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TSH Results
I have been a hypo for 26 years now. 3 months ago my results were my TSH was 0.85 and my Free T4 was 13. Two weeks ago I had another blood test and now my TSH is 9.99 and my Free T4 is 13. What does this mean and are these levels causing me health concerns?
COMMUNITY LEADER
No problem... MH messed up and my answer didn't post like it should have, even though I tried several times to get it to... That happens once in a while.
People like having more than one opinion anyway.
We agree that the reference ranges and Free T3 are needed.
People like having more than one opinion anyway.
We agree that the reference ranges and Free T3 are needed.
Sorry, I didn't mean to step on your toes here. Somehow I did not see your post so I responded.
To best assess your status we need further information. Were you diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism due to Hasimoto's Thyroiditis? What thyroid med are you taking and what is the daily dosage? What symptoms, if any, do you have? What is the reference range shown on the lab report for the Free T4 test? Have you been tested for Free T3 at any time along with Free T4?
Regarding TSH, it is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that at best it is only an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3. TSH is supposed to accurately reflect the thyroid status by the hypothalamus/pituitary response to Free T4 and Free T3 levels. In reality TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either of those, much less correlate with symptoms, which should be the main concern. Patients taking doses of thyroid med adequate to relieve hypo symptoms frequently find that their TSH becomes suppressed to the bottom of the range or below. That does not mean hypothyroidism, unless there are accompanying hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of Free T4 and Free T3.
Before further discussion, we need your answers to the above questions.
Regarding TSH, it is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that at best it is only an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3. TSH is supposed to accurately reflect the thyroid status by the hypothalamus/pituitary response to Free T4 and Free T3 levels. In reality TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either of those, much less correlate with symptoms, which should be the main concern. Patients taking doses of thyroid med adequate to relieve hypo symptoms frequently find that their TSH becomes suppressed to the bottom of the range or below. That does not mean hypothyroidism, unless there are accompanying hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of Free T4 and Free T3.
Before further discussion, we need your answers to the above questions.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi there... What is the reference range for the Free T4? Is it the same for both of the Free T4 tests? I ask because reference ranges vary from lab to lab so it has to come from each report.
Your TSH on the second report is quite high and from the Free T4 ranges I'm familiar with, yours appears pretty low in the range. This combination could very well cause health concerns.
Could you please tell us if you have any symptoms that might indicate hypothyroidism? If so, which ones?
Have you ever had a Free T3 test done? If not, you should ask your doctor to order it next time you have a TSH and Free T3, as it's the hormone that's actually used by individual cells and correlates best with symptoms.
Your TSH on the second report is quite high and from the Free T4 ranges I'm familiar with, yours appears pretty low in the range. This combination could very well cause health concerns.
Could you please tell us if you have any symptoms that might indicate hypothyroidism? If so, which ones?
Have you ever had a Free T3 test done? If not, you should ask your doctor to order it next time you have a TSH and Free T3, as it's the hormone that's actually used by individual cells and correlates best with symptoms.
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