| Re: Just diagnosed with Hypothyroidism
There's a lot to address here. I'll go point by point:
Regarding free T3 of "4.12". - A reference range can vary from lab to lab. Your test results must be compared to the range used for testing.
A prolonged period of hypothyroidism can cause reverse T3. It can be corrected just by treating the hypothyroidism properly. IMO, it doesn't mean much just to have reverse T3.
There are dozens of signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. You can check our "Thyroid Information" sticky thread for a comprehensive list. You may have several without knowing they can be thyroid-related. Weight gain (or inability to lose weight with concerted effort) is just one of many, and no one has all of them. Some hypoT people actually lose weight without trying.
You absolutely need your free T4 checked. It's every bit as important as free T3. Also, you should have the antibody tests related to hypothyroidism - TPO and Tg. Autoimmunity is the most common cause of hypoT in industrialized countries. Hormonal flux in women - around puberty, pregnancy, and menopause - is the most common trigger for autoimmune hypoT. Stress alone would not be considered a trigger, although it has been implicated in Graves' disease (autoimmune hypERthyroidism).
Your doctor's assessment of the situation is unusual. IMO, you need the free T4 and antibodies tests to get the complete picture.
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"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." Abraham Lincoln
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