What Does My Thyroid Test Report Indicate?

Posted on Mon, 6 Apr 2015

Question: Had a thyroid test using chemiluminescence Immuno Assay method and result came out as T3 (Tri-iodothyrontine) Serum.......1.38, T4(Thyroxine) Serum..........100.10, TSH Ultrasensitive Serum.........19.900. I was diagnosed Hypothyrodism. Is this result hypo or hyper? I had a surgery for hyperthyroidism in 1993. please what really is wrong or right?

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hypothyroidism is the correct diagnosis ma'am, let me explain

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Let me start by listing the normal values/ranges for T3, T4 and TSH for your better understanding ma'am.

T3: 0.8 - 2.0 ng/ml
0.9 - 2.8 nmol/L

T4: 58 - 161 nmol/L

TSH: 0.5 - 4.70 mIU/L

As per the above listed normal ranges, your T3 and T4 levels are normal (within normal limits) and your TSH is raised. These values are in accordance with a diagnosis of hypothyroidism ma'am. And so I concur with your doctors who put forward a diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

At times, surgery and treatment of one extreme can cause an imbalance and shifting of levels to the other extreme. Sadly the surgery and all other approaches employed to treat your hyperthyroidism has now resulted in hypothyroidism and thus you will now require treatment for hypothyroidism ma'am.

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (12 hours later)

I am most grateful and at ease with this explanation. So going forward how do I rectify this abnormal especially as I am not able to get the recommended mg of Levothyroxine.

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You will have to work with your doctor for the levo dosage

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

I am really happy that I could help with a clear explanation. But you will require drugs like levothyroxine to help control your hypothyroidism and bring it to normal levels.

Your doctor will have to keep testing your response and thyroid profile to reach a decision on what dose of levothyroxine will be most suitable for you. Along with this you may also require the following to help absorb levothyroxine into your system as it is not easily absorbed into the human body. They are:

+Cholestyramine
+Iron supplements
+Aluminium hydroxide (very common in antacids)
+Calcium supplements

I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.

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