Guest guest Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Hi and welcome to the group. We always ask that you list reference ranges with your labs (they should be right on your lab results) because they vary, although the TSH ranges are *usually* the same. It is good you were started on thyroid hormone because it looks like you're hypothyroid, but if you were diagnosed with Hashis a long time ago, why did they wait so long? The last number just means you have Hashis - that count looks high but it can go higher. Sometimes people feel improvement when the number drops, sometimes they don't. It's good to have the nodules checked out, but did they discuss a scan with you? I don't have a lot of personal experience here, but I think I would favor that over a biopsy of five nodules. > > Hi, > > I am new to this group -and must say that I am so glad that I found it. I had been diagnosed with Hashimoto's a very long time ago, but have never had any Dr help me with it. > > I am overweight - and recently have gained even more, but unable to eat. > I found a Dr that is actually looking into what may be the problem and she ran many tests. > > I am also scheduled for a biopsy next week as now I am told I have 5 nodules. > > My question is this - > I can't seem to find any real information about the levels that are good/bad for any of the thyroid tests. I kow my TSH is a little high - but am confused about the rest - does anyone know what is good? I feel like the last one is WAY too high, but am not sure. > > Here are my levels: > TSH 3rd generation: 5.71 > Thyroxine Free: .7 > T3, Free: 2.82 > Thyroid Peroxidase: >6500 > > The Dr. started me on a low dose of Synthroid (50mg) but is waiting for the biopsy to do much more. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 I personally ignore each lab's ranges. I compare my labs to what the National Thyroid Institute says are "optimal" ranges for those with Hashimoto's disease. www.nationalthyroidinstitute.org/hashimotos-thyroiditis-treatment Free Thyroxine Index or FTI: Lab range = 4.6-10.9 mg/dl Optimal range = 1.2-4.9 mg/dlFree T4 or FT4: Lab range = 0.7-1.53 ng/dL Optimal range = 1.0 – 1.53 ng/dLResin T3 Uptake: Lab range = 24 – 39 md/dl Optimal range = 28 – 38 md/dlFree T3 or FT3: Lab range = 260 – 480 pg/mL Optimal range = 300 – 450 pg/mLThyroxine Binding Globulin or TBG: Lab range = 15 -30 ug/dl Optimal range = 18 -27 ug/dlTotal T4 or TT4: Lab range = 6-12 ug/d Optimal range = 5.4-11.5 ug/dAnita Woods, CPM <><www.nekansashomebirth.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Hi, TSH testing is universal, while Free T3 and Free T4 are not: these two are lab calibrated. TSH doesn't always work well for many of us compared to how we feel and of course other factors that are highly individualized. Someone may do well with a TSH of 2 while someone else needs a suppressed TSH. I usually have a TSH level of <.01 but that is a result of my Central Hypothyroidism, so for me TSH is a absolute useless test. It is always best to get to a point where we feel our best. This point is usually never the same for everyone with Hashis. Meaning there is no **OPIMAL** reference range that works for everyone. The link that was provided states these so-called ranges are in fact **functional** estimated ranges NOT optimal ranges and should only be used as a theory that does not work for everyone. And remember a reference range is just that - a best-guess estimate reference- and should never be used as an absolute given. To help manage our health each one of us should **always** keep every lab report and eventually compare them and aim for the point where we feel BEST. We are NOT a one-size-fits-all! Another thing I do for reliability is to always use the same lab and test at the same time of day leaving at least eight hours after taking meds before a blood draw. For the doctors that draw blood for labs in their office I made sure to make my appointments accordingly. Our thyroid hormones both T3 and T4 change all day long so the lab result is only where we were at that second when the blood was taken and may not reflect how we actually feel. HTH, ~Bj > > I personally ignore each lab's ranges. I compare my labs to what the National Thyroid Institute says are " optimal " ranges for those with Hashimoto's disease. > > www.nationalthyroidinstitute.org/hashimotos-thyroiditis-treatment > > > Free Thyroxine Index or FTI: Lab range = 4.6-10.9 mg/dl Optimal range = 1.2-4.9 mg/dl > Free T4 or FT4: Lab range = 0.7-1.53 ng/dL Optimal range = 1.0 – 1.53 ng/dL > Resin T3 Uptake: Lab range = 24 – 39 md/dl Optimal range = 28 – 38 md/dl > Free T3 or FT3: Lab range = 260 – 480 pg/mL Optimal range = 300 – 450 pg/mL > Thyroxine Binding Globulin or TBG: Lab range = 15 -30 ug/dl Optimal range = 18 -27 ug/dl > Total T4 or TT4: Lab range = 6-12 ug/d Optimal range = 5.4-11.5 ug/d > > Anita Woods, CPM <>< > www.nekansashomebirth.com > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Agreed, BJ, for the most part. I did actually see a different TSH range once though. It was for an at-home TSH test that anyone can order off the Internet. It may be obsolete now and hard to say how reliable it is, but these are usually cheaper than what a lab would charge if you're paying out of pocket (just fyi for the group). > > > > I personally ignore each lab's ranges. I compare my labs to what the National Thyroid Institute says are " optimal " ranges for those with Hashimoto's disease. > > > > www.nationalthyroidinstitute.org/hashimotos-thyroiditis-treatment > > > > > > Free Thyroxine Index or FTI: Lab range = 4.6-10.9 mg/dl Optimal range = 1.2-4.9 mg/dl > > Free T4 or FT4: Lab range = 0.7-1.53 ng/dL Optimal range = 1.0 – 1.53 ng/dL > > Resin T3 Uptake: Lab range = 24 – 39 md/dl Optimal range = 28 – 38 md/dl > > Free T3 or FT3: Lab range = 260 – 480 pg/mL Optimal range = 300 – 450 pg/mL > > Thyroxine Binding Globulin or TBG: Lab range = 15 -30 ug/dl Optimal range = 18 -27 ug/dl > > Total T4 or TT4: Lab range = 6-12 ug/d Optimal range = 5.4-11.5 ug/d > > > > Anita Woods, CPM <>< > > www.nekansashomebirth.com > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 In the UK arena I mostly inhabit, we see lots of different TSH ranges, albeit usually differing by only very modest amounts. But when it comes to FT4 they vary so much that the top of the lowest range is very close to the bottom of the highest range. I keep expecting so see a situation in which the top of one is actually lower than the bottom of another - but have not yet seen that. It seems that this is due to differing technologies used. Rod > > Hi, > > TSH testing is universal, while Free T3 and Free T4 are not: these two are lab calibrated. TSH doesn't always work well for many of us compared to how we feel and of course other factors that are highly individualized. Someone may do well with a TSH of 2 while someone else needs a suppressed TSH. I usually have a TSH level of <.01 but that is a result of my Central Hypothyroidism, so for me TSH is a absolute useless test. > > > It is always best to get to a point where we feel our best. This point is usually never the same for everyone with Hashis. Meaning there is no **OPIMAL** reference range that works for everyone. The link that was provided states these so-called ranges are in fact **functional** estimated ranges NOT optimal ranges and should only be used as a theory that does not work for everyone. And remember a reference range is just that - a best-guess estimate reference- and should never be used as an absolute given. > > > To help manage our health each one of us should **always** keep every lab report and eventually compare them and aim for the point where we feel BEST. We are NOT a one-size-fits-all! Another thing I do for reliability is to always use the same lab and test at the same time of day leaving at least eight hours after taking meds before a blood draw. For the doctors that draw blood for labs in their office I made sure to make my appointments accordingly. Our thyroid hormones both T3 and T4 change all day long so the lab result is only where we were at that second when the blood was taken and may not reflect how we actually feel. > > > HTH, > ~Bj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Hi and Rod, The point I was trying to make did **not** come across very well. It does NOT matter what the actual range is because the ranges are arbitrary and Hashis is do not considered when developing the ranges. Each lab takes a few hundred healthy people with healthy thyroid levels and then provides a reference range according to how those selected healthy people function by cutting off the low and high ends by a certain percentage. Along with that, lab to lab there is varying technology as Rod mentioned. This is why or a major factor why FT3 and FT4 ranges vary so much. However, we do NOT have healthy thyroids and the ranges often don't work well and sometimes not at all for us. Sadly, we MUST comply and do the testing if we want treatment. Again, for many of us we don't always feel good even in the so-called functional ranges. Each patient needs to be looked at closely and treated individually -not clumped into a one-size-fits-all protocol. My point is that the so-called functional reference ranges don't always works for everybody. Having cheap testing available or comparing ranges from lab to lab doesn't change this. Best, ~Bj > > > > Hi, > > > > TSH testing is universal, while Free T3 and Free T4 are not: these two are lab calibrated. TSH doesn't always work well for many of us compared to how we feel and of course other factors that are highly individualized. Someone may do well with a TSH of 2 while someone else needs a suppressed TSH. I usually have a TSH level of <.01 but that is a result of my Central Hypothyroidism, so for me TSH is a absolute useless test. > > > > > > It is always best to get to a point where we feel our best. This point is usually never the same for everyone with Hashis. Meaning there is no **OPIMAL** reference range that works for everyone. The link that was provided states these so-called ranges are in fact **functional** estimated ranges NOT optimal ranges and should only be used as a theory that does not work for everyone. And remember a reference range is just that - a best-guess estimate reference- and should never be used as an absolute given. > > > > > > To help manage our health each one of us should **always** keep every lab report and eventually compare them and aim for the point where we feel BEST. We are NOT a one-size-fits-all! Another thing I do for reliability is to always use the same lab and test at the same time of day leaving at least eight hours after taking meds before a blood draw. For the doctors that draw blood for labs in their office I made sure to make my appointments accordingly. Our thyroid hormones both T3 and T4 change all day long so the lab result is only where we were at that second when the blood was taken and may not reflect how we actually feel. > > > > > > HTH, > > ~Bj > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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