I finally got my numbers back from a thyroid blood test I had taken. I am still waiting for this doctor to get back to me as far as reading the results. I was hoping that some of you out there maybe know a little bit about if the numbers are within normal range.

Thyroglogulin antibodies <20
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies <10
T3, Uptake 33
T4, Free 1.1
TSH, 3rd generation 1.29
T3, Free 289

According to the reference range, they are all within normal range. But we all know that 'normal range' sometimes isn't necessarily normal.

Thanks for any input.

I can't comment on the antibodies, but here are the ideal ranges that I received during a consult with a physician.

TSH should be 2.0 or less, but not below .47
T4 should be 1.3-1.7
T3 should be 3.4-4.2

Hope this helps.

You've got that the T3 should be 3.4-4.2, but I've got T3, Free at 289 and T3, uptake at 33 - what does this mean? Is there supposed to be just a plain T3. I still haven't heard from my doctor and I'm still feeling like c r a p, so I really appreciate the fact you got back to me regarding this - no one had responded and I like I said havn't heard from my doctor, so I'm sitting here freaking out!! Thanks again.

Jones,

I hope you get some more answers to your numbers. It is all confusing to me. In the mail today I received my results and have given up trying to figure what is right or normal via search engines...so i'm going to post mine and hope someone knows.

The comment typed from my dr. reads "GOOD NEWS YOUR TEST RESULTS ARE NORMAL, including the B-12 level"

results are -

Test

TSH Result Reference Range from the lab
1.13 0.40 - 4.00

Free T3 2.86 1.71 - 3.71

B-12 1166 180-194 Flagged High (I'd been taking b12 injections one a wk., for 4 wks., then waited a month and had one more shot, then switched
to 5,000 micrograms daily of b12 sublinguals per day and by the time the test was taken, I'd consumed 12,500
micgrograms of b12, with 2,500 micgrams of that total 7 hours previous to the test..which the dr., said was fine to
take as my body was starting to crash previous.....so that would have made the b12 test flag high.

so, i don't know..i was expecting my thyroid tests to come back on the low side because of symptoms of tiredness still at times (maybe the b12 sublinguals haven't kicked in steadily yet.......)

and is there an individual cortisol test that can be done or do they base the readings of tsh tests before looking into cortisol or aren't they connected?...very confusing to me....please help decipher..............

i thought i'd spaced the numbers to read easier..will try again.............


TSH test

1.13

lab range

0.40 - 4.00


Free T3

2.86

lab range

1.71 - 3.71

Vitamin b12

1166

lab range

180 - 914 I'd made a mistake on the previous post in this lab range.....i'd said 180 - 194.......i'd have been REALLY HIGH if it the range was 194.....! lol

I noticed your T3 number and I thought maybe it was 2.89. Either they have a different testing system or perhaps your copy is not clear and you cannot see the decimal. Are you sure it is "free T3"? My Dr. tests TSH, free T3 and free T4. I understand that the free T3 and free T4 are the numbers that they use to tweek your dosages.

Don't freak out. If they were using the same T3 perimeters that my Dr. uses and your T3 were that high I would think that your TSH no. would be super low (like less than .01),

Here is another idea if you want help interpreting. You could join Life Extension Foundation lef.org for a fee of $80 or $90 per year and have access to their Drs. who will help interpret blood results, you also get discounts on their vitamins, You could probably get a Dr. on the phone the same day you join. You would just fax them your results.

Hope this helps. Sorry you are feeling so lousy. What other vitamins and supplements do you use? Have you had your ferritin levels checked?

Wildflower

It looks like your T3 is low based on the perimeters my Dr. is working with (see above post). I would not worry about your B12 levels mine are over 1000 after supplementing. My Dr. says that there is no harm in having them that high. He said that in Japan they like to see them at at least 1000. The upper end of the US range is 500.

I am by no means feeling 100%, but recently the Dr. increased my T3 doseage, put me on an iron supplement (ferritin level was 7 and it should be 100) and I have definitely felt better than I have all summer. On my own I added 400 mg. of Sam-e and I think this has made me less crabby.

Ms Anxiety,

Thank you for your response on my numbers.

Is there a vitamin/supplement/food that will increase the T3? Or only prescription medications from a doctor? I will give my dr., a call this week to see if she is willing to "tweak that number". I'll also look up the symptoms of having lower T3 and see how many of those I have. She treats symptoms as well, believing some need more/less than lab ranges.

She's not mentioned low iron, tho I've in the past had anemia, many many years ago. Probably wouldn't hurt to add an iron supplement, tho I know too much iron isn't good, doubtful I have too much of anything besides b12 now (lol)........

Thus far, I take -

1 centrum multi vitamin/mineral a day
2 d3's (1,00 each) 2 a day i am low (i was 22 prior to taking any d3) in the d3 area but can not take the prescription d3 makes me very ill...plus try and get some sun daily, even the otc d makes me feel "ill" for a bit.
3 omega 3 1 a day
4 omega 3,6,9 combo 1 a day
5 calcium/magnesium/zinc 1 a day (don't recall the mgs)
6 vitamin b12 sublinguals 2 equals of 5,000 micrograms
7.vitamin c 500 mgs (?) i just bought those, but haven't yet started them

I'd have to say I do feel better since starting with this new dr., in July, as compared w/the feelings from dec. 2008 - july 2009...wicked months there....... Main symptoms are tiredness at times (crashing kind of feeling tired), off balance at times, dizzy at times. Also the main peri (i am post almost 4 years) symptom that remains is insomnia. I did notice with the b12 shots, I slept quite a bit better than with the sublinguals. Insomnia probably goes hand in hand with the dizzy/balance/tired...............feelings also. Also am very prone to dehydration, which new dr., said started all of this back in dec.,through june.. severe dehydration, so now i drink tons of water to the point it..can deplete salt.....so for that i am to add pretzels to the daily diet of which i have to eat something of "value" every 2 hours..(something small).........

slowly we will "get there".......day by day........eh?

forgot to say...

for the 3 years post i felt wonderful.......is just the past year thats been "yuck". Didn't want some to think after post (for me anyway) was total "yuck"!!

I believe that I have read that selenium supports the conversion of T4 to T3. Also, if you are low on iron that can interfer with that process, but if you are 3yrs. post, iron isn't likely to be an issue. I think I would check ferritin levels before supplementing with iron if you no longer have cycles.

Beware, many Drs. don't think that T3 supplementation is necessary. If we have enough T4 we are supposed to convert that to T3, but some Drs. do recognize that certain individuals have trouble with the conversion process. The T3 I use (extended release T3) comes from a compounding pharmacist. If your Dr. isn't familiar with this you could locate a compounding pharmacist in your area and they may have a list of Drs.who would be familiar with compounding.

As far a symptoms of low T3, I don't know that I have specifically seen such a list. My increased dose of T3 seemed to reduce anxiety, dizziness and rapid heart rate. I have also talked to others who have had anxiety symptoms with hypothyroidism.

I too have experienced the dehydration. It seems to be most pronounced in the 10 days prior to my cycle. I wonder what strange hormone imbalance causes this.

My D3 was down to 27 and the Dr. put me on 5000 IU per day. I found that the fish oil D3 gels gave me a reaction, but the other seems to be no problem.

From what I have read, vitamin C should be 1000-5000 mg. per day. I usually take 2000-3000. The only caution I have read re: vitamin C is if you have kidney problems. Also, since it is water soluble it should be spread out throughout the day.

Finding what works seems to be a trial and error process doesn't it? I always have to remind myself that with vitamins and even changes in thyroid meds it can take a number of weeks to see any results.

I found a few lists of symptoms for hypothroidism in general and would have to say if there were 10 symptoms listed, I have half of them. i.e. tired, fatigued, dizzy (all at times..not all of the time since the b12), I don't have the weight gain, nor the missing parts of eye~brows etc.....

My dr., is into trials of drugs, she said that on my first visit and offered estrogen for a quick trial, which i declined and opted for the b12 and supplements she advised. So maybe she will on the t3..

The more I read the more I am convinced as we age we have many types of absorbing problems in the gut. My previous dr., of 15 years, tho wonderful for a cough/cold and would only go by the lab ranges of the norm (which is probably why i ended up in the state i did....) advised me to take prilosec (sp)...he thought beginning of gerd..after reading on prilosec..that medication coats areas so not much is absorbed (for me anyway)....so i only took prilosec for 2 wks...back in april.

Thank you for your advise on the t3 and supplements.

I've taken omega 3 fish oil by itself for several years because of chronic dry eye (it works for me beautifully)..also red grapes (something in the skin of the red grape).

Have you had your D3 levels rechecked since beginning the supplements? Am curious to see if they have increased.

My D3 was actually 26 in April and up to 34 in August. I was a bit apprehensive about the 5000 IU dosage initially so I probably went at least 2 mos. at 2000 IU. I know they want it at a minimum of 80.

It sounds like you have a good Dr. I am always amazed that there are so many Drs. that exclusively go by lab ranges. My thyroid odyssey started about a year in a half ago. My chiro. had me on glandulars for a number of years, but my thyroid was pushed up into the hypo range so my cardiologist demanded that I stop all supplementing. Over a period of months my TSH came back into the normal range, but I was starting to feel lousy so I went to see an endo. Because my TSH was in the "normal" they told me there was nothing wrong with my thyroid and would not prescribe anything. They would not consider me hypo unless TSH exceeded 5.50. After I started the T3 may cardio wanted me to go back to the endo. to get his "blessing" on the T3. Well, I feel better, my TSH is in the normal range so he gave it the ok. The whole situation defies logic, first I am OK without treatment..no treatment needed. Now I am OK with treatment..continue the T3. Silly Drs.

It think you are right re: the absorption, that is probably why we need such high doses of so many different vitamins.

No, the copy is clear and it definately is 289 - no decimal at all. Yes, they were going to check my ferritin levels and then decided not to for some reason. I take a multi, B-Complex, C, D, E, Selenium, Calcium/Mag, EPA-DHA, and CQ10, plus I'm taking an oral Progesterone. Thanks for the idea of Life Extension, I'll check it out and see if it's something worth the $$.