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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.
Hi Goolarra,
Thank you for your help. Latest is TSH 1.34 (range 0.4 - 4.5)
T4, Free 1.3 (range 08 - 1.8)
I've been taking 50mcg Synthroid. Starting to get very tired again.
History:
TSH range: 0.4-4.5
T4, free (0.8 - 1.8)
T3, free
7/18/12 7/31/12 8/29/12 9/25/12 11/8/12 1/16/13 (note below)
TSH 0.02 0.01 0.03 1.8 1.37* 1.42
T4,Fr 1.7 1.5 1.1 0.8 1.0* 1.2**
*Synthroid 75 for 3.5 wks
**The 1/16 T4 note: the current lot of free T4 reagent available produces results that are approx 9% higher than previous reagent lots.
1/6/13 NOTE: I quit taking Synthroid on 12/23 - thought I was feeling too hypo.
2/20/13: Note - taking 44 per day for 3 weeks.
Thank you for your help. Latest is TSH 1.34 (range 0.4 - 4.5)
T4, Free 1.3 (range 08 - 1.8)
I've been taking 50mcg Synthroid. Starting to get very tired again.
History:
TSH range: 0.4-4.5
T4, free (0.8 - 1.8)
T3, free
7/18/12 7/31/12 8/29/12 9/25/12 11/8/12 1/16/13 (note below)
TSH 0.02 0.01 0.03 1.8 1.37* 1.42
T4,Fr 1.7 1.5 1.1 0.8 1.0* 1.2**
*Synthroid 75 for 3.5 wks
**The 1/16 T4 note: the current lot of free T4 reagent available produces results that are approx 9% higher than previous reagent lots.
1/6/13 NOTE: I quit taking Synthroid on 12/23 - thought I was feeling too hypo.
2/20/13: Note - taking 44 per day for 3 weeks.
TSH w/ reflex to FT4 is an instruction to the lab. It means "test TSH, and if it's not in reference range, test FT4 as well". Since your TSH was in range, they didn't test FT4. The TSH test is the same, whether with reflex or not.
Splitting pills is an acceptable practice. T4 is so slow acting, that a little more one day and a little less the next doesn't change anything drastically. I've split lots of pills when I am increasing. What I do is just make sure to take both halves of the same pill on consecutive days. Any variation in dosage in each half will be flattened out that way.
Splitting pills is an acceptable practice. T4 is so slow acting, that a little more one day and a little less the next doesn't change anything drastically. I've split lots of pills when I am increasing. What I do is just make sure to take both halves of the same pill on consecutive days. Any variation in dosage in each half will be flattened out that way.
Hi
The test results came in the mail today. I noticed it was a TSH w reflex to FT4. Is that different than TSH? The value was still 1.7. Yes. I will ask for follow up testing. Taking the 44 by breaking 88 in half is not very precise. I really need to take the right pill in order to sort out the correct dose. I'm going to follow up as you suggest.
Thank you
The test results came in the mail today. I noticed it was a TSH w reflex to FT4. Is that different than TSH? The value was still 1.7. Yes. I will ask for follow up testing. Taking the 44 by breaking 88 in half is not very precise. I really need to take the right pill in order to sort out the correct dose. I'm going to follow up as you suggest.
Thank you
Ah, sorry, I saw the TSH of 1.7, but I thought at least FT4 would have been tested. Unfortunately, that doesn't give us a lot to go on.
Perhaps your thyroid is recovering, but you're not yet at the point where it's totally recovered. It's so hard to say with just TSH available.
Do you think you could request a retest with FT4 added in? Looking at your labs, FT4 just doesn't track TSH. On 8/29, with FT4 of 1.1, your TSH is 0.03. Yet on both 1/16, with FT4 hardly different (when factoring in the reagent change), your TSH is 1.42. So, TSH is pretty useless.
Perhaps you'd feel better with a very slight increase. You could ask your doctor about going to 50 mcg. I think you really have to medicate on symptoms. Try 50, retest, then perhaps go to 62.5 if 50 isn't enough???
Perhaps your thyroid is recovering, but you're not yet at the point where it's totally recovered. It's so hard to say with just TSH available.
Do you think you could request a retest with FT4 added in? Looking at your labs, FT4 just doesn't track TSH. On 8/29, with FT4 of 1.1, your TSH is 0.03. Yet on both 1/16, with FT4 hardly different (when factoring in the reagent change), your TSH is 1.42. So, TSH is pretty useless.
Perhaps you'd feel better with a very slight increase. You could ask your doctor about going to 50 mcg. I think you really have to medicate on symptoms. Try 50, retest, then perhaps go to 62.5 if 50 isn't enough???
Sorry.
TSH on 2/20 was 1.7
T4 was not tested. Family doc ordered CBC. I had lost my appetite, and was really weak. I think it was stress. It seems to be returning now.
Still taking half of the 88 Synthroid. Still fatigued, but feeling better than when I quit taking it. This is very confusing.
TSH on 2/20 was 1.7
T4 was not tested. Family doc ordered CBC. I had lost my appetite, and was really weak. I think it was stress. It seems to be returning now.
Still taking half of the 88 Synthroid. Still fatigued, but feeling better than when I quit taking it. This is very confusing.
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