thyroid

[jdolls]

I just had a thyroid panel done.  my  numbers are as followed TSH 0.16,   FT4 0.68,   I have all the symthons  of a low thyroid.  What do you think?    thank you jdolls

[goolarra]

I'd definitely do a lot of internet research on the interactions among the different medications you're taking.  If steroids can affect your adrenals, they can most likely affect your thyroid, also.  All glandular functions are somewhat interrelated.  Furthermore, adrenal problems can also affect the thyroid, making it difficult to treat until the adrenal problem is resolved.  Do get FT3 tested, also.  This is one of those instances where it is a very important part of the puzzle.

[jdolls]

my symptoms are as followed. very dry skin to the point were my fingers, and mostly my  feet have deep cracks in them.  I makes it very hard to  put any weight, on my feet.  I get ups and down in my engery levels during the day.  Esp in the  mornings, and late in the day.  I have put on 15 pounds in the last  year, and can't lose it.  My hair is very dry.And I can't sleep when i do go to bed.
I am on med.s I have asthma and copd.  I also have to take large amounts of  steriods, on and off durniong the month. usual doese is aroung 60mg of sterionds whinning down 10 gram. every 2 days.  When I am hospitalized I  usually take 240 mg aday, usually in hospital a week to a week and a half by the time I go home I'm down to 120 mgs a day..Whinning down from there.
The thyroid panel the dr did on me is a


tsh 0.16ulu/dl......0.34- 4.82
FT4      0.68 ng/dl o.59---1.17
they didn't do a TR3
I know the steriods screw up my adrental gland, I wonder if my thyroid can be effected  Thanks  for your hekp

[mtkst13]

without ft3 results, you can't determine much of anything.  if your free t3 is high, that would explain why your tsh is low.  if your ft3 is low, then it could be secondary hypothyroidism.  your ft4 is definitely on the border of being low.

you need further tests.

are you on any meds?  have you had thyroid issues in the past?

[goolarra]

Your labs are a bit contradictory.  Your TSH, at 0.16, is below range, which usually (I emphasize usually) indicates hyper.  However, your FT4 is very low (my lab uses 0.6-2.0 as reference range - check yours to make sure it's similar), indicating hypo.  Considering your hypo symptoms (what are they, by the way?), my guess (not a doctor, just a fellow patient) is that you have secondary hypothyroidism.  For some reason, your pituitary is not sending out enough TSH to stimulate your thyroid to produce hormones.  The result is that you are hypo, even though your thyroid is capable of producing hormones.  

[6hashi]

can you post the reference ranges !?