Enter your symptoms and find possible causes with MedHelp's new Symptom Search.

Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.

Thyroid Disorders Community

Post a Question Back to Forum

Watch this Discussion

Email this

MedHelp Member's Question

FREE T3 AND FREE T4

by Liz1900, Mar 17, 2008 10:10PM

Hi,

Could someone explain what Free T3 and Free T4 are. I had my blood work done as advied by the board T3, T4 and TSH. Is there a difference between T3 and T4 and Free T3 and T4? Is that what is actually produced by the thyroid?

Liz

Related discussions

Blood work results don't match how I feel.......take a l... (14 replies):
okay. i got my test result TSH 0.25 T Uptake 39.9 T4 ...[more]
thyroid results (1 replies):
Hi my Free T4: 10.0 pmol/L (10.0-24.0) TSH: 0.73mU/L(0.3...[more]
Total T3 vs Free T3 in Hypothyroidism? (4 replies):
My doctor checks total T3, saying that the Free T3 is an...[more]
All I know is 1-2 is normal (8 replies):
I was told my results were normal..I never believe any d...[more]
thyroid results (2 replies):
Hi my Free T4: 10.0 pmol/L(10.0-24.0) TSH: 0.73 mU/L (0....[more]

Member Comments (3)

by AR-10, Mar 17, 2008 10:52PM

T3 and T4 are hormones. The thyroid manufactures and distributes them along with T1, and T7, and some other Ts as well. Hormones that your body uses. The T3 is absorbed into cells, and the T4 is converted to T3 as needed.

A lot of the T3 and T4 get bound up while in the blood by enzymes or something small and pertinant, and is not available, or useable. Only what the body thinks it might need is left "free" in the blood, to be used as needed. This is a normal regulatory mechanism that eliminates excess hormone.

So measuring Total T4 is very different from measuring Free T4.

Modern test use TSH, Free T4, and Free T3 tests. The "free" tests are considered to be more accurate than the total T4 and the T3 uptake tests.

I think.
I could be wrong.

by stella5349

, Mar 18, 2008 04:00AM

You're not AR -- you are totally correct. I wish our doctors treating us could be so informative.

The free T's measured are much more accurate to assist in any problems when a full blood panel is done.

The only thing is the T3/T4 tests help determine if the patient is having trouble with any conversion process.

by Liz1900, Mar 18, 2008 10:01AM

Thanks for the answers on the Free T3 and Free T4. I got my blood work results and it shows that I am still getting too much thyroid. Just trying to understand. Doctor changing me from Armour to Synthroid....hope it works.

Liz

Related discussions

Blood work results don't match how I feel.......take a l... (14 replies):
okay. i got my test result TSH 0.25 T Uptake 39.9 T4 ...[more]
thyroid results (1 replies):
Hi my Free T4: 10.0 pmol/L (10.0-24.0) TSH: 0.73mU/L(0.3...[more]
Total T3 vs Free T3 in Hypothyroidism? (4 replies):
My doctor checks total T3, saying that the Free T3 is an...[more]
All I know is 1-2 is normal (8 replies):
I was told my results were normal..I never believe any d...[more]
thyroid results (2 replies):
Hi my Free T4: 10.0 pmol/L(10.0-24.0) TSH: 0.73 mU/L (0....[more]
LOW FREE T4 AND LOWER NORMAL TSH (1 replies):
MY FREE T4 IS 9.72 pmol/l TSH = 0.689 mIU/L please a...[more]
Armour test levels what is normal? (1 replies):
After my last post I had a eurika, that my blood levels...[more]
What is difference between total t3 and free t3 (3 replies):
which is a better test total t3 or free t3 and what is t...[more]
never had free t3 tested (3 replies):
No one has ever tested my free t3. Why is that. My drs...[more]
what do these thyroid panel results mean? (5 replies):
Can someone please tell me what these lab results mean ...[more]

Back to Forum

Post Comment

Related Communities

Adrenal Insufficiency

Brain/Pituitary Tumors



	Email this page to a friend Friend's Email: Your Name: Your Email: Message: Enter the code shown: Submitting Send Email



	Leave a Note for Just a note Hugs Thinking of you Thank You Welcome Prayer Feel better Congrats! Happy Thanksgiving Just a quick note to say hi! Add as friend Post It Never Mind 800 character limit exceeded Just a quick note to say hi! You deserve a big bear hug! You're in my thoughts all the time, but especially today. Thank you for everything! Welcome to our community! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope you feel better soon! Congratulations! Time for a celebration... Happy Thanksgiving!