Please interpret my labs

Agee · 03-07-2013, 02:53 PM

I just got my lab results from 2 weeks ago. Yesterday I went to a new dr. who is doing a more thorough test and is also measuring my adrenals, estrogen, insulin, etc. I was dx'd with Hashimoto's (low mood, aches + pains, some fatigue, scratchy eyes, freezing cold) but haven't had any treatment. I do have symptoms of being hypo, but I don't know how to interpret my labs. I ended up quitting the dr. who did this lab b/c they wouldn't answer my calls or send me my results until I wrote a complaining letter, so I haven't talked to anyone about this.

But here are the results from the dr's office 2 weeks ago:
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Ab 253 (<35.0IU/ml)
Thyroglobulin Antibody <20 (<40 U/mL)
T4 8.9 (5.0 - 12.5 ug/dL)
T3 Uptake 40.0 H (22.5 - 37%)
Free Thyroxine Index 3.6 (1.0-3.9)
TSH 1.485 (0.350 - 4.5. uIU/mL (this is a drop of 1 point from the last time my TSH was taken, a year ago. Don't know if that's relevant or not)

Also have low Alkaline Phosphotase 37 L (39-117 U/L)

Help!

maybell · 03-07-2013, 04:42 PM

You need your free T4 and free T3 measured. It looks like your old doctor didn't order these so make sure that your new doctor is testing these, it is very important.
The test results you currently have don't really give accurate enough information to interpret your results. It is so frustrating that doctors don't always include the free t3 and free t4 but not all of them do.

Agee · 03-07-2013, 05:01 PM

Thanks for the reply!
Yes, my new dr. is ordering free t4 and free T3, along with adrenals and all the lady hormones + insulin and some other stuff. The new dr. is far more thorough than the old. She is not as personable + friendly, though, which is a bummer, but I can deal.
I was hoping these results would say something, but I guess they don't on their own.

maybell · 03-07-2013, 07:36 PM

Good luck! Glad you found a doctor who knows what tests to order

Leo41 · 03-08-2013, 03:22 AM

According to what I know from my own experiences with Hashimoto's, the reason your doctor didn't prescribe treatment is that you are not yet hypothyroid.

All your values reflect a well-functioning thyroid.

watcher513 · 03-08-2013, 03:29 AM

FT4 = "Free Thyroxine Index 3.6 (1.0-3.9)"

maybell · 03-08-2013, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watcher513

FT4 = "Free Thyroxine Index 3.6 (1.0-3.9)"

Hmmm my doctor told me that it is FT1 or FT7 I actually asked her about it on my test and she told me that she needed ft4 and ft3 for a more reliable result.

maybell · 03-08-2013, 09:35 AM

Sorry my last post wasn't clear so I did a little research wanting to clarify what my doctor helped me to understand about FT1. My understanding is that T7 or ft1 is a combo of T3 uptake and total T4. It is considered outdated by many doctors and thyroid advocates.

This from the mayo clinic:
Common test-ordering errors, over ordered tests: "We now know that the free thyroxine index is unreliable in many situations. Many drugs and disease states, as well thyroid-binding globulin abnormalities, can alter the free thyroxine index, producing misleading results. The free thyroxine index and T3 uptake test are now considered outdated, replaced by better, direct measures of free T4.

At any rate you are getting your free T's tested along with other your adrenals etc. so you will get a clearer picture soon.

inatic · 03-08-2013, 09:59 AM

index isnt the correct test.
most of those tests arent good.

Pinot · 03-23-2013, 09:01 PM

Agee - Bumping this thread to ask ... do you mind mentioning which new doctor you're going to? I'm the one who had PM'd you last fall about the doc in Fayetteville. Never was able to get in to see her ... saw one of the other ladies in the clinic instead and she knew NOTHING about thyroid. Although she loved talking about her cats ... lol. I'm supposed to see her again soon and I really don't wanna.

Can't give you any insight on your labs, but I hope you get everything straightened out! Finding a doctor who knows their stuff is a major accomplishment!

Agee · 03-24-2013, 04:29 AM

I'm seeing Dr. Allison at Southpoint Women's Health in Durham.
I have no opinion yet since we're waiting for all my tests (adrenal, female hormones) to come in to meet a 2nd time (and I just started the hormone testing today), but she did order all the appropriate tests, so there's that.
The thyroid results I've gotten back so far seem to indicate my thyroid is functioning well despite the Hashimoto's, so I probably won't have experience with her in that issue until it starts to actively fail. I'll be doing quarterly thyroid tests b/c of the Hashis.

03-07-2013, 02:53 PM	#1
Agee Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NC Posts: 1,562 Gallery: Agee Stats: 191.6/176.4(r3hHCG)/135 WOE: R2hHCG:P2 Start Date: 2/10/2013(r1);4/2/2013 (r2);5/19/2013(r3)	Please interpret my labs I just got my lab results from 2 weeks ago. Yesterday I went to a new dr. who is doing a more thorough test and is also measuring my adrenals, estrogen, insulin, etc. I was dx'd with Hashimoto's (low mood, aches + pains, some fatigue, scratchy eyes, freezing cold) but haven't had any treatment. I do have symptoms of being hypo, but I don't know how to interpret my labs. I ended up quitting the dr. who did this lab b/c they wouldn't answer my calls or send me my results until I wrote a complaining letter, so I haven't talked to anyone about this. But here are the results from the dr's office 2 weeks ago: Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Ab 253 (<35.0IU/ml) Thyroglobulin Antibody <20 (<40 U/mL) T4 8.9 (5.0 - 12.5 ug/dL) T3 Uptake 40.0 H (22.5 - 37%) Free Thyroxine Index 3.6 (1.0-3.9) TSH 1.485 (0.350 - 4.5. uIU/mL (this is a drop of 1 point from the last time my TSH was taken, a year ago. Don't know if that's relevant or not) Also have low Alkaline Phosphotase 37 L (39-117 U/L) Help! Last edited by Agee; 03-07-2013 at 02:54 PM..

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-07-2013, 04:42 PM	#2
maybell Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: los angeles Posts: 566 Gallery: maybell Stats: 144/117/117 WOE: Atkins	You need your free T4 and free T3 measured. It looks like your old doctor didn't order these so make sure that your new doctor is testing these, it is very important. The test results you currently have don't really give accurate enough information to interpret your results. It is so frustrating that doctors don't always include the free t3 and free t4 but not all of them do.

03-07-2013, 05:01 PM	#3
Agee Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NC Posts: 1,562 Gallery: Agee Stats: 191.6/176.4(r3hHCG)/135 WOE: R2hHCG:P2 Start Date: 2/10/2013(r1);4/2/2013 (r2);5/19/2013(r3)	Thanks for the reply! Yes, my new dr. is ordering free t4 and free T3, along with adrenals and all the lady hormones + insulin and some other stuff. The new dr. is far more thorough than the old. She is not as personable + friendly, though, which is a bummer, but I can deal. I was hoping these results would say something, but I guess they don't on their own.

03-07-2013, 07:36 PM	#4
maybell Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: los angeles Posts: 566 Gallery: maybell Stats: 144/117/117 WOE: Atkins	Good luck! Glad you found a doctor who knows what tests to order

03-08-2013, 03:22 AM	#5
Leo41 Senior LCF member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,426 Gallery: Leo41 Stats: 340 then/145 now WOE: Low carb/calorie cycling	According to what I know from my own experiences with Hashimoto's, the reason your doctor didn't prescribe treatment is that you are not yet hypothyroid. All your values reflect a well-functioning thyroid.

03-08-2013, 03:29 AM	#6
watcher513 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 2,639 Gallery: watcher513	FT4 = "Free Thyroxine Index 3.6 (1.0-3.9)"

03-08-2013, 09:35 AM	#8
maybell Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: los angeles Posts: 566 Gallery: maybell Stats: 144/117/117 WOE: Atkins	Sorry my last post wasn't clear so I did a little research wanting to clarify what my doctor helped me to understand about FT1. My understanding is that T7 or ft1 is a combo of T3 uptake and total T4. It is considered outdated by many doctors and thyroid advocates. This from the mayo clinic: Common test-ordering errors, over ordered tests: "We now know that the free thyroxine index is unreliable in many situations. Many drugs and disease states, as well thyroid-binding globulin abnormalities, can alter the free thyroxine index, producing misleading results. The free thyroxine index and T3 uptake test are now considered outdated, replaced by better, direct measures of free T4. At any rate you are getting your free T's tested along with other your adrenals etc. so you will get a clearer picture soon.

03-08-2013, 09:59 AM	#9
inatic Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alpharetta,Ga. Posts: 17,805 Gallery: inatic Stats: 182+/126 5'4 50!yo 16/4 5 kidlets later! WOE: Coach:Erik Ledin leanbodies consulting Start Date: LowER C since 2/02 wt training 10/15/02	index isnt the correct test. most of those tests arent good.

03-23-2013, 09:01 PM	#10
Pinot Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,226 Gallery: Pinot	Agee - Bumping this thread to ask ... do you mind mentioning which new doctor you're going to? I'm the one who had PM'd you last fall about the doc in Fayetteville. Never was able to get in to see her ... saw one of the other ladies in the clinic instead and she knew NOTHING about thyroid. Although she loved talking about her cats ... lol. I'm supposed to see her again soon and I really don't wanna. Can't give you any insight on your labs, but I hope you get everything straightened out! Finding a doctor who knows their stuff is a major accomplishment!

03-24-2013, 04:29 AM	#11
Agee Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NC Posts: 1,562 Gallery: Agee Stats: 191.6/176.4(r3hHCG)/135 WOE: R2hHCG:P2 Start Date: 2/10/2013(r1);4/2/2013 (r2);5/19/2013(r3)	I'm seeing Dr. Allison at Southpoint Women's Health in Durham. I have no opinion yet since we're waiting for all my tests (adrenal, female hormones) to come in to meet a 2nd time (and I just started the hormone testing today), but she did order all the appropriate tests, so there's that. The thyroid results I've gotten back so far seem to indicate my thyroid is functioning well despite the Hashimoto's, so I probably won't have experience with her in that issue until it starts to actively fail. I'll be doing quarterly thyroid tests b/c of the Hashis.