Can anyone help interpret lab results?

[Chris7526]

I've been suffering countless symptoms that are associated with thyroid problems (fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, joint pain, etc.) My tests appear to be on the low end of the reference range. Can anyone help me?

TSH: 1.79 uIU/mL (ref: 0.4-4.0)

FT3: 2.9 pg/mL (ref: 2.3-4.2)

FT4: 0.9 ng/dL (ref: 0.8-1.8)

ATA <20 IU/mL (normal)

Thyroid Peroxidase <10 IU/mL (normal)

Cholesterol: 226 mg/dL
LDL, calculated: 129 mg/dL

[Barb135]

Both your Free T4 and Free T3 are at the bottom of their ranges, but most doctors will tell you they're "in range" so they're fine... I wouldn't agree with that, as long as you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, which you do.  Most of us feel best with Free T4 about mid range and Free T3 in the upper half to upper third of its range.  Your Free T4 is only at 10% of range and Free T3 is only at 32% of range.  

Typically with Free T4 and Free T3 that low, we'd expect TSH to be much higher than yours; we might also expect to elevated antibodies, which you don't have.  In this case, we'd suspect Secondary or Central hypothyroidism, which means that the thyroid works fine, but there's a problem with, either, the pituitary or hypothalamus gland, so there isn't enough TSH to stimulate the thyroid adequately.  

Your doctor might tell you that, based on your TSH, all is well, but you should point out the low Free T4 and Free T3 and ask her/him to investigate the possibility of Secondary hypothyroidism.  If there's a problem with the pituitary/hypothalamus axis, there may be other endocrine glands that aren't getting the proper stimulation either.  These could include the adrenals, reproductive, or other glands.

High cholesterol is also a symptom of hypothyroidism...