Hypothyroidism expertise please

[tula9]

I have family history of hypothyroidism (mother, grandmother, aunt). I am a 48 year old female and I feel tired often especially trying to wake up. I was just tested and they said I am in the normal range. Can anyone offer further knowledge/insights into my test results? I will talk to my GP and see if I can get any further tests done. (The current tests were done at my GYN).

Thyroxine, Free/ FT4 : 0.73
TSH 3rd generation : 2.44

Thank you very much.

[tula9]

Thank you so much. Yes, the free T4 level is on the low range.  I will look at the pdf and work on getting further testing for the others you mention.

Thank you again.

[gimel]

Sorry, my fat fingers messes up the last part of the above post.  It should read as follows.

Even without knowing the reference range for your Free T4 I expect that it is in the low end of the range.  If Free T3 is in a similar part of its range, that can definitely be associated with having hypo symptoms.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "theultimate criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

Last for now, if not tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, that should be done also.  I say that because hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for those as well.

[gimel]

Just because your thyroid test results are within the so-called "normal" ranges does not mean that all is well.  Due to the erroneous manner in which they are established the ranges are far too broad to be functional for many people.  In addition, TSH is a pituitary hormone that is supposed to reflect accurately the levels of the actual thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T; however, TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either, much less correlate well with symptoms, which should be the most important consideration.

Of the thyroid tests, Free T3 is the most important to know because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.

Apparently you were not even tested for Free T3.  You should make sure to be tested for Free T3 and Free T4 each time you go in for tests.  If the doctor resists, just insist on both.  

Even without kA good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimatecriterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf nowing the reference range for your Free T4 I expect tha it is in the low end of the range.  If Free T3 is in a similar part of its range, that can definitely be associated with having hypo symptoms.