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Please help Analyze my Thyroid Blood Panel
I got my panel back with these results:
TSH 1.730
T4 6.6
T3 uptake 26
Free Thyroxine index 1.7
FT4 .92
Thyroblobulin Antibody <1.0
TPOAb 17
FT3 3.2
It seems all my Panel results are on the very low side of reference interval but my Free T3 is completely adequate. My symptoms include :
Constant fatigue
Gastrointestinal problems
Weight gain
Difficultly losing weight with diet and exercise
Shortness of Breath
Intermittent Heart Palpitations (common in my family)
Itchy hives without daily Cetrizine
Cold hands and feet
I feel as though I should get a Vitamin D test. I am on no medications at this time other than daily Zyrtec to keep the itchiness at bay.
TSH 1.730
T4 6.6
T3 uptake 26
Free Thyroxine index 1.7
FT4 .92
Thyroblobulin Antibody <1.0
TPOAb 17
FT3 3.2
It seems all my Panel results are on the very low side of reference interval but my Free T3 is completely adequate. My symptoms include :
Constant fatigue
Gastrointestinal problems
Weight gain
Difficultly losing weight with diet and exercise
Shortness of Breath
Intermittent Heart Palpitations (common in my family)
Itchy hives without daily Cetrizine
Cold hands and feet
I feel as though I should get a Vitamin D test. I am on no medications at this time other than daily Zyrtec to keep the itchiness at bay.
We've had some problems lately with posts. Sometimes, if you notice it didn't post and post another short comment afterwards, it "pushes" the original comment out. That's what is seems like, anyway.
So glad you had D tested. Your result is very low. For proper thyroid health, you want D well up in the range. I've read in the 50-70 range. Check with your doctor first, of course, but some people will supplement 50,000 IU per week until levels rise and then scale back.
So glad you had D tested. Your result is very low. For proper thyroid health, you want D well up in the range. I've read in the 50-70 range. Check with your doctor first, of course, but some people will supplement 50,000 IU per week until levels rise and then scale back.
I wrote a very heartfelt thank you your comments back on 1/8 that must not have posted properly. I am sorry for that. Thanks again for your input and for taking the time to even read this. Just an update I just got my Vitamin D results back and they are 15 ng/mL with a reference interval of 30.0-100.0. I am definitely going to seek treatment for this and will update again so if anyone else is having similar issues this can be of help to them. Thanks again!
I wrote a very heartfelt thank you your comments back on 1/8 that must not have posted properly. I am sorry for that. Thanks again for your input and for taking the time to even read this. Just an update I just got my Vitamin D results back and they are 15 ng/mL with a reference interval of 30.0-100.0. I am definitely going to seek treatment for this and will update again so if anyone else is having similar issues this can be of help to them. Thanks again!
Yes, definitely get vitamin D tested. Not only is it important for thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism, but D deficiency has some symptoms similar to thryroid symptoms.
We all have to be our own guinea pigs and figure out which meds work best for each of us. Sometimes it's a matter of personal preference, sometimes you just have to go with what works best for you. While it would be wonderful if doctors were open to all treatments available, practically speaking, most fall into the desiccated camp or the synthetic camp. Our options are really only three...T4 only (Synthroid, levothyroxine, etc.), synthetic T3/T4 combos (add Cytomel and generics to the T4) and desiccated (Armour, Erfa, NT, etc.), which contains both T3 and T4. All have advantages and disadvantages.
I tend to stop reading anyone who claims that NO ONE needs anything but T4 or that EVERYONE has to have desiccated. All the options work for different people.
Since you have some other obstacles in your path, if you find a doctor who agrees to treat you, you will most likely be treated according to his preference. You don't have any experience with any of the options, so I'd probably go along with his recommendation until/unless it's proven not to work for you (as defined by symptom relief).
We all have to be our own guinea pigs and figure out which meds work best for each of us. Sometimes it's a matter of personal preference, sometimes you just have to go with what works best for you. While it would be wonderful if doctors were open to all treatments available, practically speaking, most fall into the desiccated camp or the synthetic camp. Our options are really only three...T4 only (Synthroid, levothyroxine, etc.), synthetic T3/T4 combos (add Cytomel and generics to the T4) and desiccated (Armour, Erfa, NT, etc.), which contains both T3 and T4. All have advantages and disadvantages.
I tend to stop reading anyone who claims that NO ONE needs anything but T4 or that EVERYONE has to have desiccated. All the options work for different people.
Since you have some other obstacles in your path, if you find a doctor who agrees to treat you, you will most likely be treated according to his preference. You don't have any experience with any of the options, so I'd probably go along with his recommendation until/unless it's proven not to work for you (as defined by symptom relief).
Total T4, T3 uptake and FTI (FT4 index) are all considered obsolete tests with little value. So, I'll limit my discussion to the others.
FT4 is low. It's at 11% of range, and many of us have found that hypo symptoms persist until FT4 is about 50% of range. FT3 is right at 50% of range, which as you indicated, is just fine. Sometimes, when FT4 is low, the body overcompensates by converting more FT3 in an effort to keep metabolism going. So, even though FT3 is the most active of the thyroid hormones and usually correlates best with symptoms, FT4 can't be totally ignored, either.
TPOab and TGab are both within reference range, so it doesn't look like you have Hashi's.
Unfortunately, your TSH looks great. I say "unfortunately" because that's the number most doctors treat by. If TSH isn't elevated, many of them will not treat. TSH is a pituitary hormone and, as such, a very indirect measure of thyroid status. FT3 and FT4 are direct measures. However, doctors were taught in med school that TSH was the gold standard in thyroid testing, and they're not giving that fallacy up. Your symptoms are consistent with hypo. I think you would feel better on meds, but I suspect you are going to have to find an enlightened doctor to treat you at this point. I'm not trying to discourage you, I think you should pursue this, but I do want you to be aware that you may encounter some resistance.
FT4 is low. It's at 11% of range, and many of us have found that hypo symptoms persist until FT4 is about 50% of range. FT3 is right at 50% of range, which as you indicated, is just fine. Sometimes, when FT4 is low, the body overcompensates by converting more FT3 in an effort to keep metabolism going. So, even though FT3 is the most active of the thyroid hormones and usually correlates best with symptoms, FT4 can't be totally ignored, either.
TPOab and TGab are both within reference range, so it doesn't look like you have Hashi's.
Unfortunately, your TSH looks great. I say "unfortunately" because that's the number most doctors treat by. If TSH isn't elevated, many of them will not treat. TSH is a pituitary hormone and, as such, a very indirect measure of thyroid status. FT3 and FT4 are direct measures. However, doctors were taught in med school that TSH was the gold standard in thyroid testing, and they're not giving that fallacy up. Your symptoms are consistent with hypo. I think you would feel better on meds, but I suspect you are going to have to find an enlightened doctor to treat you at this point. I'm not trying to discourage you, I think you should pursue this, but I do want you to be aware that you may encounter some resistance.
2 Comments
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your input and for acknowledging that there does appear to be an issue. Having already been told there is no issue when I saw my results this time I was discouraged because I knew that "at a glance" it would not be addressed. Since the Vitamin D does play such an important role in thyroid function, do you think it would be worthwhile to get that tested to help narrow down contributing factors that could be an issue?
And when it comes to meds, with all my researching and pouring over blogs I have leaned more toward Armour or other NDT therapy but since FT3 is adequate do you think T4 only would be more beneficial for me if I tried to press the issue?
TSH 1.730 reference interval .450 - 4.5
T4 6.6 reference interval 4.5 - 12.0
T3 uptake 26 reference interval 24 - 39
FT4 index 1.7 reference interval 1.2 - 4.9
FT4 .92 reference interval .82 - 1.77
Thyroglubulin antibody<1.0 reference interval .0 - .9
TPOAb 17 reference interval 0 - 34
FT3 3.2 reference interval 2.0 - 4.4
Thank you so very much for taking the time to take a look and for your initial response!
T4 6.6 reference interval 4.5 - 12.0
T3 uptake 26 reference interval 24 - 39
FT4 index 1.7 reference interval 1.2 - 4.9
FT4 .92 reference interval .82 - 1.77
Thyroglubulin antibody<1.0 reference interval .0 - .9
TPOAb 17 reference interval 0 - 34
FT3 3.2 reference interval 2.0 - 4.4
Thank you so very much for taking the time to take a look and for your initial response!
1 Comments
Taking no thyroid meds at all.
Please post the reference ranges for your FT3, FT4 and TPOab.
Are you taking thyroid meds? If so, which and how much?
Have you had B-12 tested? Vitamin D is very important for proper metabolism of thyroid hormones, So, I agree that would be a good one to test also.
Are you taking thyroid meds? If so, which and how much?
Have you had B-12 tested? Vitamin D is very important for proper metabolism of thyroid hormones, So, I agree that would be a good one to test also.
2 Comments
TSH 1.730 reference interval .450 - 4.5
T4 6.6 reference interval 4.5 - 12.0
T3 uptake 26 reference interval 24 - 39
FT4 index 1.7 reference interval 1.2 - 4.9
FT4 .92 reference interval .82 - 1.77
Thyroglubulin antibody<1.0 reference interval .0 - .9
TPOAb 17 reference interval 0 - 34
FT3 3.2 reference interval 2.0 - 4.4
Thank you so very much for taking the time to take a look and for your initial response!
T4 6.6 reference interval 4.5 - 12.0
T3 uptake 26 reference interval 24 - 39
FT4 index 1.7 reference interval 1.2 - 4.9
FT4 .92 reference interval .82 - 1.77
Thyroglubulin antibody<1.0 reference interval .0 - .9
TPOAb 17 reference interval 0 - 34
FT3 3.2 reference interval 2.0 - 4.4
Thank you so very much for taking the time to take a look and for your initial response!
I am taking no thyroid meds at all
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