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Normal thyroid and tests?
I've been dealing with thyroid problems for a couple years now. My free t4 has been elevated. My thyroid ultrasound has been right lobe 5.7cm x 1.7cm x 1.9cm, the left lobe 6.2cm x 1.4cm x 1.8 with multiple cysts up to 4mm and solid nodule that is 1.1cm x 1.0cm x .8cm what should I do?
I found some tests that were ordered 2/9/15 in beginning, the t4 was 1.66 with range of 0.8-1.6ng. The t3 was 3.4 with range of 2.1-4.0pg/ml. The Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin was 91% with range <122%. The thyroid peroxidase ab was <10 with <35 range. I started going to docs then because I was feeling "sick" for 2 months and lost 15lbs in that time, since then I've gone from 156lbs to 114lb in 2 years with no diet change and I don't exercise. The hematocrit the doctor just passed off because I smoke? I really don't like doctors and I don't go unless I have to so this is frustrating to me that I think they're picking at straws to figure it out
COMMUNITY LEADER
Do you have lab results from before you started taking the levothyroxine? 25 mcg is a very small dose and your FT4 is quite a bit over range, already. There are a couple of possibilities, but we can't know, without a Free T3 result to confirm...
One possibility is that you didn't need the levo in the first place. The other possibility is that you aren't converting the T4 to T3...
Here's a quick "Thyroid 101"... The thyroid produces 2 hormones: T4 and T3, but mostly T4. Of the Total T4 in your blood, most is bound by a protein and is unusable, therefore, we test the Free T4, which is the "unbound" portion that's available for use. Free T4 isn't used directly by the body; it's considered a "storage" hormone and must be converted to T3 prior to use.
Like T4, most of the T3 in our blood is bound by a protein and can't be used, therefore, we test for Free ("unbound") T3, to find out how much usable T3 we have. Free T3 is the hormone that's used by nearly every individual cell in our body.
You should ask your doctor for a Free T3 test every time you have a Free T4 and TSH test in order to get the full picture of what's going on. Free T3 and Free T4 need to be done at the same time... If your doctor refuses to order Free T3, you really need to find a different doctor.
Yes, it matters that your hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC are all elevated. This could indicate that you have too much iron in your blood and could indicate Hemochromatosis. Ask your doctor for a Ferritin test, along with an iron panel, which should include Serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and/or transferrin and the transferrin saturation (this will be a %).
If nothing has changed in 2 yrs and your doctor is doing nothing to make things better, then, by all means, it's time for a different doctor... You can ask to be referred to a specialist, which would be an endocrinologist, but keep in mind that not all endos are good thyroid doctors and not all good thyroid doctors are endos.
One possibility is that you didn't need the levo in the first place. The other possibility is that you aren't converting the T4 to T3...
Here's a quick "Thyroid 101"... The thyroid produces 2 hormones: T4 and T3, but mostly T4. Of the Total T4 in your blood, most is bound by a protein and is unusable, therefore, we test the Free T4, which is the "unbound" portion that's available for use. Free T4 isn't used directly by the body; it's considered a "storage" hormone and must be converted to T3 prior to use.
Like T4, most of the T3 in our blood is bound by a protein and can't be used, therefore, we test for Free ("unbound") T3, to find out how much usable T3 we have. Free T3 is the hormone that's used by nearly every individual cell in our body.
You should ask your doctor for a Free T3 test every time you have a Free T4 and TSH test in order to get the full picture of what's going on. Free T3 and Free T4 need to be done at the same time... If your doctor refuses to order Free T3, you really need to find a different doctor.
Yes, it matters that your hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC are all elevated. This could indicate that you have too much iron in your blood and could indicate Hemochromatosis. Ask your doctor for a Ferritin test, along with an iron panel, which should include Serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and/or transferrin and the transferrin saturation (this will be a %).
If nothing has changed in 2 yrs and your doctor is doing nothing to make things better, then, by all means, it's time for a different doctor... You can ask to be referred to a specialist, which would be an endocrinologist, but keep in mind that not all endos are good thyroid doctors and not all good thyroid doctors are endos.
I don't have a free t3 result. The free t4 was 1.89 with a range of 0.8-1.6ng/dl. The tsh was .89 with range of 0.3-5.0ulU/ml. I'm on levothyroxine 25mcg. My records just say hypothyroidism with goiter. My rbc, my hemoglobin, and hematocrit are all elevated too. Not sure if that means much. The report with impressions part just says the nodule is same as last year's ultrasound. My doctor just keeps saying if it gets bigger than refer you to specialist but if medicine not helping and it hasn't gotten better should I switch docs or no?
COMMUNITY LEADER
What is your actual Free T4 result, with reference range? Also, do you have a Free T3 result? What about TSH?
Are you currently taking a replacement thyroid hormone medication? If so, which one, what dosage and how long have you been taking it?
Do you know if you have Hashimoto's?
Have you had an FNA on the nodule on your left lobe? On your ultrasound report, is there a section that says "Impression" or "Recommendation"... That will tell whether the radiologist thinks you should have follow up.
I'm sorry to ask so many questions, but we really can't tell you much without further information.
Are you currently taking a replacement thyroid hormone medication? If so, which one, what dosage and how long have you been taking it?
Do you know if you have Hashimoto's?
Have you had an FNA on the nodule on your left lobe? On your ultrasound report, is there a section that says "Impression" or "Recommendation"... That will tell whether the radiologist thinks you should have follow up.
I'm sorry to ask so many questions, but we really can't tell you much without further information.
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