Enigma of low T3 but Energetic

[asiatic]

I have a friend with the following history - Hemithyroidectomy 50 years ago. Started 50 mcg Levo 20 years ago. Then the familiar pattern of statin, BP meds, Omeprazole, osteopaenia, GTN. I have always encouraged her to ask GP for increase ( currently on 100mcg ) and recently to have fT3 measured. Results were TSH 4.47 ( 0.35-5) fT4 11.5 (9-21) fT3 2.9 (3-6). GP seems unconcerned. I am confused as to how this 80 yr old woman can be so energetic ( she does a 7 mile Hike each week ) with a below range fT3. Can anyone offer me an explanation ?

[tattybogle]

no .... other than ~ life's not fair and some folk just get lucky .

but also ~ what is in the blood does not necessarily equate to what is in the cells ~ maybe she's got cells full to bursting with T3 ? ~but the only way to find that out would be to chop bits of her off and send them to the lab .. which she might object to , so i guess we'll never know .

[Pandora777 in reply to tattybogle]

I agree tatty some people seem to be healthy with low thyroid hormones. One of my friends had her thyroid tested and her TSH was 5 and she seems to have no symptoms. I think either the results are a mistake or she is really super woman in disguise jogging around her village and working at the garden centre.

[Sleepman]

Thank you for posting. It is only 1 blood test might be something affecting it ?

So her T3 is low/below in range and her T4 is also low in range - but TSH is on high side.

I was looking at this chart for 10 normal youngish people weekly test same time of day for 6 weeks

pink is T3 - teal T4 - grey TSH.

If T3 is low then T4 is low.

If T3 high T4 is high

thyroidpatients.ca/2019/09/...

Chart from thyroid patient Canada

[Sophitje]

I guess everyone is different. I have no thyroid and only take 75 mcg 4 days a week and 50mcg 3 days. (they started me on 100 daily after the op). Even on that regimen, i have shown to be slightly over medicated and never under (although my T3 are not very high, just in the range, but less than the recommended t3/t4 ratio needed as mentioned on this forum in multiple posts...

[asiatic]

Thanks Sophitje , that's interesting. I am aware we all have our individual sweet spot but after reading how many on the forum suffer with low T3, I had assumed everyone needed a decent level and a below range result like my friend has would be problematic. The diag. Sleepman posted shows people at least quarter way in range. Another case of - just as I think I'm getting a handle on all things thyroid - it's all up in the air again !