Thyroid

Hi,
I received thyroid test back and want help reading them. My Dr says they are "borderline"?? Anyhow, here they are:
1.) T3 uptake: result: 32
Reference range (32-48)

2.) TSH 3rd Generation: result 6.868  
Reference range (0.340- 3.5) clearly this one indicates high, but what does that mean in reference to the other tests?

3.) T4 Free: result 0.8  
Reference range (0.5-1.6)



Any help would be greatly appreciated

M W

[goolarra]

In my opinion, your results are clearly hypothyroid.  TSH is too high, and FT4 is within range, but very low.  I would guess you must be having hypo symptoms???

[Barb135]

I agree with goolarra.  Did your doctor start you or med?  

[sienna4mom]

Well, the short answer is no. The LONG answer is :

Originally I'd had a pregnancy induced  thyroid condition and was put on medication by my OB DR , but not until I'd almost gained 80 lbs during pregnancy, a total of 90. Once put on the medication I lost all of the weight after my baby was born. He tested me 1 time about 1 year  after the baby was born and took me off the medication. Since then he has ordered   2  thyroid labs over the past 3 years to make sure I didn't need to go back on the medication and said that he would call if they came back abnormal. Well I assumed everything was fine until I just went to the lab and asked for a print out of my labs for the past few years and - yes you guessed it my labs for thyroid have indeed been high. My OB Dr. says he thought they were borderline, then came back and said actually he couldn't find the lab results in my chart at all. Great-I've  been suffering for almost 3 years because the office staff can't file the labs correctly. I just took another lab, for my primary care DR and I am very anxious to see the results when they come back in the next 3 days.

I will NEVER EVER rely on a Dr again and assume they have done their job. I will always obtain copies of my labs (didn't know I could just check a little box and have them sent to my house). Hard lesson to learn. I think my OB DR dismissed me b/c I am not that overweight by the BMI , but by MY bodies norm I am 15-20 lbs heavy and was 15 lbs leaner when I was on my thyroid medication. I am active, eat right etc and have been irritable, tired, losing hair etc for the past 3 years (on and off). Really makes my angry-what would you do?

[goolarra]

Next time you have labs (which should be about 5-6 weeks after starting meds), insist on FT3 as well as FT4 and TSH.  FT3 is the test that best correlates with symptoms.

I would insist on medication.  The labs you posted above should get almost any, but the most uninformed, doctor to prescribe thyroid meds.  There are still some (who obviously haven't a clue about thyroid) who won't treat unless TSH is over 10.  This is ridiculous.  Your FT4 is in range, but it's too low.  All your symptoms point to hypo.

If your current doctor is reluctant to start meds, you may have to find one who will.

Medical mistakes are incredibly annoying.  A lot of it is just plain sloppy.  We're dealing with humans, so mistakes will happen, and yes, you have to get all your test results yourself.  I was just referred to a specialist by my PCP.  I have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (a congenital heart defect).  The referral form said I had Parkinson's disease!  There's just no excuse for that.  

[sienna4mom]

Wow, from Woff-Parkinson-White syndrome to someone just putting Parkinson's is just lazy on the person sending the referral. It is so frustrating isn't it?