FT3 and FT4 are the active thyroid hormones.
T3 and T4 are total, but this also includes protein-bound hormones which are not available for your body to use.
Therefore, to get the best idea of your status you should measure FT3 and FT4 instead of T3 and T4.
Hope this helps.
Wave Rider, I was seeing an Endo, but realized he was not helping at all. He told me I was thirsty and urinating all the time because I breath out of my mouth. Just had a bad experience with him. I am seeing a great physician now who is ruling things out finally. I will have them test my FT3 and FT4. What is the difference between that and T3 and T4. I thought for sure I was getting all the tests necessary for thyroid. I will request those two done asap. I believe cutting my llevoxyl in half daily will be the answer.
Super_sally, that may be it. I eat salads and very healthy food rather than fat and protein. I always eat very low fat low calorie foods
Thanks all.
Gimel is on the thyroid forum, not here.
Would be best if you tested FT3 and FT4, rather rather than T3 and T4.
A slight decrease in thyroid meds could be tried to see if it helps how you feel.
Make sure you're eating long acting (complex) carbs rather than ones that digest quickly. Include fat and protein in every meal.
Seeing an Endo..yes or no? Most of your symptoms mimic levoxyl side effects
Other than that, try posting on the thyroid forum.
Thanks for both of your responses. I got my thyroid sugically removed in 2003 so have been taking thyroid supplements ever since.
My symptoms recently have been:
Weight gain. Dizzyness and confusion 2 hours after eating breakfast. Dry skin. Loosing my hair. (I used to have full beautiful hair) Brittle nails. I am CONSTANTLY thirsty which is leading me to urinate every 2 hours! I am very very healthy, I eat very good and run 2-3 miles every single day. I should not be gaining weight by any means. Usually when someone is hyperactive they lose weight. Seems to be the opposite for me. Looks like my T3 and T4 levels look great.
I also got my thryroid levels checked last Friday as well. Below are the results. Looks like I have way too much levoxyl? I am currently taking:
cytomel 5 mcg tablets twice a day and levoxyl 100 mcg once a day
Gimel, do you have any insight on my thyroid? You have been such a great help with my thyroid. Thanks all!
Thyroid levels:
TSH: 0.42 (0.34-4.82) uIU/mL
Thyroxine/T4: 11.0 (4.7-13.3) mcg/dL
T3 Total: 179 (76-181) ng/dL
Hi,
You have what is called a flat glucose tolerance test. And you felt awful 'cause your sugar went low.
I used to have a flat test result until I developed diabetes proper and now I just go high.
This result won't diagnose you with diabetes. maybe reactive hypoglycemia.
Why were you tested? What are your sypmtoms, problems?
Please ignore the normal ranges for this test. That was ranges for diebetes. Thanks
You might ask for a referral to an Endocrinologist, a specialist trained on diabetes, thyroid and pancreas care and treatment. I would definitely ask to have your Thyroid and Pancreas completely tested, including an insulin test. An misfiring Thyroid will disrupt the Pancreas's insulin production, in your case might be to much insulin causing low levels. Good luck