Please could somebody advise about recent blood tests.

[pkay]

TSH .0.05 mU/L (0.40-4.00)

FT4 16 pmo1/L (10-20)

FT3 5.1 pmo1/L (2.8-6.8)

Anti-Thyroglobulin Ab. 49 U/mL (< 60)

Anti-Thyroid Peroxide Ab 1300 U/mL (<60)

I was on 150mcg T4 and 40 mcg T3 but reduced this to 125 T4 as was feeling a bit jittery. I have hashimotos, but do I have Graves as well?

I am in Australia and doctors here do not prescribe T3 only for patients who have had thyroid cancer and who are allergic to T4. He did give me a private prescription. My doctor didn't know why I have a very low TSH, he did say it was probably because I take my T3 without splitting but I'm not so sure. Can anybody shed some light please.

[pkay]

Anybody?

[susie59]

hi, I am sure you will get more answers soon, it sometimes takes a while, but if you are taking T3 your TSH will be very low or suppressed, whether you split your dose or not. we don't get T3 here either, except very rarely. lots of us self medicate with it.

do you have any symptoms? how do you feel?

take care, more replies will come.

[pkay]

Thank you Susie59, I did feel a bit jittery on 150 T4 so I've just reduced it to 125 but don't know if I feel jittery because the doctor scared me about the risks of a non existent TSH! I have only recently moved to Australia from the UK and the doctor prescribed T3 for me there, but here they seem to think its very strange that I take T3. I thought because my T4 and T3 are in range then I was ok and understood that taking T3 can suppress your TSH, I just needed a bit of reassurance that my levels were ok as I don't feel confident with doctors here. Thank you again for responding. Paula.

[susie59 in reply to pkay]

well don't worry if your taking T3, your TSH is ok, I would just reduce to 125 on alternate nights at first, so 150mcg then 125mcg , see how you feel after 4/5 weeks after this, good luck.

[eeng]

Yes the TSH value is pretty meaningless if you take T3. It's definitely not a reason to panic or change medication. It's the T3 result that is the one to watch. Yours isn't too high but you do have Hashi's antibodies so may get times when your symptoms flare up or abate as your antibodies fluctuate.

[pkay]

Thanks Susie59 and eeng. I'm not going to worry now, I will alternate the t4 meds and see how I feel in 5 weeks. Perhaps I am having a hashi flare up as throat does feel as something stuck there and hard to swallow. Don't you just hate hashimotos!