What should I think about these results?

[Mobear]

Finally got my lab results on thyroid tests:

TSH 1.68uIU/mL Range .450 - 4.50
Triiodothyronine, Free, Serum 2.2pg/mL Range 2.0 - 4.4
T4, Free (direct) 1.43ng/dL Range .82 - 1.77
T3 Uptake 31% Range 24 - 39
Triiodothyronine (T3) 86ng/dL Range 71 - 180

What do you think about these results? Should I talk with my doctor about meds?

Thanks for any help!!

[Leo41]

Why would you talk to your doctor about 'meds'? Your numbers look absolutely fine. Are you having symptoms of any kind that you think are thyroid related?

Keep in mind that thyroid symptoms are so general that whatever you're feeling could be due to many other things other than thyroid.

No one should ever want thyroid 'meds.' They are actually supplemental hormones (given when the body isn't produced sufficient hormones), and they are for LIFE. I doubt that any MD would give you thyroid hormones with lab values like that--but I'm not a physician.

[juliekaboolie]

Hm. Typically doctors are looking for TSH numbers below 1. They should also base their diagnosis on how you feel, too. The labs are just an average and each lab has different averages. I don't think it would hurt, if you are feeling poorly, to speak with your physician.

[watcher513]

Your FT3 is only .2 above the bottom of the range. Not knowing how you Feel, this could be Ok for you or not. T3 is our energy.

[Leo41]

Julie-
I think you're confused about the TSH numbers. To diagnose hypothyroid, the national org. of endos has adopted an upper limit of 3.0--anything above that should be investigated further. The upper limit used to be 5.0. Most good endos will treat someone who has a TSH above 2.0--IF the individual also has hypo symtoms. The OP is not medicated, so a TSH of under 2.0 would be considered an indication of no problem with the thyroid--unless the T4 and T3 levels were off.

The TSH of 1.0 is what endos aim for when someone is hypo AND medicated. Once a person begins taking thyroid hormones, the TSH is suppressed. My own TSH is often below 1.0--and my endo's lab considers 0.4 the lowest acceptable level. He likes me to be 1.0, but he settles for my current 0.66. At that low level, the doctors usually warn us to watch for hyper symptoms.

[juliekaboolie]

Leo- I agree. That is what I meant. I didn't realize the OP wasn't on meds.

[watcher513]

If those were my FT3 numbers it would not be fine for me. On the Other hand, just about every hypo person I know with FT3 numbers like that, down at the bottom of the range, would want something to help them out. It's not even close to mid-range so it looks like a conversion problem to me. It happens. Heck, my T3 and FT3 numbers were higher than that and I was falling asleep every afternoon. Granted, I was already hypo for 10+ years before my FT3 tanked, but a FT3 that low I'd think would affect how a person feels. That FT3 level is way low.

[inatic]

How do YOU feel...

LIke Terry, if that was my ft3 ,i'd be ready to crack up and have a nervous breakdown, which i nearly did til I got thyroid meds and t3.

[Mobear]

Originally Posted by inatic

How do YOU feel...

LIke Terry, if that was my ft3 ,i'd be ready to crack up and have a nervous breakdown, which i nearly did til I got thyroid meds and t3.

I had stopped losing weight back in June/July 2011 - which in truth didn't bother me all that much. In December I realized that I was very tired. This continued and got much worse. I was very emotional...kind of depressed for no apparent reason. My skin/hair/nails/mouth/eyes because really really dry. My insomnia, which has bothered me for years, reached epic proportions. Then in January 2012 I got a lipid profile that put my LDL at 253 (should be below 100). Researching why my numbers were so different than what other people on LC report took me to the low thyroid issue. From what I learned T3 clears LDL (as does infection that the LDL will fight).

The answer to the conversion problem that I found was to eat more carbs. This is tricky for me since I am a diabetic and take 5 insulin shots a day. But, I have dutifully been eating 30g of carbs a day (I had drifted much lower before the lipid panel in January). In order to up the carbs I had to lower my protein in order to maintain blood sugar control and that has been kind of hard to do.

I am feeling a little better. I had stopped salting food and have started adding a tiny amount of table salt with iodine. I'm also using kelp to season salads, etc.

Finding an endo who isn't going to want to send me for nutritonal counseling and is ok with my LC diet will be very difficult. The endo I saw at cleveland clinic was totally against any Atkins (LC) type diet. Didn't want to hear about it at all. When I finally went LC on my own, he was happy with the blood sugar results, but still didn't approve of the diet. Can you imagine me asking for help with this FT3 situation - which I do think is a conversion problem?

So thank you for asking. I am feeling a little better...not so emotional..tired. For now I am trying to change my diet. In a couple of months I'll probably get another thyroid panel on my own. In June or July I will be seeing my primary care again - and getting a "you must take statins" lecture.

[inatic]

there is some good choices of drs in OH..
DONT take statins! That stuff is poisoin!

[juliekaboolie]

Mobear: I feel for you! I just got results that look like that plus LDL's that are 211. My T3 was also 2.2. My naturopath said that T3's that low make people feel poorly the way I do. I hope you can find a dr who will treat your T3 issue. I'm only on day 5 of Cytomel/Levo combo and just beginning to feel more awake and like I can get up off the couch. I have had the dry skin, nose, etc plus terrible fatigue like you, and it is awful! Keep us posted on your progress. ((((HUGS))))