What do my test results indicate?

[mstp]

I've been feeling tired lately and waking up covered in perspiration. I am on 3.25 x 75 mcg T3 (liothyronine) a day. When my GP tested my thyroid he told me to reduce my T3 but as I am within range I wonder why. Could anyone out there advise please?

TSH Less than 0.01 (range 0.35-5)

Free T4 Less than 3.2 (range 7.0 - 20)

Free T3 5.5 (range 3.8-6.7)

[greygoose]

3.25 x 75 mcg T3 (liothyronine) a day? That's 243.75 mcg a day? Seems like rather a lot.

No, your FT3 isn't over-range, but GPs don't understand FT3 results. All they look at is the TSH, and yours looks scarily low - for him! They don't understand TSH results, either. In fact, there's not very much about thyroid that they do understand. Just ignore him.

[mstp in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoos, sorry I meant to say 3.25 x 25 mcg which means I'm taking 82ish mcgs a day. Do you think my TSH is 'scarily low'? I'm asking because that is what he said he was concerned about and I'm trying to work out whether I should reduce my dose or not.

[greygoose in reply to mstp]

Ah, that makes more sense! lol

No, I don't think it's 'scarily low', I think it's irrelevant, and your doctor know nothing about thyroid. I just posted this reply to someone else on the same subject :

'TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, it has nothing to do with hearts and bones. The confusion stems from people having suppressed TSH when they are hyper - as in Grave's - where the TSH is suppressed because the FT3 is well over-range, and it is the high FT3 that causes problems, not the low TSH. However, when taking exogenous T3, the effects are not the same.'

TSH is bound to be very low when taking highish doses of T3. And your doctor should know that. And, if you have high antibodies, you actually need your TSH suppressed.

You only need to reduce your dose if your FT3 is over-range.

[mstp]

Thank you. That's very reassuring. Have a nice Christmas. x

[greygoose in reply to mstp]

You're welcome. And a very Merry Christmas to you, too. x