Can not believe my blood results!

[Paolatello]

As some of you will know already, I have unmedicated Hashimotos (labs are still “normal”) but I feel awful most of the time with fluctuating symptoms. Had a baby 6 months ago and just seem worse than ever. So, had my most recent bloods done. I haven’t got my antibody results yet but my thyroid results are:

TSH is 0.7 (0.3-3.0)

Free T4 is 14 (12-22)

Free T3 is 5.8 (3.8-6.4)

How is this possible when I’ve been feeling really bad recently?? Does this mean it’s not my Hashimotos causing my symptoms?

The days around these blood tests I had joint pain, up and down mood, on/off exhaustion, pain in thyroid, stomach issues, on/off poor sleep, nightmares, palpitations and on/off carpal tunnel syndrome. My hair is falling out and I have a new symptom which is some sort of other stomach related issue where sometimes if I eat and then fall asleep shortly after I wake with the most terrible nausea. Also, been told that my white blood cells were low so need to re check them in two weeks time - is this common with Hashimotos??

How can my T4 be low end of normal and T3 be high end of normal?

Does anyone have any ideas? I’m at my wits end trying to work out what’s going on.

[Hidden]

With low T4 and highish T3 it might be thyroid resistance meaning that although you thyroid gland is normal and producing the right amount of hormones you are not able to absorb the thyroid hormones at a cellular level. It is not something widely recognised by NHS and I cant imagine you will be able to get treatment with those results. There are priavte doctors who will treat and a list of them can beobtained via Louise Roberts on the website. You might also want to consider self treatment.

It wouldalso be helpful to see other blood results such as ferretin, B12, vitamin d and folate. With out these at a good level and within the normal range does not mean optimal youwill struggle to absorb the thyroid hormones.

[Hidden]

I dont think Low white blood cells likely to be thyroid related but there are so many symptoms that it is not impossible.

[gabkad]

Your thyroid tests are excellent.

Have you been checked for gastrointestinal problems? H. pylori, Coeliac, etc. Sounds like the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus is not shutting properly and stomach contents are coming up. You shouldn't eat immediately before lying down. You may also be having absorption issues.

[Paolatello in reply to gabkad]

Are my thyroid results excellent? My T4 is pretty low!

[Tile in reply to Paolatello]

You are converting T4 to FT3 very well. Cant blame thyroid for every problem or ailment. Get tested for C677 and 1298 genetic polymorphisms that include hypothyroidism. That's why high dose B12 and folate are advised to.help you detox brain body.

[gabkad in reply to Paolatello]

Cohort studies of normal people have TSH 1.2 to 1.5 (0.5 to 5.0) fT4 is usually quite low in range and fT3 is over 5.0 and yours at 5.8 is excellent. Your thyroid is not the problem.

It is only when someone is taking levothyroxine that an fT4 high in range happens and that's when conversion is not ideal.

[Paolatello in reply to gabkad]

I understand that, but I have high antibodies and a couple of months ago when my T3 was checked it was 3.8 in a range of 3.8-6.4 so it clearly fluctuates a lot

[Jazzw]

When you had the baby, did you use gas and air during the labour? I’m thinking this might be low Vitamin B12 - the symptoms can be very similar to hypothyroidism. Have you had B12 tested recently? Carpal tunnel can also be caused by low Vitamin B levels. Definitely worth checking...

[Paolatello in reply to Jazzw]

I had a c-section

[Jazzw in reply to Paolatello]

Under general anaesthetic or epidural?

[Paolatello in reply to Jazzw]

Epidural

[kluang]

It might be worth paying out for a private test including reverse T3 as some of your T3 result could be an inactive reverse T3 that is just blocking the receptors and not doing any work for you.