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TSH w reflex to ft4 = 0.02 What does it mean?
I went to the doctor because I've been having headaches behind my eyes and in my sinus area. I'm tired much more than I used to be, my fingernails have become paper thin, and I feel like I'm having a harder time focusing. My eyes get so dry at night that I have to wake up and put drops in them.I don't have an appetite, but I gain weight easily. (I am female, late 40's, 5'5", 110 lbs) I exercise vigorously most mornings.
He did this blood test: TSH 2 reflex to ft4 - the result was 0.02.
He is on vacation, but the nurse called to ask if I have heart palpitations, or excessive sweating. I don't.
She said I have an overactive thyroid, and requested blood tests to confirm it. They also came back consistent with a hyperthyroid result, but I don't know what tests they did. It confused me because I don't lose weight easily and I don't have a big appetite - I thought those were the main symptoms.
She said they will monitor it and have me tested in another 2 weeks to see if they number stays the same.
I'm curious to know what might be going on, because the doc won't be back for another week. The headaches linger and often I have clear blurry spots in my vision when they begin. It's starting to worry me a little.
I appreciate any feedback about that TSH test result.
Thanks.
He did this blood test: TSH 2 reflex to ft4 - the result was 0.02.
He is on vacation, but the nurse called to ask if I have heart palpitations, or excessive sweating. I don't.
She said I have an overactive thyroid, and requested blood tests to confirm it. They also came back consistent with a hyperthyroid result, but I don't know what tests they did. It confused me because I don't lose weight easily and I don't have a big appetite - I thought those were the main symptoms.
She said they will monitor it and have me tested in another 2 weeks to see if they number stays the same.
I'm curious to know what might be going on, because the doc won't be back for another week. The headaches linger and often I have clear blurry spots in my vision when they begin. It's starting to worry me a little.
I appreciate any feedback about that TSH test result.
Thanks.
Well, of course, you can't know for absolute certainty until you get the results of the TSI, but hyperthyroidism is virtually all Graves'. However, there are other forms of thyroiditis that can cause temporary hyper states, which is why it's important to verify with the TSI.
No, you shouldn't gain weight on meds. Sometimes it takes a little fiddling to get them right, but once adjusted properly, they won't cause you to gain weight. Although we usually associate weight gain with hypo and weight loss with hyper, I, personally, have found that I maintain best when right in the middle...neither hypo nor hyper.
Initially, unless the disease has progressed quite far on diagnosis (and I don't think yours has because you only have a few symptoms), meds are the first line of treatment. Further down the road, RAI (radioactive iodine) or surgery might be recommended. I doubt they'd recommend that for you now, but if they should, I'd definitely ask for meds until you have time to research both thoroughly.
No, you shouldn't gain weight on meds. Sometimes it takes a little fiddling to get them right, but once adjusted properly, they won't cause you to gain weight. Although we usually associate weight gain with hypo and weight loss with hyper, I, personally, have found that I maintain best when right in the middle...neither hypo nor hyper.
Initially, unless the disease has progressed quite far on diagnosis (and I don't think yours has because you only have a few symptoms), meds are the first line of treatment. Further down the road, RAI (radioactive iodine) or surgery might be recommended. I doubt they'd recommend that for you now, but if they should, I'd definitely ask for meds until you have time to research both thoroughly.
Thank you. I've been checking for your answer, so it was nice to read your response. I am confused by this because I don't have many of the symptoms. I had blood drawn for the TSI today, and it appeared that they are checking TSH, FT3 & FT4 again, too. So, I guess I'll know more by the end of the week.
My symptoms are mostly headaches,some double vision, dry & itchy eyes, fatigue, confusion, paper thin fingernails, and dizziness or flushing and also total sudden loss of menstrual cycle after years of predictable monthly cycles. But, I don't have all those symptoms listed first when you see hyperthyroid. So, it just seems unusual that this would be what's wrong. I'll let you know what happens with the TSI.
My symptoms are mostly headaches,some double vision, dry & itchy eyes, fatigue, confusion, paper thin fingernails, and dizziness or flushing and also total sudden loss of menstrual cycle after years of predictable monthly cycles. But, I don't have all those symptoms listed first when you see hyperthyroid. So, it just seems unusual that this would be what's wrong. I'll let you know what happens with the TSI.
I'm glad they're doing that. Re-testing never hurt anything (except for that stab in the arm).
Your levels indicate hyper, but they're not as high as some people's are on diagnosis. Symptoms really do vary person to person. No one has ALL the symptoms...good thing because the list is about as long as your arm!
When I was first diagnosed hypo, I didn't have a lot of the classic hypo symptoms, either. Fatigue is almost universal, but I had energy. However, I almost had narcolepsy...when I sat down for more than about 10 minutes, I fell asleep. But, if I was up and about, I wasn't dragging. I also never was constipated (once again an almost universal symptom). I didn't lose my hair. My main symptoms were back pain/weakness and cold intolerance, and it never occurred to me that the back was totally thyroid related, but it was.
The TSI will tell you a lot more (let me know). Of course, if your heart rate, BP, eyes, etc. are not being affected, and you don't want to go on meds, you don't have to until (if) your levels get high enough to make you want to. There's also no reason not to try meds to see if they do relieve your symptoms.
Your levels indicate hyper, but they're not as high as some people's are on diagnosis. Symptoms really do vary person to person. No one has ALL the symptoms...good thing because the list is about as long as your arm!
When I was first diagnosed hypo, I didn't have a lot of the classic hypo symptoms, either. Fatigue is almost universal, but I had energy. However, I almost had narcolepsy...when I sat down for more than about 10 minutes, I fell asleep. But, if I was up and about, I wasn't dragging. I also never was constipated (once again an almost universal symptom). I didn't lose my hair. My main symptoms were back pain/weakness and cold intolerance, and it never occurred to me that the back was totally thyroid related, but it was.
The TSI will tell you a lot more (let me know). Of course, if your heart rate, BP, eyes, etc. are not being affected, and you don't want to go on meds, you don't have to until (if) your levels get high enough to make you want to. There's also no reason not to try meds to see if they do relieve your symptoms.
Hi goolarra,
I received more test results back today, but not the TSI.
TSH = 0.01 (range 0.4-4.5)
T4, Free = 1.5 (range 0 .8-1.8) (last time it was 1.7)
T3, Free 4.8 ( range 2.3-4.2)
I guess it's still hyper, disappointed that the TSI result isn't there. I think the office may not have ordered the tests properly.
Does the consistency in the TSH & T3 mean anything?
Thanks
I received more test results back today, but not the TSI.
TSH = 0.01 (range 0.4-4.5)
T4, Free = 1.5 (range 0 .8-1.8) (last time it was 1.7)
T3, Free 4.8 ( range 2.3-4.2)
I guess it's still hyper, disappointed that the TSI result isn't there. I think the office may not have ordered the tests properly.
Does the consistency in the TSH & T3 mean anything?
Thanks
The TSI might take a little longer to come back, unless, of course, you don't think they actually ordered it??? I hope they didn't mess up and not order it.
The consistency of the T3 and TSH means it wasn't a fluke or a lab error, and your results really are hyper.
The consistency of the T3 and TSH means it wasn't a fluke or a lab error, and your results really are hyper.
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