Posted by noa on May 3, 2003, at 7:02:59
In reply to Test results: TSH level Iron, posted by jerrympls on May 2, 2003, at 19:53:20
Jerry,
Not exactly "off the charts" but definitely HIGH!! Ie, definitely out of the conventional normal range and much higher than what we consider to be normal range.
Was the T4 a "Total T4" or a "Free T4"?
Acc. to Mary Shomon, the range for Total T4 is 4.5 to 12.5, which would make your 0.7 Extremely low. The Free T4 test ranges from 0.7 to 2. Which makes your 0.7 at the low end. Either way, the numbers look hypothyroid.
I can tell you from my own experience (and my TSH was similar but not quite as bad as yours, and my T4 was not as bad as yours) that when the hypothyroidism was finally identified and treated properly (much more aggressively than had been by my pdoc and internist), THAT was when I finally started to get good results from my antidepressants. THAT was when I finally started to feel better! It did take months, maybe even nearly a year, but the improvement was pretty steady--I felt better each month following initiation of the aggressive treatment (ie, more thyroid meds so my TSH was brought down to less than 1.0).
Good luck--I am glad you got that identified!
BTW--The values I cited are from a chart at Mary Shomon's site---
http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/bltest-values.htmBTW2--I wonder if the endo might also help you with the low iron. I know my endo made connections between seemingly disparate signs and symptoms and had me tested for several other endocrine disorders. Most turned out negative, but I did end up needing meds for insulin resistance.
poster:noa
thread:223936
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030429/msgs/224034.html