Rob, some things just jump out at me from your short story. First, that TSH is definitely NOT normal. You've got to understand that the cut-off for normal of 5.5 is probably about 3 points too high. Most people are symptomatic over 2.5. It is high enough that you urgently require further thyroid testing. The exact tests you need are a FREE T3 and a FREE T4. If you've ever had thyroid testing in the past, I suggest you track down the results, so you can see the trend.

Most people have a set-point for TSH which indicates their level of wellness. Any deviation and they won't make enough hormone for their body. So that while a "normal" TSH might be 2.4 for you for most of your life, the current reading of 5.5 showed a logarithmically increased outpouring of hormone, in response to your thyroid not making enough active hormone, T4 and T3.

I'd imagine you have some sluggishness, I'd guess that if you thought about, you just think as "quickly" or have as many thoughts in a minute that you used to. You might find your mood a bit flat, though not outright depressed.

That's because the first symptoms of hypothyroidism are generally the cognitive, brain symptoms. T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone. Most of ourorgans turn T4, made by the thyroid, into T3 on their own. But the brain has little capacity to do this. It relies heavily on T3 made in the thyroid.

Doctors who don't test for free T3 are missing out on a sensitive measure of brain function.

And it's insidious. I have hypothyroidism, but take hormone. Around January, I noticed I was "calmer", taking things in stride, but not particularly enthused about anything, such as awonderful vacation that was in the middle of the month. I didn't put it together with anything. When I saw my endo for a checkup, he suspected immediately that I was hypo, and the tests supported it. But still, THEY WERE WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. Just not the normal range for ME.

The B12 is also lower than one would wish. Check out Rose's posts on B12 and you'll learn everything you need to know about it.

And with low B12 and hypothyroidism, you might have an overactive immune system. So it would be worthwhile to get thyroid antibodies measured, to make sure you are not attacking your own thyroid.

Which brings me to the last thought: I've put up charts on http://lizajane.orgwhich work like spreadsheets to keep track of labs. Changes in numbers are important, as well as a thorough workup. I urge everyone to get a copy of their labs before leaving a doctor's office; asking them to fax copies, and then keeping track of them yourself. It's one thing fora doctor to have a pile of labs covering 10 years scattered through achart' it's another to see a spreadsheet, which puts everything in order for him.

In terms of gluten, as Melody says, it's also a relatively common cause of pn. And it has an immune element. But as long as you've been eating gluten, I'd not stop right now. I'd get the testing while still eating it, and then decide about eliminating it.

JCC has posted wonderful guidance about gluten. But the tests are on thecharts, too.

I'm going to send you some links, not just to the general website, (www/lizajane.org) but to some of my personal charts, so you can see what I mean.

http://lizajane.org/PN/Users/lizajan...thy workup.xls


A few more things about your care and your doctor. If he thinks that because you've had acute onset, you might have GBS, he is correct. There is sensory GBS. But then, he's obligated to look for it and treat it. It's serious and can be treated. It's an autoimmune illness. Most people with GBS, I believe, seem to be being treated with IVIG.

I'm not sure why he's waited so long to do the nerve conduction studies; I'd have thought he'd have scheduled them immediately upon seeing you, plus, a lot of bloodwork to see if it's an acute autoimmune illness.

Good luck; please advocate for a full and extensive evaluation of your problem.