Thyroid tests are normal?? Are you sure?

[nonstickpam107]

I need all the lab ranges...where is the free T3? Post it like this:

TSH: 1.381 (.35-3.0) ( those are my lab ranges, but certainly not MY TSH....which is: .42)

Pam

[Edb]

I'm not sure. Is there another name for it because I don't see "T3". I don't think it was ordered if there isn't another name for it.

I posted them as it read on the report. here it is again:
Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) ab <10 1-34

TSH:1.381 0.350-5.500
t4 Free, direct 1.27 0.61-1.76

[nonstickpam107]

Well, your estradiol is awful.....mine is kept around 80, and I'm post meno. Does that tell you anything? Couple that with the fact that low progesterone and estradiol mimic the symptoms of hypothyroidism.....hmmm. What's the range for cortisol, and did they only do ONE time??? Yikes. Looks like you might benefit from raising that estradiol level, depending on the lab ranges for THAT lab and testing.

Pam

[Edb]

I thought so too, and I'm 41. SHe is retaking that test because she wants to make sure. And so do I, as i hear how taking hormaones can really make women feel terrible too.

I don't know what LH and FSH is but here they are too:
LH 12.6

FSH: 8.6

My 24 hour cortisol urine test came out :15 and the little sample they took then and there was 9.

I didn't know low progest. and low estrogen could mimic thyroid!

[nonstickpam107]

I don't understand what you mean about taking hormones and making one feel bad. Are you referring to synthetic hormones made from pregnant horse urine? (Premarin, Prempro). Because I take compounded bio identical hormones, meaning the very same as what my body has made all these years. I take estradiol (and there are some good brands prescription that are natural, too, like Climara, and Vivelle Dot) and I take a compounded natural progesterone (NOT progesTIN, that's synthetic and just awful).

I went fully menopausal at your age....but because of my autoimmune illnesses, especially the Hashimoto's. Menopause has symptoms such as: itching, hot flashes, hair fallout, irritability, inability to sleep and heart palpitations. I know that some women only know about the hot flashes!

Pam

[Edb]

Hi again Pam!

yes, I am talking about the synthetic hormones. I have heard women talking about how horrible it is until they get the right dosage too.

I have fibromyalgia and Epstein Barr, not sure which is the "chicken or the egg" in regards to which came first, but I think of it as a immune issue.

I keep saying to everyone there is this one reason for all my health issues, they are so linked together. Let's call that reason "A". But we cannot find what "A" is, and if we only could, I believe everything my body would begin to heal itself and would be able to come back into balance.

I am seriously begining to wonder if what is wrong with me is beyond the scope of our medical technology. Because I have literally been searching for help and answers since 1998.

[nobimbo]

Eileen,

Didn't you have a complete hormone panel when you were first diagnosed with PCOS and started Metformin? If so, it would be good for you to compare the two. Also, the estradiol and progesterone will vary depending on the time of your cycle; the lab ranges (which would be on the lab report) will help you determine how you're doing based on that. On day 3 of the cycle, for instance, the usual range for estradiol is 25-75. Also on day 3, the range for progesterone is "<1.5". A higher LH than FSH is typical with PCOS, btw. Here is a link to a chart to help interpret lab results:

http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.html

As one who has suffered from too much estrogen during my early perimenopausal year (and have a large fibroid because of it), I would be cautious about increasing estrogen levels without being sure that there was a need to do so. Estrogen and progesterone levels vary widely during the month, so it is wise of you to get retested.

Linda

[nonstickpam107]

Eileen,

Sometimes searching for what ails you takes a strange path when you find out the answers. If you are going into menopause than your estradiol (serum, blood) is usually ranged low, but MOST women feel at their best with a estradiol of 70 to 110. You know, a low ferritin level (under 70) can be part of a lot of hypo symptoms.

It's tricky and I so agree with Linda about getting TESTED!! I can't tell you how many women I've seen all out of sorts, depressed, puffy, fatigued that were taking either too much OTC progesterone cream, or they didn't need it to start with. They are always surprised when they get their tests back and start wondering what the heck estrogen dominance is!! I truly do NOT think estrogen dominance is a wide spread thing.....I think it happens to females that have something else wrong with them, or at least not their end all and be all solution for balanced hormones.

Each patient (person,human being) should be tested and then your physician(s) should treat you individually IMHO, not just read a book and run out and buy some progesterone cream because 3/4 of the "list of symptoms of estrogen dominance" also happen to be those of hypothyroid and low ferritin/iron. I think you should make an appointment with your doctor, discuss which hormone levels you want tested, and then go from there.

I hope you find some answers, Eileen. I don't like my "answers" to what ails me, lol.

Pam

[Edb]

Thank you ladies, I appreicate the advise and support.

The test was run on the 14th day of my cycle, she said it is low for that day,but wants to be sure.

SHe is also getting the results from the other endo who ran the PCOS tests.

What gets me is that you would think the first one would have checked out the progeserone way back then??!!

I found a website Women to Women, it's a clinic in Maine. (wish it was closer) you might find interesting.
http://www.womentowomen.com/index.asp

[valg]

bumping for a certain candle maker.....

[wannalose]

Bumping for NonstickPam - finally got my results - I am going to make an appointment with an endo - but first - wondered what you thought I may be looking at in terms of what the doc may/should be seeing/questioning on the results:

TSH: 5.050 (.35-5.5) - By the way - ui thought the AMA recently narrowed the range for this, didn' they?

T3 Uptake - 22 - LOW - (24.00 - 39.00)
T4 - 10.9 (4.5 - 12.0)
FTI (T7) 2.4 (1.2 - 4.9)


Any thoughts?

[nonstickpam107]

Yep, my thought is that if you go to "any ol' endo" you won't get treated. You also have outmoded testing there. The uptake doesn't really mean much, and you needed a FREE T4 and FREE T3 (looks like this: FT4, FT3). No, it's just a suggestion on the TSH range.

Most endo's do diabetes, and might think your numbers look great. If you want a list of top docs, pm me with your state name.

Pam

[wdw_bcv]

After reading this thread I’m more confused than ever. Was diagnosed hypo a few months ago. It was all I could do just to go to work each day. I was sleeping at least 12 hrs a day and still exhausted.
My numbers don’t look right compared to what everyone else seems to be posting. Could someone help me out?
From August 30 Fasting
Free t4 0.44 ng/dl 0.58-1.64
TSH 85.30 IU/ml 0.34-5.60

October 26th
TSH 12.51 IU/ml .034-5.60

No other tests were done besides the TSH in October. I'm due for more bloodwork just before Christmas.

Thank you
jo

[nonstickpam107]

Well, it takes a long time to be optimized...you don't show your FT3 testing (maybe your doc doesn't do it...lack of T3 gives depression, T3 is the 'energy' part of the thyroid hormone), you don't say what you are taking, or the dosage.

MOST doc's get the TSH down FIRST (this can take awhile)....I was upped in dosage every eight weeks (with blood tests every eight weeks, too, for a solid YEAR)...once my TSH came within 1.0, that's when the doc did FT4 and FT3 testing. At first, I was on a T4 ONLY med (synthetic, Levoxyl...can't have Synthroid..wouldn't want it anyway..made from CORN, was sued because the product varies in strength...I wanted to feel good ALL the time, not just when that was the 'right' amount). Then I was switched to Armour Thyroid (has ALL the thyroid hormones our OWN thyroids make...T1, T2, T3, T4 and calcitonin for bones health). I've done very well on Armour.

What type of hypothyroidism do you have? Autoimmune? I have Hashimoto's (with Graves antibodies ALSO...so autoimmune is what I have).

Pam

[wdw_bcv]

Sorry, I was prescribed Synthroid, 75mcg. After the October bloodwork the Synthroid was adjusted to 100mcg. Even though my dose was increased, I continue to gain weight by just looking at food.

I have no idea what 'type' of hypo I have. I was more concerned with the weird numbers I have when compared to others I've read here.

I apparently didn't have the T3 test. Doc did say he would be doing more testing when we get the TSH down, so maybe it will be included at that time. I will ask at my next appointment.

Thank you for answering so quickly. This is so much to understand, and my brain has been quite foggy.

[bablondie25]

I figured out I had a thyroid problem altho my tests kept coming back "normal", well something wasn't normal. I was walking 3 hilly miles a day 5X a week and eating lowfat (at the time before I did lowcarb) and

I put on 75plus lbs in like a little over a year...ugh! I went from a good sized, athletic young girl, to a bloated blimp!

I still haven't taken it all off, I've barely hit the surface...

[Maycee]

PAM and/or other experts... I first want to THANK YOU for finally helping to bring my thyroid problem out into the light, I don't know how it is that its gone ignored so long, ESPECIALLY with a huge family history, and a swelled neck for years and years that I've attributed to just having a "fat neck". All you wonderful folks here (I call you my ATKINS FAMILY) have just been a lifeline for me and my husband, helping us to not only lose weight healthily, but to improve our outlook on life in general.

But I want to first rant a little about my doctor who BTW I've KNOWN all along has not been the right one for us based on past diagnosis gone wrong., but because we'd always considered ourselves fairly healthy, never thought twice about going to see her when it was just for routine checkups, etc. Well, after having had yet another routine yearly checkup with her (after another successful year with Atkins I might add she finds this swelling in my neck, and says I need to have it ultrasounded. (mind you Ive been going to her for years, and she's only now noticed it?? when everyone else has been seeing it for years??) So, I go have my ultrasound and the technician there finds a total of 16 nodules (she says theres more but the rest are too small to bother with) and says I'll probably end up back at the hospital to have either a FNA done or go on medication to control symptoms (Ive had all the classic symptoms for years; low body temps, cold all the time, foggy headedness, swollen neck etc)
Well the Dr calls me back today and confirms the diagnosis of Goiter, but says, based on my blood test lab results of TSH being 1.14 which she says is perfectly normal. I don't need to do anything else, just live with it! I then ask her that Id like to do some additional blood tests for TSH and FSH and she says to come in for another visit, and shed decide then and there whether she thinks they are needed!! that she's the doctor and I'm not. We argue some more, and finally I say I want a referral to go see a Endo, and she pauses, then agrees and says maybe this would be best, and sends me on my way.
But Pam, isn't taking just the TSH measurement without the rest, a little like measuring just the width of a box (and not the height, and depth) and saying ok this is how big your box is, based on ONE MEASUREMENT!!!??? (sorry I work for UPS, bad analogy I guess )
GRRRRRRRRRRRR!! I wanted to slap this dr silly.. then again, this is the same doc who has been reading my cholesterol all wrong, and trying to put me on a new lo fat diet, tho my other #'s are excellent, and put me well within the healthy 4.0 percentages. (but she thinks ATKINS DIETS are fine????)

Anyway my questions are as follows (thanks in advance for any help, I'm hopelessly confused on this subject still but want to learn!! and feel better again... if I can remember what that was like LOL!)
Should having 16 nodules be more reason for concern then my Dr is letting on?
Is a TSH level of 1.14 considered low?
Was also treated for very low iron levels, finally now have a 10 (in range) based on 10-232 NG/ML but Doc says is still low. Did I read this right that low iron levels are another symptom?

I am also a huge fan of Dr Lee's books on menapause and currently use the natural progesterone cream (compounded by a trusted pharmacist) to help with other symptoms.

and PAM I love your collie picx, what's his name if you don't mind my asking?? my collie was named RHETT, bless his sweet heart, and rest his soul, I loved him dearly, I still want to get a Shelty again someday. I think they're the most beautiful creatures, such beautiful natures, wouldn't hurt a flea, and playful!! Gosh I miss him.

PLEASE forgive my ignorance on the subject, I am reading furiously, but sometimes have difficulty with concentration (more often then not lately!) but would so like to turn this around... thank you...

[RaspberryT]

Pam, thanks for answering my PM a few days ago. I finally got a call from the doc about my pre-op blood work. Basically all he would say is "everything is perfect." TSH was 1. and he said the range was 1-5. I have requested a faxed copy, and either way will be able to get a copy at the hospital next week. But hoped to see the report much sooner than that.
I am still losing handsfuls of hair, lack energy, either sleep too much or get insomnia, and gain weight even on Atkins induction. I am not sure where to go from here. I am gaining so fast that I have nothing left to wear that fits! I just stopped taking BCP three weeks ago, in prep for a hysterectomy next week. The doctor does not believe that will help me lose weight or that it has anything to do with my weight problems. He keeps saying I just have a bad metabolism, probably heriditary... That doesn't help me figure out how to fix it!
My type 2 diabeties is totally under control by my WOE. Blood count is good at 15. He said I show no imbalances in hormones either.... any ideas? Im a bit nervous about the surgery with all this going on.

[nonstickpam107]

RaspberryT...you KNOW just taking a TSH doesn't "cut it". Get the surgery over first.....then after you heal, you can find a good thyroid doc who knows what he/she is doing. JUST taking a TSH isn't showing you anything....you don't need a copy of that...you need the correct tests...FT4, FT3, TPO, etc.

Maycee...just going to "any endo" isn't a good idea.......I have lists of Top Thyroid docs for every state, PM me with your locale if you want them. You see, I went to (and many others did too) seven doctors (four endo's) and found out that most endo's do diabetes (as you now KNOW after reading this thread).

NO>>>>iron levels don't 'cause' thyroid disease....they mimic the disease and make it harder to tolerate thyroid med until they are brought up to speed. Where's you ferritin test? Iron test is one, but you need to know your ferritin too (stored iron), and YES, the fact that your iron is SO low, may make it difficult for treatment unless you bring it up.

You need a FT4 and FT3 test....not just TSH and FSH....and a FT3, NOT a T3 Uptake. Let's get you the list of top docs for thyroid disease (instead of you going around to endo's until you are exasperated, but untreated).

Pam

[inatic]

BUMP

[michelemomof2]

I had my hormones tested and doc said they were good. I'm reading what you said about estradiol being 70-100 and now I am worried my results aren't so good. Can you please analyze them for me. Thanks. (Oh, I am 40 yrs. old and have not gone through menopause yet - still get a monthly period.)

(Blood drawn on the 14th day of cycle)

Progesterone - 7.6 (Follicular 0.15-1.44; Luteal 1.6-21.01; Midluteal 5.2-23.0; Postmeno 0.1-0.9; Oral Cont. 0.1-0.6)

Estradiol - 53 (Postmeno 15-40)
(Follicular phase -10 to -5 days 24-195 pg/ml)
(Mid-Cycle Phase -4 to 0 days 66-411 pg/ml)
(Luteal Phase +4 to +10 days 40-261 pg/ml)

Testosterone, Total - 24 (Ovulating: less than 80)
(Post meno: less than 62)

Free Testosterone - 0.8 (Less than 2.0)

(Doc didn't do FT4. I'm already on Armour 150 mg.)

T3, Free 3.66 (1.8-4.6) Finally!!!

TSH .014 (0.27-4.2) Yes, results says less than 0.08 is suggestive of primary hyperthyroidism


The Estradiol and Progesterone and Testosterone are confusing to me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Michele

[nonstickpam107]

It's a 'clue'.....that you are approaching meno....and when my estradiol AND testosterone were as low as yours......well, let's just say I had some pretty uncomfortable symptoms within about a year after I had those tests.

Why didn't your doc do a FT4? Does the doc think there is ONLY T3 in Armour?? Sigh. Not a good thing to not do it. Oh, and I have Hashi's and my latest TSH is a nice, solid .003...no, I'm NOT HYPER....you go by FT's to determine that, too. And I get some bad symptoms if my FT4 falls too low (am adding in a bit of synthetic T4 now...and my FT3 had to be much higher than yours for me to feel well...as my estradiol dropped, we added thyroid and estradiol to balance).

Pam

[FoolsGold]

I had my hormones tested and doc said they were good.

The worst mistake you can make is letting a doctor report the results of any test in qualitative rather than quantitative terms. Don't ever accept "good". That is a decision for YOU to make, NOT the doctor!

[nonstickpam107]

Um, that's not "my" quote. I already know about "normal"...and "good"...I'm the one who has waited for over three years for disability (SSDI)....I'm the one with six autoimmune diseases...I'm the one who waited for over 14 years to get a diagnosis with my "good" test results. I'm the one who is going to be like four of my friends (who worked for over 28 years just like I did, applied for SSDI and then DIED before they received any benefits).

I (of course) agree with 'good' and 'normal' not meaning much....precisely why I'm a thyroid patient advocate.

Pam

[michelemomof2]

I'm the one who said that about the doc saying tests were good. I am questioning it and that's why I am here.

Pam - My question is whether you believe my hormone levels would warrant me using an Estriol cream and Progesterone cream, one or the other, or both? Any suggestions? Thanks.

Michele

P.S. Don't know why doc didn't do a FT4 this time. I asked and he said because I was on Armour, he said he knows my FT4 will be low. This was the first time my FT3 got that high, and I am glad for it. It has helped with the tiredness a little, but I still am not feeling up to par and now I am questioning the sex hormones.

[nonstickpam107]

Well, I get an association of symptoms...the only problem being that it's hard to tell which are part of the low estradiol/progesterone or imbalance, and which are the low T4. See? Can be confusing. Are you having low female hormone symptoms? IMO, I really don't think anyone should put any hormone into their body until symptoms AND testing are at the point of having to replace (with female hormones and testosterone). My only drawback is that I see a LOT of doctors who think you shouldn't be replaced until your estradiol is at ZERO....these are the same docs that would scream bloody murder if someone told them they couldn't have testosterone replacement if they needed it!

One of the things you want to be asking the doc doing the female hormones testing is WHAT type of HRT they Rx. and WHEN they Rx. it (what lab tests). I've even seen a lot of great thyroid docs not know much about replacing sex hormones.

Pam