what would you ask next from a doctor with these results?

[Kris39]

Dr. Mark,

Although I've been having hypo symptoms for over a year and my Gyn told me that I had hypo (She read the tests wrong....It showed Hyper) Now she says that my labs are great and I should be happy since I don't have to worry now about thyroid problems.  I got a copy of my labs and I'm going to another doctor....hopefully I will get a referral to an endo.  These are my labs:
TSH .44 .4-5.5
T 3 Uptake 24 22-35%
T 4 Total 11.9 4.5-12.5 MCG\DL
Free T 4 2.9 1.4-3.8

The first TSH test a week before these showed .38

What tests should I ask for?  How can I have almost all of the hypo symptoms and be this low ?

Thanks for your help!!!

Kris

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

About half of patients with a slightly low TSH (which would usually indicate concern for hyperthyroidism) will normalize the TSH in a year.  Would complete the work-up with thyroid antibodies and an ultrasound then discuss with an endocrinologist.  If the antibodies and ultrasound are normal, would simply check the TSH once or twice a year and watch the trend.  Regarding the hypo symptoms - up to 15% of patients with completely normal thyroid function have these symptoms and it is important to search for other, non-thyroid, causes.

[ancientmariner]

Have you had antibodies tested? You could have Hashimoto's disease, many people who have it show normal TSH. And maybe test the free T3, too. The free T3 shows the amount of unbound T3 in your bloodstream that is ready for use. Why do you say you're hyper? Do you have hyper symptoms (diarrhea and frequent bowel movements, rapid heart rate, shakiness?) or are you going strictly by TSH? TSH does NOT measure how well your THYROID is working, it measures a hormone that comes from the PITUITARY, the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. All that tells is how loud your pituitary is screaming for your thyroid to produce, but it doesn't tell how well your thyroid is responding to that!