Thyroid levels, anyone an expert (or know stuff)?

[soupfiend]

My T4 and TSH levels seem ok, but I had a test recently (private) which tested free T3, and this is 3.1, right on the borderline of the bottom range according to the lab ranges.

Im just wondering if this seems low

I wouldnt say I have symptoms of low thyroid but I am constantly freezing. However I have lost a great deal of weight and this seems just a normal side effect. But when I say freezing, I mean freezing

Anyone?

What are your full results?

Look at Thyroid UK on Health Unlocked. If you post your full results there, you'll get feedback. Lots of expert patients.

healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk

Full results are

TSH 2.2
Free T3 3.1
Free Thyroxine (T4 I believe) 14.5

What are your ranges?

I dont know waht this means, I just got a number for each one

These are normal levels.

Completely normal results. T3 goes up and down by the hour.

Your TSH and T4 are completely normal and your T3 is only marginally outside of the normal range so I don't think you have an issue with your thyroid.

I had thyroid disease and before having my thyroid removed I had regular blood tests. Most of the time they only measured my TSH and T4 so I think the T3 is the least important indicator.

It's really bloody hard to lose weight if you have an underactive thyroid. Did you lose the weight on purpose? Have you had stuff like b12 and iron levels checked?

My TSH needs to be under 1. I've been on thyroxine for 25 years.

Ah I get it now, I have another thread going on that thyroid site and its the range of whats normal, not a range for my result!!!

Ok so
TSH is 2.2 with the range saying .27 to 4.2
T3 is 3.1 with the range saying 3.1 to 6.8
T4 is 14.5 with the range saying 12 to 22

All my other results like iron, folate, b12, vit d are fine, very happy. Too much iron storage/saturation but GP not concerned because of the other results.

Yes. 9 stone now lost. I lost the first third in preparation for weight loss surgery and then lost the other 6. Still going!

Thats why I just want to check about the extreme cold I feel, apparently its really common if you lose an awful lot of weight and we're all suffering (people that I know).

I wouldnt say I have any other symptoms that Ive read about

You'd be wrong about T3's importance. The NHS is notoriously inadequate at dealing with low and 'sub clinical' thyroid levels. I only found out my issues when I had tests in Australia that were much more thorough than you'd get from a UK GP. T3 levels are vital to your metabolism.

Not saying that OP has thyroid issues, and I can only point again to Thyroid UK/Health Unlocked as a source of patient expertise. Many people on there who have been utterly failed by the NHS.

Actually, Im now getting suspicious because thinking about it, I am a very slow loser for a WLS patient, its taken me about 12 months to lose the 6 stone since surgery. Most patients lose a stone a month apparently. I lost a stone a month prior to the surgery gfor 3 months!!!!

But then I am peri menopause and also incredibly exercise resistant.

You aren’t obviously hypothyroid but people often don’t feel well unless their T3 and T4 are at optimal levels (generally around mid range)…… i suspect it may be down to the interaction between your sex hormones and thyroid function - oestrogen and progesterone moderate thyroid hormone levels , low oestrogen indirectly leads to lower thyroglobulin and hence slows thyroid function. However you may also be seeing the impact of significant weight loss..as obesity can cause raised oestrogen levels ,with your weight loss you may also be dropping your oestrogen levels via this route as well as perimenopause?

Thats a good point, I didnt think of that