Need Help Figuring Out Thyroid Results

[writerspice]

Hi everyone,

Have been off gluten for about a year now, with a bit of a summer relapse (boy, did I feel like crap!), but only now taking it really seriously. Right now I'm trying to figure out my ongoing thyroid problems... Just got some lab results back and am wondering if anyone can comment. I really can't figure them out and am unsure what to do. While my TSH is high, my Free T4 looks normalish and the only symptom I seem to have is constipation.

TSH: 6.76 (ref. range .35 to 5.00 mU/L)

Free T4: 12 (10 to 20 pmol/L)

Also had antibodies checked back in the summer (with another test scheduled for January) and they were:

Thyroid Peroxidase AB: 157 IU/mL (ref range: <60 = negative, 60-100 = equivical, >100 = positive)

Thyroglobulin AB: 103 IU/mL (same ref range as above)

I was taking Eltroxin since 2003 but went off it this summer because my prolactin levels were consistantly high - in the mid to low 20s (13 in the last bloodwork) - and my body seemed to be in overdrive. Am now trying to figure out what this suggests while also looking for ways to reduce my TSH without screwing everything else up...

Any thoughts are so appreciated.

Thanks.

[Nyxie63]

It looks like you probably have Hashi's, which is an autoimmune disease. Basically, your body is attacking your thyroid. You need to start on thyroid meds in order to suppress your thyroid and, subsequently, the antibodies in order to prevent any further damage. Your TSH needs to be around 0 (yes, zero) in order to have the antibodies fully suppressed. Just so you know, Hashi's can cause swings between hypoT and hyperT, which may be why your body feet like it was in overdrive.

Your TSH is high, although TSH really isn't the gold standard most docs want to make it out to be. It has its uses tho. Unfortunately, TSH can be affected by the time of day the test was done, medications, illnesses, and even the time the test was done during your menstrual cycle.

Your FT4 is low. Yet another reason to be on supplementation. Talk to your doc about testing your FT3 as well. That's the active thyroid hormone and is really more important than the FT4. Most folks feel best when their FreeTs are in the upper 1/2 to upper 1/3 of the range.

Hope this helps!

  writerspice said:

Hi everyone,

Have been off gluten for about a year now, with a bit of a summer relapse (boy, did I feel like crap!), but only now taking it really seriously. Right now I'm trying to figure out my ongoing thyroid problems... Just got some lab results back and am wondering if anyone can comment. I really can't figure them out and am unsure what to do. While my TSH is high, my Free T4 looks normalish and the only symptom I seem to have is constipation.

TSH: 6.76 (ref. range .35 to 5.00 mU/L)

Free T4: 12 (10 to 20 pmol/L)

Also had antibodies checked back in the summer (with another test scheduled for January) and they were:

Thyroid Peroxidase AB: 157 IU/mL (ref range: <60 = negative, 60-100 = equivical, >100 = positive)

Thyroglobulin AB: 103 IU/mL (same ref range as above)

I was taking Eltroxin since 2003 but went off it this summer because my prolactin levels were consistantly high - in the mid to low 20s (13 in the last bloodwork) - and my body seemed to be in overdrive. Am now trying to figure out what this suggests while also looking for ways to reduce my TSH without screwing everything else up...

Any thoughts are so appreciated.

Thanks.

[loraleena]

It is sounds like Hashimotos hypothyroidism. Your antibodies are high and should be below 20 not 60. Also the TSH range your doc is using is several years outdated. The range should be between .3-3. Over 2 can cause hypo problems. You are def. hypo. I urge you to go to Dr.Lowe.com and Stopthethyroidmadness to read more and get on a more helpful med. Armour is the best. Dr.Lowe and Dr. Gina Honeyman are my thyroid doctors. The info. on the site is eye opening. It is common for a TSh to be at zero when on meds. Mine is and my doctors say this is fine. Feel free to ask me any questions as I have Hashis myself.

[georgie]

You have Hashimotos and you need that TSH to be 0 to suppress the Antibody attacks and damage. Your FT4 is too low - it should be midrange. And was Free T3 tested ? FT3 is the energy ...and if you don't convert T4 to T3 - then you don't get well.

I wasn't sure what Eltroxin was so looked it up.

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Its a T4 med. Have you tried a combination of T4 and T3 meds together ? Or Armour ?

Why is your prolactin high ? Have you been tested for Pituitary disorders ? Have you had a Pituitary MRI done with and without contrast ? Don't wish to worry you but one cause of high Prolactin is a Pituitary tumour. You need the contrast dye to detect the small tumours..

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All the best. change Drs ...

[loraleena]

Georgie,

Could you explain the FT3 to me. I get it tested every 6 months with everything else. Where should it be? I wonder if I have an issue converting and maybe that is why I still have hypo symptoms. I take 175mg of cytomel a day and am adding 12 mg every 2 weeks. My antibodies have come down from 765 to 199, but still high.

[georgie]

  Quote

Georgie,

Could you explain the FT3 to me. I get it tested every 6 months with everything else. Where should it be? I wonder if I have an issue converting and maybe that is why I still have hypo symptoms. I take 175mg of cytomel a day and am adding 12 mg every 2 weeks. My antibodies have come down from 765 to 199, but still high.

Cytomel IS T3 - so doesn't need converting to show up as Free T3 on a blood test. Most HypoT people seem to feel best when FT3 sits at the top or slightly over the top of the high normal range of your blood test. 175 mg Cytomel is a LOT of T3 - is it slow release at all ? The fact that your antibodies are coming down is good but am surprised you need so much but this raises the question that I have also - how do Celiacs absorb their meds ? Do we absorb medications the same as non Celiacs ? I am Folate Anemic and need 10x the normal dose to be well and keep my blood tests normal. So .... your high dose Cytomel may be related to your Celiac. Do you take any T4 meds at all ? Some people find they need a small amount of T4 as well as the T3. The goal is to remove HypoT symptoms, keep the blood tests mid range or higher, and get Antibodies to 0.

[nutralady2001]

Iam on 390mgs Armour ( 6 and 1/2 grains) My TSH is <0.01 FT3 a titch over the top of the range and FT4 well up in the range. Your FT4 is way too low

I agree with the others with Hashi's you need TSH suppressed as TSH feeds the antibodies attack

I was previously on 300mcgs thyroxine so am looking forward to maybe reducing my Armour once I get this Coeliac stuff well and truly sorted.

I believe now I've had major absoprtion porblems due to un-Dx'd Coeliac