Free T3 is only at 26 % of the range. The range is 3 (6.5 minus 3.5). Your result was 4.3 which is .8 above the bottom of the range. Dividing .8 by 3.0 equals 26% of the range.
No, Free T3 doesn't need to be 100% of the range. It usually is best if in the upper half of the range, and adjusted as needed to relieve hypo symptoms.
I expect that your sleep problems will improve significantly when you get your Free T4 and Free T3 levels optimized.
Obviously you need thyroid replacement and you might feel better on natural desiccated thyroid due to the relative low Free T3 levels.
When you start taking thyroid replacement your TSH is brought down and also if Free T3 level improves you feel better too.
I see no improvement here. Your Free T4 is now below range, and your Free T3 is only at 26% of the range. It appears your body is converting T4 to T3 as best possible in an effort to maintain body processes. It is time to get started on thyroid med, with the goal of getting your Free T4 to at least mid-range, and your Free T3 into the upper part of the range, adjusted as needed to relieve hypo symptoms.
And don't overlook the importance of Vitamin D. You need to supplement with D3 to raise your level to at least 50.
Please post the reference ranges shown on the lab report for those tests. Test results and reference ranges calculated from the lab's data base of test results vary from lab to lab, so it is important to always compare results to ranges from the same lab.
My new blood test results are:
TSH - 49.74
FT4 - 9.9
FT3 - 4.3
What does this mean? is this an improvement comparing to former results?
Thank you
I just received now an answer from the Endo office secretary, the Doc. said there is no reason for me to do the cortisol and reverse T3 tests I asked for last week, and that I will only do the TSH, FT4 and FT3 as he said.
OK :) I don't know much but I appreciate very much your contribution and work, it must be an important finding that should be spread. so I will try to tell them.
Don't be shocked if the Endo disagrees. Just tell him that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. Likely he will be able to point out things that are different from his normal practice, but he will be unable to point out anything that is not supported by scientific evidence in the references.
Sorry you had to go through all the hypo and hyper, but glad for the many years you felt so good, I hope you will soon balance again and feel just excellent. It must be difficult for the stomach to take iron so many years.
I'm taking probiotics and I think may be this is a reason why my iron level is fine although I never took any supplement. I think that may be the probiotics does improve the ability of the stomach to absorb nutrients.
I read the scientific paper you wrote. If I be able I will send your paper to the Endo to read.
No problem at all. You can see my history in the following.
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/2019570/Diagnosing-Treating-Hypothyroidism-A-Patients-Perspective?personal_page_id=12021
I don't really know if my hypothyroidism was caused by Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, because I never saw any results from TPO ab or TG ab tests; however, I think it was because of what I remember from the early stages. I remember feeling very tired for several years, followed by a period where I actually became hyper (likely due to nodules on the thyroid gland) and then hypo again.
My med dosage has been 3 grains of Armour and 25 mcg of T3. I also take Vitamin D3, B12 and iron (plus magnesium to prevent stomach issues) because I was not optimal in those. I was also diagnosed with osteopenia, so in addition to the D3 I also take some calcium, DHEA-S, Vitamin K2 and boron.
After years of finally feeling very good, I am a bit hypo again, and I just got some testing done to determine the cause. I suspect that my Reverse T3 or my cortisol are too high, because last tests for Free T4 and Free T3 were good.
gimel, I hope it is appropriate to ask, just curious: Do you have Hashimoto? which medicine are you taking? do you take also supplements? do you suffer today from any symptoms?
I see.
ok thank you gimel!
Oh, so it is L-Tyrosine, not L-thyrozine.
Doubtful that L-Tyrosine will help. Your problem is that with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis the gland is being destroyed by the antibodies, and therefore cannot produce enough thyroid hormone, not that it doesn't have the necessary material to do so.
sorry my mistake: "...to other chemical substances, such as noradrenalin"
(I wrote neurotransmitters instead of noradrenalin)
The info I saw on this supplement (I will translate from Hebrew to English):
"L-Tyrosine is amino acid, needed to create the hormons of the thyroid gland. L-Tyrosine is a starting material (?) of the neurotransmitter dofamine, and it is converted also to other chemical substance, such as neurotransmitters" "The supplement is produced in its free form which enables it to be absorbed quickly in the blood stream".
When I looked for info on L-thyrozine, it appeared that it was just levothyroxine sodium ) T4 med). What info do you have on it?
Do you know anything about the supplement called L-thyrozine? Do you think it could help with hashimoto?
I thought to try it in the next 3 months until my next tests and meeting with the endo.
But today I was full of such good energy in my body and felt great (because I slept 7 hours at night before), it is only now in the late evening that I'm tired.
The secretary sent a request to the doctor and they will answer me next week.
Fatigue is one of the main symptoms of hypothyroidism. LOL
The complaints you hear are usually due to being inadequately medicated, or being deficient in related areas such as Vitamin D, B12, ferritin, etc. It is not because of the med itself, but not being medicated correctly.
Yes you could start on 25 mcg.
No, Vitamin C is not directly related to hypothyroidism. Being hypo causes lower stomach acid levels which reduce absorption of vitamins and nutrients.
Cortisol that is either too low or too high can contribute to problems for hypothyroid patients.
Reverse T3 is a mirror image molecule of T3, but biologically inactive. T4 is converted in the body to both T3 and Reverse T3. Under some conditions excess Reverse T3 is produced, which offsets the effect of Free T3 and can cause hypo symptoms.
What kind of response did you get at the Endo's office when you requested those tests?
Thank you so much gimel, for the your patience and the time you give to answer someone like me.
I understand the purpose is good, I'm sure it is, but I heard so many complaints of people who took medicine and had all kinds of problems, (no. 1 is my mother) that I'm really afraid, and until I understand much more about it (and I still don't) I will probably continue to hesitate and fear....
The second reason is because my symptoms as far as I understand the hypothyroidism symptoms correctly, seems to me at this moment unimportant almost ridiculous, that I almost do not relate to them and feel that I simply have no reason to take medicine, but maybe I'm wrong about this.
but suppose I would take medicine, do you think I can start with 25 mcg for example?
is vitamin C important to this illness to your opinion?
what does the cortisol test shows?
what does the reverse T3 indicate?
Today I went and asked in the endo office to make these tests that you mentioned earlier.
I'm still confused about the symptoms and will want to ask you more about it later. it is such a long list that I'm tired to do it now....
I would not want that either, but the purpose of taking thyroid med is to get your thyroid hormone levels to normal, in order to avoid the symptoms of being hypothyroid. That should not be a cause for abnormal heart rate. With the Hashi's that you have, it is not a question of whether you will take thyroid med, the only question is when you will start. With your Free T4 already at the bottom of the range, which is too low, why not start now? IF you want ot be cautious you could start on 50 mcg and then after 5-6 weeks you could increase up to the 100 the doctor wants you to take.
I was afraid a medicine might cause me a faster heart rate, based on the assumption that the hormone might accelerate metabolism.
20 years ago I had sinus tachycardia. my heart rate got 110 all the time for 3 weeks and I had anxiety. I also got too thin only 46 kg. (but I have no thyroid tests from that time)
I'm afraid to have this again.
No, I have never seen verified info confirming reversal of Hashi's. There are anecdotal claims, of stopping, or at least slowing, its progression, but no scientific evidence. Even if that were possible, there would still be existing loss of some thyroid function due to the prior effect of the antibodies. Waiting and hoping for development of some way to stop and reverse the effects of Hashi's is not a sound short term approach to your existing condition. I would push for earlier tests previously suggested and go from there.