What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 24 Dec 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 24 Dec 2016 Answered on

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : YYYY@YYYY : 2016-12-05: results of lab test: T4,FREE......1.14 result ....Range 0.76-1.46 no flag.
TSH ..... 6.920...range 0.358-3.74....flag H. My doctor then put me on synthroid, one half tab daily. Is this the correct thing to do? I thought that Synthroid replaces the hormone you don't have. I seem to have too much according to the lab test...??

Answered by Dr. Shuba hariprasad (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is the right approach

Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
Thank you for your query.
I'm Dr. Shuba Hariprasad and will be answering your query today.

Yes, it is the right approach.

TSH - thyroid stimulating hormone is not the thyroid hormone but a trigger from the pituitary gland that instructs the thyroid to produce the thyroid hormone.

So, if your TSH is high (hypothyroidism) , your thyroid hormones are deficient and if low (hyperthyroidism) , your thyroid hormones are in excess.

I'd recommend :

- blood tests (a free T3 and T4 level, Thyroid anti body levels) .this is to check for the cause of hypothyroidism.
-a repeat TSH after 4-6 weeks of taking Synthyroid for adjusting dosage

*do you have any neck swelling ? Did your doctor advice any other tests?
*did you have any other symptoms ?
*do you have any other medical issues or take any medications ?
*any recent illness or change in diet ?

It will take a few weeks for the medication to take effect.

Hope this helps.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Wish you good health
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee