Help with lab results please

[lsh22]

Hi. I just received my latest lab results:
Ft3  2.6 (2-4.4)
Fr4 1.71. (.83-1.77)
Tsh 1.11
Rt3 30   (9-24)
Symptlms are anxiety and tinnitus. Also trembling weak legs and a feeling of vibration.  Uggggg.  Is it the high ft4 or low ft3??  How would I fix this?  Endo thinks all is fine.  Thank you!

[lsh22]

Thanks. I don't go back for a couple weeks but will ask her to do that for me.  With any luck this thing will just improve and settle down on it's own.  Will keep you posted. Thx

[lsh22]

Thanks. I don't go back for a couple weeks but will ask her to do that for me.  With any luck this thing will just improve and settle down on it's own.  Will keep you posted. Thx

[gimel]

Your B12 is not real low, but not optimal either for best effect.  Should be in the upper part of its range.  Yes, I do think you should make sure the other ones listed are okay, while waiting to see how you continue to feel.

[lsh22]

Vit b12.  470.  Range 156-700
And I was wrong. In all these zillions of blood tests those particular other ones are not there. Do you think I should get them done too? There is calcium and sodium, magnesium and albumin and potassium....
Maybe the iodine did throw something else out. Hmmmm.  

[gimel]

You have actual test results?  If so, please post actual results and ranges shown on the lab report.

low ferritin (iron)
high or low cortisol
low selenium
low zinc
low B6
low B12

[lsh22]

Also I never had tinnitus or vibrating legs or anxiety before this whole iodine thyroid disaster.

[lsh22]

Hi gimel.  My GP is wonderful and did all of those tests. Also sent me to a neurologist who did a bunch more even arsenic! The good part is that all if them came back normal and so I am sure it is all a thyroid thing.  The endo told me it could take six months from when I saw here which means now.  And she thinks the tinnitus and trembly vibrating legs are not thyroid related. Also the endo thinks ft3 values are not reliable so doesn't care what they are and thinks since my ft4 is in range my thyroid is fine.  So I feel better you telling me they are still out of whack. I actually ordered the rt3 myself and paid for it. Don't you think the tinnitus and inner vibrating and anxiety are real symptoms of hypothyroidism?  I really appreciate you taking the time to read and respond.

[jnt406]

No meds at all as of yet

[gimel]

Your situation is very unusual.  Can't say I have ever heard of a doctor prescribing a large dose of Iodine like that.  Now you have been suffering the unintended consequences.   The conversion of T4 to excessive Reverse T3 may have been your body's way of preventing too much Free T3.  Unfortunately now you have what seems to be hypo symptoms.  

The question is whether you have to just wait it out, or if something could be done to help in the interim.  The only way I can think of to find out is to get some additional tests done for those deficiencies that could be contributors, as listed above.   Would your doctor be agreeable to doing those tests?  Also, how long does your doctor expect it to take for you to return to normal thyroid levels?

[lsh22]

Hi gimel.  Well I do  know how this whiole thing started. I was advised by a MEDICAL DOCTOR, one who is an assistant prof at a major university (so no quack) to take IODINE.  She said it prevented breast cancer and put me on 12.5 mg a day which my endo has called a massive amount. Six months later I totally and suddenly derailed and because my TSH has never been out of range it took forever to diagnose it. My ft4 was out of range high for 4 months and now it is bouncing all over the place.  However because they are now both in range though barely, she thinks I am fine. I feel like such an idiot taking iodine in the first place it's embarrassing. So this is a total mess and I am hoping these weird symptoms are a part of recovering and that the levels will eventually stabilize. But it's been eight months of hell.  Such an odd set of circumstances.  Uggggg. And thanks for your comments and responses!  I am also furious with her for putting me on a harmful upplement like this.

[gimel]

Some of the research I have done has pointed to the following as possible causes for excessive conversion of T4 to Reverse T3.  

dieting
low ferritin (iron)
high or low cortisol
stress
low selenium
low zinc
low B6
low B12

Can you identify any of these as possible contributors?

[gimel]

For you, I don't think that adding a T3 med is the right approach.  T4 thyroid hormone is regularly converted in your body to T3 and some Reverse T3.  For some reason you seem to be converting too much to Reverse T3.  There are many reasons for a body to convert T4 to Reverse T3 excessively.  

I have to be away for a while.  When I return I'll give you further info about some of the potential causes and we can assess further.  

[lsh22]

Thank you. I needed the reassurance that there is a reason I don't feel great.  No I am not on any thyroid meds. So can't add t3 without probably going hyper??  The endo thinks this is a temporary thing but it's been a few months now. It's awful!

[gimel]

Are you currently taking thyroid med?  If so, what type and dosage?

All is not well with those labs.  Your Free T3 is too low in the range for optimal results.  Your Reverse T3 is too high.  Since it is reported that the best measure of tissue thyroid levels is the ratio of Free T3 to Reverse T3, when we calculate your ratio it would be less than one.  Supposedly the best ratio would be 1.8 or higher.  

More to discuss, but first please answer the med questions.