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thyroid levels

charger78 profile image
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I had thyroid cancer...thyroid removed in 2010. I went to my doctors appointment last week. He said my levels are too low...he sent me to a specialist...but still waiting for an appointment. my tsh was 0.01 and t4 free was1.82. can someone please help me understand my results....why is he saying my levels are too low and it's not good.

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charger78
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5 Replies

Hello charger,

Welcome to our forum and sorry to hear of your thyroid problems.

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is released by the pituitary gland and is is the most commonly tested (thyroid) hormone in Western medicine.

A high level of TSH would suggest hypothyroidism.

T4 is the inactive thyroid hormone, generally kept in storage in the thyroid gland until it’s turned into T3, the active thyroid hormone.

T3 is the biologically active thyroid hormone, which means it has the most profound effect on your metabolism, heat, and weight.

Your TSH & T4 levels are both low so you have been referred to a specialist for further investigation. Generally only endocrinologists can test T3 and having ALL thyroid hormones tested gives a much clearer picture of what is going on.

I assume you are medicated on Levothyroxine.

How do you feel ? Are you symptomatic ?

Flower

.

charger78 profile image
charger78 in reply to

I am feeling ok. I am just so confused, because the doctor said I have hyperthyroidism. but I thought if you didn't have a thyroid you are hypo. I don't have any symptoms of hyper. I fall under the hypo symptoms. I had my baby four months ago... so am thinking that is why my levels are out of wack. And when I was pregnant I was taking 224 of the levothyroxine. I guess I am just stressing myself too much. I am worried that something is wrong. even though I feel fine.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tocharger78

What he actually means is 'over-medicated'. He thinks a suppressed TSH means that you are over-medicated. He doesn't know enough about thyroid to know that you cannot say that from the TSH alone. If your FT4 is also low, then you can't possibly be over-medicated. But he doesn't know that. Hopefully, the endocrinologist (specialist) will know better. :)

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

Don't worry too much at present - if you have the ranges of these results - ranges are in brackets after the results please post them too.

What dose are your taking and I assume it's levothyrxoine.

What time of day did you have your blood test and was it as early as possible?

If GP said your levels are too low it might mean you are not on sufficient levothyroxine.

You should always get a print-out of your blood test results with the ranges for your blood tests.

How are you feeling? Good, not so good?

Clutter profile image
Clutter

Charger78, If you are taking Levothyroxine your GP may be concerned you are overmedicated because TSH 0.01 is suppressed.

If you aren't taking Levothyroxine low TSH is an indication you are becoming hyperthyroid. FT4 will normally be high in range, or over range, in hyperthyroid patients. I would need to see the range (figures in brackets after FT4 result) to tell whether FT4 is low or high.

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