Question For Astroman

So, I have my latest thyroid test results. Last time, intergrative doc suspected I may have Hashimoto's based on my lower end T3 & T4 and also due to the fact he knows this is pretty common to have with Lyme. So he sent me for more testing and now I need help with the results.

I still have another week until I see him and wondering what he should gather from this test. Just curious to see what others with Thyroid disorders think. Thanks in advance.



TSH - 0.99 UIu/ml RR:0.40-4.50

TGAB - <10 IU/ml RR:0-115

TPOAB - 9 IU/ml RR: 0-34

Free T4 - 1.31 ng/dl RR: 0.93 - 1.70

Free T3 - 2.55 pg/ml RR: 2.00 - 4.90

.99 would be a low TSH for me (I'm hypothyroid). I feel best when it's 1.5 - 1.7. One time I was down to .65 and my heart was racing. For most people, a score between 1 and 2 is usually optimal.

I don't remember my T3 and T4 numbers but know they were in range.

astroman said...
TSH - 0.99 UIu/ml RR:0.40-4.50

Free T4 - 1.31 ng/dl RR: 0.93 - 1.70

Free T3 - 2.55 pg/ml RR: 2.00 - 4.90

Looks like you just dont convert well from T4 to T3. I often wonder if beating up out livers has a connection to people not converting well on the forum.

------------------------------------------
TGAB - <10 IU/ml RR:0-115

TPOAB - 9 IU/ml RR: 0-34

These ranges are a little unusual compared to what I'm used to. Its weird how some antibody tests have only limits and some have actual ranges. Since your close, if it were me, Id do these antibody tests over a little later with a different lab.

Thanks astroman.

I've haven't taken anything for thyroid yet. Would these tests indicate that something may help some of my symptoms? I kind of want to understand this a little better before I see the doc next week. I can't think really well right now so this is an issue.

My T3 has been consistently in the lower end of the range for months now. T4 was lower last month, now back up a little. So confusing.

Mergirl said...

astroman said...
TSH - 0.99 UIu/ml RR:0.40-4.50

Free T4 - 1.31 ng/dl RR: 0.93 - 1.70

Free T3 - 2.55 pg/ml RR: 2.00 - 4.90

Looks like you just dont convert well from T4 to T3. I often wonder if beating up out livers has a connection to people not converting well on the forum.

------------------------------------------
TGAB - <10 IU/ml RR:0-115

TPOAB - 9 IU/ml RR: 0-34

These ranges are a little unusual compared to what I'm used to. Its weird how some antibody tests have only limits and some have actual ranges. Since your close, if it were me, Id do these antibody tests over a little later with a different lab.

Thanks astroman.

I've haven't taken anything for thyroid yet. Would these tests indicate that something may help some of my symptoms? I kind of want to understand this a little better before I see the doc next week. I can't think really well right now so this is an issue.

My T3 has been consistently in the lower end of the range for months now. T4 was lower last month, now back up a little. So confusing.

Now I remember, you posted a similar lab a couple months ago. I think you naturally have a lower TSH than most people- as it almost looks hypER, ..BUT in truth your actual cell consumable hormone T3 is a little low (Hypo). If your TSH looked higher (more hypo), supplemental Rx T3 would definitely help. You can goggle thyroid conversion supplements. Selenium is the main one (its in Brazil nuts).

You could try the lowest dose of cytomel T3 for two weeks. You need to start real slow and ramp it up after few days. Unfortunantly its normal to feel a little hyper as the body gets used to T3. If you cant handle it- well, T3 only stays in you less than a day! T4, which you dont need stays in you a long six weeks.

The most common symptoms of low T3 are muscle pain/soreness and digestion issues - also known lyme symptoms.

[Kat was mentioning hypER symptoms with a TSH lower than where you are. Thast why TSH is not a good comparison as different peoples bodies can have a TSH preference all over in the range. Remember the hypo/hyper direction of TSH and the Free's are opposite.]

I can get heart racing from both hypo (underdose)and hyper (overdose).

Tell me about it Girlie, my doc wants me to try t3 (cytomel) now. Ugh - dragging my feet bc i went hyper with chest pain on naturethroid. Plus i thought i crossed thyroid OFF the list.

Mergirl - my ft3 is 3.0, ft4 1.06, tpo 11, and tsh 2.06. I’ve always heard a tsh of 1 is good??

astroman said...




If Ft3 and or FT4 are not over their ranges, and TSH is not super low, one is not hyper, but might be close. Its not an on/off light switch, its more like an adjustable dimmer.

My FT3 and FT4 are upper 3/4 of ranges. TSH is low, but its still in range (barely)

My Dr. won't do the antibodies tests because my numbers are all in range.


k07 - I DID cross thyroid off my list...but of course...it's in the back of my mind still.

Mergirl - for me the racing heart was a sign I had flipped to hyperthyroid. I was never diagnosed with Hashimotos, "only" hypothyroid, which both my mother and sister have.

My sister in law lost a bunch of weight and was having palpitations. She had Graves and ended up having her thyroid zapped, and has to take a thyroid supplement also.

Here is a weird but perfect example of why sick people with thyroid issues should ask for full thyroid panel testing - at least those without past test results to see a pattern.

In the past I've had super "hypo looking " TSH of 20, while FT3 was 10-20% over the FT3 range. This should not happen.

A regular Dr only testing TSH (and skipping a T3 test) would have said I was hypo and upped my med, possibly giving me a heart attack. This was during a weird lyme flair of some type.

I thought I was blood pooling the high T3 level and asked for Reverse T3 test, which was fine. Without reverse T3 my cells were actually using hormone and hyper, but TSH said hypO. Wierd things happen. Ive seen the opposite happen with others. Now my Dr knows to test the whole deal.

Medical School needs more time spent on thyroid treatment.

Because of 20 years of supressed TSH from thyroid med, I am hypo at anything more than 1.5 TSH.

Thats my "pattern" and where my TSH is when my free T3/4 levels are making me feel good. So I cant go to a "TSH only" Dr for thyroid issues. This is common when on thyroid med for years, yet average Drs do not know this.

Any Dr who thoroughly understands thyroid will tell you based on these test results that:

-you currently dont have enough antibodies to have Hashimoto (yahoo!)

-you currently dont require T4 thyroid med, but might need T3 thyroid med in the future. A more "holistic" type Dr might say to try some T3 support / conversion supplements.

-and maybe to test Ft4 , FT3 and TSH again in a few months just to confirm this possible slight conversion issue. Not converting well is not that big of a deal, and not uncommon. Your kind of in that "wait and see zone".

Thank you guys.

I guess that's good news that I can at least rule out hashimotos and hypothyroid!

K07, can you suggest anything natural to boost thyroid?

I was going to say selenium. Astroman’s suggestion of brazil nuts is a great thing to try!

Are you doing any liver support already?

Kat1000 said...
Just for comparison, here are my labs from 3 months ago:

tsh 1.57 (.45-4.5)
T4 .98 (.82-1.77)
T3 3.7 (2 - 4.4)
TPO 8 (0-34)
Thyroglobulin Antibody less than 1 (0.0- .9)

So I continued on naturethroid, and if my weight fluctuates about 10 lbs either way (which does seem to happen since I've gotten lyme) then I need to adjust my meds.

Part of the reason you feel good at this level is not TSH, but your healthy level of T3 "cell fuel". Your pituitary TSH signal is correctly corealated with your healthy T3 level; not everyones body works that way, but it should. Because of this you are lucky enough to go by TSH. Conventional medicine assumes we are all this way. We know what assuming does LOL.

For comparison, my "thyroid is healthy" labs are similar to yours in the Free levels, but my TSH will be lower from 20 years of higher dose thyroid med forcing TSH supression. Some people on high doses for 30+ years will have TSH of zero, but with healthy mid range free T3/T4.

Post Edited (astroman) : 1/25/2018 10:49:08 AM (GMT-7)