Test results - Question, please

February 20, 2005

Hi, folks.

I have some test results here. They belong to my husband, a 32 y.o.

male whose symptoms include weight gain, irritability, moodiness,

fatigue and feeling cold. He's often cold when I'm ok, and I'm a

confirmed hypoT who coesn't convert well.

The draw was done fasted, between 10 and 10:30 am. Here's the kicker

- he gave blood less than a week before the test AND approximately 6-8

week prior. Some of the CBC numbers looked really funky to me -

saying he just didn't have enough blood... That's when the " Well,

DUHH! " part kicked in about him being a blood donor.

His thyroid numbers are at the very bottom, and look pretty good for a

man. BUT - if the analysis is in parts per unit of blood, and there is

less blood, aren't the results falsely elevated? Is the whole panel

worthless? How long should we wait for a redo?

I've convinced him to stop giving blood for awhile, and we're making

some dietary changes. There is a history of hypoT and reactive

hypoglycemia in the family. I know nobody here can diagnose - just

looking for opinions.

Thanks!

Friday

Laboratory Results

Test Code Description Result Range Units

2908 NEUTROPHILS 37 42 - 77 %

2910 LYMPHOCYTES 49 16 - 43 %

2912 MONOCYTES 12 4 - 12 %

2914 EOSINOPHILS 2 0 - 8 %

2916 BASOPHILS 0 0 - 3 %

2930 WBC 5.1 4.0 - 11.0 K/MCL

2932 RBC 4.50 4.30 - 5.70 MILLION/MCL

*** NEW REFERENCE RANGE FOR RBC - EFFECTIVE 01/28/2005 ***

2934 HGB 13.8 13.0 - 17.0 G/DL

*** NEW REFERENCE RANGE FOR HGB - EFFECTIVE 01/28/2005 ***

2936 HCT 42.1 40.0 - 51.0 %

*** NEW REFERENCE RANGE FOR HCT - EFFECTIVE 01/28/2005 ***

2938 MCV 94 81 - 103 FL

2940 MCH 30.7 26.0 - 35.0 PG

2942 MCHC 32.8 30.0 - 37.0 G/DL

2944 PLATELET COUNT 232 130 - 400 K/MCL

2950 RDW 12.9 11.5 - 14.5 %

3050 ALT (SGPT) 36 < 45 - U/L

3052 ALBUMIN 4.4 3.7 - 5.2 G/DL

3053 GLOBULIN 2.4 1.8 - 3.5 G/DL

3054 ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE 52 40 - 125 U/L

3056 AST (SGOT) 17 < 45 - U/L

3058 BUN 13 < 23 - MG/DL

3060 CALCIUM 9.0 8.5 - 10.5 MG/DL

3062 CHLORIDE 105 98 - 109 MEQ/L

3064 CHOLESTEROL 200 < 200 - MG/DL

3066 CREATININE 1.0 < 1.5 - MG/DL

3070 GGT 47 < 75 - U/L

3072 GLUCOSE 93 60 - 99 MG/DL

3074 IRON 57 35 - 185 MCG/DL

3078 LDH 160 119 - 223 U/L

3080 PHOSPHORUS 2.9 2.5 - 4.5 MG/DL

3082 POTASSIUM 4.4 3.6 - 5.2 MEQ/L

3084 SODIUM 141 136 - 146 MEQ/L

3086 TOTAL BILIRUBIN 0.4 0.2 - 1.3 MG/DL

3087 A/G RATIO 1.8 1 - 2.5

3088 TOTAL PROTEIN 6.8 6.2 - 8.3 G/DL

*** NEW REFERENCE RANGE FOR TOTAL PROTEIN - EFFECTIVE 11/20/04 ***

3090 TRIGLYCERIDES 154 < 150 - MG/DL

3092 URIC ACID 6.4 3.6 - 7.7 MG/DL

3094 HEMOLYTIC SRM APPEAR -

NO HEMOLYSIS DETECTED

3096 LIPEMIC SRM APPEAR -

NO LIPEMIA DETECTED

3098 ICTERIC SRM APPEAR -

NO ICTERUS DETECTED

3657 HDL CHOLESTEROL 47 > 39 - MG/DL

3659 CHOL/HDL RATIO 4.3 < 5.0 -

3661 LDL CHOLESTEROL 122 < 130 - MG/DL

3663 LDL/HDL RATIO 2.60 < 3.25 -

3664 VLDL, CALCULATED 31 < 30 - MG/DL

3691 FERRITIN 106 22 - 322 NG/ML

3693 FREE THYROXINE (FT4) 1.2 0.8 - 1.8 NG/DL (midpoint

is 1.3)

4114 BICARBONATE 29 21 - 30 MEQ/L

4145 TRIIODOTHYRONINE FREE 3.5 2.3 - 4.2 PG/ML (midpoint

is 3.25)

4536 TSH (3RD GENERATION) 0.919 0.35 - 5.50 MCIU/ML

February 21, 2005

I don't know about a lot of the others, but the following results

look to me like his thyroid dose could still be a bit too low. But,

these tests don't matter one hoot, if he isn't feeling good there.

The most important thing is to find the dose that makes him feel

good. What good are tests that say you are fine if the quality of

your life is not good? The goal of medication is to return you to

health and a productive life. People have huge ranges of thyroid

levels at which they function normally. About 20 to 25% of healthy

people fall outside of normal ranges. So, being pegged in the middle

of a range is really meaningless and totally arbitrary. Have you

done temperature and other tests to see if his metabolic rate is

high enough?

http://www.drrind.com/tempgraph.asp

http://www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

____________________

3064 CHOLESTEROL 200 < 200 - MG/DL

_____________________

Any time cholesterol is above 200, that is a sign of low thyroid.

Hypothyroidism is the biggest cause of high cholesterol.

_____________________

3072 GLUCOSE 93 60 - 99 MG/DL

_____________________

Glucose a little high. This may be caused by hypothyroidism's effect

on glucose management. Glucose problems are common in hypothyroidism.

_____________

3074 IRON 57 35 - 185 MCG/DL

____________

It would be better if it were near 70. Low iron a classic sign of

low thyroid levels. But, donating blood may have lowered this.

______________________

3084 SODIUM 141 136 - 146 MEQ/L

______________________

Sodium at the upper end. Mild mineral disrubances can be a sign of

low adrenal function that goes with hypothyroidism. The body is

holding on to sodium to help with blood pressure and other problems

that come with low adrenal output.

____________________

3088 TOTAL PROTEIN 6.8 6.2 - 8.3 G/DL

___________________

Low end. This is also a classic low thyroid sign - low protien

uptake. But, could also be from donating blood.

_________________

3090 TRIGLYCERIDES 154 < 150 - MG/DL

________________

Sign of hypothyroidism. Lipid problems.

______________________

3693 FREE THYROXINE (FT4) 1.2 0.8 - 1.8 NG/DL (midpoint is 1.3)

____________________

In my book this is too low. Since lab ranges are skewed downward by

problems with determining the ranges, you really want to be above

the midline and probably in the upper 1/3 of the range.

____________________

4145 TRIIODOTHYRONINE FREE 3.5 2.3 - 4.2 PG/ML (midpoint is 3.25)

___________________

Could be this is not high enough for you husband. Better in the

upper 1/3. Could also be slightly elevated from giving blood. This

lowers protien binders in the blood and causes more free T3. Could

be some low adrenal issues making T3 build up a bit. His cholesterol

and glucose situation support that his T3 is too low. People with

heart problems and cardiovascular disease tend to have what they

call " low T3 Syndrome. " So, he is showing signs of inadequate T3.

______________________

4536 TSH (3RD GENERATION) 0.919 0.35 - 5.50 MCIU/ML

___________________

If he doesn't feel good, he still could go lower on this.

Tish

February 21, 2005

Thanks! His symptoms are screaming 'hypo' to me, but he's not on any

meds. We got the bloodwork independently to see if there was anything

worth approaching a doctor with. With how his thyroid panel looks, I

don't think we'd get anywhere. *grumble, sigh* For now, we're

eliminating goitrogens, tweaking his diet and adding a few supplements

(Bs and selenium). We'll try a retest in 6-8 weeks.

The Armour list has a few docs on our area. I may interview them and I

really need to get him to do the BBT test. (He's a wee bit stubborn.)

Cheers,

Friday

>

> I don't know about a lot of the others, but the following results

> look to me like his thyroid dose could still be a bit too low. But,

> these tests don't matter one hoot, if he isn't feeling good there.

> The most important thing is to find the dose that makes him feel

> good. What good are tests that say you are fine if the quality of

> your life is not good? The goal of medication is to return you to

> health and a productive life. People have huge ranges of thyroid

> levels at which they function normally. About 20 to 25% of healthy

> people fall outside of normal ranges. So, being pegged in the middle

> of a range is really meaningless and totally arbitrary. Have you

> done temperature and other tests to see if his metabolic rate is

> high enough?

> http://www.drrind.com/tempgraph.asp

> http://www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

> ____________________

> 3064 CHOLESTEROL 200 < 200 - MG/DL

> _____________________

> Any time cholesterol is above 200, that is a sign of low thyroid.

> Hypothyroidism is the biggest cause of high cholesterol.

> _____________________

> 3072 GLUCOSE 93 60 - 99 MG/DL

> _____________________

> Glucose a little high. This may be caused by hypothyroidism's effect

> on glucose management. Glucose problems are common in hypothyroidism.

> _____________

> 3074 IRON 57 35 - 185 MCG/DL

> ____________

> It would be better if it were near 70. Low iron a classic sign of

> low thyroid levels. But, donating blood may have lowered this.

> ______________________

>

> 3084 SODIUM 141 136 - 146 MEQ/L

> ______________________

> Sodium at the upper end. Mild mineral disrubances can be a sign of

> low adrenal function that goes with hypothyroidism. The body is

> holding on to sodium to help with blood pressure and other problems

> that come with low adrenal output.

> ____________________

> 3088 TOTAL PROTEIN 6.8 6.2 - 8.3 G/DL

> ___________________

> Low end. This is also a classic low thyroid sign - low protien

> uptake. But, could also be from donating blood.

> _________________

> 3090 TRIGLYCERIDES 154 < 150 - MG/DL

> ________________

> Sign of hypothyroidism. Lipid problems.

> ______________________

>

> 3693 FREE THYROXINE (FT4) 1.2 0.8 - 1.8 NG/DL (midpoint is 1.3)

> ____________________

> In my book this is too low. Since lab ranges are skewed downward by

> problems with determining the ranges, you really want to be above

> the midline and probably in the upper 1/3 of the range.

> ____________________

>

> 4145 TRIIODOTHYRONINE FREE 3.5 2.3 - 4.2 PG/ML (midpoint is 3.25)

> ___________________

> Could be this is not high enough for you husband. Better in the

> upper 1/3. Could also be slightly elevated from giving blood. This

> lowers protien binders in the blood and causes more free T3. Could

> be some low adrenal issues making T3 build up a bit. His cholesterol

> and glucose situation support that his T3 is too low. People with

> heart problems and cardiovascular disease tend to have what they

> call " low T3 Syndrome. " So, he is showing signs of inadequate T3.

> ______________________

> 4536 TSH (3RD GENERATION) 0.919 0.35 - 5.50 MCIU/ML

> ___________________

> If he doesn't feel good, he still could go lower on this.

>

> Tish

February 21, 2005