Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

blood test results

HI I JUST RECEIVED BLOOD TESTS RESULTS FROM MY DOCTOR..I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCEING HORRIBLE SYMPTOMS FOR QUITE SOMETIME...FATIGUE, DEPRESSION, MUSCLE ACHES, GASTRO PROBLEMS SUCH AS BLOATING, CONSTIPATION, THE DRYEST SKIN EVER, AND A LOT OF WEIGHT GAIN, THESE ARE THE ALL THE SYMPTOMS I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW...MY TSH TEST CAME BACK AS 6.88, MY T3 UPTAKE (WHICH I NOW READ IS NOT A GOOD TEST)IS 26, T-4 THYROXINE TOTAL IS 8.6 AND THE FREE T-4 INDEX (T7) IS 2.2...HE NEVER RAN A REGULAR T-3 TEST...ALSO I HAD A THYROID ULTRA SOUND DONE AND I HAVE A NODULE ON THE LOWER POLE OF THE RIGHT TYHROID LOBE...NOW THIS DOCTOR OF MINE DIDN'T THINK ANY OF THIS WAS A BIG DEAL BUT SUGGESTS I GO TO AN ENDOCRINOLGYST..I WAS QUITE UPSET OVER HIS NON CARING ATTITUDE..I AM TIRED OF FEELING THIS WAY...COULD SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME INPUT PLEASE? THANK YOU
51 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
A related discussion, what are the purposes of thyroid hormones? was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi All,
I have a quick question if anyone can help. My thyroid levels have been crazy for over a year and we were having trouble regulating them.  On May 20th my TSH was 57 pretty high, the doctor raised my synthroid from 125mcg to 200mcg.  Now on june 20th my TSH is 1.77.  My question is is this possible to be totally regulated in 1 month??  My doctor wants to do the blood work over because he is just as surprised as I am.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If you are saying that the basic blood work that was done did not include thyroid, then have a thyroid panel done which includes TSH, F/T-4 and F/T-3.  If these show autoimmune thyroid then have appropriate antibodies done to confirm, the ones that reflect your thyroid panel or have them all done.

Good Luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am not a Doctor or in the Medical field.
My statements and comments are meant as
information only, not as a diagnose or treatment,
for that is between you and your doctor.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What test can I have done to check my thyroid? I had basic blood work... What else...?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi All, thanks for sharing your information. Love to get your opinion. I'll start with a short history.

Infertility problems when 26 years old. Found microadenoma 6 mm because prolactin levels high ..89. As far as I know, thyroid was tested back then and nothing was noted. Took meds to suppress prolactin...came down to normal levels...ok for 8 years.

No luck getting pregnant...inseminations, 3 IVF, no luck. After end of treatment - year later- got pregnant-miscarried at 7 wks. No more fertility treatments and no children.

Now age 40. 2 years ago, diagnosed with thyroid virus. Retested, and TSH, T3 & T4 in normal range. Last year, got prolactin tested...slighly elevated to 39.3..TSH- 1.41. Did not do anything.

Still gaining weight, tired, vaginal dryness, cycles went from 28-29 days to 25, dry skin, join &  muscle pain, loosing focus, memory and concentration..sometimes nurse has trouble finding heart rate, low blood pressure 90 /65 or 105/70..not always.

Did blood tests few days ago. TSH now 3.57, anti thyroid peroxidase 45.6, Thyroglobulin anti <20, Prolactin 30.3, T3-2.6, T4-1.38

What do you think? My endo said see you in 6 months.
Thanks everyone
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello

I have hypothyroidism, I went to the emergency room having horrilbe chest pains on my left side, felt like someone was sitting on my chest and was having spasms in my chest,with pains in my shoulder blades, my feet and ankles are swollen.  Not to mention horrible headaches.  Wasn't sure what was going on, when they took my blood, my results on my TSH were 123.35. I've never heard of it being so high, is that dangerous?  The doctor told me she thought I had gallbladder disease, but when the ultrasound was done, they showed no evidence of it. Did find out my kidneys are not filtering right, whatever that means, my potassium and calcium was low.  Not sure what is going on, if someone could give me some light on the issue that would be great.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello there,

TSH is high but I have heard of higher, in fact here. That might be why you ended up in the ER. Are you on meds., did they raise your dose??  
Yes, being too hypo, for too long, can be dangerous, causing life-threatening myxedema coma/crisis which changes mental status, including lethargy, stupor, delirium, or coma. Lack of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) influence brain function therefore thyroid hormones are critical to cell and organ metabolism and with an inadequate supply for an adult,  energy production declines, and the action of other hormones is affected. Plus overly hypo can cause other health problems as well, such as for one, Cardiovascular problems.

I hope you are getting properly treated.

Good Luck!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

II am not a Doctor or in the Medical field.
My statements and comments are meant as a guide only,
not a diagnose or treatment. That is between you and your doctor.


Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am sure you will know more about your thyroid in time for you are a smart lady and that is what us smart ladies do, we learn as much as we can so that we can take the bull by the horns and act to our best interest.
I meant Labs when at our healthiest, before being sick with thyroid.  The ones you listed don't look too healthy :)  Both FTs, FT-4 and FT-3, are the ones to have done.  However T-4 and T-3 do have their important in diagnosing in relationship to all the rest.
Start out with 100 mcg and work up slowly to 600 mcg of selenium per day, depending on how you feel, that is, if you start to feel hyper don't go up but instead do down. Don't take over 600 mcg. per day. Do you have amalgam fillings?    If you can't take in supplement form then look up what foods contain the highest of theser and add them in large amounts to you daily food intake.

I think it would be a good idea to see what your next Labs are like, that is, you'll need both FTs to know, for its how they relate to each other that tells the conversion story.

ROLLERCOASTER RIDES, meaning, bouncing back and forth with med dose changes and levels, like a ping pong ball.  So slow is best ;)
  
GL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your information!
My GP is very easy to talk to and he is the type of doctor that will do any tests or will try any medication I suggest (that makes sence to him!) so I quess I will give him a try to get my levels level!
I started out at 125mg the day after surgery.
I am hoping to get my energy back and am relying on the correct amount of thyroxine to take. I feel so dependent on that pill!
I will be anxious to see the next blood work results and will make sure they test my T3.
Have you heard of taking selenium to help with T4-T3 conversion  and has it been helpful? I have thought of adding this to my list of supplements. I added evening primrose oil.
I don't tolorate vitamins, but herbs and oils do fine. Just not vitamins.
THANKS!
M
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

maccie, you are welcome. I just hope I am of some help, no matter how little.

Having a doctor, any doctor, who is willing to work with, to listen to and hears his/her patients is half the battle of our illness.  I am glad you have one.

Yes, I have heard of the relationship between selenium and conversion. I take selenium along with all my other vitamins and minerals in which they contain no additives, sugars, artificial color, sodium free,  wheat,  gluten and dairy.
If you decided to take selenium work up slow to, but no more than, 600 mcg. per day. If you can afford the calories brazil nuts are loaded with selenium.
Keep in mind that it does take time for your body to heal.  That little pill works the same as our healthy thyroid hormone would, so we do rely on it for our health.  If we knew what our thyroid levels were at our healthy state, it would make it easier to shoot for those levels, but if you are like me, I had/have no clue.  So it is a hit and miss situation until we find that level which makes us feel our best.
It takes time but you will get there, just don't rush or you might find yourself on a rollercoaster ride of your life.

Good Luck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am not a Doctor or in the Medical field.
My statements and comments are meant as a guide only,
not a diagnose or treatment. That is between you and your doctor.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I do really appreciate your imput. In time, I hope to know more/alot about the thyroid and all of this stuff!
So I DO KNOW WHAT my T4 was before surgery. It was
T4,Free 0.07  range (0.55-1.50)
TSH 0.83 (0.34-4.82)
T3 total 86 (60-181)

Those labs were done back when I first noticed the nodules last July.
So is T4 Free different then what my most recent labs revealed
which seems to be T4?
And the important one is T3 free, not so much T3 is that correct?

I did look at selenium at the coop today. They had 50 or 100mcg
and I didn't know which to get so I didn't get any.
I am thinking to wait until after my next labs to really know what my T3 is on it's own. Does that make sense?

I HATE ROLLERCOASTER RIDES but I do so want to feel better.
I would love my get-up-and-go back!
Patience is a good virtue so thanks for that reminder.
M
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A little more info about TUP.

T3 Uptake:  It is an old test designed with a purpose of indirectly measuring T4! It was developed before T4 levels were able to be measure accurately. The assumption was that if the patient had a high T4 level, the blood proteins would be saturated with it. Therefore when mixed with T3 (which is easier to measure), the blood proteins would take up very little T3. Thus a low T3 uptake implies elevated T4 levels and vice versa. Thus the T3 Uptake test is actually an antiquated, inaccurate way to measure T4 levels.


~~~~~~~~~~~

I am not a Doctor or in the Medical field.
My statements are meant as suggestions only
not a diagnose or treatment.
That is between you and your doctor
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

No problem.

That is how I understand it.  If your TUP, is T3-Uptake, then it would  not be the measurement of T-3.  However TUP results normally are in percentage and the levels you are giving is not, so its a little confusing and I could be wrong.  
Correct, Synthroid has lactate as an inactive ingredient where levoxyl (Levoxin) doesn't. If it has just a teeny amount, its enough to be a problem for some in tolerating it.
If its ok with your GP it should be ok with you, unless or until, you have a special thyroid issue that is out of your GP realm.  If you research and learn your thyroid issue, you and your GP can work together in your treatment. You always have the option to go to an Endo and a good doctor while suggest it, if and when, the issue is out of his/her realm.
To figure out the med dose, some times the initial dose is calculated by the patients weight, other doctors will start out at 100.  Whatever, it is suggested to start out with small dose and work up so as not to over shoot you optimal level for you to feel your best at.  This is to prevent bouncing back and forth with levels and med dose changes, which could be a set back and take longer to reach optimal level(s).

Good Luck!

~~~~~~~~~~

I am not a Doctor or in the Medical field.
My statements are meant as suggestions only
not as a diagnose or treatment,
that is between you and your doctor!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am so happy to have found this site with all the helpful info and recommendations. I am hoping to get some answers today at my appt. with my PCP concerning my thyroid. I have thought for about the last 8 years something was wrong and now I have hope. Thanks again.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Laurie,

TSH is a little high and is probably why doctor upped med dose, but, 150 I would think is too high for now because your TSH is not that far off and besides its better to go slow, that is, up a little at a time, with that in mind I would go with the doctor on the 137.  For T-4 or all the levels, as long as they are in Lab range is good. However they go by the FT-4  which  measures the concentration of free thyroxin, the only biologically active fraction, in the serum. The free thyroxin is not affected by changes in concentrations of binding proteins such as TBG and thyroid binding prealbumin. Thus such conditions as pregnancy, or estrogen and androgen therapy and certain drugs, do not affect the FT4, but will the T-4.

From time to time we will need dose adjustments, therefore we need to have Labs done and see doctor at least once a year after we have been stable on the same med. dose for a full year. However until that time, and in the beginning, it will be every 6 weeks to 3 months.

TUP (T-UP or T3U or T-3 Uptake) = Triiodothyronine uptake, however the results are normally given in percentage - Thyroid Hormone Binding Ratio (THBR).  An indirect measure of binding protein, the T3 uptake reflects available binding sites (ie, reflects TBG). This is not a measure of T-3.  

My Internist dia and treated me, and, I am still seeing an Internist because they believe in surgery as the last resort, and so do I. You can always go to an Endo if ever there is a problem your reg.doc can't handle.

Good Luck!


Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi!
I had a TT 7 weeks ago. I had "normal thryoid levels" before my surgery. I had tumors with hurtle cells present is why they did a TT. I was on 125 mg of synthroid starting the day after surgery. I just went to my 6 week appointment with my surgeon and he did my labs. I asked the lab if they were testing for T3 and they said yes, but I don't see it.
My blood work came back as:

TSH 4.91 range (0.27-4.20)  seems high..

T4 8.6 (5.1-10.8)   what is a good level?

FRI free T4 9.6   (4.5-9.5)   what is free T4?

TUP  0.09 (0.80-1.30) what is TUP?

First,last friday when I called the office, the nurse told me my labs were in and she upped my Synthroid to 150mg which I filled and have been taking since sunday. Today I got a letter in the mail from my doctor with a presciption for 137mg and he told me I should follow up with my general practioner in 6 weeeks. What's up with that? I have been feeling very tired and low energy so I was glad my dose was 150mg. I'm not so happy to go down to 137 until the next lab reports. And I thought I would be seeing the endo for follow ups, not my GP.
I called the endo office and they said the same about seeing my GP because they only continue to see people with cancer or complications. I am grateful I don't have that, but would be more comfortable seeing an endo. Does anyone else follow up with their GP?
Thanks for your help!
Laurie


Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your response. I thought you would be able to explain the labs! Just to clarify a little bit,
it sounded like the TUP does not show my  T3 levels and it seems like they didn't do my T3.
And are you saying that it seems like I would be fine going to my GP to continue to get my labs ordered and figure out the correct amount of Synthroid.
Also, have you heard that Synthroid may not be tolorated as well if you are lactade intolorant? I read Synthroid has lactade as an inactive ingredient. ANd that Levoxine (I don't know how to spell the other presecip. drug you can take if you aren't taking S. Anyways, I don't do dairy so I was wondering.
I imagine it would only be a teeny amount!
Thanks,
M
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you, the Dr I am seeing only does thyroids so I think I am in good hands.  I had my test done first thing in the am.  I had had the sanwhich at around 1am.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
On my Lab slip for thyroid test my doctor puts no fasting.

I do anyway because I have the test done early in the AM as soon as they open and depending where I am at in line.

Hypos need their Labs done as late as possible in the day for that is when they are the most hypo.  And no fasting necessary, I would assume, unless the doctors office tells you otherwise.

Make sure the Endo deals with a lot of thyroid patients per year, for most of them deal with and know more about diabetics then thyroid.  Also make request for TSH, both FTs and all antibodies for hyper and hypo.  Good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a ham sandwich, chips, coffee and some hard candies before my test- dont know if that helps or not.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Now I didnt not fast before my test-( they didnt tell me to) does that make a difference.  I do go see a endo in three weeks.  I am hoping he can do something.  I own my own buisness and I cant run it feeling the way I do.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

I forgot to ask for you Labs ranges.  But what I read is that your levels are in the normal range.  However the way that they are relating to each other, could suggest generalized ill-health;
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
TSH 1.37
ANTI TPO < 10
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
t4 7.8
T3 159
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Cancer / Nodules & Hyperthyroidism Forum

Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.