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Blood Test Results
I have had two Free T4/TSH3 tests done within two months of one another. Results being:
August: Free T4 .99 / TSH3 .700
October Free T4 .97/ TSH3 4.484
Can anyone shed some light as to what these mean? Thank you!
August: Free T4 .99 / TSH3 .700
October Free T4 .97/ TSH3 4.484
Can anyone shed some light as to what these mean? Thank you!
You are missing one of the most important thyroid related tests, which is Free T3. I say that because free T3 largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions. Also, it correlates best with hypo symptoms.
From the two tests you do have, even though your Free T4 is in the range, that does not mean that it is adequate for you. The ranges are far too broad, due to the erroneous method used to establish them. In the words of a good thyroid doctor, ""The free T3 is not as helpful in untreated persons as the free T4 because in the light of a rather low FT4 the body will convert more T4 to T3 to maintain thyroid effect as well as is possible. So the person with a rather low FT4 and high-in-range FT3 may still be hypothyroid. However, if the FT4 is below 1.3 and the FT3 is also rather low, say below 3.4 (range 2 to 4.4 at LabCorp) then its likely that hypothyroidism is the cause of a person's symptoms."
In addition, even though TSH is affected by so many things that it is only an indicator to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of Free T3 and Free T4, your TSH has gotten high enough that it also points towards hypothyroidism. Since Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is the most common cause for diagnosed hypothyroidism, you should request to be tested for the antibodies related to Hashi's. Those tests are TPO ab and TG ab.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 levels as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.
I suggest that you should go back to your doctor and request to be tested for Free T3, along with Free T4. If the doctor resists, just insist on it and don't take no for an answer. Since hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, you should also request to be tested for those. While there, I also suggest that you should ask the doctor if he is willing t treat clinically, as described by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms. If not, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so, and get you started on thyroid medication.
From the two tests you do have, even though your Free T4 is in the range, that does not mean that it is adequate for you. The ranges are far too broad, due to the erroneous method used to establish them. In the words of a good thyroid doctor, ""The free T3 is not as helpful in untreated persons as the free T4 because in the light of a rather low FT4 the body will convert more T4 to T3 to maintain thyroid effect as well as is possible. So the person with a rather low FT4 and high-in-range FT3 may still be hypothyroid. However, if the FT4 is below 1.3 and the FT3 is also rather low, say below 3.4 (range 2 to 4.4 at LabCorp) then its likely that hypothyroidism is the cause of a person's symptoms."
In addition, even though TSH is affected by so many things that it is only an indicator to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of Free T3 and Free T4, your TSH has gotten high enough that it also points towards hypothyroidism. Since Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is the most common cause for diagnosed hypothyroidism, you should request to be tested for the antibodies related to Hashi's. Those tests are TPO ab and TG ab.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 levels as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.
I suggest that you should go back to your doctor and request to be tested for Free T3, along with Free T4. If the doctor resists, just insist on it and don't take no for an answer. Since hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, you should also request to be tested for those. While there, I also suggest that you should ask the doctor if he is willing t treat clinically, as described by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms. If not, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so, and get you started on thyroid medication.
August: Free T4 .99 / TSH3 .700
October Free T4 .97/ TSH3 4.484
Ranges: Normal Free T4 .89-1.80; Normal TSH3 .350-5.500
Symptoms-
Irritability, did have weight gain last year - but was able to get somewhat back to normal after 8 months, difficulty sleeping, increased heart rate, shaky hands, skin breakouts, brittle nails, have a small lump on my thyroid but not anything they are looking to biopsy. All the symptoms are not a constant... but there are times when I feel very out of control. I sleep a lot now.
October Free T4 .97/ TSH3 4.484
Ranges: Normal Free T4 .89-1.80; Normal TSH3 .350-5.500
Symptoms-
Irritability, did have weight gain last year - but was able to get somewhat back to normal after 8 months, difficulty sleeping, increased heart rate, shaky hands, skin breakouts, brittle nails, have a small lump on my thyroid but not anything they are looking to biopsy. All the symptoms are not a constant... but there are times when I feel very out of control. I sleep a lot now.
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