help with lab results please

[bikejen]

Hi, this is my first post and I could use some help interpreting my test results. I am 45 year old female, diagnosed with Hashimoto’s six years ago. I am gluten free. I take 1.5 grains nature-throid. I am 5’0” and weigh 105. I am having a variety of hypothyroid symptoms as well as adrenal fatigue symptoms (also will be doing a saliva cortisol test) and I’m trying to figure out how to proceed.
Here are my most recent test results.

TSH .094, range: 0.450-4.500
Free T3 3.1, range: 2.0-4.4
Free T4 1.13, range: 0.82-1.77
Thyroglobulin antibody 62.3, range: 0.0-0.9
TPO Ab 169, range: 0-34
Reverse T3 21.4, range: 9.2-24.1

I also had a result flagged high for monocytes. Monocytes 14, range: 4-12
Does anyone know if this could be related to the autoimmune thyroid condition, or if it is a red flag for something more serious? I will be having my primary care doc look at these results too.

Thank you.

[Barb135]

I'm pretty sure I know which one he sent you, so I'll try to scare up a couple more.  

[bikejen]

Hi, flying fool has provided me a good website that references lots of studies, so i am assuming it probably has the tsp one as well, though i haven't had a chance to look for it yet. thank you.

[Barb135]

I will put together a few sites I have showing that TSH isn't all that's needed, though I see that flyingfool has sent you a private message. If you've received the information you're looking for, please let me know, so I won't duplicate it.  It's always good to post that on the forum, so we all know what the status is.

[flyingfool]

Check your Private Message inbox

[bikejen]

Hi Barb,
i was wondering if you could share the studies you mentioned showing that TSH test is not the "end all, be all" for gauging hypothyroidism. Also, I wondered if there are books, websites, etc. that you could recommend that reference the foundational information that you and the other great guiding lights on this board use that i can refer to. Ex: that Free T3 and 4 tests correlate better to thyroid symptoms, etc. That would be a great help to me.

One more question: How do you determine whether reverse t3 test results are OK or not and did mine look OK?
thanks,
Jen

[Barb135]

I'm sending you a PM, with possible info.

[bikejen]

Thanks again, i really appreciate your advice. I am in Colorado Springs.
My doctor might be amenable if i can show her studies, etc. She was open to me using Nature-Throid, so that's a good sign. But i'd love to have a back up plan of another doctor to turn to if i need to.

[Barb135]

You'll have to find a different doctor, but in the meantime, a lot of us end up going it alone for a while.  If you can let us know where you are, if in the U.S., we might be able to help you, as one of our members maintains a list of patient recommended doctors.

If you think your doctor is amenable, we can provide information showing that TSH is not the be all, end all of thyroid treatment.  Some doctors are willing to learn, others are too arrogant and think they always know best. Those are the ones who should be left in the dust.  

[bikejen]

thank you Red Star and Barb. What do you do if your doctor looks at your TSH and says no increase in med? Find another doctor or just go it alone?

[Barb135]

I agree that your FT3 and FT4 levels are too low in the ranges.  Rule of thumb is for FT4 to be at ~ mid range (50%); yours is only at 33%.  Rule of thumb for FT3 is ~ upper half to upper third of the range (50%+); yours is only 46%.  It looks like you might be due for an increase in med or possibly adding a bit of T4-only med to your nature-throid.

[Red_Star]

Chronic inflammation is one reason for monocytes to rise so it's possible your Hashi's is causing slightly elevated monocytes. Your free T4 and free T3 look too low in the range too.