Weird Results & Symptoms

[Julpepper47]

Hi All,

I'm new here and I know that it is always best to go to the source, i.e. those that fight the battle on a daily basis.

I've had Hashimoto's since a year after my daughter was born in 2000 when I was 36.  I have had a lot of ups and downs with different medications but have been stable for the last two years on 2 grains of Armour taken throughout the day.
I was feeling tired, ummotivated and struggling with insominia so I had my provider run some bloodwork.  In addition, my throat is swollen and swallowing has become a bit cumbersome.  My eyes feel like they're going to blow out of my head b/c there is pressure behind them!  That is uncomfortable to say the least.

My levels were:
TSH - .02
T3-TOTAL - 141
T4 - FREE - .93

I've never had scores like this, usually my TSH runs around 1-2, my T4 is usually around .7 and my TS is usually around 95 - 116 at its highest.  I feel like something odd is going on.
What would everyone suggest if you had these odd test results?
Jul

[flyingfool]

Total T3 is an outdated test and of little value.

Free T3 is the hormone that is unattached (thus free) from a protein and the free hormone molecules is the ONLY thing your body uses at the cellular level.

Total T3 is like a measurement of the amount of fuel in your automobile fuel tank.  But it tells you NOTHING really about how much fuel is actually getting to the engine.

Free T3 is a measurement of the fuel flow at the engine.  

[goolarra]

You might ask her to order thyroid antibodies.  TPOab (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) and TGab (thyroglobulin antibodies) are the markers for Hashi's, and TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) is the marker for Graves'. If you test those three, you'll have a much better idea what's going on.

Stress can impact our dosage of meds.  

The U/S is a good idea.

Next time around, ask her to order FREE T3 instead of total T3.  

[Julpepper47]

I don't know about the antibody tests, my PCP only selected the tests above.  She did agree to send me for an ultrasound so we'll see if that comes up with anything.
I have had to be my own advocate, I'm only on Armour because I asked for it.  She also follows my requests (for the most part) on my blood tests.  She is good because she listens but I'm her only patient on Armour so she isn't that familiar with it and doesn't ever work with it.

No other life changes except I've been under a lot of stress at home from marriage issues - I suppose that could be a factor.

Thanks for the response!

[goolarra]

Yes, it definitely looks like something odd is going on.  A couple of possibilities come to mind:  After 15 years, your thyroid "shouldn't" be swinging into a hyper phase of Hashi's, but that is a possibility.  Do you know what your antibody counts have looked like?  Another possibility is that you are absorbing meds better.  Have you made any changes lately to diet or other meds or supplements?

Any other life changes?