Hi Rebekah,
Sorry I'm just getting around to responding; been very busy lately.
T3 Uptake does not measure T3 levels at all -- the name is misleading. It is an old test that was developed before the Free T4 test was available. The assumption was that if the patient had a high T4 level, the blood proteins would be saturated with it. Therefore when mixed with T3 (which is easier to measure), the proteins would take up very little T3. Thus a low T3 uptake implies elevated T4 levels and vice versa. Thus the T3 Uptake test is actually an antiquated, inaccurate way to measure T4 levels. It is also used to rule out the possibility of any hormones (bcp's for example) effecting the T4 test.
It's important to look at the lab ranges for your tests because they differ among labs. A typical range for Free T4 is 0.8-2.0. The midpoint of that range would be 1.4. Your result is 1.22 which is pretty good, almost at midpoint (although many people feel best when that number is in the upper quadrant of the lab range).
You need a Free T3 test; too bad they didn't do what you asked, but that's pretty typical.
Your TSH is also pretty good, but your body may feel best with a lower TSH. The average person without thyroid problems has a TSH of 1 or lower. Some experts now say that 2 should be the upper limit for TSH. TSH doesn't tell us much, though, about how our thyroid is functioning since it really is a test of a pituitary hormone. Also, our TSH values can fluctuate by up to 3 points throughout the day, another reason why that test is unreliable.
Your prolactin looks ok no matter what the lab range is, since the range is usually something like 3-30. High levels of prolactin can interfere with ovulation or indicate a possible pituitary tumor. Many women with PCOS have hyperprolactinemia.
High TIBC (total iron binding capacity) can indicate iron deficiency anemia (or late stage pregnancy). I can't evaluate the other iron tests without seeing the lab ranges, but they are probably within range or they would have told you so. A ferritin test (iron stores) is helpful, too, but if you are anemic then ferritin will be low, too (ferritin goes down first, before true anemia sets in). Low iron or ferritin can cause hypothyroid symptoms, but that doesn't rule out a possible thyroid problem, too. A problem with converting T4 to T3 can cause low ferritin, too, and vice versa. That's why it's important to also get a Free T3 test.
HTH,
Linda
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dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04 | 
Oh Linda??I have a question for ya 
(the girl said that it IS T3) Anyways, its not what I've ever seen for a T3 testing. supposedly the T-uptake came out 28.1 Have you any clue what that means? I think they messed this all up, but then again, I haven't a clue what t-uptake is, so I could be wrong.
