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What Does This Thyroid Function Test Result Indicate?
Question: recent blood test showed my TSH to be at 10.88 while Free T4 to bat at 0.97. what does this indicate
Brief Answer:
Hypothyroidism, needs treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Hi,
Welcome to HCM. I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
What you have done is thyroid function tests. The thyroid hormones are T3 and T4. We usually do Free T4. If your thyroid is damaged due to some disease and is producing less thyroid hormones (say free T4) what our body tries is to stimulate the thyroid to produce more hormone. This is by increasing Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH ) from brain which will stimulate thyroid to produce Free T4 so that blood levels are normal.
So an elevated TSH suggest your thyroid is under active. Here your TSH is elevated and Free T4 is on the lower side of normal.
We will treat with thyroxine (thyroid hormone T4) once the TSH is above normal, definitely when it is above 10 miu/ml. This will bring the Free T4 to upper half of normal and TSH below 4 miu/ml.
Additional tests that you can do to see if your thyroid is damaged are:
1. Ultrasound of thyroid - to see if thyroid structure will be altered
2. Anti thyroid antibodies - if high suggest auto immune thyroid disease called Hashimoto's hypothyroidism
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
Hypothyroidism, needs treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Hi,
Welcome to HCM. I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
What you have done is thyroid function tests. The thyroid hormones are T3 and T4. We usually do Free T4. If your thyroid is damaged due to some disease and is producing less thyroid hormones (say free T4) what our body tries is to stimulate the thyroid to produce more hormone. This is by increasing Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH ) from brain which will stimulate thyroid to produce Free T4 so that blood levels are normal.
So an elevated TSH suggest your thyroid is under active. Here your TSH is elevated and Free T4 is on the lower side of normal.
We will treat with thyroxine (thyroid hormone T4) once the TSH is above normal, definitely when it is above 10 miu/ml. This will bring the Free T4 to upper half of normal and TSH below 4 miu/ml.
Additional tests that you can do to see if your thyroid is damaged are:
1. Ultrasound of thyroid - to see if thyroid structure will be altered
2. Anti thyroid antibodies - if high suggest auto immune thyroid disease called Hashimoto's hypothyroidism
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Thanks Dr for you inputs....
Could you also advise me on the manifestion(s) of this disorder, for eg., due to hypothyroidism, what would my body/metabolism acts as?
Could you also advise me on the manifestion(s) of this disorder, for eg., due to hypothyroidism, what would my body/metabolism acts as?
Brief Answer:
hair loss, tiredness, intolerance to cold
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
Only 30% of hypothyroid patients will have symptoms. So majority are without any symptoms.
The common symptoms are hair loss, tiredness, intolerance to cold, day time sleepiness, dry skin, weight gain, constipation, mood changes, memory loss etc. Metabolic problem - mainly is increase in cholesterol levels, decrease body metabolism. Thyroid is like a battery for all our systems. So all organs will be functioning less in hypothyroidism.
In your case the TSH is only slightly elevated suggesting mild decrease in thyroid function. So you may not experience all symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Hope this will clear your doubts.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
hair loss, tiredness, intolerance to cold
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
Only 30% of hypothyroid patients will have symptoms. So majority are without any symptoms.
The common symptoms are hair loss, tiredness, intolerance to cold, day time sleepiness, dry skin, weight gain, constipation, mood changes, memory loss etc. Metabolic problem - mainly is increase in cholesterol levels, decrease body metabolism. Thyroid is like a battery for all our systems. So all organs will be functioning less in hypothyroidism.
In your case the TSH is only slightly elevated suggesting mild decrease in thyroid function. So you may not experience all symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Hope this will clear your doubts.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
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. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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