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Lab results - Need some help
Im currently on 125mcg Synthyroid and 5mg Cytomel. Below is my current lab results can someone tell me if my numbers are good or could use some medication increasing. Both T3 and FT4 lab results have a note from Lab saying 125 +5 hypothyroid (125 +5 I guess this means my current synthroid and cytomel dose)
FT4... 1.75 (H) RANGE (0.93 - 1.7)
T3... 128.8 RANGE (80 - 200)
TSH...0.303 RANGE (0.27 - 4.20)
FT4... 1.75 (H) RANGE (0.93 - 1.7)
T3... 128.8 RANGE (80 - 200)
TSH...0.303 RANGE (0.27 - 4.20)
COMMUNITY LEADER
I agree that since we don't know what, if any, symptoms you have, it's hard to determine your status. However, your test values are very telling, even though your doctor ordered Total T3, instead of Free T3. That pretty much tells us that he might not be a real good thyroid doctor to begin with...
The difference between Total T3 and Free T3 is that most of the T3 in your blood (Total T3) is bound by protein and can't be used. We really need to know the amount of Free T3 - the amount that's unbound and available to be used by individual cells in your body. As it is, your Total T3 is only 7% of its range, indicating that you, most likely, have a problem converting the T4 medication you're taking to the usable T3 that's needed for individual cells to use.
Since your Free T4 is higher than the reference range, that's an indication that your T4 dosage might be higher than you need. With your T3 level at only 7% of range, your T3 dosage (cytomel) is lower than you need.
In all probability, your doctor may simply look at your TSH and Free T4, pronounce you hyper and decide to reduce your T4 medication, while doing nothing with your T3 medication dosage. If I were in your position, I'd do everything I could to prevent this from happening, particularly, if I had symptoms of being hypothyroid.
The difference between Total T3 and Free T3 is that most of the T3 in your blood (Total T3) is bound by protein and can't be used. We really need to know the amount of Free T3 - the amount that's unbound and available to be used by individual cells in your body. As it is, your Total T3 is only 7% of its range, indicating that you, most likely, have a problem converting the T4 medication you're taking to the usable T3 that's needed for individual cells to use.
Since your Free T4 is higher than the reference range, that's an indication that your T4 dosage might be higher than you need. With your T3 level at only 7% of range, your T3 dosage (cytomel) is lower than you need.
In all probability, your doctor may simply look at your TSH and Free T4, pronounce you hyper and decide to reduce your T4 medication, while doing nothing with your T3 medication dosage. If I were in your position, I'd do everything I could to prevent this from happening, particularly, if I had symptoms of being hypothyroid.
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Oops... I have to backtrack and correct a math error... I said your T3 level was only 7% of its range - that's incorrect... it's actually 41% of range.
It's, typically, recommended that Free T3 be maintained in the upper half to upper third of its range. Most of us feel best when Free T3 is maintained in the upper half to upper third of its range. With Total T3 on the low side, it's, relatively, safe to assume that Free T3 will also be lower than recommended.
It would be best if you could get your doctor to order Free T3 on future blood work, instead of the total T3, in order to eliminate any guess work.
It's, typically, recommended that Free T3 be maintained in the upper half to upper third of its range. Most of us feel best when Free T3 is maintained in the upper half to upper third of its range. With Total T3 on the low side, it's, relatively, safe to assume that Free T3 will also be lower than recommended.
It would be best if you could get your doctor to order Free T3 on future blood work, instead of the total T3, in order to eliminate any guess work.
Your low TSH is consistent with your FT4 which is above range, however you need FT3 results to have a better indication of your thyroid function and not just circulating levels in serum.
You made no mention of symptoms, which BTW has much more significance than Lab values.
Unfortunately medical doctors are trained to rely a lot on
test results and sometimes totally ignore the symptoms.
All patients should try to avoid falling in this medical "trap"
since testing alone could spell disaster for some patients, should it be flawed or inaccurate.
In your case T3 and TSH numbers could be totally meaningless, should you have thyroid hormone resistance or conversion issues, yet your doctor could make a determination based on these numbers that might further affect your thyroid function negatively!
Another way to avoid some of this "drama", is to do your own basal temperature testing- in absence of other
temperature altering factors-to have a better idea about your thyroid function.
For details search under "Dr. Barnes basal temperature test"
I hope this helps,
Niko
You made no mention of symptoms, which BTW has much more significance than Lab values.
Unfortunately medical doctors are trained to rely a lot on
test results and sometimes totally ignore the symptoms.
All patients should try to avoid falling in this medical "trap"
since testing alone could spell disaster for some patients, should it be flawed or inaccurate.
In your case T3 and TSH numbers could be totally meaningless, should you have thyroid hormone resistance or conversion issues, yet your doctor could make a determination based on these numbers that might further affect your thyroid function negatively!
Another way to avoid some of this "drama", is to do your own basal temperature testing- in absence of other
temperature altering factors-to have a better idea about your thyroid function.
For details search under "Dr. Barnes basal temperature test"
I hope this helps,
Niko
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