Are My Thyroid Test Results OK?

[CallMeD]

I went to the doctor for the usual symptoms of low Test, but after reviewing the labs, he said that my testosterone levels are fine (1136 ng/dL) but felt I should try thyroid treatment.

TSH: 1.44 mlU/L (range 0.20 - 4.00)
Free T4: 13.7 pmol/L (range 10.0 - 25.0)
Free T3: 4.5 pmol/L (range 3.5 - 6.5)
TPO Antibody: 64 klU/L (range 0-35)

The other things that were out of range on the testing were
Estradiol (high)
DHEA-S (low)
SHBG (high)
Ferritin (low)

He is putting me on DHEA (50mg / day) and Thyroid (desiccated thyroid with both T3and T4) 30mg twice daily increasing to 60mg twice daily over 3 months based on how I respond). Follow-up labs planned for 3 months.

My question is what do the thyroid test results mean, and is the prescription going in the right direction.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Is he treating you for the low ferritin (low ferritin is common in patients with Hashimoto's disease- You have a mild form of that) ?

Is your ferritin low due to too many phlebotomies or an internal bleed?



Hashimoto's Diagnosis



Dr. Neal Rouizer on Thyroid Treatment

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Thyroid Tests and What They Mean

 

[CallMeD]

Thanks Nelson. I will read those posts later today.

He suggested an iron supplement, but I eat a diet high in spinach and eat red meat at least once a week, so I'm not sure that it will help. Also recommended selenium, zinc, and magnesium supplements (I already take Vit D and omega 3s).

I haven't given blood in 12 months, and as far as I know I don't have any sort of internal bleed.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Can you give me the actual value of ferritin? Did they also measure iron?

You may want to read this:

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ferritin/

 

[CallMeD]

The Ferritin was 58 ug/L (range 30-400) and the doctor said it should be closer to 200. He didn't do other iron tests. That will be part of my follow-up testing in 10 weeks.

 

[Vettester Chris]

I went to the doctor for the usual symptoms of low Test, but after reviewing the labs, he said that my testosterone levels are fine (1136 ng/dL) but felt I should try thyroid treatment.

TSH: 1.44 mlU/L (range 0.20 - 4.00)
Free T4: 13.7 pmol/L (range 10.0 - 25.0)
Free T3: 4.5 pmol/L (range 3.5 - 6.5)
TPO Antibody: 64 klU/L (range 0-35)

The other things that were out of range on the testing were
Estradiol (high)
DHEA-S (low)
SHBG (high)
Ferritin (low)

He is putting me on DHEA (50mg / day) and Thyroid (desiccated thyroid with both T3and T4) 30mg twice daily increasing to 60mg twice daily over 3 months based on how I respond). Follow-up labs planned for 3 months.

My question is what do the thyroid test results mean, and is the prescription going in the right direction.

Your antibody results indicate probable Hashi's at the enzyme level.

Your Free T4 is at 24.6% of the reference range, FT3 is a little bit to the right, at 33% of reference range. If everything is optimal, you would want both of these in the 50% to 80% range, fairly close together in relation with the reference ranges.

Obviously with enzyme autoimmune issues, and evident ferritin problems, things won't be optimal at the moment. One "key" missing lab is Reverse T3, which will probably confirm that T3 is in a pooling situation. As Nelson also eluded, you will need to run your iron serum, along with TIBC. I suspect your iron will also be in the same area. We need to know the actual lab results with their reference ranges on all of these. There are some good elemental iron options, plus food sources that can help get your iron where it needs to be.

As for the thyroid, Hashis can actually be treated directly with NDT medications, but it will be important to titrate properly to combat the attacks on the thyroid enzymes. If you go limping in with just a mediocre protocol, it could cause the attacks to be more problematic. It will be instrumental that the physician you work with understands this. Also, until you get the iron/ferritin subject settled out, you will need to hold off on thyroid medication. T3 is dependent on iron & ferritin for reaching the cells. This is one main reason FT3 ends up pooling, which creates a higher conversion rate of Reverse T3 ...

Let us know on the labs ...