Thyroid Results..suggestions needed

[cali1luv]

Hi all. I'm new here. I'm Stephanie. Anyways.. I took some thyroid test that my friend (nurse practitioner) told me I should take. The results are in the normal range according to my Dr. but my friend feels they are a bit low.

The results are as follows:

FreeT4: 1.0  (range 0.8-1.7 ng/dl)
T3: 84 (range 50-170 ng/dl)
TSH 1.46 (range 0.10 -5.50)

I haven't' been able to lose weight for the past 2 months. I'm exercising, eating healthy and nothing. I need to lose the last 50 pounds.

What should I buy for now (until I can go see my friend at the place she works at) to help me lose the weight and just feel better?

Sorry for the long message.

[Barb135]

I beg to differ with your doctor... If she she gave you medication, it would contain T4, which would increase your FT4, not bring it down further... it would, however, bring down your TSH, which she doesn't want to do because that's what she thinks is most important...

What pills did you buy at Whole Foods?  What's in them?

[cali1luv]

So I went to go see my new doc..she said that my levels were fine and that if she rx me something it will bring the T4 down even more down..she told me to keep taking the pills I bought at Whole Foods...and if it doesn't help then she will rx me thyroid (pork?) 15mg ..

I guess I gotta do things on my own...

[cali1luv]

Hi. Thanks for replying. I read I forgot where but to try  on of the following vitamins Selenium, Iodine, L-Carnitine, Zinc, Iron and Copper.

I have the following:

Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
Depression (since I was 16, 28 now) but "low grade" not major
Increased sensitivity to cold (my hands more than anything)
More frequent bowel movements, sometimes with diarrhea (lately)
Insomnia (ever since I got depressed)

Thanks.

[Barb135]

Your friend is right, your levels are on the low side, but I'm afraid there is nothing you can buy OTC that is going to help you.... When one needs thyroid hormones, one needs thyroid hormones and those are only obtained via prescription.  

Most likely, your doctor only looked closely at the TSH, which is quite low in the range and with actual thyroid hormone levels as low as yours, we'd expect TSH to be much higher... In your case, we'd have to suspect central (secondary) hypothyroidism, with means pituitary involvement, rather than an issue with the thyroid gland.  With secondary hypothyroidism, the pituitary gland doesn't produce enough TSH to tell the thyroid to produce more hormones.

In this case, you should also have other endocrine hormones tested to make sure your other endocrine organs are functioning properly. Do discuss this with your friend.  

What other symptoms do you have, besides the weight issue?