Blood test results

[Arios]

Hi,

These are my latest blood test results:

TSH 0.12 ( .45 - 4.50) Free T4 0.9 ( 0.8 - 1.7) Free T3 3.0 ( 2.0 - 4.8) Reverse T3 12 ( 8-25)

I take 50mcg of Levo ( Tirosint) and 10mcg of T3. My endo wants to lower my Levo because she says that the TSH is low and that I am taking too much T3. What do you all suggest? I feel fine on this dosage and my Cholesterol, which was high has gone down since my T3 was raised from 5mcg to 10mcg.

[Andyb1205]

What was your diagnosis? Labs before starting medication? Have you gotten tested for antibodies? The TSH is meaningless, it’s simply supposed to be a mirror image of your thyroid hormones which clearly it isn’t.

[Arios in reply to Andyb1205]

I have been Hypothyroid for aver 20 years, two years ago my GP switched me to NDT and I think he gave me a too high dose so I had a hard time getting back on range, I was switched to Tirosint which is Levo without fillers for people with allergies plus the T3, I finally got my numbers right and now my TSH is low so that is why my Endo thinks I am taking too much medication, but I know that the TSH is meaningless and that is why I'm asking if I should lower my dosage or keep taking what I've been taking.

I have been tested for antibodies and they are not high, they are in range. My last test was done in March and it was 18 ( <34).

[Andyb1205 in reply to Arios]

Someone else here could help you better on dose adjustment but from my impression you are greatly under-dosed, your FT4 is barely in range and the FT3 is around a third of range. Most patients feel best when these are in the upper half or third of range. Reduction of dose shouldn’t even be the question, rather your labs suggest great room for improvement.

I assume that antibody test was the TPOab, have you had thyroglobulin antibodies checked? An ultrasound? Without a diagnosis of Hashimotos I’d suspect central hypothyroidism, requiring full pituitary tests and a complete ignoring of the TSH for dosing.

[Arios in reply to Andyb1205]

I had thyroglobulin antibodies checked in March of last year and the result was <20 (<40)

I also had an ultrasound last year and everything was normal except that it said that my thyroid is atrophic (small) and my endo said that I probably have Hashimoto, so do you know what an atrophic thyroid is? Could Hashi cause it even if the antibodies are in range?

[Andyb1205 in reply to Arios]

A minority of Hashimotos patients have in range antibodies but are diagnosed by ultrasound which is the most sensitive test. Definitely you have Hashimotos considering the atrophy.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Arios

If you feel fine then stay as you are. Taking T3 will lower, even suppress TSH and it also lowers FT4. I take a combination of Levo and T3 but I can't function if my FT4 is below half way through range. However, we are all different and if you feel OK with your FT4 at that level then it's not a problem.

Also, you can't be taking too much T3 as your FT3 is less than half way through it's range.

[Arios in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you, that is what I thought about the T3, plus adding more T3 helped lower my cholesterol! I don't think I will be going to that Endo again!