Lab results, what should I do?

[ando35]

I got my lab results. I have no health insurance atm, so I am wondering if I should raise my dose from 88mcg to 100mcg or just leave it.

Test Name Result Flag Reference Range Lab


TSH 4.08  range 0.40-4.50 mIU/L 01


T4, FREE 1.2  range : 0.8-1.8 ng/dL 01


T3, TOTAL 91 range :76-181 ng/dL 01


THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 606 HIGH    range : <9 IU/mL 01

[Barb135]

I'm not as worried about your TSH, because TSH neither causes, nor alleviates symptoms.  Symptoms correlate best with FT3 and since your TT3 is only at 14% of the range, it's a sure bet that your FT3 will be nowhere near the upper half to upper third of its range.

Aside from that, if you started a low dose of T3 med, there's a very good chance, it would bring down your TSH, though, again, TSH is the very last concern since it's merely a messenger from the pituitary to the thyroid to produce more hormones and when the thyroid doesn't work properly, TSH is of very little to no use...

[ando35]

So 4tsh is ok?

Do you think If I went to 100 mcg where would I end up tsh-wise? Hyper?

[Barb135]

Well, you definitely have high antibodies/Hashimoto's, but I think you knew that already.  

Your TSH is high according to the new reference range; your FT4 is only at 40% when the recommended level (where most of us feel best) is mid range (50%), but it's not "horrible".  Your Total T3 is only at 14% of the range... Unfortunately, TT3 is obsolete and doesn't tell us anything because Total T3 is a combination of, both bound and Free T3.  We can only surmise that your Free T3 would also be low, but we have no idea how low.  There is no recommended level for Total T3, but the recommended level for Free T3 is upper half to upper third of its range.

Personally, I'd recommend leaving your T4 dose where it is and try adding a small dose of T3 to try to bring up the T3 level, since Free T3 is used by every cell in the body.  

Next time you get labs, I'd recommend that you get Free T3, Free T4 and TSH.  You've already tested (more than once) for thyroid antibodies and you know you have Hashimoto's, so you'll have that for life; testing them over and over is a waste of money.  Free T3 is much more useful.