Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Dr. says everything is within range but I feel horrible

Based on my symptoms he was very convinced my results would come back hypothyroid, so much so that when the first test TSH came back normal he did again and added two others. Now the second set comes back and he says its still within normal range and that's that. I have the laundry list of symptoms and I'm at my wits end.
This was the results of the last set.

TSH         2.60 Range-0.36 - 3.74 uIU/mL
T3 Free 2.60 Range-2.18 - 3.98 pg/mL
T4 Free 1.07 Range-0.76 - 1.46 ng/dL

I don't even know where to turn next. Advice? Suggestions? Doctors in the Oklahoma City area?
6 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
If you've been supplementing B-12 for a year, and your levels haven't improved, you might want to be tested for PA (pernicious anemia).  PA is the inability to absorb B-12 through the gut due to the absence of intrinsic factor.  People with PA have to use injectable B-12.  Oral supplements do them no good whatsoever.  

Between the iron and the B-12, you might also look into gut issues.  It would seem you're not absorbing the vitamins properly.  Although there are many causes for that, celiac disease (autoimmune gluten intolerance) is one.

Best of luck.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you. I guess I jumped the gun. We knew about the iron and b12 deficiencies a year ago and I have been supplementing faithfully since so didn't think they would be the culprit. There appears to be an underlying issue even for those if my levels continue to be low.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
As I said above, if your ferritin levels are not adequate (and they are far from adequate), your cells will not be able to take in and use thyroid hormone.  So, you can feel hypothyroid even though your thyroid is working fine.  I agree with your doctors referral.  If you correct your low ferritin, you will probably feel much better.

Your vitamin B-12 is also way too low.  I know it's in range, but in other countries, the range starts at a much more reasonable 500.  So, if you lived elsewhere, you would be considered deficient.  You need to supplement B-12, and if you use oral supplements, be sure to follow up and make sure your levels are actually rising. B-12 deficiency can cause fatigue far worse than hypothyroidism.  

You should have D tested as well, especially if you live in a temperate climate.  D levels are decimated in the winter.

My best advice would be to correct those two deficiencies, check D and re-evaluate your thyroid once those are all in line.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your replies

Symptoms
Increasingly dry skin
Cracked lips at corners despite hydration
Hair loss and change in texture
Extreme fatigue
Weakness and muscle cramps
low body temp
cold intolerance (inability to stay awake when too cold)
night sweats even though hands and feet are freezing
but not sweating when outside in heat
headaches
vision disturbances
constipation

I am being referred to a hematologist as my iron levels came back very low despite taking elemental iron and eating an iron rich diet for the past year
Ferritin 6 Range-8 - 252 ng/mL
Iron 23 Range-50 - 175 ug/dL
TIBC Direct 509 Range-250 - 450 ug/dL
Iron Saturation % 5 Range-6 - 36 %

Vitamin B12 297 Range-193 - 986 pg/mL

Nothing for D appears on my results.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Your FT4 doesn't look too bad.  The guideline for FT4 is midrange (50%), and yours is at 47%, which looks good.  Your FT3 is at 25% of range, and that's quite a bit on the low side of the 50+% recommendation for FT3.  However, since you are not on meds, I don't think the low FT3 is really an issue.  The thyroid gland is the only source of T4 in the body, so it looks like your thyroid is in good shape.

While your levels could be causing some mild symptoms, I doubt your levels are low enough to cause a laundry list.  Please post your list.

If I were you, I'd have some vitamin and mineral tests done.  Vitamin D and ferritin (you want a complete iron panel) must be present in sufficient quantities for thyroid hormones to be able to get into cells and do their work.  Deficiencies of either of those can cause you to feel hypo (because you are at the cellular level) even with perfectly adequate blood levels.  D and ferritin must be well up into the range, not at the bottom.



  
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
"Once on hormone replacement, the TSH remains useful until it goes BELOW 0.4. Then one has optimized thyroid function by the TSH yardstick; it then remains to optimize thyroid function by the yardstick of the accurate measures of the 2 thyroid hormones, the Free T4 and Free T3 levels."

"In order to optimize the hormone replacement, the Free T3 and Free T4 should be above the median but below the upper end of the laboratory normal reference range. The goal for healthy young adults would be to have numbers close to the upper part of the range, and for cardiace and/or elderly patients, the numbers should be in the middle of its range."

Excerpts from Dr Mercola's article: Optimum Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypothyroidism With Free T3 and Free T4 Levels.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
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.