Help! Understanding test results

[Sweetpea72]

I have posted before. I gathered all my test results. Can someone please explain and maybe this will explain why I feel the way I do. Drs are looking everywhere else but I think I have self diagnosed myself being hypo?, but two doctors say NO.

June 3rd  09

TSH   4.20  (0.47 - 5.0 )
FT4    0.76  (0.78- 2.19 )
T3 FREE  3.41  ( 2.77- 5.27 )
THYROGLOBUL AB   <1:10    ( <1:160 )
THY MICRO AB        <1:100   (  <1:1600)

June 9th  09

TSH  3.35        SAME VALUES AS ABOVE
FT4   0.83
T3 FREE  2.99

July 9th 09

TSH   2.86 ( .34 - 5.6 )
FT4    0.83 ( .58 - 1.64 )
He didnt or T3
CORTISOL  15.7  (3.09 - 22.40 )

Why would the corisol be in the high end range? It maybe fine Im not sure.  I can say that since the last I haven't been as dizzy, maybe cause the TSH dropped some.? I thought it was my eyes at times but then the dizziness got bad. Does Hypo cause dizziness, headaches, and/or anxiety?  My antibodies I think show I dont have graves or the other Hash....Right? so thats a good thing. But sometimes I wake up with my arms & legs tingling and week, mostly my legs and my heart is going crazy fast heart beat. I think Im dying at those times. Please someone help me understand my body.

I went thru a ruffff time with my hormones last year and now this. Is anyone on Bioidentical pellets? (Estrogen & Testostrone)?

Thanks so much!
Pam

[Barb135]

I notice that the lab ranges changed from Jun to Jul --- did you use a different lab?  Not that it really matters, since the ranges are still obsolete, but I was just curious.

I've never seen the antibody tests expressed that way before either, so I won't even hazard a guess on those.  But even if these results do not indicate antibodies, who's to say, they won't show up in a future test?  It's my understanding that we can have symptoms for a long time before anything shows up in the lab work.  

Aside from that, it does appear that you are a bit hypo - your FT4 was actually below the range on the Jun 3 test and your TSH was over the "new" standard of 3.0........Makes me wonder if you are swinging a bit back and forth between hypO and hypER, but on second thought probably not, since your Free's are not going up by any significant amounts.

Hypothyroidism has SO many symptoms, it's impossible to say what is or isn't one of them - depends a lot on the person.  One thing with the dizziness - I had it some too, because my heart rate was dropping so low at times, as was my blood pressure.  Don't forget that your thyroid controls your heart rate, metabolism, etc, so if your thyroid is low, it's likely that some of your other body processes could be slowed down as well.  

Is there a possibility that you can get either of those doctors to give you a trial dose of a T4 med, just to see if it helps get rid of your symptoms?  If not, I'd suggest finding a different doctor or request a referral to endocrinologist - but then since they don't think there's anything wrong with you, you probably won't get that - so scratch that idea and I'll go back to suggesting a different doctor.  

[dani2776]

To answer your question yes dizziness can glo along with hypothyroid.  I have hypothyroid due to Hashimoto's and I have it as well.  Sometimes I have the actual vertigo with the room spinning but more frequently I have a sensation of being lightheaded and off balance.  The best way I can describe it is to say I feel medicated or like I have had too much to drink.  I too agree that you have hypothyroidism but do not understand your results with the antibodies.  My TSH when I was diagnosed was 3.98 and my free T4 was 1.3  My Free T4 is now down to 0.82 and I feel like I am dying.  I have so many symptoms it's ridiculous!  You really need to pursue the issue further maybe with a different doc!

[Sweetpea72]

Does dizziness go along with Hypo?

[Sweetpea72]

no they say im fine. I have more less diagnosed myself with my test result.

[goolarra]

Your FT4 in all your labs indicates to me that you are hypo.  TSH is barely within the high end or above the currently accept range of 0.3-3.0.  Your labs are using obsolete ranges.

When your thyroid is underperforming, the adrenals often "take over" the work of the thyroid to some extent (or try to).  This could be why your cortisol is up a bit.

Hypo can cause all the symptoms you mention.

I have never seen antibody tests expressed the way yours are.  Usually they are just a number.  However, if I interpret what I see based strictly on mathematical terminology, I would say that your antibodies are elevated, which would indicate Hashi's. (Don't trust me on this one!!!)  Hashi's is the most common cause of hypo in the U.S.  

Are you on thyroid meds?  If so, which and what dose?   Have you recently changed dose?

[TamraW]

Your TSH is too high. Your FT4 and FT3 are too low, indicating hypothyroidism. You could benefit from some FT4 and FT3 replacement. My endo would have put your on something. Many endos now use the TSH value of 3.0 or higher is bad, some even use 2.5. Same goes with FT4 and FT3. They've changed their standards. Your docs need to get with the program!!!

I really don't understand your Cortisol test (since I've never had one).Also, I don't understand your Hashi tests. Your labs use different values than mine. My Anti-TPO is 221 (lab value over 35 is abnormal). I have Hashi, which is a form of hypo.

Your symtoms are similar to mine, espcecially the crazy heart beat when I'm swinging from hyper to hypo mode. No, you're not crazy.

Switch doctors, or get the book Thyroid Power, 10 Steps to Total Health by Richard L. Shames and Karilee Halo Shames. That book explains it all.

Take care...
:) Tamra