New lab results from 3-29-10

[compnet]

Hello everyone.  Just got more results in!

I'm a little confused at the what they mean.  What was abnormal before seems more normish now, and what was okay before looks out of range now.  Note, the measurement types are different in some that before, too, so hard to compare.  Here they are:

TSH          2.53 uIu/mL
T3 Total     136 ng/dL   !
T3 Free      335 pg/dL   !
Free T4      1.18 ng/dL
Thy Perox AB TPO    11 IU/mL   !

Note, I just contacted for reference ranges so I'll have to wait on them. They appeared to use an exclamation "!" for whatever was out of range.  Three have that mark.  

Am I right -- do I have early stage Hashimoto?  That could explain my up and down lab results.  My TSH last time was high out of range.

Compared to typical ref ranges, how do these look?

I plan to get the other antibodies tested next time.  The lab was confused when I last tried to get them all.

Here is my last labwork:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Thyroid-Disorders/New-thyroid-labwork/show/1193153?personal_page_id=1012978#post_5461837

And I will post the measurement types for past tests where available next time I come here.


Thank you all!

Lindsey

[compnet]

Update here:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Thyroid-Disorders/New-lab-results-from-4-13-10/show/1230498

[Barb135]

I just reread one of your previous posts in which you said:

"I remember reading that with Hashimoto, you can't go by labs but rather by symptoms.  Does this go for all three -- FT3, FT4 and TSH?"

I'm not sure where you read that, but it's wrong.  You have to go by symptoms first, but  the FT3 and FT4 are very important labs, and will tell you what your thyroid is actually producing.  In your case, those levels are good; that's why I suggested that you look at B12 and vitamin D levels because symptoms can "cross over".

In addition to that, without the lab range for your TPOab, we can't even figure that you have Hashi's because as I said, if that were *my* lab, your result would be read as negative.

I changed pcp's a few months ago and the first thing my new doctor did was send me for a "micronutrient" test -- it came back that I am deficient in most except the ones for which I was currently supplementing.  

These deficiencies can mimic symptoms of other diseases.  That's why I suggested in my previous post that you look elsewhere for problems instead of focusing ONLY on the thyroid.  

[compnet]

Barb, thank you.  Thankfully, B12 and Vitamin D are on my current lab sheet.  So, soon enough I'll know where I'm at with those levels.

[Barb135]

It's nice to know that your new doctor is taking all of this seriously.

I do agree with goolarra that comment is almost impossible without knowing what the lab ranges are.  If you had had that TPOab done at *my* lab, it would be a negative because the range is < 35, meaning that if the result is < 35, it's read as negative.  

Same goes for the FT3 and FT4.  Your levels are just slightly lower than mine, but again without the lab ranges, it's hard to say what's what.  

I might suggest that you look into vitamin B12 or vitamin D levels -- that could be where some of your symptoms are coming from rather than thyroid.

[compnet]

Oh, forgot to mention I'm generall happy because she is clueing in on my thyroid, testing it, taking it seriously and going to watch it.  And that she thinks SOMETHING might be wrong with it.  I do wish I just had hypo or hyper alone, without that tough swinging Hashimoto (if I even have anything), but at least the antibodies will give her reason to watch my thyroid for if and when my levels do go out-of-range again.

[compnet]

Hello everyone.

Well, I had my first visit today with my new Polish female PCP in internal medicine.  I'm very happy with her, she was on time, spent an hour one-on-one with me, she took a thorough history and physical exam including my thyroid.  She is very kind and smart, and shares my religious beliefs.

I brought lots of printed up material about the new thyroid reference range and mental symptoms that I wondered if it were from the thyroid, as well as information on Hashimoto.  (My friend said it would be too soon to pile all that information on her my first visit and to look like a know-it-all, but she asked what I had and if I had any questions/concerns so I just went with it -- I really wanted her to read it and get her input.)  She didn't read all of it, unfortunetly she isn't as laid back and open to new material and other testing as my other doctor, but I can still go to him if need be.  And I get so timid with doctors.  I will be asking him for the other antibody testing.  Funny enough, she knows the other doctor and if sort of friends.

I showed her the other tests I wanted and she said she can't just do any tests, that she has to have a reason.  But that she would do them all over time, narrowing down/ruling out as we go along.  She ordered lots of tests for me, some routine, some of what I asked for, some due to previous abnormality and other tests.  I wish she were more open and laid back like my other doctor, but she did say over time she would, so I guess it's okay, and it would be too many vials if all at once anywho.  I'm just happy to have a regular doctor again.

I showed her the labwork of my thyroid, and she said she only goes by Free T4 and TSH (blah!) and because of family history, previous high TSH, and antibodies, she wants to test again and keep an eye on my thyroid.  Part of the lab sheet she gave includes repeat thyroid and antibody tests.  She said with the antibodies that it could be Hashimoto, and she explained what it was and that it's not an awful condition (she apparently doesn't know Hashi patients on this forum), and she said meds are used for it.  She said she'd retest for Hashi in 8 weeks and that it would be too soon to do any sooner.  She also explained that the antibodies and thyroid levels are affected my medicines, hormones, etc. and that could explain my levels, and that it could be false-positive.  She also said since my labs are okay right now that there wouldn't be treatment for the Hashimoto, I guess not until it starts swinging.

The little child in me is screaming "Hurry!  Hurry!  I want my diagnosis!  I want my meds!  Gimme!  Gimme!" heh.

I remember reading that with Hashimoto, you can't go by labs but rather by symptoms.  Does this go for all three -- FT3, FT4 and TSH?


Thank you all for your time and comments.


God bless you.

Lindsey

[goolarra]

Save yourself some frustration...ranges have to come from your lab report...you can gather all the ranges off the internet you want, but they don't mean squat.  Hang tight until you get your ranges and have a good night's sleep in the meantime...

[compnet]

Here's some interesting ref ranges for TPO I just came across:

<9.0 IU/mL
http://www.childrensmn.org/Manuals/Lab/Serology/106816.asp

less than 2 IU/mL
http://graves.medshelf.org/Lab_Tests

0.0 - 2.0 IU/ml
http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/EXAM/LABREF.html

These give me a lot of hope.  I'm really wondering what my labs range is now.  I'm sure hoping something comes out for me.  Lately, I'm especially frustrated with the low energy, poor motivation, and poor concentration.

[goolarra]

Usually the range for TPOab is something like "<20" or "<40".  In most of the ranges I've seen, your 11 would be considered a negative.

[compnet]

Oops.  I mean't the right arrow and left arround in those quotes.  It didn't post right.

[compnet]

Thank you, goolarra.  I didn't even request TT3 nor did the doctor!  They accidently added that in there.

It's strange to me, shouldn't the TPO say "" or "positive/negative"?

[goolarra]

TT3 is fairly useless, anyway.  It's considered an obsolete test and pretty much a waste of money.  I really want to see ranges before I comment further.

[compnet]

If they turn out being normal, do you think I can still get thyroid meds based on lab proof of lownormal FT4 and high out-of-range TSH?

[compnet]

Well, they put an exclamation with the following three, so I'm thinking that they are out-of-range according to their reference ranges.  Which I guess means Hashimoto or Graves.  Strange with just the T3 out-of-range, though TSH is borderline high to the new 3.0.  This is all so confusing and frustrating.

T3 Total     136 ng/dL   !
T3 Free      335 pg/dL   !
Thy Perox AB TPO    11 IU/mL   !

I think I just found the ref range for my lab for Total T3 to be 76-181 ng/dL, which would mean that exclamation doesn't make sense?

I'm sure hoping to get the ref ranges very soon!

[goolarra]

TPOab looks to be within range to me as range is usually something like "<40", but we'd have to see your lab's ranges to know for sure.  So, that would indicate no Hashi's. but, as you said, they didn't do TGab.

TSH is back in range again.

There is no such thing as a "typical range".  Ranges depend on individual lab's assay equipment and techniques.  My lab just revised its FT4 range due to new methodology, and it changed significantly.  Without ranges, it really would be just guessing...