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Suggest Treatment For Hair Loss, Fatigue And Difficulty Loosing Weight

Posted on Tue, 23 Dec 2014

Question: My TSH is stable at .5 my FT4 is also stable at 1.3 my FT3 however is < .5. What does this indicate?

Hair loss since may, difficulty losing weight, severe fatigue,

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
T4 to T3 conversion

Detailed Answer:
Good day
Noted your concern.
T4 gets converted to T3 in the body. T3 is the active hormone. In your condition, it may be due to a defective conversion of t4 to t3. It could also be due to a lab error. Please get a repeat Ft3 along with a Total T3 ( it is difficult now a days to get a Total T3 done). However, most endocrinologists hardly ever do T3 and treatment is decided on TSH and T4 levels.
Regards
Binu

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (10 minutes later)

My doctor is a GP. If the tests are correct would Cytomel help even though my TSH is .5. I also have a small goiter diagnosed 2yrs ago when the problems began, yet my TSH & FT4 levels have been consistent. My new doctor is the only person to order a FT3 test.

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
ANy medications now?

Detailed Answer:
Could you please attach the thyroid blood reports ?

We don't do Ft3 tests on a regular basis. Cytomel has T3 also in it. But are ypu taking any medicine for thyroid now ( like Synthroid)??

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (10 minutes later)

No I am not currently on any medications but my hair loss is what prompted me to see another doctor.

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Recheck after a month

Detailed Answer:
Okay. Please do not worry about a single low value of FT3. Please attach the reports if possible.
Recheck the thyroid profile a month later.let us observe the trend in FT3

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (7 hours later)

I have uploaded my documents. For the past two years I have had hypo symptoms but since my doctors only check TSH & T4. I havnt been getting treatment and have been getting worse.

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
LAb error

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Got all the test reports. Strangely, one FT3 value has come low. However, TSH is normal. ( If Free T3 is truely low, TSH should increase). Hence i suspect some kind of lab error. It is common to have assay problems in hormone detection, especially when used to detect hormones which are present in very very small quantities. T3 itself is very low in body. Then, FT3 ( free T3) is even lower.
You may have to re do the test in a different lab using good hormone measurement using CLIA ( Chemiluminescent Immuno assay) technique for hormone detection.
Since FT4 and TSH are normal, i am sorry to say that, there is no recomendation to start either Synthroid or Cytomel. You may have to discuss with your doctor to get your Thyroid hormones checked in a good reference laboratory.
Regards
Binu

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