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my tsh and free t4 was low what does that mean
tsh was low and free t4 was low
My free T4 is 0.71 & My TSH is 0.17 what does it mean & what do they do about it thank You
Low TSH and low free T4 suggests secondary (central) hypothyroidism which is associated with pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction. Free T3 would also be low. Non-thyroid illness (sick euthyroid syndrome) due to acute systematic illness can also show up with low TSH and low free T4.
You really need more information.
TSH is notoriously unreliable for much of anything although most Dr's seem to swear on this being the holy grail.
You also really need to get tested for the FREE form of the thyroid hormones. If the lab report only shows T4 then it is for "total" and not FREE. There is a significant difference. The Free hormone is unattached and therefore "free" of a protein. Once a protein attaches itself to the hormone it becomes useless. The Total test counts BOTH free and bound to a protein hormones. So you really have no idea what percentage or how much free hormone that does all the work is available.
The T4 hormone is a storage hormone that sits in your blood waiting to be converted into T3 hormone. Your body uses ONLY the Free T3 hormone at the cellular level. Again if not tested specifically for the "FREE' hormone it too will be "total" and again not very helpful for the very same reasons the T4 with the attached protein.
Now to specifically answer your question.
A "low" TSH would generally mean that you are Hyperthyroid which means that you have high or too much thyroid.
However the "low" T4 would generally mean that you have too little or insufficient T4 in your blood and therefore Hypothyroid (low thyroid) and in need of additional thyroid by medication.
These tests kind of "prove" how TSH is unreliable can be.
Please post your actual lab results and please include the reference ranges which are usually listed in parentheses to the right of your test results. Please write down exactly what the report says because sometimes they use different terminology.
Also list any symptoms you are having.
TSH is notoriously unreliable for much of anything although most Dr's seem to swear on this being the holy grail.
You also really need to get tested for the FREE form of the thyroid hormones. If the lab report only shows T4 then it is for "total" and not FREE. There is a significant difference. The Free hormone is unattached and therefore "free" of a protein. Once a protein attaches itself to the hormone it becomes useless. The Total test counts BOTH free and bound to a protein hormones. So you really have no idea what percentage or how much free hormone that does all the work is available.
The T4 hormone is a storage hormone that sits in your blood waiting to be converted into T3 hormone. Your body uses ONLY the Free T3 hormone at the cellular level. Again if not tested specifically for the "FREE' hormone it too will be "total" and again not very helpful for the very same reasons the T4 with the attached protein.
Now to specifically answer your question.
A "low" TSH would generally mean that you are Hyperthyroid which means that you have high or too much thyroid.
However the "low" T4 would generally mean that you have too little or insufficient T4 in your blood and therefore Hypothyroid (low thyroid) and in need of additional thyroid by medication.
These tests kind of "prove" how TSH is unreliable can be.
Please post your actual lab results and please include the reference ranges which are usually listed in parentheses to the right of your test results. Please write down exactly what the report says because sometimes they use different terminology.
Also list any symptoms you are having.
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