Hypothyroidism Support Group

Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...

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dawnrose0004 07/08/2013

Hi,

So I had new lab work done. Here are my results.

TSH 1.19. Range .4-4.5

Free T4 .9. Range .8-1.8

Free T3 2.7 Range 2.3-4.2

Cortisol 12.6

So what does this mean?

Thanks for your help,
Dawn

cd3764 07/08/2013

You are very hypo - your FreeT4 and FreeT3 levels are almost at the bottom ends of their ranges.

Healthy people have FreeT4 levels near the high end of the range and FreeT3 levels in the upper third of the range.

As we've mentioned previously, your doctor(s) are probably confused by your "normal" (aka in-range) TSH.

I hope you can find a doctor like this one:

http://www.mercola.com/article/hypothyroid/diagnosis_comp.htm

dawnrose0004 07/08/2013

Why isn't my TSH high then?

cd3764 07/08/2013

The most common reason TSH doesn't go high when thyroid hormone levels go to low is the presence of thyroid antibodies.

Depending on the type of antibodies, TSH may never rise.....if it does, it can take YEARS (as many as 20!!)

I have TSH receptor antibodies and my TSH was .007 when I started thyroid hormone replacement. Thankfully, my current doctor (#5) understands why my TSH stays low.

The 4 doctors I saw before her were clueless and I suffered needlessly.

MButterfly 07/08/2013

The TSH test - I am convinced - was the work of the devil.

dawnrose0004 07/08/2013

What kind of antibodies?

cd3764 07/08/2013

As I already mentioned, TSH receptor antibodies can make a patient hypo with suppressed (below-range) TSH.

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies can keep TSH low for YEARS even when thyroid function has already significantly diminished.

dawnrose0004 07/08/2013

My blood work 4 weeks ago said my Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Ab was 6 (range 0-34). Is that number good or bad?

cd3764 07/08/2013

That's a relatively low level of antibodies.

Please know that each of us has a different response to antibodies. People with low levels can have severe hypothyroidism and people with high levels can have mild hypothyroidism.

Bottom line is that you should be started on treatment.

dawnrose0004 07/08/2013

Thanks for all of your help. I really appreciate it. I kind of feel lost right now and everyone has been so helpful and informative.

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