Endocrinology is SOOOO confusing. Please help!

[Atheana]

Hi to all,
My blood work is so out of range on many things, but for right now I feel its my thyroid.

Bloodwork
TSH 5.100    uiu/ml
thyroxine (T4) 6.6
T3 uptake 28%
Free Thyroxine index  1.8
T3 99
Reverse T3, serum  8.1 L
TPO   10

Also, what is strange is my high testosterone 85.93, and high DHEA 581.15 (no supplements for this).

I do have Lyme desease and Hyperferritin Cataract syndrome.

I was reading somewhere that chronic illness many cause T3 to be low, and taking Armour throid(or similar), would not help.

My symptoms
Body pain
Brain fog,short term memory, cognitive skills
hair loss
anxiety and depression
weakness(on and off).
Can't sleep
abdominal distention and pain
Blah,blah,blah

I have to laugh...thats the only thing that keeps me going.

Oh! forgot...I may have MDS,one Dr and Yes the other no. I suppose I will go with the no.

Sorry to go on forever...I'm just trying to get some answers and the Dr's seem unable to give them.
Thanks in advance
Atheana

[Atheana]

I just found a test from my Hematogist for the
Free T3    2.6   pg/ml   range 2.3-4.2
Free T4  1.02  range 0-93-1.70 ng/dl

I hope this adds to the detective work.
Thanks
Atheana

[Atheana]

Wow, what a wealth of knowledge!!! Amazing...the Dr's can't even help me
and you just explained it all.

I also, notice in another post, that Vit D,B12 and ferritins are important
So here's my list:
Vit d,1,25 (OH)2, total  72 Range 18-72
B12    2000H   range 200-1100 (I take b12).
Ferritins 1191 H   range 10-232. I have Hyperferritin Cataract syndrome(which the Dr's know nothing about.

My erythropoietin is always high, 27.7, as is my chlesterol...
Cholestrol,total   251 range 100-199
LDL  171 range 0-99
LDL/HDL ratio  3.3  range 0.0-3.2

I am a vegetarian and not over wt.

I feel so lost trying to figure all this out. Shouldnt Dr's be able to do this.

Thanks for all your wonderful info.

[flyingfool]

TSH which is a screening test at best over about 3.0 would indicate HYPO or low thyroid.  And your TSH at 5.1 is OVER the top of the range clearly indicating the liklihood of being Hypo or low thyroid.

Free thyroxine index   1.8   range 1.2-4.9

This is what is commonly referred to as "Free T4" or "FT4.  The range used is a bit unusual. But commonly people have found if they have symptoms that they need to be at about 50% of the range.  Your FT4 is only 16.2% of the range. Which again would not be unusual for someone with HYPO.

The T3 I have to assume is "Total T3" which is an outdated test of lessor value than the "free T3 test" (FT3).  But even your test result of Total T3 is only 25.6% of the range which is also fairly low in the range.  Another sign of being Hypo.

Your symptoms that you list are all consistent with being Hypo or low thyroid.

Bottom line is this:

You most likely need to be started on a starter dose of thyroid.  You have to insist on getting the FREE t4 and FREE T3 test done.

The difference between "Total" in free is analogous to the difference between the total amount of gas you have in your cars gas tank while the Free test would be the measurement of what amount of gas actually reaches and is used by your car's engine. You only care ultimately what is used.  You can have a full tank of gas but if the fuel line is broken or clogged and the engine does not get sufficient gas, the engine won't run well.  Same is true with regard to thyroid hormone.

You see the thyroid hormone is in one of two states. The hormone molecule is either attached to a protein (and becomes biologically useless) or it remains "free" and unattached.  Your body ONLY uses the "Free" version of either T4 of T3.  Since this is what your body ACTUALLY uses, therefore it makes the most sense to test that directly.

Hope this helps

[Atheana]

I hope I'm doing this right.
I will try and post the range and hope it attaches to the same post.
TSh  5.100     range 0.450-4.500
Thyroxine (T4)  6.6   range 4.5-12.0
T3 uptake  28%     range24-39
Free thyroxine index   1.8   range 1.2-4.9
T3   99   range 71-180
Reverse T3,serum    8.1    range 9.2-24.1

TPO  10   range 0-34

I hope this is what you meant.
Thanks

[Barb135]

We need to know the reference ranges for the tests you posted.  Ranges vary lab to lab have to come from your own report.