Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
 | 

what does low tsh, t3, normal t4 mean??

by lexPA123, Oct 01, 2009 09:22PM
Tags: low tsh, Low, t4, normal, t3
Hi,
Ive tried to find an answer to my situation in other posts but still can't seem to figure out what is going on with me.  I've found a new endo who discovered a Pituitary Adenoma last year. I've been taking cabergoline for it and my prolactin levels are now waaaaay down and healthy indicating it has shrunk (mri is in Dec).
  However my thyroid labs from last week are really confusing me. My free T4 is low, my TSH is very low, but my Free t3 is normal

Free T4 0.7 (0.8-1.8 ng/dL)
Free T3  365 (230-420 pg/dL)
TSH 0.06 (0.4-4.50)

I'm currently on 2 grains of Armour and my doctor is saying I have hyperthyroid labs, but i have no hyper symptoms. She also ordered more tests because she thinks i have mild pcos and insulin resistance (although my labs 4 months ago for that were fine).

Should I switch to Synthroid?
Is my pituitary still causing problems even though the adenoma has (probably) shrunk?l
Should I get a second opinion?
Does anyone have any idea what this means??
Member Comments (2)

by TamraW, Oct 01, 2009 09:38PM
To: lexPA123
Considering that you have had pituitary problems in the past, I don't know if I'd trust your TSH levels. That is a pituitary hormone. Your frees really tell you what your thyroid is doing, though some endos SWEAR by TSH.

Although your FT3 is fine, your FT4 is not. I would say you're hypo, not hyper.

I think that if you switch to Synthroid, you won't get the T3 medication anymore and your FT3 levels could drop. Remember, Armour is T3/T4. Synthroid is just T4. Also, if you get no side effects from Armour, which is natural thryoid, why switch to a synthetic?

Maybe the doc can add more T4 to your meds. I do not know how Armour doses work. I don't know if you can get Armour with more T4 or if maybe you could add a low level Synthroid to your Armour.

The key question is, how do you feel? Sick, tired, constipated, depressed, dry skin, menstrual issues?

If not. If you feel great, then stick with your current plan.

:) Tamra

by lexPA123, Oct 02, 2009 06:28AM
To: TamraW
Thank you so much Tamra! I definitely do not feel hyper, and knew instantly when she said that it was not correct. I still have many of my thyroid symptoms, mostly cold intolerance, mental fog, I've gained 20 pounds in the last 3 months etc... So definitely not optimized. I'll talk to her about adding some T4, which I think i'd have to do with another medicine.
Thanks again, it can be so overwhelming looking at these numbers and not being able to trust what your doctor is saying, and it's so kind of you to use your experiences to help!
-Alexis
Related discussions
Post Comment
To
Comment
Post Comment
Recent Activity
Holliee commented on just released from ho...
5 mins ago
Steven Y Park, MD commented on Attention All Mouth B...
43 mins ago
Steven Y Park, MD commented on What You Don't Know A...
46 mins ago
pool200 commented on Attention All Mouth B...
46 mins ago
MrsMacDugle commented on Ending
54 mins ago
MrsMacDugle commented on what happens now?
1 hr ago
MH Community Mgr commented on photo
1 hr ago
Tuckamore commented on photo
1 hr ago
RSS Expert Activity
In the ER: Coffee, anyone?
14 hrs ago by Jon Geller, D.V.M.
My animal blogs! 
16 hrs ago by Justine Lee, D.V.M., DACVECC
Prevention Gains Momentum: Your Gui... 
Nov 29 by Lee Kirksey, MD
Community Members