Can someone tell me if my thyroid #'s are ok?

[kris71]

I have hashi's and just recently got my blood labs done. I have been feeling super sluggish and just overall gross - irritable and angry as well. i'm also holding on to weight even tho i eat healthy and i work out pretty hard at least 3-4x a week. I think my T3 is low but my doc says it's fine. I'm currently on 88mcg of synthroid but think i need to add a small dose cytomel into the mix.I also have low iron, low ferritin and really low magnesium that i just started taking vitamin supplements for.

TSH -.78 (range = .40-4.00)
FT4 - 1.12 (range =0.71-1.76)
FT3 -2.6 (range= 2.2-4.4)

any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

[Brucergoldberg]

Here is what i had checked that i was able to fix that i credit with me being able to take the thyroid:

iron and ferritin (and % to saturation)
cortisol
B12
D
Potassium and sodium
Renin and aldosterone (very specific testing method on these, please ask)

I am saying, that this is what I had tested and then treated to get my #'s up on those things.  Once I got my iron levels up, my thyroid was able to do its job. For the first time in a year, the tsh went from 7.93 to 25 whereas i was able to take the thyroid.

As what Barb says above, my choice was tirosint.  

I also had better luck taking a larger amount, than starting with a smaller amount.  In my opinion, diddlying around with .13 and .25 made me extremely fatigued and felt worse.  The .50 made me fell better rapidly.    I still get some of the wonkyness and im still fatigued, but nothing compared to how i felt before.  Also the palps are gone, the shakyness is gone, im sleeping through the night.  I was taking xanex every single day, but now i have havent taken any in 3 weeks.

Bruce

[Barb135]

I agree that you need a new doc - when they insist on treating only by lab results, whether or not you have symptoms, it's time to kick them to the curb and find who will test and treat you in such a way as to alleviate symptoms.  

I agree with gimel that you need further labs done.  Vitamin B12 deficiency will make you feel very sluggish.  

Gimel's right - it does look like you could benefit from a low dose of T3 med.  I'm on Tirosint, with 5 mcg generic T3, which works fine for me.........  In fact, you might try switching to Tirosint; it's a T4 only med that comes in gelcap form, so is basically hypoallergenic, is dissolved and absorbed more readily than tablets. Both my FT4 and FT3 levels increased after I switched to Tirosint in August, 2010, and for an old lady, I feel better than I have in years...........

[Liznm]

I agree, with the other post check other labs.

[Brucergoldberg]

Have you had your potassium checked?  I had restless leg and found out my potassium was low.  I take 10 mg potassium kdur every day, cramps went away.  Bruce

[Liznm]

You lab values are in normal range.  However, if you are symptomatic, you need futher testing and evaluation.  I hope you get answers and feel better soon!

[kris71]

Thank you for the info/advice. I think i need a new doc. When i went to get my labs done, i told her i wanted my iron checked because i had been feeling VERY tired and was having restless leg syndrome. She looked at me like i had 3 heads when i asked for the iron. Lo and behold it came back very low. She just told me to take a supplement.  i have never had vitamin A, D, B12 and zinc and selenium checked but i do take 4000IU of D and 200 mcg of selenium daily. I also just started taking a B vitamin.  Why is it so hard to find a decent endocrinologist? grrr.

[gimel]

From those symptoms and your FT3 level, I'd say that you are hypo and would would benefit from a med change.  A good thyroid doctor will treat a patient clinically by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not test results.  Test results are valuable mainly as  indicators to help diagnosis, and then afterward to track FT3 and FT4 levels as meds are increased to relieve symptoms.    

I think you will benefit from reading this link.  It is a letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he is consulting with  from a distance.  The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.  

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

You also need to address the low iron/ferritin and magnesium levels.  If you haven't been tested for Vitamin A D, B12, and zinc and selenium, that would also be a good idea.  Low iron, zinc and selenium have been reported as contributors to lack of conversion of T4 to T3, which you show signs of having.  I should point out, however,  that the best short term approach is to revise your meds to include a source of T3, either a combo T4/T3 substitute for your Synthroid, or an addition of a T3 med like Cytomel.  I've tried it both ways for the same reasons and Armour has worked best for me.  It is not the same for all.