Please help me hack my labs... they are so mixed!

[BarbieSmith]

I have suspected that I have either adrenal/cortisol issues or thyroid issues for a long time.  Just got some thyroid tests back (waiting to save up $$ for the adrenal tests!) and simply don't know what to make of them. I was *sure* there was going to be something wrong with them (I *feel* hypothyroid), but I simply cannot see anything out of kilter.

If anybody that knows more than me can take a look and let me know if you notice something, please let me know!  I would be grateful  :)

TSH                        1.800 uIU/mL  (range: 0.450-4.500)
T4                          6.6 ug/dL  (range: 4.5-12.0)
T4,Free(Direct)         1.25 ng/dL  (range: 0.82-1.77)
T3, Free,Serum         3.4 pg/mL  (range: 2.0-4.4)
Reverse T3, Serum    21.5 ng/dL  (range: 13.5-34.2)
Testosterone, Serum  30 ng/dL  (range: 8-48)
Free Testosterone     0.6 pg/mL  (range: 0.0-2.2)

Other test results (in case they are helpful), DHEA, cholesterol and a liver test are high, Vit D is low, it seems:

DHEA-Sulfate           254.1 ug/dL   (range: 35.4-256.0)   (I've been supplementing 7-keto until a week b4 labs)
Estradiol                  110.6 (taken on day 21 of my cycle. Luteal phase range: 43.8 - 211.0)
Vitamin D, 25-Hyd.    56.6 ng/mL   (range: 30.0-100.0) (and I've been supplementing 5-10,000 daily for a year now!!!)
C-Reactive Protein    1.29 mg/L   (range: 0.00-3.00)
Progesterone            5.9 ng/mL  (taken on day 21 of my cycle. Luteal phase 1.7 - 27.0)

Cholesterol, Total        241  mg/dL   (range: 100-199) *SUPER HIGH!
LDL Cholesterol Calc    172 mg/dL   (range: 0-99)
VLDL Cholesterol Cal    20 mg/dL   (range: 5-40)
HDL Cholesterol          49 mg/dL    (range: >39)
T. Chol/HDL Ratio       4.9    (range: 0.0-4.4)

Lastly, this liver "test" was high - even after Googling it, I am unsure what it means  :)

ALT (SGPT)              54 IU/L   (range: 0-40)


Thanks for any insight you have so I can improve myself - I am an "older" mom (45 years old, my girls are 6 and 7) and I want to stay around with my children for a while!
Regards,
PaleoBarbie

[Barb135]

I don't really see anything in your thyroid tests that indicate a real issue; however, I would have to wonder if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disease, in which the body see the thyroid as foreign and produces antibodies to destroy it, which ultimately leaves the patient hypothyroid.  The thyroid destruction is a process that often takes years/decades to complete, but symptoms of hypo can show up long before the blood work indicates a problem.

High cholesterol is one symptom of hypothyroidism. What other symptoms do you have?

http://www.medicinenet.com/liver_blood_tests/article.htm
ALT (SGPT) is an enzyme that's found primarily in the liver. "ALT (SGPT) is, by contrast, normally found largely in the liver. This is not to say that it is exclusively located in liver, but that is where it is most concentrated. It is released into the bloodstream as the result of liver injury. Thus, it serves as a fairly specific indicator of liver status."   You should talk to your doctor about this one and request further investigation.

DHEA is an adrenal hormone, which naturally declines with age and it's usually not recommended to supplement, unless under a doctor's supervision.

Your vitamin D could be a bit higher, but it's not drastically low. Optimal is usually considered around 80.  Are you supplementing under doctor's orders or just because?  You have to make sure that you're supplementing with the right type of Vitamin D.  If not, you're wasting time/money.

Exactly which hypo symptoms do you have?  There are other things that can cause hypo like symptoms, such as low vitamin B12, iron, calcium, plus others.

[BarbieSmith]

Thank you for your response!  I guess I will need the antibody tests for Hashi's then?  I have been eating paleo style for 9 months now, I cannot even *imagine* what my labs looked like before then :)
Barbie

[Barb135]

Yes, it would be a good idea to get the antibody tests for Hashi's.

If you will let us know what your symptoms are, we may be able to help pinpoint some other issues that can cause similar symptoms.