blood test results

[annieface]

HI I JUST RECEIVED BLOOD TESTS RESULTS FROM MY DOCTOR..I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCEING HORRIBLE SYMPTOMS FOR QUITE SOMETIME...FATIGUE, DEPRESSION, MUSCLE ACHES, GASTRO PROBLEMS SUCH AS BLOATING, CONSTIPATION, THE DRYEST SKIN EVER, AND A LOT OF WEIGHT GAIN, THESE ARE THE ALL THE SYMPTOMS I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW...MY TSH TEST CAME BACK AS 6.88, MY T3 UPTAKE (WHICH I NOW READ IS NOT A GOOD TEST)IS 26, T-4 THYROXINE TOTAL IS 8.6 AND THE FREE T-4 INDEX (T7) IS 2.2...HE NEVER RAN A REGULAR T-3 TEST...ALSO I HAD A THYROID ULTRA SOUND DONE AND I HAVE A NODULE ON THE LOWER POLE OF THE RIGHT TYHROID LOBE...NOW THIS DOCTOR OF MINE DIDN'T THINK ANY OF THIS WAS A BIG DEAL BUT SUGGESTS I GO TO AN ENDOCRINOLGYST..I WAS QUITE UPSET OVER HIS NON CARING ATTITUDE..I AM TIRED OF FEELING THIS WAY...COULD SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME INPUT PLEASE? THANK YOU

[annieface]

thank you very much i will cancel the test and i am going to call an endo doctor that my brother in law goes to..he has graves disease...the doctor is over 2 hours away but he's suppose to be good his name is Dr. Alan B. Schorr he's in langhorne pennsylvania.

[wonderme]

Hi.  You made the comment: "When thyroid status is stable and hypothalamic-pituitary function is intact, serum TSH measurement is more sensitive than free T4 (FT4) for detecting mild (subclinical) thyroid hormone excess or deficiency."

What would constitute the hypothalamic-pituitary function NOT being intact?  I believe that I have adrenal issues (low cortisol, low DHEA and low ACTH) -- would this affect the thyroid tests?  What tests would be best for me?  My TSH has fluctuated from 0.9 to 1.58 (ref range 0.5-5.5) but my Free T4 has remained constant at 1.1 (ref range 0.8-1.8).  Don't have Free T3 (prim doc and endo both poo-poo it -- ugh!), but my Total T3 was just below mid-range...

I still have all the symptoms but the tests don't "prove" it.  U have made every lifestyle change I can -- I eat fruits, veggies, whole grains, protein, all organic (milk, too); I exercise 4-5 x a week (pilates, don't have stamina yet for my low-impact aerobics), get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of water, don't drink alcohol or soda (drink one cup coffee couple times a week), etc., etc., etc.

Anyway, I'd mostly like to remedy the unrelenting fatigue and irritability.  It would be great not to have dry hair, skin and not be constipated.  I'd be happy if I could sleep through the night and be refreshed in the morning.  I'd love to not be cold all the time (my bbt is 97.2-97.8, and does fluctuate during the day...)

Any thoughts?  How do you feel about self-treating?  If a possibility (want to be safe), what would you recommend?

Thanks!

[GravesLady]

Hypothalamic - Pituitary - Thyroid Axis in simple terms, influences the TSH levels.  So if TSH level is out of Lab range renduring either hypo or hyper, the hypothalamic-pituitary function is not intact.   Low thyroid normally is or can be, the cause of low cortisol, low DHEA and low ACTH . Not knowing if you have been treated and what for, hypo/hyper and if you are on meds. My doctor does and I recommend all three test, TSH and both FTs and T-3 is better than no 3. He dose a full blood/urin work up once a year. Antibodies if they haven't already been and for  fatigue  checked blood for iron. If you THINK you have adrenal issues, have them tested as well. Levels fluctuating may be due to many reasons, such as a nodule, time of day Labs are done (recommended Labs be done approx at or as close to the same time of day each time - (hypos PM and Hypers AM), what we eat, prolonged intake of refined carbohydrates and sweets, seasons, weather, how and when we take our meds, calcium,V-C, iodine, high fiber foods, other medications, etc., etc., etc., can interefere with meds absorption or make absorption more potent. Pulse, Blood pressure, Temperture, all three normally fluctuates through out the day and unless they are way out they are not too important. The symptoms of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are non-specific and can be mimicked by other health conditions. On the other hand, most of us have been hypo/hyper for a long time before bing dia., so it will take a long time for us to heal and feel better as well.  If there is a health issue I do not believe in solely self-treating without medical, damgae can be done to the system (health)along with the natural thyroid process doing damage as well or worse. However, if you are under the care of a doctor for your thyroid, then any self help might be good,  let your doctor know, and take into consideration that it might influance your levels either way. Sometimes our system gets out of wack and out of the habbit of functioning properly. To get it back into the habbit it needs help for a while, so try sleeping pills for a couple of months, then get the type that "works right away and as needed", so if you wake up during the night you can take it, it will put you right to sleep fast and you can have it on hand for those just incase nights. (never use during the day - just night time), after that you might not nned them at all. The same for bowls. This worked for me. I suffered 6 years with sleep and bowl problems until I became wise and got aids to help - all it took was a couple of months and now everything has been back to normal the last three years. Cold, I have always been a cold as a child and adult, its just a natural thing with me, maybe it is with you too....I have no clue.  Self help such as  good nutrition, vitamin/mineral supplements, no processed foods or as little as possible, exercise, stress control/therapy, regular medical check-ups and whatever else can be done to help and maintain a healthy body and mind as much as possible.
I don't know if this will be of any help since we all are different and our system react differently, but I hope you soon find wellness.

Good Luck!

[Down in Dumps]

Hi, I just received blood tests once more for the 10th time in 10 years.  My TSH is 4.76 and my T-4 is 8.2.  My doctor says it is fine. I have been exhausted for years. No energy. Can't sleep at nite. Gets nite sweats. Body is filled with inflammation.  Feet and legs swell to the point of almost breaking open.  My sed rate is 76.  I know some of my problems are my tyroid.  Open for suggestions.  I'm not sure if a specialists would need to see me but I know I need help.

[GravesLady]

Your THS suggest hypo.  Get a second opinion from an endo. who deals a lot with thyroid.  Have  both F/Ts  done with TSH and antibodies for Graves' and Hashi.
Get a hard copie of your test with Lab ranges. If Lab suggest, then treatment is warrented.  Once on treatment with meds. you need to have Labs done at least every 6 weeks to 3 months until your levels are stable, then every 6 month until levels stay stable for a year and when stable for a year, once  year is fine. This is not for Armour or T-3 replacement - you would need to go more often, like every 4 weeks but no more than every 6 weeks.

Good Luck!

[Bananie22]

I posted my test results on a different thread and realized that this thread is probably more appropriate.  I just received my blood work results and I can't seem to make sense of the FT3 result.  Here they are:
TSH  1.4
FT4  1.7
FT3  2.6

Brief history:  Hashi's, half thyroid removed with large nodule a week ago, been on various mcgs of Levoxyl for about a year, currently on 137 mcg.  Do I need to add Cytomel (sp?) to my Levoxyl...or go on Armour?  Or am I ok with the FT3 as it is?  I can't seem to find anything about the FT3 number being in this range online.  I'm positive it was my Ft3 that was tested though, I saw it filled out on the form and specifically asked for it to be tested.  I know that my TSH is good...it was 28 at one time...yuck!  That's about the extent of what I know though.  =)  anyone know what this reading means?  Thanks!