thyroid

[Mccopp]

Hi! I've been told my thyroid is fine, that I have severe hypothyroid, and that I'm hyperthyroid. an anyone help settle this?

These labs were taken in October of 2010

>Triiodothyronine,Free,Serum 1.9 LOW pg/mL 2.0-4.4

>TSH 3.710 uIUml
0.450-4.500

>Thyroxine (T4) 7.5 ug/dl
4.5-12.0




These are from 2 weeks ago. I'd been on 12. 5 mcg of t3 for about 5 days when these were taken, but I hadn't taken any for about 10 hours at the time of the test.

TPO AB    <3.0            range        Reverse T3 270 pg/ml
90-350

[Vicschick]

Are you still taking Prozac?  SSRI's are endocrine disrupters and they can wreak havoc on your endocrine system especially with long-term use.  If you are off Prozac, it can take a while for your body to find normal again.  I'm NOT an expert on thyroid issues but I am on SSRI withdrawal and it is absolutely no fun at all.

I hope you find relief soon.  I was in Paxil withdrawal for almost 12 months so I know what you are going through.

[Barb135]

The tests from 2 weeks ago say nothing about whether you are hyper or hypo.  I agree with gimel that your Octobver tests indicate that you are still hypo.  

TPOab is used to diagnose Hashimoto's; however that alone does not tell the story.  Your doctor is ordering very incomplete blood work.  In order to confirm/rule out Hashimoto's, you also need to have the TGab test, which is another antibody.  Some of us have only TPOab, some have only TGab, while still others have both; therefore, both must be tested to get the full picture.  

You need to get another TSH, FT3, FT4, TGab, along with the other tests, gimel mentioned.  

[Brucergoldberg]

It looks  like you did not test positive for hashimotos.  You are taking straight T3, but you didnt try taking t4.  You may actually be able to go the normal route and take straight T4.  Did you have a sonogram at the Dr.?  Be sure to ask your Dr. to do this especially if it is covered under your insurance.   Doesnt look like you are extremely low.   Gimel is right.  You need to have your D tested, Iron panel, aldosterone, potassium, and cortisol level probably checked.

You may be one of the lucky people that can just take T4 and do okay.   bruce

[gimel]

With those symptoms, yes I'd say that you are still hypo.  The recent labs didn't provide much additional info.  You really do need to get new lab tests done for FT3, FT4, TSH, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, iron/ferritin, and selenium.  You do need a good thyroid doctor.  I don't know the name of one right now.  Let me do some looking around and I'll get back to you.

[Mccopp]

Thank you so much for that comprehensive answer! The worst symtom has been hypoglycemia. Some days I can't even leave the house because I have to be near food. I'm so sick of force feeding myself meat I can't begin to tell you. I also have bad shaking in bith hands, my heart palp have been better the last few moths though. I also have terrible brain fog and crippling fatigue. I've gained about 15 lbs. It all started last May when I tried going off prozac after 12 yrs of being on it. Do you reccomend any doctors in the LA area? I've seen two doctors and both refused to treat me for hypothyroid, insisting that my thyroid was just fine. Based on my second labs, would you say I'm hypothyroid?

[gimel]

Did they re-test your FT3 and TT4 and TSH 2 weeks ago?  From you Oct. labs I'd say that you were very much hypothyroid, based on the low FT3 level.  FT3 is the most important thyroid hormone because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Studies have shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while FT4 and TSH did not correlate very well at all.  Many of our members have reported that symptom relief for them required that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 adjusted to at least midpoint of its range.  At your next doctor visit, you should request that FT4 be tested instead of TT4, along with the FT3 and TSH.  TT4 is somewhat out of date and not as valuable to know as FT4.  


Also what symptoms are you currently having?   A good thyroid doctor will treat a patient by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms.  Symptom relief should be all important, not test results.  Test results are mainly useful  as indicators  of progress toward symptom relief.