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What Does My Lab Test Report Indicate?
Question: Hi I need help with my thyroid results.
3 months ago I woke up with chills, neck pain, lymph nodes ,dizziness, palpatations ect. Was misdiagnosed for 10 weeks. What do my thyroid results mean. They were dropping then when I had my periods they were high again. My uptake scan and antibodies was normal.
Im now waking up with headrushs
Is it viral
22/1/16
TSH 1.56 (.40 - 4.2)
FT4 26.6 (11-22)
29./1/16
TSH 1.06
FT4 22.8
FT3 4
4/2/16
TSH 1.82
FT4 20
FT 3 4.6
16/2/16
TSH 1.14
FT4 19.2
1/3/16
TSH 2.47 (.4 - 4.2)
FT4 23.6 (11 - 22)
FT3 4
3 months ago I woke up with chills, neck pain, lymph nodes ,dizziness, palpatations ect. Was misdiagnosed for 10 weeks. What do my thyroid results mean. They were dropping then when I had my periods they were high again. My uptake scan and antibodies was normal.
Im now waking up with headrushs
Is it viral
22/1/16
TSH 1.56 (.40 - 4.2)
FT4 26.6 (11-22)
29./1/16
TSH 1.06
FT4 22.8
FT3 4
4/2/16
TSH 1.82
FT4 20
FT 3 4.6
16/2/16
TSH 1.14
FT4 19.2
1/3/16
TSH 2.47 (.4 - 4.2)
FT4 23.6 (11 - 22)
FT3 4
Brief Answer:
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Your thyroid results look normal. It is extremely unlikely that your thyroid is not functioning normally.
It is possible you had a thyroid problem 3 months ago but as you pointed out, your uptake scan and antibodies were normal. So unless the TSH and Free T4 were abnormal at that time, it is hard to say for sure what may have happened.
Regardless, your thyroid seems to be working fine now based on the laboratory results you have shared here.
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your 3 month glucose average)
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
25 hydroxy Vitamin D
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Your thyroid results look normal. It is extremely unlikely that your thyroid is not functioning normally.
It is possible you had a thyroid problem 3 months ago but as you pointed out, your uptake scan and antibodies were normal. So unless the TSH and Free T4 were abnormal at that time, it is hard to say for sure what may have happened.
Regardless, your thyroid seems to be working fine now based on the laboratory results you have shared here.
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your 3 month glucose average)
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
25 hydroxy Vitamin D
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
can I please ask though was is my T4 high and sometimes out of range? I have had terrible shaking, palpatations, raised heart rate when at rest. I am still waking with head rushes and vomiting every morning and feel extremley nervous.
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Yes there is a good plausible explanation for this.
Free T4, also often abbreviated as FT4, is not a perfect test. So sometimes it can give a misleading report. For instance, two of your FT4 results are above normal while couple others are within normal limits. This likely represents a shortcoming of the method used to test FT4 in the blood.
To get around this, I typically order
Total T4
Total T3
T3 resin uptake
These are all blood tests which can be done at any time of the day and do not require fasting.
Please note the T3 resin uptake is a completely different test versus the Thyroid Uptake and Scan.
If these three are normal we are virtually certain that FT4 has been fallacious.
Overall FT4 is a good test and is commonly used worldwide. However as you can see it can have limitations in select circumstances.
Lastly, as I mentioned in my first response, there are rare conditions like Thyroid Hormone Resistance (THR) where blood tests can resemble yours and symptoms such as the ones you are experiencing can occur.
The results of these three tests I have just recommended may help to shed light on this possibility.
Seeing an endocrinologist in-person will be important to interpret these tests if THR is suspected.
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Yes there is a good plausible explanation for this.
Free T4, also often abbreviated as FT4, is not a perfect test. So sometimes it can give a misleading report. For instance, two of your FT4 results are above normal while couple others are within normal limits. This likely represents a shortcoming of the method used to test FT4 in the blood.
To get around this, I typically order
Total T4
Total T3
T3 resin uptake
These are all blood tests which can be done at any time of the day and do not require fasting.
Please note the T3 resin uptake is a completely different test versus the Thyroid Uptake and Scan.
If these three are normal we are virtually certain that FT4 has been fallacious.
Overall FT4 is a good test and is commonly used worldwide. However as you can see it can have limitations in select circumstances.
Lastly, as I mentioned in my first response, there are rare conditions like Thyroid Hormone Resistance (THR) where blood tests can resemble yours and symptoms such as the ones you are experiencing can occur.
The results of these three tests I have just recommended may help to shed light on this possibility.
Seeing an endocrinologist in-person will be important to interpret these tests if THR is suspected.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
could it possibly be a type of viral thyroiditis?
I dont see an Endo for another 4 weeks.
Is there anything I could be doing as in diet or supplements to try and lower my T4?
I dont see an Endo for another 4 weeks.
Is there anything I could be doing as in diet or supplements to try and lower my T4?
Brief Answer:
Second follow up
Detailed Answer:
Although possible it is unlikely to be viral thyroiditis.
Most likely it is a laboratory test abnormality.
Since it is not a real problem as such, nothing needs to be done about it in terms of diet change
Next time you may wish to check TSH along with
Total T4
Total T3
T3 resin uptake
and if these are normal, it is extremely likely your thyroid is functioning normally.
Second follow up
Detailed Answer:
Although possible it is unlikely to be viral thyroiditis.
Most likely it is a laboratory test abnormality.
Since it is not a real problem as such, nothing needs to be done about it in terms of diet change
Next time you may wish to check TSH along with
Total T4
Total T3
T3 resin uptake
and if these are normal, it is extremely likely your thyroid is functioning normally.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thankyou. I will get these test done as I still have alot of symptoms. The only other test that came back abnormal was High Cortisol and Low Lymphicytes
Brief Answer:
Best wishes
Detailed Answer:
for good health
Best wishes
Detailed Answer:
for good health
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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