Hi Everyone,
Just received new lab results drawn 9/11/20. My TSH is on the low side but the other labs look good. My endo says lets give it another 6 weeks and check again. He'll also do a bone density test on me at that time. Should I be worried about the suppressed TSH?
TSH - 0.194 (.45-4.5)
FT4 - 1.7 (1.2-4.9)
FT3 - 2.8 (2.0-4.4)
T4 - 7.2 (4.5-12)
T3 - 100 (71-180)
Thank you
I think both your 'frees' are on the low side:-
"FT4 - 1.7 (1.2-4.9)
FT3 - 2.8 (2.0-4.4)"
This is from Thyroiduk.org.uk:
"The advisors to Thyroid UK have been working hard to establish a scientific basis for a major change in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid conditions. To that end, they have published over 30 papers in respected journals over the last decade or so. Their new research takes into account for the first time the close involvement of the thyroid-pituitary system with homeostasis – the way the body keeps internal conditions stable when external influences might otherwise disturb them i.e. temperature and illness.
This enabled the research team to learn a lot more about how the pituitary-thyroid system works, and discredit the prominence currently given to the TSH test. They are now calling for an individual approach to thyroid problems and have outlined a new set of ideas (a paradigm) which it is hoped will eventually replace the current ones.
The following is a brief summary of those ideas as set out in the paper referenced at the end of this article:
I am not medically qualified but I feel better when TSH is very low.
I'd be more concerned with the following results:-
FT4 - 1.7 (1.2-4.9)
FT3 - 2.8 (2.0-4.4)
Both are too low and you'd feel better if they were towards the upper part of the ranges.
FT4 - 1.7 (1.2-4.9)
18.92%
FT3 - 2.8 (2.0-4.4) 33.33%
Your Frees don't look good to me, much too low. Euthyroid is at least 50% through the range, and hypos usually need the level higher. Are you on thyroid hormone replacement?
Yes, Synthroid 150/175mcg alternating days for 8 weeks. Prior it was 150mcg daily.
In that case, you're not absorbing it very well.
How do you take your Synthroid? Do you take it on an empty stomach and leave at least an hour before eating or drinking anything other than water? Do you take any other medication or supplements at the same time as your synthroid?
I take it as soon as I wake up. I'm very careful to wait an hour before eating or drinking anything besides water. What would get the T3/T4 levels up without suppressing the TSH more?
Nothing, I don't think. The only way to raise your FT3/4 is to increase your dose - or increase your absorption. And both would decrease the TSH, because the TSH follows the levels of the Frees.
Do you have low stomach acid?
LilLily
My TSH is on the low side but the other labs look good.
Actually, they're not good if you are on just Levothyroxine.
FT4 - 1.7 (1.2-4.9) = 13.51% through range
FT3 - 2.8 (2.0-4.4) = 33% through range
The aim of a treated Hypo patient on Levo only, generally, is for TSH to be1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges.
(Forget the Total T4 and Total T3 tests, I know they do them in the US but they are outdated tests and don't tell us what we need to know, it's the FT4 and FT3 that are important)
How do you feel?
I am only on T4. I feel better than I have in several months, but I believe there's room for improvement. I wonder how to get the free T3/T4 levels up without getting the TSH way too low.
LilLily
I wonder how to get the free T3/T4 levels up without getting the TSH way too low.
As Greygoose says, increase your dose or increase your absorption.
Doctors get panicky about low TSH but there's evidence that a low TSH is not a problem unless FT3 is over range. Getting doctors to accept this isn't easy though, they like to keep their heads firmly stuck in the sand.
New labs
Graves, thyroidectomy, new labs
New labs - can anyone interpret pls?
New labs, advice appreciated
New private blood test labs Sussex/Surrey.
