Am I hypo? here are lab results

[wendles]

I think I'm hypothyroid but my doctor says normal.  My labs are below.  I have all the symptoms and they put me on antidepressants and bipolar meds.  still depressed and in a fog, very fatigued doc says chronic fatigue syndrom (syndrome), depression etc...  i think i should see and endocrinologist, what do you think?

April 06                         Dec 06

Result         Range              Result      Range
Cortisol 4.7  (4.3-22.4)        
TSH      .80   (.35-5.5)          TSH 1.65      (.40-5.50)
T3 Free  2.88  (2.30-4.20)        T3 Total  94  (60-181)
T4 Free  .95   (.89-1.76)         T3 Uptake  31  (22-35)
DHEA  125    (35-430)             T4 Free   0.8  (0.8-1.8)
                               they didn't run T3 free this time

My mother has had part of her thyroid removed.  I have also been taking my temperature which is usually under 98.  Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.  Thank you!

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Looks like normal thyroid labs -- with mother's history, antibodies may be interesting -- some people with hashimotos have normal TSH and symptoms and occassionally benefit from thyroxine.

[lhowell]

The doctor here does not look at temps.  Your TSH level is perfect.

[MS Hashi]

Your FT4 is right at the bottom of the range. I would ask for a test for thyroid antibodies to check for Hashimotos. Your blood cortisol level is very low which may explain the tiredness. I would ask for a 24 hr saliva cortisol test. If he won't do it, you can get one done privately.

[Lake Lover]

Bottom range FT-4 and a mid range FT-3 can make you feel hypo.

Find another doctor and ask for some Thyroid replacement.

[kdono]

TSH = 4.220
FSH = 2.7
Total T3 = 201
Free T4 = 1.03
LH = 1.4

I am VERY tired - all the time.
Have had consistant menstrual bleeding for 4 straight weeks - never had this before.  Checked by GYN. No cysts, or anything unusual - internal ultrasound used for exam.  Appt. to see gyn. speccialist Jan. 3, 2007.

Do the above test results explain anything - sluggish thyroid?

[EmpatheticJenny]

In your question on December 28th, the TSH level you report sticks out like a sore thumb. I am curious about whether anything helpful came out of your January 3rd visit to a specialized gynecologist. Whether or not it did, anyone with a TSH level as high as 4.22 who is very tired all the time absolutely, positively should see an endocrinologist (a general endocrinologist, not a reproductive endocrinologist). If you do some reading about hypothyroidism (I suggest you get acquainted with Mary Shomon's excellent website, www.thyroid.about.com, if you have not already), you will learn that thinking in the field of endocrinology has been undergoing change in regard to what number should be considered the upper end of the TSH "normal" range. A competent physician who is not an endocrinologist easily can be NOT up-to-date in this area and can look at a value as high as 4.22 and think it is normal.  I think I am safe in saying that any competent endocrinologist would think otherwise when told of your fatigue, although he or she might want you to have another TSH test to see if the result was again as high as 4.22. As for the unrelenting menstrual bleeding: I am not a physician, but I do know that all parts of the endocrine system affect each other strongly, so if your thyroid is not doing a competent job, it might explain your bleeding. Whether or not it is connected, you have every reason to have your situation assessed by someone with training in general endocrinology. The fact that your free T4 level is normal does not alter what I am saying at all.