Just got my results back from my thyroid test - No idea what they mean.

[JamesMoose]

RESULTS
(TSH0.8 0.3-4.2 UIU/ML)

I'm 22, male. Active lifestyle and currently serving in the armed forces. Not sure if my levels are normal, or abnormal for my age group.

[gimel]

You do have symptoms that are frequently related to being hypothyroid.  Even though your TSH is relatively low does not preclude hypothyroidism.  Note that there are two basic types of hypothyroidism:  Primary hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, and is characterized by relatively high TSH levels.  Central hypothyroidism is a dysfunction in the hypothalamus/pituitary system that results in TSH levels that are too low to adequately stimulate the thyroid gland, resulting in levels of Free T4 and Free T3 (the biologically active thyroid hormones) that are too low in their ranges.  

A good thyroid doctor will diagnose and treat a hypothyroid patient clinically, by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being influenced by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results, and especially not TSH levels.  So the first thing to be done now is to get tested for Free T4 and Free T3 (not the same as Total T4 and Total T3), Reverse T3, cortisol, Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  You can read about all this in the following link, and also use it to try to get the doctor to treat clinically, as described.  

http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf

I highly recommend reading at lest the first two pages of the paper and further if you want to get into the analysis and scientific evidence for the suggestions on page 2.  Note that many of us have found that Free T4 needs to be at the mid-point of the range, at minimum, and Free T3 in the upper part of its range, adjusted as needed to relieve symptoms  Also, D should be at lest 50. B12 in the upper end of its range, and ferritin should be at least 70.

If you can get that testing done, and then post results and reference ranges shown on the lab report, we will be gland to help interpret and advise further.  

[gimel]

First thing you should know is that TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone.  TSH is affected by so many things that, at best it is only an indicator, to be evaluated along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3.  

TSH test by itself is totally inadequate as a diagnostic for thyroid status.  So please tell us about any symptoms you have.  Also, if tested for Free T4 and Free T3 please post those results, along with reference ranges shown on the lab report.  

[JamesMoose]

Symptoms: Inability to lose weight, constant panic attacks, and low energy.

I eat healthy (Chicken breast/broccoli) are the majority of my meals. Conduct 40min's of cardio a day. But for some reason I'm stagnant on weight loss. Currently 223lb's. Besides that, I seem to suffer from panic attacks. Which is something that's never plagued me before. One precursor to the panic attacks is my throat feeling weird, kind of tightening up.

Lab Results:
Value Referance Range
TSH 0.8 0.3-4.2 UIU/ML

Lipid Panel:
CHOLESTEROL 181 120-200 MG/DL
TRIGLYCERIDE 77 0-150 MG/DL
HDL 42 40-85 MG/DL
LDL, CALCULATED 124 0-130 MG/DL
RISK RATIO 4.3

[des900]

Seeing your cholesterol its bit high especially due to low HDL and bit high LDL and doing the complete thyroid panel, Free T3, Free T4 and TSH is preferred.

Concerning meat eating reduce it to 2 to 3 times a week maximum and limit intake instead increase fish consumption, but avoid ones which are high in mercury content (tuna, king mackeral, shark etc).