I have been on 25 micrograms of Thyroxin for a couple of months and I just had a thyroid panel run. I'll be discussing the results with my doctor next week, but how do these numbers look to you?

TSH: 1.5 (I know this is good: before treatment it was 4.0, 3.6 and 2.4)
T4 Free: 15.3
T3 Free: 5.2

Confusingly, I had the test on my anti-nuclear antibodies run again and it looks like they've disappeared! So maybe I haven't got an immune problem either?

I have to say, it's wierd how blood test results fluctuate. Just think how different the doctor's response would have been if my first FSH test had come in at 4.3 like the second one and not 46 like the first one. Just think if the antinuclear antibodies had not happened to be there the first time they were tested. At least I think I'm making some progress on the thyroid front, otherwise I feel just confused but on a higher level!

Catherine

Looks good! I'm not 100% sure about your T3 though as they rarely test that here in Canada... But your T4 is right where it needs to be and so is your tsh. They keep me at tsh .1 and t4 at 16... I think they ran my t3 once and it was right around yours as well.

How do you feel now though with everything within normal range?

Me - 31 yrs
DH - 32 yrs (perfect)
TTC #1 - 4.5 yrs
DX: Hashimoto Thyroiditis / high fsh / blocked tubes
Highest FSH 72
Lowest 3.5
3 mnths Clomid 100 mg - o'd 1x - BFN (2008)
Too many IVF Cancellations to list!
May 2009 Donor Selected - waiting for start date!

Thanks, ks. I feel about the same as I did before, but I have noticed that compared to last year when my TSH was 4.0 my waking temperatures are far higher.

Catherine,

TSH is measured in standardized units across labs, but T4 and T3 are not, so without the reference ranges appropriate to your lab, it's impossible to interpret those -- do you have them handy (or maybe ks can help out since it sounds like her lab uses the same ranges).

I love, love, love your quip about "I feel just confused but on a higher level!" Let's get that printed on a t-shirt!

In terms of the ANAs ... I know that anti-thyroid antibody levels are sometimes reduced after people get their hypothyroidism treated (if they have it). I don't know if that could affect other auto-immune conditions or not, but maybe. So perhaps there's a link, or maybe it's just natural fluctuations (see? confused on a higher level right along with you!).

Best wishes,
Alex

Thanks, Alex. The numbers seem to be bang in the middle of the reference ranges on the printout, so I guess that makes them ok. But the reference range for TSH in this lab is 0.4 - 4.5 so that's why I wanted to check - I was told 18 months ago that my TSH of 3.6 was fine But that was just my regular gynecologist, now I'm seeing a thyroid specialist.

One of the sad things of this infertility journey is that I have become very suspicious of doctors, they have made so many mistakes in treating me and I've wasted a lot of time because of that. It's hard work trying to make sure your doctor is doing his / her job properly. At least my thyroid now seems to be on the right track.

Catherine

Catherine,

Yeah, I know. It's tough, isn't it? I have read that women who are ttc should actually not have T4 in the bottom 10% of the reference range ... so that e.g. if the range is 1 -- 10, that it should really be no less than 2. But if yours is squarely in the middle, that sounds great.

Best wishes,
Alex