Test Results - Want to take a look?

Ashweekins · 01-11-2007, 06:16 PM

I am new to all this. I had bloodwork done on 12/29 and got a copy of my results. I see the doctor on 1/23.

TSH - 2.9 uiu/ml
Free Thyroxine (Direct) (which is T4 I think) - 1.9 ng/dl
Free T3 - 379 pg/dl

The lab range says these are normal, but I don't feel normal and my symptoms aren't normal. Anyone know what to make of these?

micheleinnewjersey · 01-12-2007, 01:47 PM

Let me first say that "normal" is a very individualized concept. All us have your normal and you should follow how you feel and not the lab results. I have friends who like to be on the high end of normal where as I like to be surpressed and have a TSH close to 1.0.

What type of doctor are you seeing? I found that my gp and ob gyn weren't as helpful with my thyroid issues as my endo.

Have you had an ultrasound? Have you been tested for antibodies (Hashimoto). I was diagnosed with Hashimoto Thyroid disease and felt like crap even though my TSH levels were close to 1.0. Hashi's can cause you to feel hypo even if you are keeping your levels within normal.

Also, ask your doctor for a thyroid ultrasound. You should check for nodules or goiters as a precaution. Be strong and keep after your doctors. Lab results are only part of the big picture!!!

mommavia · 01-13-2007, 11:38 AM

Just to echo michele (I seem to be doing that a lot lately!), having an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid dyfunction can make a HUGE difference in your care. I was treated for my hypothyroidism for 3 years by my primary care doc, when I started seeing an endo he looked at all my thyroid levels working together in addition to how I felt. Needless to say, everything improved then! It's another appointment to schedule and another doc to keep up with, but it's your health!

Good luck,
Cynthia

Ashweekins · 01-13-2007, 03:32 PM

Unfortunately, this is an endo I am seeing. He is a highly respected one, so I feel silly questioning him.

I have been tested for thyroid antibodies, and I was positive for a "small amount". I am looking around my desk for those results, but I can't find them! I will have to dig through some more piles. LOL! I was told by him to "not worry about it until my thyroid stops working in 20 years".

I have an appointment with him on the 23rd. I have made a list of how I "feel" and the things that are bothering me. If he doesn't listen to that, I think I will try changing doctors.

nikki_d3 · 01-23-2007, 08:25 PM

About two weeks ago I got test results of 5.2 TSH and 1.1 T4. Don't know what my T3 was. Anyway, the doc says that everything was on the high end of normal but says that I have hypothyroidism. Now I am on synthyroid.

What do ya'll think about this. Do you think that I have hypothyroidism or is my doc just a bit overly cautious. If my results are still within normal range, I don't see how their is a problem?

mommavia · 01-24-2007, 11:59 AM

When your TSH is high, that means you brain is telling your thyroid to make lots more thyroid hormone because it wasn't making enough. If you TSH is high and your T4 is low or within a normal range, that means your thyroid is working extra hard to produce that amount, it's in overtime. That equals hypothyroidism. Your T4 is on the low end, and your TSH on the high...that is why your doc prescribed Synthroid. How long have you been on it?

Cynthia

Ashweekins · 01-25-2007, 04:21 AM

OK I am back from the doctor and could use some help. I got copies of all my lab results.

In September:
TSH: 2.4 uiu/ml (Range: 0.46 - 3.59)
Free T4: 1.4 ng/dl (Range: 0.8 - 2.00)
Free T3: 361 pg/dl (Range: 180-420)
Antithyroid Peroxidase AB: 47.2 iu/ml (>35.0 iu/ml - positive)

The beginning of this month:
TSH: 2.9 uiu/ml (Range: 0.46 - 3.59)
Free T4: 1.9 ng/dl (Range: 0.8 - 2.00)
Free T3: 379 pg/dl (Range: 180-420)

So, my numbers have gone up? What does that mean? He did not test for thyroid antibodies this time. I feel awful, and he completely brushed it off and said that my labs are normal and there is no reason I should feel badly. This is a highly respected endocrinologist, and I feel silly questioning him, but I am seriously contemplating a second opinion. Isn't the general consensus that you have to hunt for an endo who treats your labs AND how you feel?

I feel awful. I am so tired I am barely functioning at work, my husband won't let me drive because he's afraid I'll fall asleep, my skin is so dry it's flaking, my feet are swelling, my hair is falling out, I have gained 10lbs since September (doctor even acknowledged this and said that it was due to the holidays), I have no sex drive, I am cold al the time... I just feel like crap and he says there is nothing wrong because my labs are "normal". I am so frustrated. I left in tears.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

mommavia · 01-26-2007, 11:11 AM

I know you are frustrated, but hang in there! Do you like the endo that you saw? If so, make another appointment and continue to be persistant and ask questions about what is causing all this. Push for thyroglobulin antibodies to be tested. You labs do seem normal, right down the middle normal, but the "norm" isn't neccessarily your norm! If you don't care to see this specialist again (being highly respected is not a reason for me to see a doc, treated the patient is!) then make an appointment with another one. Enlist the help of a dear friend or family memeber to go with you to this next appointmetn to ask questions with you, and take notes. You might want to write all your questions done ahead of time so they are ready to go. Good luck, and keep us posted!

Cynthia

scmj26 · 02-22-2007, 11:31 AM

Honey you sound hypothyroid to me and it's only a matter of time your symptoms will get worse. I'm going to be straightforward with you and tell you if i were in your shoes I would fire this dr, sorry but just had to come out & say it. I went through 2 well-qualified board certified endo's who did nothing but keep me ill while making sure they collected from my Univera health insurance. No more of that! You need to have your antibodies checked immediately because this paints the true picture of your thyroid status. If you test positive remember this, your labs will be out of whack so expect this, with positive antibodies you swing from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid to eurothyroid (euro is when your thyroid is normal) and your labs will read just that. Good luck to you!

Ashweekins · 02-24-2007, 04:36 AM

Thank you for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it.

I went back to the doctor who referred me to this RE and told him what was going on. He gave me Metformin and told me to give the RE a few more months to see if he redeems himself, and if not, he'll give me a couple different names to other RE's.

So far on the Met it has been ok... we shall see. All my other side effects are still there.

My major problem right now is that my feet are swelling TERRIBLY. So much so that I can press down on them, and the indention stays for about 30 seconds. Nobody seems very concerned though, so I'm just going to keep an eye on it and hope it gets better.

AngelaCM · 03-30-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashweekins

I feel awful. I am so tired I am barely functioning at work, my husband won't let me drive because he's afraid I'll fall asleep, my skin is so dry it's flaking, my feet are swelling, my hair is falling out, I have gained 10lbs since September (doctor even acknowledged this and said that it was due to the holidays), I have no sex drive, I am cold al the time... I just feel like crap and he says there is nothing wrong because my labs are "normal". I am so frustrated. I left in tears.

It's as if I am reading my own words. I think alot of these doctors are being a bit too textbook and not enough about LISTENING to their patients. My life is horrible right now. I have only been married 4 months and I feel completely useless to my husband. My endo still thinks despite all my symptoms (absence of period, dizziness, nausea, loss of/thinning of hair, abnormal hair growth, pelvic discomfort, weight gain, low temp and extremely cold extremities) that I am NORMAL! You're not alone.

Ashweekins · 11-26-2007, 06:48 PM

I am bumping this thread because I'm still feeling bad.

I fired that RE and found another one. He has been fantastic so far. I have been on Metformin since April, and my periods are coming every 29-32 days like clockwork. I have lost about 15lbs depending on the week. The only problem is that I am still tired. I have been taking a lot of naps, and I have never in my life been a nap taker. My hair is falling out, I'm cold, I have dry skin, I have no libido, I am having an insane amount of trouble remembering things, I have been having pain in my forearms like carpel tunnel (I read that was a symptom), I've gained 5 lbs in the last month.... I could go on and on.

On 04/20/06 my TSH was 1.72 miu/l
On 12/29/06 my TSH was 2.9 uiu/l
(I don't know if the miu/uiu is any different??)

I tested positive for antibodies once. I have other results, but they are at home and I'm at the office. I have an appointment with my new RE on Thursday to go over how I'm feeling on the Metformin. Should I press the issue about my thyroid??? The funny thing is, two weeks ago when I made the appointment I felt like crap and now I'm starting to feel a little better. I'm going to be so frustrated if I convince him to do bloodwork and then it comes back normal because it took too long to get into his office. Also, my mom just recently had a bout with hyperparathyroidism and had to have surgery. She also suffered from PCOS until her hysterectomy.

calmwaters · 11-27-2007, 03:50 AM

Hi, I'm sorry you are still feeling lousy. I just have a suggestion. If your RE gives you a lab slip for thyroid tests, just don't go in and do it right away. Maybe hang onto it, and take it in when your ARE having worse symptoms to have your blood tested then?

lovemychris · 11-27-2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashweekins

I am bumping this thread because I'm still feeling bad.

I fired that RE and found another one. He has been fantastic so far. I have been on Metformin since April, and my periods are coming every 29-32 days like clockwork. I have lost about 15lbs depending on the week. The only problem is that I am still tired. I have been taking a lot of naps, and I have never in my life been a nap taker. My hair is falling out, I'm cold, I have dry skin, I have no libido, I am having an insane amount of trouble remembering things, I have been having pain in my forearms like carpel tunnel (I read that was a symptom), I've gained 5 lbs in the last month.... I could go on and on.

On 04/20/06 my TSH was 1.72 miu/l
On 12/29/06 my TSH was 2.9 uiu/l
(I don't know if the miu/uiu is any different??)

I tested positive for antibodies once. I have other results, but they are at home and I'm at the office. I have an appointment with my new RE on Thursday to go over how I'm feeling on the Metformin. Should I press the issue about my thyroid??? The funny thing is, two weeks ago when I made the appointment I felt like crap and now I'm starting to feel a little better. I'm going to be so frustrated if I convince him to do bloodwork and then it comes back normal because it took too long to get into his office. Also, my mom just recently had a bout with hyperparathyroidism and had to have surgery. She also suffered from PCOS until her hysterectomy.

Since you tested positive for antibodies, it's just a matter of time until your TSH level climbs to a level in which treatment is recommended. It sucks the way it works, but it would be hard to give you levothyroxine right now because it would send you hyper. Sadly, the antibodies will continue to attack your thyroid gland enough that it doesn't produce adequate hormones. It's a waiting game...when that happens, your TSH will rise and your doctor will treat your for hypothyroidism.

You can slow (or completely reduce) the antibodies by taking Selenium. It doesn't work for everyone, but it's the only successful thing out there and it won't hurt to try it. I don't think it will make your symptoms better, nor will it reverse the damage, if any, that's already been caused. Taking Vitamin B12 daily should help with energy levels. Best wishes.

lovemychris · 11-27-2007, 03:33 PM

Btw, I'm in Houston, too. Can I ask what doctor you are seeing???