Aa
I have Lab Results does anyone understand them?
I am totally new here. I'm Canadian. For the first time ever I actually have actual Lab results to share. Usually our healthcare providers do not share this info with us. They will tell us what is wrong, prescribe meds but we never get actual results or see them. I was at my wits end with my health so at my own expense I recently hired a Naturopath and asked her to run a bunch of tests so we could get to the bottom of what was wrong with me. I knew my meds were not working. Well, we did not get off to a very good start. They did my bloodwork Jan 23rd. I have been getting sicker and sicker and trying to be patient, 2wks went by and I phoned and they said they had nothing and that I should be patient and they would call me. Then 4wks went by and I still hadn't heard anything so I sent an email. Course, my new Dr is away on holidays now. But my email prompted her office to look for my results and they found that they were indeed there and had been since Feb 4. I have all over muscle cramping so bad I can barely get dressed and its so painful. So I was not a very happy camper. Anyways the test results were then emailed to my Dr and then to me. They were quite apologetic.
Here they are: TSH 66.00 Free T3 1.50 FreeT4 <0.4 RT3 <9.0
Can anyone tell me what this means? I don't see new DR until Mar 2. She did phone me and said you need need to see a medical DR right away and get on a Combo T3/T4 Med. In my brain fog I did not instruct the clinic properly. I went to a walk in clinic and show them my test results and they say, why don't we give you some Synthroid. And I said No. I have been on that and Eltroxin and on NaturThroid and nothing works I want Cytomel isn't that a T3/T4 med? and they say yup and prescribe it to me. So I have this prescription filled and get home and I look it up and find out its only a T3 medication. But I'm thinking well, I've never done this one before ...so maybe it'll work. .25 mcg 2 times a day - I guess we will fix everything up when my Dr gets back but in the interim can anyone tell me how to read these test results? Do you think T3 alone can do something or do I need to add T4? Thanx so much! Connie
Here they are: TSH 66.00 Free T3 1.50 FreeT4 <0.4 RT3 <9.0
Can anyone tell me what this means? I don't see new DR until Mar 2. She did phone me and said you need need to see a medical DR right away and get on a Combo T3/T4 Med. In my brain fog I did not instruct the clinic properly. I went to a walk in clinic and show them my test results and they say, why don't we give you some Synthroid. And I said No. I have been on that and Eltroxin and on NaturThroid and nothing works I want Cytomel isn't that a T3/T4 med? and they say yup and prescribe it to me. So I have this prescription filled and get home and I look it up and find out its only a T3 medication. But I'm thinking well, I've never done this one before ...so maybe it'll work. .25 mcg 2 times a day - I guess we will fix everything up when my Dr gets back but in the interim can anyone tell me how to read these test results? Do you think T3 alone can do something or do I need to add T4? Thanx so much! Connie
You're right, Annie, she did say she's on 25 mcg Cytomel twice a day (I believe it's 25, not 0.25). If nothing else, starting someone initially on a T3-only meds is very unusual. However, it seems that her doctor ordered a combo T3/T4, but the clinic messed up and gave her Cytomel, telling her it was a T3/T4 combo, which we all know it is not.
I agree that she should be on both meds or T4 only. Her FT4 is so low that it's impossible to know at this point if she needs T3 meds or not. However, a little T3 at this point will help her to feel better if taken with T4 meds until the T4 has time to build to a reasonable level. I also agree with Annie that she probably was always undertreated, and that's why she thought the Synthroid, etc. didn't work. A higher dose of Synthroid (perhaps starting out low and building, depending on other health issues, etc.) should get both FT3 and FT4 higher in their ranges (if there's no conversion issue).
T3-only is the treatment for RT3 dominance, or Wilson's syndrome. The idea here is to shut down conversion completely, which also shuts down the production of RT3. This allows the RT3 to be purged from the body. It's a "temporary" treatment until the RT3/FT3 balance is restored.
Yes, there's always some merit in keeping things as close to "natural" as possible, including maintaining the deiodination process. However, with Wilson's that process has been corrupted...too much RT3 is being converted compared to FT3. Wilson's syndrome is actually not a thyroid condition (although it aften accompanies thyroid conditions); it's a failure to metabolize T4.
Anyway, after all that discussion of Wilson's, her FT3/RT3 balance looks "good", so I don't think that's a factor.
I agree that T3-only meds is not the way to go right now. That FT4 needs to come up, and Cytomel isn't going to do anything for it.
I agree that she should be on both meds or T4 only. Her FT4 is so low that it's impossible to know at this point if she needs T3 meds or not. However, a little T3 at this point will help her to feel better if taken with T4 meds until the T4 has time to build to a reasonable level. I also agree with Annie that she probably was always undertreated, and that's why she thought the Synthroid, etc. didn't work. A higher dose of Synthroid (perhaps starting out low and building, depending on other health issues, etc.) should get both FT3 and FT4 higher in their ranges (if there's no conversion issue).
T3-only is the treatment for RT3 dominance, or Wilson's syndrome. The idea here is to shut down conversion completely, which also shuts down the production of RT3. This allows the RT3 to be purged from the body. It's a "temporary" treatment until the RT3/FT3 balance is restored.
Yes, there's always some merit in keeping things as close to "natural" as possible, including maintaining the deiodination process. However, with Wilson's that process has been corrupted...too much RT3 is being converted compared to FT3. Wilson's syndrome is actually not a thyroid condition (although it aften accompanies thyroid conditions); it's a failure to metabolize T4.
Anyway, after all that discussion of Wilson's, her FT3/RT3 balance looks "good", so I don't think that's a factor.
I agree that T3-only meds is not the way to go right now. That FT4 needs to come up, and Cytomel isn't going to do anything for it.
Yes Magpieannie, that is exactly what I meant. I have been on just T4 for many years. My last T4 med only I was on was 200. mcgs Eltroxin for several years and I felt like it was doing nothing at all, so about 8months ago I got my Dr, to switch me to Naturthroid 125. mcg apparently the uptake is different so the doseage was lowered and again, I felt like nothing was working. My body just started shutting down and I started putting on weight again, freezing, muscle cramping, hair & nails brittle, dry skin, insomnia . Now I have these lab results. Maybe I had a bad batch of meds of something. Oh I wish I had instructed the clinic properly and got a T4 and T3 combo. Luckily this is a short month, so its less than a week until I get into see my Dr who is on holidays. Our city is hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics right now so alot of locals that could afford to, have left.... I really appreciate everyone's input. Thank you so much.
I think Conitchewa was saying that she's on .25 mcg of t3 (Cytomel) twice a day now and no t4 (Synthroid). ( Is that correct, Coni.?)
I would think that she she should be on both meds, Synthroid with the addition of Cytomel twice per day. Looking at her labs, both levels are extremly low and that TSH is way to high. NO wonder she hurts all over! Maybe she didn't do well before on Synthroid alone due to being under dosed? Maybe Synthroid alone at a higher dose would do the trick and get that t3 and t4 higher in their ranges? If not, I would add the cytomel to it, but I would not take the cytomel t3 alone without t4. (my daughters doctor thought about giving her a try with this "Wilson's Temp. Syndrome." approach, (time released t3) and I said no.) I think the body is suppose to utilize that deodinization process, so we shouldn't side step it- it's there for a reason! However, if we need to assist the body with the conversion process, then by all means, adding a little t3 to the t4 can help get that t3 level up if the body cannot do it with t4 alone. Of course, she will need to discuss these options with her doctor!
What is everyone elses thoughts on this?
I would think that she she should be on both meds, Synthroid with the addition of Cytomel twice per day. Looking at her labs, both levels are extremly low and that TSH is way to high. NO wonder she hurts all over! Maybe she didn't do well before on Synthroid alone due to being under dosed? Maybe Synthroid alone at a higher dose would do the trick and get that t3 and t4 higher in their ranges? If not, I would add the cytomel to it, but I would not take the cytomel t3 alone without t4. (my daughters doctor thought about giving her a try with this "Wilson's Temp. Syndrome." approach, (time released t3) and I said no.) I think the body is suppose to utilize that deodinization process, so we shouldn't side step it- it's there for a reason! However, if we need to assist the body with the conversion process, then by all means, adding a little t3 to the t4 can help get that t3 level up if the body cannot do it with t4 alone. Of course, she will need to discuss these options with her doctor!
What is everyone elses thoughts on this?
You are less than two weeks away from seeing your doctor.
You are very hypothryoid. No wonder you're feeling so bad.
The dose of 25 mcg of T4 only med / day is ok to start with and you need to be taking it straight away. Your doctor can adjust meds / prescribe a different combo when she sees you.
Hang in there, it can take some time to get to feeling better but at least you will be on the way now.
You are very hypothryoid. No wonder you're feeling so bad.
The dose of 25 mcg of T4 only med / day is ok to start with and you need to be taking it straight away. Your doctor can adjust meds / prescribe a different combo when she sees you.
Hang in there, it can take some time to get to feeling better but at least you will be on the way now.
The high TSH and low Free's say that you are extremely Hypothyroid
You are not supposed to be on T3 medicine only
The T4 medicine didn't work for you because you were undertreated
This is a process that can take years to reach the exact dose you need
And you will not feel well untill you reach that dose exactly
That means 50mcg/week more or less and you remain symptomatic
You might also want to ask for anti TGab and anti TPOab to see if the cause is hashimoto
feel well,
You are not supposed to be on T3 medicine only
The T4 medicine didn't work for you because you were undertreated
This is a process that can take years to reach the exact dose you need
And you will not feel well untill you reach that dose exactly
That means 50mcg/week more or less and you remain symptomatic
You might also want to ask for anti TGab and anti TPOab to see if the cause is hashimoto
feel well,
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
