Thyroid hypo or hyper

[anxietynomore]

Someone Please help me with this. I have been going to a regular MD who is prescribing bio-identical hormones. I had a complete hysterectomy 5 years ago. He says that I have PCOS. And also thinks I need to be on Armour thyroid. I went to an endocronologist. Here are my test results:
TSH 0.994 with range of 0.450-4.500
T4 8.5 with range of 4.5-12.0
T3 Uptake 31 with range of 24-39
Free Thyroxine Index 2.6 with range 1.2-4.9
T4, Free (Direct) 1.38 with range 0.82-1.77
IGF-1 276 with range 101-267
Insulin 3.7 with range 0.0-24.9
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) ab 31 with range 0-34
Creatine Kinase, Total, Serum 74 with range 24-173
I also had a complete metabolic panel (14) done
glucose, serum 89 with range 65-99
BUN 13 with rand 5-26
Creatinine, Serum 0.76 with range 0.57-1.00
BUN/Creatinine Ration 17 with range 8-27
Sodium, Serum 4.4 with range 3.5-5.2
Chloride, Serum 102 with range 97-108
Carbon Dioxide, Total 22 with range 20-32
Calcium, Serum 9.2 with range 8.7-10.2
Protein, Total, Serum 7.0 with range 6.0-8.5
Albumin, Serum 4.4 with range 3.5-5.5
Globulin, Total 2.6 with range of 1.5-4.5
A/G Ration 1.7 with range 1.1-2.5
Bilirubin, Total 0.4 with range 0.0-1.2
Alkaline Phosphatase, S 72 with range 25-150
AST (SGOT) 14 with range 0-40
ALT (SGPT) 10 with range 0-40
Metanephrines, Frac., P1. Free
Normetanephrine, P1 14 with range 0-145
Metanerphrine, P1 <10 with range 0-62
Cortisol 16.1 range 2.3-19.4

I know this is alot of information but, I am so confused. My endocronologist says that there is no need for any further testing or treatment. My MD says that I need Armour Thyroid based on my body tempature (normal 97.6 and based on the IGF-1 being elevated. The PCOS has be confused because I don't have ANY female parts ANYMORE!!! My hair has started falling out about a month ago now. I have extreme anxiety/Depression. Taking up to 2.75mg of xanax a day. Taking vitamin supplements. Vitamin D 4000 units, Calcium 600, Fish Oil, Magnessium
I have lost 40lbs in one year. Have been under a lot of stress. No appetite. My MD thinks I have HYPO-thyroidism. I have no motivation AT ALL! Nothing interests me anymore! Taking the bio-identicals. Please can someone give me some insight on this, especially a doctor! Thanks! This is driving me nuts. I don't know what to do! And who to trust!

[anxietynomore]

Hey went to doctor on Monday. He is rechecking IFG-1, HGH, TSH and CBC and a Free T3. Should get results by end of week. Hoping for something postive to move me in the right direction!

[LazyMoose]

I Looked again and dont see FREE T3. It is not the same as T3 Uptake.

Free T3 reflects how you feel. It is the 'free' or available T3 floating in your blood that is not bound to protein. The T3 that is bound to protein is useless as it will not fit into cell receptors.

As Stella noted "The uptake T3 scan is a lump portion of stored hormone that when tested is very INconclusive of any thyroid function."

Check your copy of the lab report.

[anxietynomore]

If you notice from my results, I had my T3 checked. Or are you talking about something else? Thanks!

[LazyMoose]

Just to make a little more sense, thyroxine , (thyroid hormone) can possibly 'leak' from thyroid nodules and this can be responsible for a hyper feeling, very rare for this to happen. Although some hypothyroid patients can also have adrenal issues, adrenaline, as Thyroid Hunter mentioned, can not leak from the thyroid gland.

You really need free T3 tested to complete the picture. Hypothyroid is can also responsible for anxiety.

[stella5349]

I don't understand why a "sonagram" is the tell all on knowing if you have thyroid disease Thyroid Hunter?

Blood labs - especially the basic TSH - Free T3 and Free T4 labs to start with are a good indication on if this patient "could" have subclinical or non-autoimmune hypothyroidism.

You can ratio out the FT3 and FT4 thyroid panels and see if you have a conversion issue or possible storing of hormone indicated on those labs. A scan will not tell you if a reverse T3 issue is happening or a deficiency  of  mineral or Vits is causing the hormonal upset.

I see the poster is also waiting on the FSH/LH - Progesterone/Testosterone and Estrogen/Estrodiol blood labs. In mnay cases of the conclusions of hypothyroidism an Estrogen dominance factor is present and based on treatment your doctor is providing to you - a bio-identical program is implemented currently for possible issues there.

Lets pick apart this posters blood labs - frist thyroid related and inform her that the actual thyroid labs done - could definately miss a problem going on here with thyroid.

The uptake T3 scan is a lump portion of stored hormone that when tested is very INconclusive of any thyroid function.

You really need to get precise thyroid panels first before anything as marked called the free T3 and Free T4 thyroid panels.

I don't think trying Armour thyroid is a bad idea for you here and could help you. The only thing is this is guess work and trial treatment due to blood labs not being done to properly look at things - thyroid related.

[ThyroidHunter]

The "normal" ranges of TSH, Free and local T-3's and T-4's has been a subject of controversy since the disease was discovered around 1907. The testing equipment in most labs across the US is also more than 5 years old, which means it's out of date with modern ATA standards. In other words, you can still have hypo and/or hyper thyroidic symptoms, will normal blood test ranges.

One sure way to rule out a lot of problems is a sonogram of the gland itself. It will tell you if the gland has nodules, tumors, and/or cysts. Many times the "leakage" of adrenaline can cause the symptoms you describe, yet when tested, you fall into the "normal" range. The leakage does not always fall within the veinous stream, it can go to your digestive tract (sick stomach every morning), your inner brain (anxiety and depresssion, bi-polar misdiagnosises) and many other organs, in my case my sinuses have burnt out, can be effected. Yet with 2 known tumors since birth, and a leaking cyst, I still test "in range" about 50% of the time!

Do not take blood results as final results, try to get a sonogram order, and sometimes you have to fire your doctor when they tell you "there's nothing they can do" or "it's all in your head."

Best

[anxietynomore]

I am currently waiting on my new lab results for the estrogen, progestrone, and testosterone. Thanks for your reply.

[laura1967]

Your thyroid labs are perfect. I don't understand why your GP would think you have thyroid issues.  There are other tests that can be run for Hashimoto's to make sure you aren't in early stages. I would also ask him to test you for Grave's disease!
What your most recent lab results for progesterone, estrogen (all 3), and testosterone (free and total) ?  
Have you also been taking proper amount of complex B's to support your adrenals?
Hair loss and weight loss can be caused by many things, including adrenal fatigue. Even though you had an AM cortisol done, that doesn't tell what is going on over a 24 hr period.