Can someone explain these thyroid results for me.

[dn560]

T3 152 81-178ng/dL

T4 11.9 4.5-12.5ug/dL

TSH 1.53 0.4-4.0 uIU/mL

Free T3 4.19 2.39-6.79 ug/dL

Free T4 1.44 0.35- 6.0 ng/dL

T3 Uptake 26.3 25.0-35.0 %U

FT I 3.39 0.35-6.0 ng/dL

Im on no medication and i havent take nany thyroid med since 2014. im still having hairloss, anxiety, brainfog, depression and trouble sleeping. Can someone explain if my thyroid is still on the low side i was hypothyroid in 2012 and now my dr says my levels are fine and that its just MPB causing my hair loss and he dismissed the other symptoms. Would it be ok to start an NDT such as Thyroid-s? or will this cause more damage? Pls reply im very desperate i need all the help i can get im very helpless at this point.

thank you!

[shaws]

I am puzzled. You say you were diagnosed in 2012 but you are now on no thyroid hormone replacements at all as your doctor said you results are fine? Am I reading your post properly? If so, your doctor is negligent. We have to have daily thyroid hormone replacements for life if diagnosed.

Once diagnosed and given levothyroxine, it is a life-long prescription and without a replacement we gradually become more unwell with clinical symptoms and eventually can get more serious illnesses.

A TSH result is not always the best way to treat a patient when they dismiss clinical symptoms. Hair loss and all your other symptoms are hypo which your doctor is dismissing as they know damn all about clinical symptoms which should be the priority.

It is o.k. to start alternative such as NDTs and I'm sure you will feel a lot better. Many of us feel best when our TSH is 1 or lower and some need it suppressed.

Roughly, 1 grain of NDT is between 75mcg and 100mcg in its effect. If you do begin you can increase the dose every two weeks until you reach a good place where you feel improvement. If you feel overstimulated, just drop back to the previous dose.

The aim of thyroid hormone replacements is to make us feel well with relief of clinical symptoms, not stop when our TSH reaches a certain point.

(I am not medically qualified but take T3 only and was an undiagnosed/untreated hypothyroid patient who is now well)

[dn560 in reply to shaws]

well i was diagnosed as hypothyroid in 2012. i was on levo at the time 50mg which made me feel really bad. i levels became normal a couple months after taking it but in 2014 i ended up in the hospital for bad palpitations and anxiety. after that i stopped levo cuz its done nothing good for me. never been on a thyroid pill since. hope that clears up the confusion

[shaws in reply to dn560]

Normally, if we are diagnosed as hypothyroid we must take life-long thyroid hormone replacements. Whether or not your blood tests are 'normal' it doesn't mean you do not have hypothyroidism any more. Also when first beginning levothyroxine many of us can feel worse initially but as it is increased symptoms usually resolve. Some people take much higher doses to get relief and some less, but I doubt 50mcg is enough to relieve symptoms although it might bring your blood test results within the 'normal' range and you doctor is happy.

50mcg of levothyroxine is a starting dose and we should have increases around every sixth to eighth week until our symptoms go and we feel well. Too low a dose can rebound on us.

The symptoms you give above are hypothyroid and we can get more serious diseases if we don't have adequate thyroid hormone replacements. If you didn't have hypothyroidism you would have no symptoms.

Anxiety and palpitations are also caused by too low a dose of levo.

Both your FT4 and FT3 are low. T3 is needed in all our receptor cells and we have many receptor cells and if not having sufficient hormones we will feel unwell.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/thyroi...

I am not medically qualified but had undiagnosed hypothyroidism for a long time and despite seeing many people who are qualified, not one gave me a blood test for a dysfunction of my thyroid gland.

[ricksmartini in reply to shaws]

sorry for the late reply can you explain from the results how the ft3 and ft4 are low. is there a special way to calculate the ranges? and around what number is considered good. Just trying to find out info thanks for your time

[shaws in reply to ricksmartini]

Doctors are quite content when test results are 'in range'. If we have autoimmune diseases and the results you have below:-

Free T3 4.19 2.39-6.79 ug/dL

Free T4 1.44 0.35- 6.0

Show that both FT4 and FT3 could be higher, they should be towards the top. The most important question is 'How does the patient feel'. If well with relief of all symptoms, he/she is on the right dose.

If hypo, TSH should be 1 or lower, with FT4 and FT3 towards the upper part of the range. Vitamins/minerals should also be optimum, towards the top. B12 is an exception it should be around 1,000. Many GPs are happy if it is the lowest int he range.

You should have B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested and if low members will respond as to how they can be increased.

[ricksmartini in reply to shaws]

So if my B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate are low, can i still take NDT while supplementing with B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate? Will there be any negative side effects? I'll get them tested so I'll know what has to be done.

[shaws in reply to ricksmartini]

There should be no negative side effects with supplementing vitamins/minerals. Everything has to be optimum as deficiencies can also cause symptoms.

There's no reason to stop NDT. Always take supplements 4 hours apart from NDT.

[dn560 in reply to shaws]

question: can t3 only be used with such results? do i have a conversion problem and does the t4 have to be optimal as well or does t3 only matter? sorry if its a dumb question.

[shaws in reply to dn560]

This is an explanation of blood tests and I would put up a fresh post giving your latest blood test results with the ranges as this post is now one year old.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If they have not been done ......Suggest you ask your doctor to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells.

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed

Also have you had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's

If you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too.

vitamindcouncil.org/tag/aut...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...