Help Interpreting Thyroid Numbers

[glutenfreeinchicago]

Hi all, I'm looking for some other people's thoughts on my thyroid numbers, as well as having a couple of questions about armour.

My numbers are:

TSH = 3.088 uU/ML (.35 - 5.5)

Thyroxine/T4 = 7.8 UG/DL (5.0 - 12.0)

T3 Total = 1.08 NG/ML (.67 - 1.99)

Anti-TPO AB, IGG = 2.9 IU/mL (<20 Negative)

I specifically had asked for free T3 and free T4, but it looks like the lab might have checked total instead? I understand that according to many interpretations a TSH of 3.088 is anywhere from a bit high to too high. Also, my T3 and T4 fall in the lower end of the range.

My main question is that if an underactive thyroid were caused by gluten intolerance, say by a vitamin and/or mineral deficiency, would a gluten free diet on it's own eventually lead to a more optimized thyroid. Or is that not the case, and something like armour would be necessary?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[confused]

I just got my thyroid results yesterday and my ND said by being gluten free it will help stabalize my thyroid. I was diagnosed hyperthyroid but not hashmitos. My numbers were at the very low end. If you want i can post mine.

paula

decided to post them

t4 0.7 range is 0.7 to 2.5

t3 3.1 rande 2.5 to 6.5

tsh o.5 range 0.5 to 3.0

tpo 36 range 0-150

I also wanted to say I am not going to take armour.

[ShayFL]

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

According to the new TSH ranges anything over 3 is hypothyroid. This isnt due to "many" interpretations. It was decided by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist.

You are hypothyroid. I was nearly dead with a TSH of 2.8. Armour saved my life!!

[ShayFL]

Confused, get thee to a doctor that specializes in thyroid and endocrine disorders ASAP!!

Did your ND Dx Hyperthyroid based on your TSH alone? I have never seen A T3 and T4 so far in the toilet. Having extremely low T4 and T3 with a low TSH indicates PITUITARY dysfunction. Your pituitary is unable to release TSH, and therefore, unable to get your T4 to a good level. Without T4, there isnt anything there to convert to T3 which is what you NEED!!

A gluten-free diet could heal an ailing thyroid if it is autoimmune thyroid disease and the damage is not too severe, but it WILL NOT HEAL the pituitary. You could have a pituitary tumor or damage to the pituitary. Either way, you need to find out ASAP!!

Symptoms of HYPERTHYROID include:

Extreme hunger

Excessive weight loss

Bulging Eyes

Anxiety

Rapid Heart Beat

Lots of energy but with exhaustion

Insomnia

Loose stools

Does this sound like you?

[georgie]

My main question is that if an underactive thyroid were caused by gluten intolerance, say by a vitamin and/or mineral deficiency, would a gluten free diet on it's own eventually lead to a more optimized thyroid. Or is that not the case, and something like armour would be necessary?

Yes. You are HypoThyroid now and will probably need Thyroid medications soon. When you have one autoimmune condition it is common to have another. The healing from being gluten-free may help you absorb the meds a bit better and you may find you do well on a lesser dose than you would have otherwise. I was able to reduce my Armour after my gut healed some.

I just got my thyroid results yesterday and my ND said by being gluten free it will help stabalize my thyroid. I was diagnosed hyperthyroid but not hashmitos. My numbers were at the very low end. If you want i can post mine.

Confused.... TPO Antibodies is usually Hashimotos. Low TSH indicates Pituitary problems. It is possible to have both or to start off as Hashis and then develop the Pituitary Tumour etc. As said - you need a full check done for pituitary tumours and other associated hormone deficiencies. www.pituitary.org Is your ND qualified to understand all that ? When I was first dx as Hashimotos I had a TSH of 1.1 but Hashis Antibodies. The ultrasound of my Thyroid showed pre cancer nodules.... thankfully all seems in control now. gluten-free diet helped but you need the best care "now" and test and treat this condition aggressively.

[confused]

Last night i researched my results for hours. I kept finding info pointing to estrogen dominance, which i do have. I will research more on putuarity today and see what i can fiugre out.

thanks for both of your advice

paula

[glutenfreeinchicago]

ShayFL, Thanks for the response. I see in your response to 'confused', you mention that a gluten free diet might help a thyroid if it is autoimmune and the damage is not too severe. Do you know what else can cause hypothyroid? Since my anti-bodies were low, I figured that I do not have an autoimmune condition -- maybe that assumption is wrong?

Georgie, Thanks, too, for the response. You imply that my condition is autoimmune. I'm not trying to be argumentative in the slightest, just trying to understand, but do you get this from my bloodwork. Again, I had figured that since my anti-bodies were negative, that there was no autoimmune condition.

Thanks both for your replies and helping me to understand the ins and outs of this thing!

PS ShayFL, What were your symptoms when you were at 2.8? I'm having lingering fatigue, hypoglycemia, and depressed mood (like there is a veil in my mind that just will not lift, except occasionally for brief periods of time); this is after 3-months gluten free. Thanks again.

[georgie]

Georgie, Thanks, too, for the response. You imply that my condition is autoimmune. I'm not trying to be argumentative in the slightest, just trying to understand, but do you get this from my bloodwork. Again, I had figured that since my anti-bodies were negative, that there was no autoimmune condition.

I meant that as Celiac is autoimmune - the chances of having another autoimmune disorder are greater. It is possible to have autoimmune Thyroiditis with zero antibodies or a low number that are 'borderline' according to the labwork. The antibodies can fluctuate so therefore can alter rapidly from test to test as well. And I believe that in late stages of Hashimotos the antibodies fall back low - as the thyroid is now effectively 'dead' tissue and therefore there is nothing left to excite the antibodies to high numbers. As always let symptoms be your guide as well.

[ShayFL]

My Mom NEVER showed antibodies to her thyroid for years, but when they removed her thyroid due to cancer, they Dx Hashimotos because her thyroid was almost completely eaten away. Why no antibodies for all of those years? Our family doesnt produce much IgA and the thyroid antibody tests are IgA mediated. To confuse matters more antibodies can be IgG and IgM mediated as well. So testing only IgA doesnt necessarily rule out "auto-immune" thyroid disease. PLUS you are right, when a great portion of the thyroid is eaten away, the antibodies drop.

When I was at a TSH of 2.8 I had horrible fatigue, muscle twitches all over, dry skin, kinky hair in spots, dry eyes and depression. I had other symptoms (migraine, vertigo and neuropathy) that cleared up (or are almost cleared) with the gluten-free diet.

Hypothyroid can also be caused by Hypopituitary, low iodine, low tyrosine, low selenium and radiation damage. There are other reasons as well. These are the ones I have studied.

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