Re: Lab Results

[Guest guest]

Isn’t that the wrong T4 test, anyway? Not

the Free?

From: Grace

Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008

1:20 PM

To: 'Texas_Thyroid_Groups '

Subject: Lab Results

I got my thyroid labs back. Like I

said earlier, they are not a very clear picture because my dosage had been all

over the place for the last 6-8 weeks. Dr. C suggested alternating

between 50 and 75 mcg of T4 (synthroid) daily and not taking any T3. I

don't really like that advice since my frees are not too high. I would

like to get the FT3 up higher.

TSH 0.124 (.35 - 5.5)

T4 6.8 (4.5 - 12.0)

FT3 2.7 (2.3 - 4.2)

It is interesting to me that my TSH is so

low and the Frees not too high. What does that suggest – a

pituitary issue or nothing significant?

(But I had just backed down my dose within

the last week or so before the labs.)

[Guest guest]

That's not a FT4 tests. Your FT3 is low! You need a FT4 for the full

picture. Does he have a problem with your TSH? My TSH has been .03 for

several years now. I've never been hyper a day in my life.

Kate G

Hashi's

AS

At 01:20 PM 8/14/2008, you wrote:

>I got my thyroid labs back. Like I said earlier, they are not a very

>clear picture because my dosage had been all over the place for the last

>6-8 weeks. Dr. C suggested alternating between 50 and 75 mcg of T4

>(synthroid) daily and not taking any T3. I don't really like that advice

>since my frees are not too high. I would like to get the FT3 up higher.

>

>TSH 0.124 (.35 - 5.5)

>T4 6.8 (4.5 - 12.0)

>FT3 2.7 (2.3 - 4.2)

>

>It is interesting to me that my TSH is so low and the Frees not too

>high. What does that suggest – a pituitary issue or nothing significant?

>(But I had just backed down my dose within the last week or so before the

>labs.)

[Guest guest]

Yep. You want free T4 and I personally find it very silly that he

wants you to alternate dosages like that. The more reasonable thing

would be to Rx 30 50 mcg tablets and 15 25 mcg tablets and let you

split the 25 mcg tablets so you can take a consistent daily dosage.

As far as why your TSH is low, it's because you are taking thyroid

hormone. As soon as the pituitary gland sees what it considers

normal levels of thyroid hormone, it will decrease the level of TSH

it puts out, since TSH is the " messenger " that tells the thyroid to

produce the T4 and T3 hormones (and there's no specific message as

to what type needs to be produced). I find it quite puzzling that

doctors are so surprised when the TSH does drop like that - it seems

extremely logical.

You also don't mention if the labs were done before or after you had

taken any hormone for the day. That makes a huge difference. As you

say with that low of a level of T3, it also doesn't seem sensible to

stop that. Also, did you remind the doc of ongoing symptoms as it

appears he is strictly treating your lab results (very

conservatively IMHO) and not considering what would be an optimal

dose for you for symptom resolution.

B.

>

> Isn't that the wrong T4 test, anyway? Not the Free?

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: Grace

> Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 1:20 PM

> To: 'Texas_Thyroid_Groups '

> Subject: Lab Results

>

>

>

> I got my thyroid labs back. Like I said earlier, they are not a

very clear

> picture because my dosage had been all over the place for the last

6-8

> weeks. Dr. C suggested alternating between 50 and 75 mcg of T4

(synthroid)

> daily and not taking any T3. I don't really like that advice

since my frees

> are not too high. I would like to get the FT3 up higher.

>

>

>

> TSH 0.124 (.35 - 5.5)

>

> T4 6.8 (4.5 - 12.0)

>

> FT3 2.7 (2.3 - 4.2)

>

>

>

> It is interesting to me that my TSH is so low and the Frees not

too high.

> What does that suggest - a pituitary issue or nothing significant?

>

> (But I had just backed down my dose within the last week or so

before the

> labs.)

>

[Guest guest]

I so agree.... alternate dosing is bad. Would you consent to breathe

only 75% of the time every other day??? You need a steady stream of

thyroid hormone to feel well.

Of course, I also think Armour works way better...

Marti

> Yep. You want free T4 and I personally find it very silly that he

> wants you to alternate dosages like that. The more reasonable thing

> would be to Rx 30 50 mcg tablets and 15 25 mcg tablets and let you

> split the 25 mcg tablets so you can take a consistent daily dosage.

[Guest guest]

The Free T4 must be high now, but we just don't see it. I was on 50 mcg

daily and had a TSH of 3.6 & 3.9 just two months ago. I have only seen my

TSH low when one of my frees is high normal.

It was actually Dr. Christensen that gave me that advice. I am not going to

take it. I will continue 75 daily and 5 mcg cytomel 2xs/day for now. I

will see either Dr. Launius or Dr. Owens next.

She also suggested Licorice Root instead of Ginseng, still not recommended

for nursing. And she doesn't even have any labs yet. Hmmm...

I hadn't taken T3 for a few days to a week before the test, but I had taken

my T4 at rising. The lab was about 2:30pm.

Lab Results

>

>

>

> I got my thyroid labs back. Like I said earlier, they are not a

very clear

> picture because my dosage had been all over the place for the last

6-8

> weeks. Dr. C suggested alternating between 50 and 75 mcg of T4

(synthroid)

> daily and not taking any T3. I don't really like that advice

since my frees

> are not too high. I would like to get the FT3 up higher.

>

>

>

> TSH 0.124 (.35 - 5.5)

>

> T4 6.8 (4.5 - 12.0)

>

> FT3 2.7 (2.3 - 4.2)

>

>

>

> It is interesting to me that my TSH is so low and the Frees not

too high.

> What does that suggest - a pituitary issue or nothing significant?

>

> (But I had just backed down my dose within the last week or so

before the

> labs.)

>

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