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Hypothyroidism blood test results. Do I need a second opinion?
I went to the doctor today once again for the ongoing symptoms of hypothyroidism. I am always cold, my hair is falling out, I'm using the bathroom once a week, I am always tried (sleep around 10hrs a day), can hardly get up in the morning, I was even diagnosed with depression and take wellbutrin, but it does not help one bit. Also it is impossible for me to lose any weight. I went up from 145 pounds January 2013 to 160lbs March 2013. I am now 5'3 and 160lbs. The symptoms have slowly gotten worse and worse over the past 8 months. In July these were all my blood results:
Cortisol, AM (baseline)= 23.9 (lab range 5.0 to 25.0)
Testosterone, free serum = 0.86 (lab range is 0.06 to 2.57)
Testosterone, serum = 44.5 (lab range is 8.4 to 48.1)
Thyroxine (T4) = 8.5 (lab range is 4.5 to 12.0)
Thyroxine, free (RIA) = 1.22 (lab range is 0.83 to 1.62)
TIBC, Component = 322 (lab range is 228 to 428)
TSH = 3.330 (lab ranges are 0.270 to 4.2)
I noticed that their TSH range levels are not .3 to 3.0... should I look for another doctor??
ALSO, I complained that not enough tests were done before and requested some new ones.
These are the ones I got tested for today:
Anti-thyroglobulin Antibody, Serum
Anti-microsomal Ab (THY.PEROX.)
T3, Total
T3, Reverse, Serum or Plasma
T3 uptake
T3 Free, Serum
Thyroxine, Free (RIA)
Thyroxine (T4, total)
TSH
Should those be enough to get accurate results? or is something important missing? Should I get a second opinion?
Cortisol, AM (baseline)= 23.9 (lab range 5.0 to 25.0)
Testosterone, free serum = 0.86 (lab range is 0.06 to 2.57)
Testosterone, serum = 44.5 (lab range is 8.4 to 48.1)
Thyroxine (T4) = 8.5 (lab range is 4.5 to 12.0)
Thyroxine, free (RIA) = 1.22 (lab range is 0.83 to 1.62)
TIBC, Component = 322 (lab range is 228 to 428)
TSH = 3.330 (lab ranges are 0.270 to 4.2)
I noticed that their TSH range levels are not .3 to 3.0... should I look for another doctor??
ALSO, I complained that not enough tests were done before and requested some new ones.
These are the ones I got tested for today:
Anti-thyroglobulin Antibody, Serum
Anti-microsomal Ab (THY.PEROX.)
T3, Total
T3, Reverse, Serum or Plasma
T3 uptake
T3 Free, Serum
Thyroxine, Free (RIA)
Thyroxine (T4, total)
TSH
Should those be enough to get accurate results? or is something important missing? Should I get a second opinion?
Best Answer
okay cool, thanks for the help! Any tips how to deal with chronic constipation? haha
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When I drink the vinegar, water, honey solution, I only do it when I have the reflux. I'm afraid if you drank it every time you drink water, you'd overdo in a hurry. All you're trying to do is add a bit more acid to your stomach. I don't think it tastes horrible, but then I like vinegar and honey. All you need is a few ounces of water. Experiment a little bit; try a little less vinegar, etc.
And there's no guarantee that it will work because it's almost impossible to tell whether your reflux is caused by too much acid or too little. I used to try either the vinegar (works best in warm water) or pickle juice, if my reflux med wasn't working. If adding extra acid didn't help, it was back to the med.
On the rare occasions that I get acid reflux now, I find that Gaviscon works better than most meds to settle it down.
Best thing to do is get your doctor to help you get thyroid levels right and you won't have these issues nearly as much.
And there's no guarantee that it will work because it's almost impossible to tell whether your reflux is caused by too much acid or too little. I used to try either the vinegar (works best in warm water) or pickle juice, if my reflux med wasn't working. If adding extra acid didn't help, it was back to the med.
On the rare occasions that I get acid reflux now, I find that Gaviscon works better than most meds to settle it down.
Best thing to do is get your doctor to help you get thyroid levels right and you won't have these issues nearly as much.
I totally agree with you! Not only the the pharmacy part but beyond that. Instead of visiting just ONE main doctor that can treat all the symptoms that point to thyroid (or whatever it is), they are allowing their buddies to make money by using a gastroenterologist, a dermotolgist, a obgyn, a psychiatrist... list goes on. Then Im stuck using 10 different medications for all sorts of different stuff, and its not helping anyway!
I have also read that acid reflux is a result of too LITTLE acid in the stomach.
And the natural reaction for a person with heart burn is to take by the hand fulls antacids. Which only make the problem worse, not better.
The way I heard it described was that the top valve on the stomach responds to the amount of acid in the stomach. With a lot of acid the valve closes tight. But with low acid the valve relaxes and leaks or opens up which allows some of the acid in the stomach up into the esophagus. And thus the burning and the term reflux which means to flow back or return.
I think most acid reflux medicines are to cause that top valve to tighten up so that it doesn't leak. But why wouldn't they treat the cause and not the symptom?
It seems like all of this is big Pharma conspiracy. They can sell all sorts of prescriptions for Xantex or prilosec etc. Or a person could drink pickle juice or take a few table spoons of apple cider vinegar and solve it.
Similar for Thyroid. Why prescribe ONE cheap thyroid medicine which would solve 20 symptoms when they could have 20 prescriptions to cover the 20 symptoms. They make MUCH more money selling as many prescriptions as possible. Just my opinion and my rant that I have to get off my chest every now and again.
And the natural reaction for a person with heart burn is to take by the hand fulls antacids. Which only make the problem worse, not better.
The way I heard it described was that the top valve on the stomach responds to the amount of acid in the stomach. With a lot of acid the valve closes tight. But with low acid the valve relaxes and leaks or opens up which allows some of the acid in the stomach up into the esophagus. And thus the burning and the term reflux which means to flow back or return.
I think most acid reflux medicines are to cause that top valve to tighten up so that it doesn't leak. But why wouldn't they treat the cause and not the symptom?
It seems like all of this is big Pharma conspiracy. They can sell all sorts of prescriptions for Xantex or prilosec etc. Or a person could drink pickle juice or take a few table spoons of apple cider vinegar and solve it.
Similar for Thyroid. Why prescribe ONE cheap thyroid medicine which would solve 20 symptoms when they could have 20 prescriptions to cover the 20 symptoms. They make MUCH more money selling as many prescriptions as possible. Just my opinion and my rant that I have to get off my chest every now and again.
OJ is one of the worst things to drink, I agree, I can always feel it coming back up, but I LOOVVEEE OJ, like I really do, I have to have it everyday, even if its a few sips here and there. I don't like any other juice, no apple juice, no cherry, no cranberry, so OJ is my juice go-to
I love dill pickle juice so I have no problem drinking that stuff! I will try that apple cider vinegar. So 1 tablespoon in a 8 oz water with 1 teaspoon of honey? once a day or every time you drink water? does it taste good at least? sometimes I'm forced to drink stuff that is disgusting to "help me", but if its disgusting who wants to keep drinking it!
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I would recommend that you also get tested for Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B-12 as well as Iron and Ferritin.
All of these also if low in any one or more leave you very fatigued.
My guess and that is all it will be until you get back your labs is that I suspect you have a conversion issue. That is you're not converting the ample Free T4 you have in your blood into the useable Free T3 that your body uses at the cellular level.
A conversion issue is determined by comparing the FT4 to the FT3 levels in terms of there reference ranges. For example. Many people have found that they need their FT4 to be 50% of the range (which you are at or very nearly so) and also their FT3 levels will be 66% of the range. The FT3 levels being HIGHER in the range than the FT 4 when there is plenty of FT4 avaoiable is what would indicate proper conversion.
It is not uncommon for someone to have this ratio flipped. That is their FT4 level in the range that is higher than the FT3 level. Clear indication that a conversion problem exists.
If conversion problem exists, there are two ways to go. One is to continue to raise the FT4 levels until the FT3 levels are raised enough to feel well. However this usually doesn't work as if you get your FT4 levels too high in the range people don't generally feel well either. The preferred choice would be to add in a T3 medication. SLOWLY with small increments.
You could also have your Selenium levels checked. It is known that Selenium can help with conversion. But it is a small boost and not a miracle cure. Just an aid.
We'll be looking for your latest labs to help us help you for things to talk about with your Dr.