Test results

[fifi6]

Hi, I have been feeling quite fatigued recently and these are my recent results. Are these satisfactory? Or would they explain why I am feeling so tired? Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated. Thank you

TSH 3.20 range 0.35 - 5.50

Free T4 9.1 range - 10.5 - 21.0

Free T3 4.4 range 3.5 - 6.5

I take 50 levothyroxine and 10 liothyronine.

[greygoose]

Good lord no! Far from being satisfactory. Your TSH is far too high - especially for someone on 10 mcg T3 - should be more like suppressed.

Your FT4 is below range - not surprising as you're taking T3 and only on a tiny dose of levo. And, your FT3 is very below mid-range. You're very under-medicated, so that would certainly explain why you're so tired.

[fifi6 in reply to greygoose]

Hi greygoose, my endocrinologist has recommended I stay on this dose. She said a suppressed TSH could result in heart complications and worried me. I did feel so much better when it was suppressed, my energy levels were amazing. It’s not just fatigue but weight gain too now (I’ve put on over a stone in weight) since she lowered my dose. I will have to go back and discuss again then. Thank you for your advice.

[greygoose in reply to fifi6]

TSH has nothing to do with hearts. It is a chemical messenger from the pituitary to the thyroid, telling it to make more or less hormone. It also stimulates the conversion of T4 to T3. And, that's all it does. Your heart needs TSH like a fish needs a bicycle! There is no connection. So, if she says that again, ask her for proof. Ask her to point you in the direction of scientific studies that show the heart needs TSH. She won't be able to because there isn't any.

When your dose was higher, the pituitary sensed that there was enough thyroid hormone in the blood, so it stopped making it. Because you didn't need it anymore. Why waste valuable resources making a hormone that you don't need? If the heart had need of TSH to function, the pituitary would carry on making it, don't you think? Ask your endo if she's had a common-sensectomy? Because she's not showing any signs of having any.

[terebol in reply to greygoose]

LOVE the common-sensectomy!!!!

[greygoose in reply to terebol]

Thank you.

[Kowbie in reply to greygoose]

greygoose you do give me a laugh with your comments, they are brilliant

[greygoose in reply to Kowbie]

Thank you.

[fifi6]

That’s really interesting. She had me convinced I was damaging my heart… I’m going to do a bit of research on this and get back for more medication. Quality of life is important and she’s not listening when I say how awful I feel. Thanks Greygoose x

[greygoose in reply to fifi6]

Oh, they can be very convincing because they believe it themselves. But, then, they blindly believe any old rubbish they're taught in med school without questioning it.

Quality of life is very important - if it weren't for that, what would be the point of putting ourselves through all this? But, they never do listen. And, I find, it's not just where thyroid is concerned that they don't listen, they don't listen to anything! They make up their own scenario and then twist the facts to fit it. I've seen it so many times.