Low TSH... still feel very Hypo and want to add T3

[beachcj]

Hi Dr. Lupo,

I have been hypo since I was 17 (I'm almost 23 now). Just this month I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's (my mom has it too)... I may have had it longer but my old doctor only tested TSH as far as I know. I just got my lab results back from my first appt with the new endo and I am a little confused as to what clues they might hold for me. Here is the rundown:

TSH: .77 (range .34-4.82)
Total T3: 1.19 (range .7-1.9)
T-Uptake: 26 (range 31-39) marked LOW... the nurse at the office also called this "T3 Resin Uptake" aka T3RU
T4: 11.6 (range 4.7-13.3)
FTI: 3.02 (range 1.46-5.20)
Thyroid Peroxidase AB: 73 (range up to 35)

My triglycerides also looked slightly high at 145 (range 44-148)... I have never ever had cholesterol problems so this seems weird to me. My RDW was also high at 15.9 (range 11-15)... not sure if this is pertinent either.

I am still feeling very hypo (puffy eyelids, weight gain/ can't lose on strict 1200 calorie diet + 5 hrs of cardio a week, fatigue, memory problems, constipation, etc etc etc... you know the deal). Of all of the doses of levothyroxine I have ever been on for the past 6 years I have never experienced any significant improvement.

I am on 175 mcg of Synthroid and it seems to be doing fine by the looks of my T4... but what I REALLY want to know is what you think of the low T-uptake. Could this be signaling that my body is not converting the T4 to T3 correctly? I have never been treated with T3 medication before and am wondering/hoping if this might help me. I have heard good things about cytomel and armour... I just want to feel better! and levothyroxine pills are not doing it.

Bottomline here is do you think, based on my results, that I could benefit from T3 being added to my treatment? I want to convince my doc to prescribe it but I don't know how. I have my next appointment in early June.

Thanks!
Colleen

[kels12]

please do yourself a favor and check out armour and this website....
www.stopthethyroidmadness.com


good luck to you!!!
kelli

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The T3U is low b/c you are on thyroid medication.
The overall levels are fine, TPO diagnostic of Hashi (the reason for the hypo).
Would talk to your doctor about a trial of cytomel in addition to the synthroid.

The other thing, with the weight issues and highish triglycerides - PCOS...as an explanation for all this.