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Odd Free T3 test result
My second to last test results for Hashi's, were:
4/14/08
TSH 1.07 R: 0.45 - 5.45
FT3 2.83 R: 2.50 - 3.9
FT4 1.21 R: 0.58 - 1.64
I still felt hypo so I asked if I could take some Cytomel because my FT3 was a little on the low side. The doctor agreed and gave me 5 mcg. I'm on 200 mcg Levoxyl. I've been unstable on thyroid medication since December 2007.
Well less than month later on 5/10/08, I was hyper for the first time, first diagnosed in 2003 and always under treated so this was a surprise. I believe it would be called Thyrotoxicosis because I had Atrial Fibrillation, angina, headache, heat intolerance, insomnia, palpitations, nausea, and hair loss. I had to be treated in the ICU for my symptoms.
My test results were:
5/10/08
TSH 0.20 R: 0.45 - 5.45
FT3 2.46 R: 2.50 - 3.9
FT4 1.04 R: 0.58 - 1.64
I wondering why my FT3 went down instead of up? On Cytomel it should be going up, right? The Cytomel was discontinued because it was believed I had a reaction to it. Wasn't I just hyperthyroid?
I am still experiencing hair loss and feel like I'm going hyper and hypo together now. I'm cold, then hot. Get chest pains after exertion. Feel more hyper than hypo now. Still on 200 mcg Levoxyl.
I have a history of Perimyocarditis in 2007 with complications of Atrial-fib and pericardial effusion. However, my endo told me I could still take Cytomel after I was healed. I'm 54, female. I also have sinus borderline Bradycardia.
I see a new endo in June. It was suggested today that I see my cardiologist again and get another stress test. I had one last year before I got perimyocarditis.
4/14/08
TSH 1.07 R: 0.45 - 5.45
FT3 2.83 R: 2.50 - 3.9
FT4 1.21 R: 0.58 - 1.64
I still felt hypo so I asked if I could take some Cytomel because my FT3 was a little on the low side. The doctor agreed and gave me 5 mcg. I'm on 200 mcg Levoxyl. I've been unstable on thyroid medication since December 2007.
Well less than month later on 5/10/08, I was hyper for the first time, first diagnosed in 2003 and always under treated so this was a surprise. I believe it would be called Thyrotoxicosis because I had Atrial Fibrillation, angina, headache, heat intolerance, insomnia, palpitations, nausea, and hair loss. I had to be treated in the ICU for my symptoms.
My test results were:
5/10/08
TSH 0.20 R: 0.45 - 5.45
FT3 2.46 R: 2.50 - 3.9
FT4 1.04 R: 0.58 - 1.64
I wondering why my FT3 went down instead of up? On Cytomel it should be going up, right? The Cytomel was discontinued because it was believed I had a reaction to it. Wasn't I just hyperthyroid?
I am still experiencing hair loss and feel like I'm going hyper and hypo together now. I'm cold, then hot. Get chest pains after exertion. Feel more hyper than hypo now. Still on 200 mcg Levoxyl.
I have a history of Perimyocarditis in 2007 with complications of Atrial-fib and pericardial effusion. However, my endo told me I could still take Cytomel after I was healed. I'm 54, female. I also have sinus borderline Bradycardia.
I see a new endo in June. It was suggested today that I see my cardiologist again and get another stress test. I had one last year before I got perimyocarditis.
EEK! My heart rate is thinks I'm on a motor speedway, 64 - 70 bpm resting! Normal for me is 54 resting so I'm feeling this and I don't like it. I had heart palpitations while lying down when I awakened this morning. I called the answering service for my doc and the doc on call was a bit of a ... I won't say. He brushed off my concerns and said nothing should be changed and that I should continue taking my thyroid meds as prescribed. He told me to call my doctor on Monday though.
Now when I had an endo he immediately took my symptoms as something concerning and told me to stop taking my medication until the lab results came back.
I can't wait to see the new endo. Maybe he'll have some brains -- unlike my primary doc's office.
Usually when my heart rate starts going up it's a bad sign. I don't get panic attacks like I used to so this isn't that.
Now when I had an endo he immediately took my symptoms as something concerning and told me to stop taking my medication until the lab results came back.
I can't wait to see the new endo. Maybe he'll have some brains -- unlike my primary doc's office.
Usually when my heart rate starts going up it's a bad sign. I don't get panic attacks like I used to so this isn't that.
Well, I was definitely hyperthyroid and still am. My TSH is now 0.46, bottom of the range is 0.45, and I'm still having hyperthyroid symptoms; i.e., hair loss, migraines (without headaches), insomnia, hunger, blurry vision (off and on now), tingling/numbness, restlessness, anxiety, and palpitations.
I found something about subclinical hyperthyroidism where the TSH is low but the other values are not. This fits my situation. However, with subclinical hyperthyroidism you don't have symptoms and I definitely did. My newest FT3 is 2.97 and FT4 is 1.58. Again my FT3 is below mid-range. I don't think I'll ever have a normal FT3 level because I had tuberculosis in my liver in 1976. And the FT3 is the accelerator pedal. So that means my get up and go is gone. ;)
My symptoms sent my primary doctor and a neurologist on a wild goose chase believing I had some neurological condition like MS or Chiari. However, as my TSH rises, my symptoms are subsiding.
The only thing I wish is that my hyperT symptoms would go away faster. I lost a lot of hair. It was crazy hair loss and is still happening.
I found something about subclinical hyperthyroidism where the TSH is low but the other values are not. This fits my situation. However, with subclinical hyperthyroidism you don't have symptoms and I definitely did. My newest FT3 is 2.97 and FT4 is 1.58. Again my FT3 is below mid-range. I don't think I'll ever have a normal FT3 level because I had tuberculosis in my liver in 1976. And the FT3 is the accelerator pedal. So that means my get up and go is gone. ;)
My symptoms sent my primary doctor and a neurologist on a wild goose chase believing I had some neurological condition like MS or Chiari. However, as my TSH rises, my symptoms are subsiding.
The only thing I wish is that my hyperT symptoms would go away faster. I lost a lot of hair. It was crazy hair loss and is still happening.
Your Pituitary may have thought you were Hyper, but to be hyper your hormones have to be high. When the last test was taken your hormones were low.
You may have had thyroiditis or thyrotoxicosis and experienced a hormone dump, but if the bloodwork was done in the ER it should have showed high T4/T3.
Maybe the metabolic crisis sucked up all the excess T3 before they could draw your blood. Your TSH fell for a reason. That would make one think you had too much T4/T3 in your system, or the TSH wouldn't have dropped.
You can definitely have thyrotoxicosis without a fever. I don't know. The more I learn, the more confusing it gets. Your body doesn't have to follow the rules. I know that for sure.
This may be why doctors mumble so much. LOL!!
I hope you get your med situation figured out.
You may have had thyroiditis or thyrotoxicosis and experienced a hormone dump, but if the bloodwork was done in the ER it should have showed high T4/T3.
Maybe the metabolic crisis sucked up all the excess T3 before they could draw your blood. Your TSH fell for a reason. That would make one think you had too much T4/T3 in your system, or the TSH wouldn't have dropped.
You can definitely have thyrotoxicosis without a fever. I don't know. The more I learn, the more confusing it gets. Your body doesn't have to follow the rules. I know that for sure.
This may be why doctors mumble so much. LOL!!
I hope you get your med situation figured out.
On another forum someone said that maybe my heart used up the extra T3 when I had the A-Fib.
My TSH went from 1.07 to 0.2. That isn't hyperthyroid? I had most the symptoms of Thyrotoxicosis except a high fever and I've read you don't need to have them all to have it.
Definitely confused.
My TSH went from 1.07 to 0.2. That isn't hyperthyroid? I had most the symptoms of Thyrotoxicosis except a high fever and I've read you don't need to have them all to have it.
Definitely confused.
I had a big post all typed up earlier and dumped it because it was all speculation.
You took cytomel and got sick. You weren't hyperthyroid, because your Free T3 went down, not up.
Your body doesn't like Cytomel, it seems.
End of story, other than now your Free T3 is even lower.
You might ask for a test for reverse T3, but the situation will probably resolve itself. And the treatment for reverse T3 is...Cytomel. And the easiest way to raise your T3...Cytomel.
I think you will need to let your body sort this out.
You took cytomel and got sick. You weren't hyperthyroid, because your Free T3 went down, not up.
Your body doesn't like Cytomel, it seems.
End of story, other than now your Free T3 is even lower.
You might ask for a test for reverse T3, but the situation will probably resolve itself. And the treatment for reverse T3 is...Cytomel. And the easiest way to raise your T3...Cytomel.
I think you will need to let your body sort this out.
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