the doctor thinking something serious was wrong (MS or similar). I

haven't had any weight gain or skin and hair changes so my gp was surprised with

my blood test results which showed elevated TSH and normal FT4. As he thought

my symptoms were a mixture of hyper and hypo he referred me to the endo who I

saw on Friday. The endo had requested repeat tests and the results of both

tests are below:

7th June 2011:

TSH 15mu/l (0.27-4.2)

Free T4 14pmol/l (12-22)

17th June 2011:

TSH 18mu/l (same range as above)

Free T4 13.2 (same range as above)

Free T3 4.0pmol/l (3.1-6.8)

Anti-thyroid peroxidase 53 (IU/ml < 100)

The endo was very dismissive and said that he thought my high TSH was due to an

antibody type reaction of my blood and therefore wasn't valid. He told me that

it's very uncommon for a woman of my age (44) to have such a high TSH but with

no antibodies - therefore must be a lab error. He told me that I am euthyroid.

When I pointed out that my FT4 had dropped as my TSH went up he relented

slightly and agreed for me to have a 6 week trial of thyroxine at 50mcg a day.

I really want to know if he is right or are there other people out there with

these sort of test results? Thanks