Hypothyroid

[M1tzi]

Hi after seeing gp my results are unusual and more blood tests have been done my results are THS low 0.36 reference range 0.55 4.78 T3 level normal 5.1 reference 3.50 6.50 any help appreciated thanks

[Judithdalston]

Am I right in thinking you are not on any thyroid ‘meds’; did you only get FT3 and TSH tested, no FT4? As the results stand it looks like your body must be producing adequate T4 for conversion to T3, and it’s own T3...resulting in a reasonable amount of FT3 ( just over halfway in range). The TSH is the ‘message’ from the pituitary gland to tell the thyroid to produce more or less hormone(s); yes it is low, but at the moment in time of blood tests not wildly out ( some labs. have TSH ranges of 0.27-4.20). Thus the reason your nurse thought the dr. would think it was all ok. What are your symptoms...record them, with dates, to go back to dr.? See you did have exhaustion, did you get your ferritin, folate, b12 and vit D tested...low levels can give you such symptoms, so worth getting done ( might need to do private lab test if your dr. won’t cooperate)

[M1tzi in reply to Judithdalston]

Hi thanks for replying it was just those 2 thyroid blood tests I guess in a week I’ll get the results of more I’ve been exhausted beyond exhaustion I could weep I’m so tired,aching all over my skin feels like insects biting me when go to bed and tingling in my hands and feet aching body.i was seeing the nurse for diabetes thinking my symptoms were related to that but couldn’t understand why my levels were in a good range and I felt so awful she told me to see the gp as they were similar thyroid results to hers and she was put on tablets also my symptoms were the same as hers I’m not on any thyroid meds

[Judithdalston in reply to M1tzi]

Oh, so that is why nurse more ‘with it’...who is her dr? The tingling etc might be low b12, so worth getting tested.

[greygoose]

What time of day was the blood draw? Were you fasting?

[M1tzi in reply to greygoose]

Thank you both no it wasn’t fasting I can’t remember if I’d had breakfast but certainly loads of tea it was about 10 30 am

[M1tzi in reply to M1tzi]

Sorry that was the last blood test I can’t remember the one we’re talking about I’d probably not have fasted

[greygoose in reply to M1tzi]

TSH is highest early in the morning - at least before nine - and drops throughout the day. It also drops after eating. So, we always recommend getting the blood draw as early as possible and fasting over-night. It can make the difference between getting diagnosed and not getting diagnosed, and doctors have no idea about that.

[M1tzi in reply to greygoose]

Thank you grey goose and Judith darlston I will wait and see the outcome of my blood results. reading on this forum it seems it’s far more complicated than I realised would I be better of on meds or will it complicate my diabetes which that isn’t straight forward either

[greygoose in reply to M1tzi]

It's more complicated than most doctors realise, as well. But, you'll get used to it.

I'm afraid I don't know about diabetes. Perhaps Judithdalston knows more?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to M1tzi]

Are you type one diabetic?

Type one diabetes is autoimmune, so that would make autoimmune thyroid disease more likely

Important to test both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies to test for autoimmune thyroid disease plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 as well as TSH, FT3 and FT4

[M1tzi in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi and thank you I’m still not sure I’ve been told firstly 2 then 1 then back to type 2 depending on who I see I don’t fit type 2 apparently but still producing some insulin so not type one I’m on basal bolas insulin’s and my concern is if it is my thyroid causing insulin resistance I will get very overweight and need more insulin and I’ve struggled for so long to get help with the diabetes I feel I’m starting another long struggle with the thyroid as the gp didn’t tell me I had any problem and quite clearly I do

[HughH]

T3 level normal 5.1 reference 3.50 6.50

T3 is the active thyroid hormone which controls the metabolism, every cell in the body and therefore your symptoms.

Your free T3 is just above the midpoint of the normal range, meaning that 50% of people have lower Free T3 than you so you are not hypothyroid.

[M1tzi in reply to HughH]

Hi and thanks really hoping you’re right I hadn’t realised just how complex it all was I was hoping naively a pill would make me feel so much better it’s become obvious to me it’s not that simple .An online app keeps telling me it’s burnout maybe that’s exactly what it is .So can you tell me what the low result would mean the THS result many thanks

[HughH in reply to M1tzi]

You are not hypothyroid but there is a possibility of another thyroid condition - Impaired Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormone, also known as thyroid hormone resistance.

It can cause hypothyroid symptoms and requires very high T3 levels (often above the top of the normal range) in the body to overcome the resistance.

As it is genetic if there are other family members with thyroid problems, fibromyalgia, CFS, ME, Coeliac Disease, MS, Heart Disease or depression this would further support this possibility. Even if you cannot identify any family history of this it is still possible that you have this condition.

[M1tzi in reply to HughH]

Hi had my results back and although no change from the last time no treatment many thanks for your help

[M1tzi]

Hi family members with fibromyalgia ,CFS ,heart disease has taken 2 brothers and my father, depression is rife in family, ME after glandular fever I think, no definite thyroid just a few with wonky readings only followed up by retesting.we are a large family so maybe not as bad as it sounds and on the whole a happy bunch although we don’t sound it lol thanks so much will they test for this do you think thanks again

[HughH in reply to M1tzi]

These all appear to be separate conditions but they probably have a common cause - thyroid hormone resistance.