About Karen Brawner Expertise I will answer any questions you have regarding the thyroid whether it be cancer, cysts (types), hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, blood tests for thyroid problems, surgery, fine needle biopsies etc...
Experience My complex cysts on my right thyroid gland and the isthmus were found my accident when my doctor thought I was having a TIA. The ultrasound found a complex cysts the size of a golf ball (which turned out to be the size of a tennis ball when it was surgically remove). Doctors were totally surprised because for 5 years, including the day I went to surgery, all of my thyroid blood work was "within the normal range". So much for blood work being conclusive..
I am a 46 y/o female and have Hereditary Hemochromatosis, (iron overload disorder.) One of my early symptoms was premature menopause which went away once I became deironed. (I probably had some iron deposition in my pituitary gland.)
I've had several symptoms of hypothyroidism the last couple of years. I asked my HH doctor to run some lab tests, but he only ordered a TSH level, which was low normal; 0.72. At my last phlebotomy appointment seven weeks ago, I requested an entire Thyroid Panel to be drawn. I asked because my hypothyroid symptoms had worsened. (My symptoms include: hair thinning, loss of eyebrow hair, lethargy, depression, dry skin, constipation, cold intolerance and unexplained weight gain (from 115 pounds to 132 pounds) and irregular periods and other symptoms of perimenopause.
The tests drawn and my results are as follows:
Thyroxine (T4)
Normal Adult Range: 4-12 ug/dl
Optimal Adult Reading: 8 ug/dl
my results: 5.5
T3-Uptake
Normal Adult Range: 27-47%
Optimal Adult Reading: 37%
my results: 35%
Free T4 Index (T7)
Normal Adult Range: 4-12
Optimal Adult Reading: 8.0
my results: 1.9
TSH
Normal Adult Range: .5-6 mililU/L
Optimal Adult Reading: 3.25 mililU/L
my results: 0.66 mililU/L
It's the low freeT4 index that worries me. Any ideas as to what these results mean? I appreciate any suggestions and advice.
Thank you so much.
Karen
Answer Dear Karen, First of all stop messing around with the HH and any other doctor and seek help from an Endocrinologist.. This doctor specializes with ALL endocrine glands including the thyroid and the pituitary gland and with all the other endocrine glands....
You seem to definately have a pituitary gland problem which could be cysts or masses or just productivity problems...
Get to an Endocrinologist for some PROPER testing...
