TraumaJunkieVA,
Welcome to our dysfunctional thyroid family! Let's see what your thyroid is telling us.
My labs at that time were: (labs done 9/12)
TSH 2.01 (0.35-6.20) This is climbing toward hypothyroidism. My Hashimoto's had me in the tank level wise with a TSH of 2.077
T4, total 8.92 (4.5-12.0) This is often inflated in females and has a 20% source of error. you have to take this test with a grain of salt.. heck a shaker of salt. This value has you 58% of the normal range. You are actually MUCH lower.
Free T4 0.93 (0.73-1.85) This is the latest version and a direct measure of your actual thyroid hormone. There is a 2.5-5% source of error inherent in this test. Your Free T tests are the ones you want.. the other are 20-40 years out of date. Here your level shows you to be 17.85% of normal. There is a 40% DIFFERENCE! Are you on birth control pills? Hormonal replacement therapy? Estrogen mimic diet can cause inflated T4 results as well. You definitely need to only consider your FT4 and FT3 results. WOW!
Labs I had done the other day so that I would have new ones for the endo they are sending me to: (labs done 10/14... at almost the exact same time of day as first readings.. same ranges)
TSH 2.55
Free T4 - 0.76 You are now at 2% of the normal range. You are definitely way too low not to be considered subclinical hypothyroid. I was barely able to stay awake and move when I hit 5% in my Ft4 range. Ugh! Wow! I am sorry.
T3, uptake 29 (22-35)
T3, free 309 (230-420) You are at 41% of normal range here. Okay. This shows that you are suffering from suboptimal thyroid hormone levels and your levels are out of balance. Because your conversion/uptake of T4 is normal (T3 Uptake) and your Ft3 level is almost 40% higher than your Ft4 level you need to have your adrenal function evaluated. Most often this type of imbalance is the result of hypoadrenalism.. in particular your body not producing enough hydrocortisol. If you get supplementation and do not address any adrenal dysfunction thyroid medication regulation is going to drive you hyperT in T3 while you languish hypoT in T4.
The basic adrenal profile you need:
8 am fasting ACTH, Cortisol, DHEA test
Saliva/urine 24 hour cortisol test
ACTH stim Test
If there is an adrenal issue these tests will show it.
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies <10 (range <35)
Thyroid peroxidase antibodies
Anti-TPO antibodies
You need TGAb antibodies run as well. Maybe even TSI.
Ultrasound:
Conclusion - Enlarged Thyroid
This is the result of your underactive thyroid having to grow in an attempt to compensate for low thyroid output. Even growing it is not keeping up with your needs.
You might want to look over two research threads I have posted on thyroid care and concerns. The information may help you prepare for your appointment. I think you do have an issue, maybe more than one. I also think that you will need thyroid supplementation. I think it is highly probably you have an adrenal issue as well. Your lab levels are almost identical to mine before I was treated for hypoadrenalism.
[url]http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=597479[/url]
[url]http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=599141[/url]
Good luck finding that rare thyroid savvy MD that will work to fix you!
MG
