I know what I think about these labs... your opinion?

Ilpirata · 07-02-2009, 12:12 PM

My mom has been having crazy symptoms... she is NOT overweight but just about every other hypothyroid symptom you can imagine including extreme fatigue, depression, anxiety, hair loss, dry skin and nails, missing outer 1/3 of eyebrows etc. I finally convinced her to get bloodwork and heres what came back:

Free T4: 1.84 (.61 - 1.76)
TSH (who cares) .73 (.450-4.5
Free T3: 2.4 (2.3-4.2)

Well I really think she is Hypo based on that Free T3 and ALMOST have her convinced to go see my Endo. She will pay out of pocket and is honestly not thinking too clearly right now and so depressed she doesn't think ANYTHING will help. She thinks she's going crazy. Actually she thinks "god has abandoned me" (!!!!! WTH !!!!)

I need some help here you guys... am I wrong? I'm just about ready to drag her physically to the Endo.

ETA: She is 60, had hysterectomy at age 30 and got labs done on her other hormones that her gyno says are all ok. She is not overweight but also doesn't eat much AT ALL.

CarolynF · 07-02-2009, 12:37 PM

I'm 59..My Free T3 was about what your mom's was before I started Westhroid. She needs to go to a endo who will start her on Armour/Westhroid slowly and then retest her.

Tell her I felt really tired until I got my Free T3 up where it should be top 1/3 of the range.It really helped with my slight depression, too. However, it takes a few weeks to feel the full effects.

The thyroid effects every part of your body..especially your heart..

Leo41 · 07-02-2009, 12:57 PM

Yes, Kisha, she needs to see your endo ASAP. What really concerns me is that her T3 is obviously too low and causing most of her symptoms, but that TSH also being low is really strange. I know that 'we' don't consider TSH important, but logically it should go up as her thyroid slows.

Neither of us are doctors (actually I am, but not an MD:-), but my concern is that the 'normal' T4 and low TSH but very, very low T3 may be an indicator of a more serious issue than just hypothyroid. She definitely needs to be checked, and your endo seems really responsive, to please try to get her there.

Ilpirata · 07-02-2009, 01:02 PM

Thanks you guys! I'm making it happen today no ifs ands or butts.

nonstickpam107 · 07-03-2009, 10:10 AM

She needs an iron test, ferritin test (and let's face it...if she is taking hormones they bind a HUGE part of the conversion from T4 to T3...my FT3 came up nicely once I stopped BHRT after seven years of taking it....but I AM hypothyroid and my TSH has ALWAYS been around .23 my FT4 was very very low (unlike your Mom's...my FT3 fell in the toilet a couple weeks after I started taking BHRT...and my Armour had to be steadily raised to compensate, and then LOWERED once I stopped BHRT).

I went off BHRT for two months and got new FT's and there was a dramatic difference...the FT3 came back up. Perhaps she would want to stop the incoming hormones just for a couple months (six to eight weeks) and RE test to see if that's what is binding her conversion, cuz with the FT4 so very high in range...I don't think most docs would treat..unless you find one who would just give Cytomel. Lot's of women have poor conversion when taking BHRT and other meds....but they aren't 'hypothyroid'...but that's WHY she needs a TPO too..to rule that in/out.

Pam

Ilpirata · 07-09-2009, 03:15 PM

Update: She went in to see my Endo who has ordered alot more labs (especially the antibody tests) she also said that she is willing to prescribe some Cytomel only to help with the T3. My mom wants to wait until the rest of the results come in...

She is acting so weird! And not like herself AT ALL. Its a little freaky. Honestly I almost hope it IS Hashis so at least we know what the H is wrong with her. Even if all the other tests come back fine I'm going to MAKE her take that cytomel scrip. It can't hurt right?

07-02-2009, 12:12 PM	#1
Ilpirata Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Beautiful San Jose, CA Posts: 7,626 Gallery: Ilpirata Stats: 263/193/170 for now... WOE: Low Carb JUDD (Alternate Day Diet) Start Date: September 2007	I know what I think about these labs... your opinion? My mom has been having crazy symptoms... she is NOT overweight but just about every other hypothyroid symptom you can imagine including extreme fatigue, depression, anxiety, hair loss, dry skin and nails, missing outer 1/3 of eyebrows etc. I finally convinced her to get bloodwork and heres what came back: Free T4: 1.84 (.61 - 1.76) TSH (who cares) .73 (.450-4.5 Free T3: 2.4 (2.3-4.2) Well I really think she is Hypo based on that Free T3 and ALMOST have her convinced to go see my Endo. She will pay out of pocket and is honestly not thinking too clearly right now and so depressed she doesn't think ANYTHING will help. She thinks she's going crazy. Actually she thinks "god has abandoned me" (!!!!! WTH !!!!) I need some help here you guys... am I wrong? I'm just about ready to drag her physically to the Endo. ETA: She is 60, had hysterectomy at age 30 and got labs done on her other hormones that her gyno says are all ok. She is not overweight but also doesn't eat much AT ALL. __________________ ~Kisha hypothyroid * five seven I am the Winston Churchill of weightloss. I will NEVER give up. I can do Hard things. VFT 187

07-03-2009, 10:10 AM	#5
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 13,937 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	She needs an iron test, ferritin test (and let's face it...if she is taking hormones they bind a HUGE part of the conversion from T4 to T3...my FT3 came up nicely once I stopped BHRT after seven years of taking it....but I AM hypothyroid and my TSH has ALWAYS been around .23 my FT4 was very very low (unlike your Mom's...my FT3 fell in the toilet a couple weeks after I started taking BHRT...and my Armour had to be steadily raised to compensate, and then LOWERED once I stopped BHRT). I went off BHRT for two months and got new FT's and there was a dramatic difference...the FT3 came back up. Perhaps she would want to stop the incoming hormones just for a couple months (six to eight weeks) and RE test to see if that's what is binding her conversion, cuz with the FT4 so very high in range...I don't think most docs would treat..unless you find one who would just give Cytomel. Lot's of women have poor conversion when taking BHRT and other meds....but they aren't 'hypothyroid'...but that's WHY she needs a TPO too..to rule that in/out. Pam __________________ So many fireworks. So little time. "You can't get a patent on a pig part"

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07-02-2009, 12:37 PM	#2
CarolynF Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 23,530 Gallery: CarolynF Stats: 195/151/139 WOE: Eat Fat, Get Thin/I Can Make You Thin Start Date: January 2001	I'm 59..My Free T3 was about what your mom's was before I started Westhroid. She needs to go to a endo who will start her on Armour/Westhroid slowly and then retest her. Tell her I felt really tired until I got my Free T3 up where it should be top 1/3 of the range.It really helped with my slight depression, too. However, it takes a few weeks to feel the full effects. The thyroid effects every part of your body..especially your heart..

07-02-2009, 12:57 PM	#3
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,446 Gallery: Leo41	Yes, Kisha, she needs to see your endo ASAP. What really concerns me is that her T3 is obviously too low and causing most of her symptoms, but that TSH also being low is really strange. I know that 'we' don't consider TSH important, but logically it should go up as her thyroid slows. Neither of us are doctors (actually I am, but not an MD:-), but my concern is that the 'normal' T4 and low TSH but very, very low T3 may be an indicator of a more serious issue than just hypothyroid. She definitely needs to be checked, and your endo seems really responsive, to please try to get her there.

07-02-2009, 01:02 PM	#4
Ilpirata Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Beautiful San Jose, CA Posts: 7,626 Gallery: Ilpirata Stats: 263/193/170 for now... WOE: Low Carb JUDD (Alternate Day Diet) Start Date: September 2007	Thanks you guys! I'm making it happen today no ifs ands or butts.

07-09-2009, 03:15 PM	#6
Ilpirata Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Beautiful San Jose, CA Posts: 7,626 Gallery: Ilpirata Stats: 263/193/170 for now... WOE: Low Carb JUDD (Alternate Day Diet) Start Date: September 2007	Update: She went in to see my Endo who has ordered alot more labs (especially the antibody tests) she also said that she is willing to prescribe some Cytomel only to help with the T3. My mom wants to wait until the rest of the results come in... She is acting so weird! And not like herself AT ALL. Its a little freaky. Honestly I almost hope it IS Hashis so at least we know what the H is wrong with her. Even if all the other tests come back fine I'm going to MAKE her take that cytomel scrip. It can't hurt right?