Thyroid blood test results (T4 free, TSH, T3)

[RickB]

TL/DR: Endo says these results are fine. She's not concerned about the T4 Free, even though it is barely normal. Is she right? Should she order more tests?

T4 Free, Direct: .84 ng/dL (.82 - 1.77)

TSH: 1.290 uIU/mL (.45 - 4.5)

T3: 86 ng/dL (71 - 180)


Recently visited an endo. I like her a lot, but I've been here long enough to know, that sometimes people here are better versed than the professionals. My main symptom which brought me to her was overeating. I am pretty sure it's psychological, but I wanted to visit an endo before maybe seeing an eating specialist.

From what she explained, we were looking for a potential overactive thyroid for overeating. The results ruled that out, but I immediately figured I might have the opposite - a sluggish thyroid. I feel like I've been gaining weight slowly compared to how much I've been eating, but the results made me start to wonder if it's the opposite.

However, my endo said that the lowish T4 Free is no concern because my TSH is normal. I read that low T4 and normal TSH could mean secondary hypothyroidism, but she said that is very rare and usually from brain trauma. So, long story short, she says my results are fine.

 

[Systemlord]

T4 Free, Direct: .84 ng/dL (.82 - 1.77)

TSH: 1.290 uIU/mL (.45 - 4.5)

T3: 86 ng/dL (71 - 180)

These are fine. My Free T4 mirrors yours, but Free T3 (not T3) is slightly above midrange and TSH is 0.49. The low Free T4 and healthy Free T3 basically shows efficient conversion of Free T4->Free T3.

Many things can increase your appetite, type 2 diabetes, malabsorption issues to name a few. Many of today's food from the big food companies, the ingredients they add prevent you from getting full, forcing you to eat more of their food products.

Maybe you're eating the wrong types of food. I feel more satisfied eating lots of fatty red meat, but when I start removing red meat from my diet, I'm hungry all the time.

 

[RickB]

These are fine. My Free T4 mirrors yours, but Free T3 (not T3) is slightly above midrange and TSH is 0.49. The low Free T4 and healthy Free T3 basically shows efficient conversion of Free T4->Free T3.

Many things can increase your appetite, type 2 diabetes, malabsorption issues to name a few. Many of today's food from the big food companies, the ingredients they add prevent you from getting full, forcing you to eat more of their food products.

Maybe you're eating the wrong types of food. I feel more satisfied eating lots of fatty red meat, but when I start removing red meat from my diet, I'm hungry all the time.

Check and check. Good to know I can rule out thyroid, and I have an a1c test coming up, so I'll be checking the diabetes angle there.

You're 100% right about the types of food making a difference. I can attest to that. But lately I am just not satisfied no matter what I eat. This started almost three years ago. For a long time I dealt with it by constantly switching my diet - some were healthy and some weren't. A diet would work for two or three weeks, or even a month, and then the craving would return and I'd switch things up. I did the same thing with lifestyle changes - constantly changing things up to stay ahead of the desire to eat.

I've made changes as far as coming off testosterone, coming off aromatase inhibitors, and trying some psychiatric meds. I took Wellbutrin which targets depression and appetite directly. I felt good for a couple months and ate far less, and then ate like a pig for a month and decided to come off.

I know 100% that if I want to be in good shape I need to deprive myself. I've been a pro at that in the past, but unlike back then, I don't get excited at the thought of being in better shape. It just doesn't motivate me. I just feel like eating.