I just got updated lab results and would appreciate your thoughts. My doctor was advising I see a neurologist last time I saw her as she thought my thyroid was in range but I am still very fatigued.
Appreciate any input. Thanks!
TSH 4.36 (range .36-5.04)
Free T4 1.23 (range .76-1.46)
Free T3 2.08 (range 2.18-3.98) realize that is low
B12 351 (range 211-911)
Folate 22.9 (3.1-17.5)
I am on 88mcg Synthoid and have largely stopped eating gluten over the last few months.
Thanks (and I think you answered my first question as well). So this is in addition to the Synthroid correct? Will this be obvious to the doctor since now I am officially out of range? I found my last results where the T3 was low but still within range but she has been resistant to the posibility that my fatigue is related to the thyroid issue.
Unfortunately, not all doctors realize that we need both the FreeT4 and FreeT3 levels to be above mid-range, if not higher, if we stand any chance of being symptom-free.
If I didn't see it time and time again on forums, I'd be incredulous that your doctor didn't notice your below-range FreeT3 level.
Just in case you are dealing with other symptoms that you might not realize are being caused by your too-low FreeT3 level (and possibly too-low-for-you FreeT4 level), here's a list of hypothyroidism symptoms as published in thyroid textbook "The Thyroid and its Diseases".
Not everyone will have every symptom on the list so, even if you only have a few, I see merit in making a list and giving a copy to your doctor.
Fatigue
Swelling of eyelids
Emotional instability
Lethargy
Non-restful sleep/interrupted sleep
Pain at front of chest
Numbness or tingling
Insomnia
Poor vision
Protrusion of one or both eyeballs
Thick tongue
Weight loss or gain
Sparse eyebrows/loss of outer third of eyebrows
Swelling of face
Wasting of tongue
Believe it or not, some people have reported additional symptoms. It is to your benefit to become familiar with the symptoms that are typical for you so that, as you titrate up on your meds dose, you can identify whether or not a symptom has improved or returned (which is a sign you need a dose adjustment).
And started today's doctor visit with the very bad "Did you get my letter saying your thyroid results were all normal"? Didn't make much progress from there - my "I thought my T3 was low" also got the "it was fine" answer. She did agree to raise my Synthroid up to 100 mcg which I figured couldn't hurt so I took that and stopped arguing.
She is a GP so I don't fault her for not knowing this quite as well but I am running out of doctor ideas. The one friend doctor which I think might be better doesn't take ANY insurance so I am not sure that is a long term option.
Just venting at this point but I don't want to lose another 12 weeks waiting for something to change. ARGH (ok vent over)
Many doctors just don't know how to interpret labs properly but, your FreeT3 level was below-range....that really should have received some attention.
You could really use some Cytomel (T3 med).
Why don't you call some local pharmacists to get contact info for doctors that Rx Cytomel or even Armour (natural T4/T3 product)? Some thyroid forum members have had success in locating a thyroid-savvy doctor this way.
I noticed 'heat intolerance' is on the list of hypo symptoms. Is that really a hypo symptom too? I always thought it was exclusively a hyper symptom. When I was undermedicated, I loved the heat.
Your B12 is also really low. Best is to get it up to at least 800. This should be pretty easy with a B Complex 50 mg supplement. I'll bet your ferritin and Vit D are low too.
Ok tried a new endocrinologist today - and it it is promising. She agreed to test and revised meds after 4-5 weeks if still symptomatic and said she was not a fan of going to Cytomel now but would consider it down the road. She also agreed to target closer to
Have to wait until at least Wednesday for test results but early yeah!
Yes I convinced my GP even though she said my labs were "normal" to go up to 100 mcg of Synthroid about 5 weeks ago. The new endo I saw yesterday (which is in the same group so she has access to all my past test results) said she would retest after 4 weeks if still symptomatic and given my current dose and if results are still similar to last time, go up to 118 Synthroid.
I don't want to get too optimistic but it was encouraging.
Have you noticed any improvements at all since the increase? Even if it was for a couple days? I'm just curious because I am fatigued also and pretty sure it is my low dose.
Yes I have noticed an improvement. I feel like I have 4-5 good hours and am not always in quite such a brain fog but I would still say it is only at about 60-70% before I had my surgery (which was for a benign nodule so I didn't have symptoms before)
The Following User Says Thank You to cahwest For This Useful Post: Gwen112 (03-12-2012)
Low T3,High TSH - Lab test input? 
Re: Low T3,High TSH - Lab test input? 
Re: Low T3,High TSH - Lab test input? 
