Normal TSH, High T3

[Ms_Parker]

I have exhibited most of the symptoms of hypothyroidism that I have read on the Internet. Some of my sypmtoms are difficulty swallowing, severe depression, apathy, lethargy, difficulty sleeping, inability to concentrate, weight gain, swollen hands and feet, etc. I thought I was going crazy. I was told by my GP that I have normal TSH levels, but my T3 is extremely high. She said this is unusual. I am going back Tuesday for more tests. What could this mean?  

[Jtodaro]

Thank you! I dont have the copy of the results, just some results he wrote in my file and my okd doc printed it before i moved. Will be getting new tests done shortly! Thanks for the advise, will be getting vitamin tests!

[gimel]

Please tell us about all your symptoms.  Also, please list your Free T4, Free T3 and TSH results, along with reference ranges shown on the lab report.  

[Jtodaro]

Hey i have the same results! I think in hypo, normal tsh but very high t3, never got an answer as to why, what did you find out about the high t3, did you get things figured out?
Jessica

[des900]

If your T3 or T4 is high then you are hyperthyroid no matter than your TSH value is. If you are on medication then need to lower the dose.

[Jtodaro]

Ive had weight gain, not weight loss, mostly all hypo not hyper symptoms with high 13-17 t3 1.4 tsh

[des900]

Even hyperthyroid people some time find it hard to loss weight. Also some hypothyroid people too some find hard to gain weight. So just looking at body eight can't infer much about thyroid status instead need to look at Free T3 and Free T4. Since your T3 is high most probably your Free T3 might be high too. TSH value is not much importance, the best way to find the correct dose is by looking at both Free T3, Free T4 and TSH. Need to find a dose (if on medication) by making sure Free T3 and Free T4 not going beyond or close to top reference range (about 90%) and TSH keep as much low but not less than reference range.

[Jtodaro]

Wow i appoligize, i totally got it wrong thinking my t3 was high but its actually ft4 that is high..
These were my last tests done..

Feb 12 2016
Tsh 2.48
Ft4 12.2
Ft3 5.5

[des900]

It will be helpful if you add the given reference range too. Anyway as I said before if your Free T3 or Free T4 or both is raised you are actually experiencing hyperthyroid symptoms. Even if your Free T3 level is normal at one point it can vary a lot throughout the day same with Free T4 but as much like Free T3. Ideally Free T4 need to remain in middle range in reference range. Anyway since your Free T3 is not high you can feel mixed symptoms of both hyper and hypo and simply raising levothyroxine dose may not bring down the symptoms. It will be good idea to check for other deficiencies like Vitamin D, B12 and Ferritin. These can also reducing the T4 to T3 conversion.

[des900]

not as much like Free T3

[GravesLady]

How do you know your symptoms are thyroid.  Thyroid symptoms are so non-specific.  In other words, a lot of other health conditions have the same symptoms as thyroid, it is very difficult to distinguish where the symptoms are coming from or which health conditions are the cause. Your doctor would have to  eliminate conditions per symptoms through their appropriate test. This is a long a tedious process but will worth it in the end when you find out the causes and get properly treated.
Thyroid conditions are diagnosed by levels and not by symptoms alone.

Your normal TSH and  high T-3, was that a FT-3? could be an error.  T-3 is not giving your true thyroid status, especially if you are estrogen by whatever means.

More test will tell more what is going on.