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Low FTI
Hi! New to this forum. I have been having symptoms for almost 2 months of muscle weakness, fatigue, anxiety. Had blood work done and this is what came back.
T3 (free) 2.76
T4 (free) 1.0
FTI 1.6 (this was flagged low)
TSH 1.85
T4 5.1
T3 uptake 31.5%
Could anyone please help me with what these levels might mean. Thanks you so much.
T3 (free) 2.76
T4 (free) 1.0
FTI 1.6 (this was flagged low)
TSH 1.85
T4 5.1
T3 uptake 31.5%
Could anyone please help me with what these levels might mean. Thanks you so much.
Hypo patients taking T4 only often find that their body is not adequately converting the T4 to T3. In such a case Armour is a viable option. It contains both T4 and T3 in a higher ratio of T3 than your natural thyroid hormone. A hypo patient taking Armour thyroid adequate to relieve symptoms will typically find their Free T3 in the upper third of the range and Fee T4 around the middle of its range.
Relief of hypo symptoms is primarily about getting the Free T3 level high enough, along with maintaining an adequate supply of T4. So if a patient is adequately converting a T4 med to T3, T4 med is often the preferred approach. This is largely due to the longer half life of T4, resulting in more consistent levels of thyroid hormone during the entire day, plus the ease of administering T4 meds, once daily,
If T4 alone does not raise the Free T3 level adequately, then some T3 has to be added. This can be done with liothyronine (T3) or with a desiccated type like Armour Thyroid. The effect of a T3 med peaks in about 3-4 hours and then diminishes over the rest of the day. To maintain the most consistent effect possible, patients generally take T3 in split doses in the morning and early afternoon.
Relief of hypo symptoms is primarily about getting the Free T3 level high enough, along with maintaining an adequate supply of T4. So if a patient is adequately converting a T4 med to T3, T4 med is often the preferred approach. This is largely due to the longer half life of T4, resulting in more consistent levels of thyroid hormone during the entire day, plus the ease of administering T4 meds, once daily,
If T4 alone does not raise the Free T3 level adequately, then some T3 has to be added. This can be done with liothyronine (T3) or with a desiccated type like Armour Thyroid. The effect of a T3 med peaks in about 3-4 hours and then diminishes over the rest of the day. To maintain the most consistent effect possible, patients generally take T3 in split doses in the morning and early afternoon.
Unless a patient is not adequately converting T4 to T3, it is always easiest to use a T4 med, because it is slow acting and takes about a month to build up to 90+% of its final effect, so you can take it only once a day.
There are several different brands, differing mostly in the binders/fillers used in their manufacture. Unless you react to the binder/filler in a particular brand, then any brand should suffice.
There are several different brands, differing mostly in the binders/fillers used in their manufacture. Unless you react to the binder/filler in a particular brand, then any brand should suffice.
Yes, I'm going to make sure of that! My cholesterol level is 220 and LDL is 155, they went up a lot since 2012 so I know it's from the thyroid. Something needs to be done! Thanks again!
Just to clarify, you also need to get the doctor to start you on thyroid med to gradually raise your Free T4 and Free T3 levels as necessary to relieve symptoms.
I just started back up on my iron recently and I do take magnesium daily. I'm praying it will help soon. I think the muscle stiffness and weakness is what is driving me crazy the most.Thank you so much for you help and answering my questions so quickly.
Vitamin D is good. B12 needs to be in the high end of its range, so yours is okay. But if you are supplementing B12, you could reduce a bit. Ferritin should be about 80 minimum, so yours is very low. Following is some info I ran across on ferritin.
"Ferritin levels often begin dropping before serum iron levels become critically low or before full-blown anemia becomes apparent.
Many hypothyroid patients find that having good ferritin levels improves their use of thyroid hormone (their own body's or supplemented). The range of 70-90 is quoted as optimal for hypothyroid patients. Someone on another board asked me if I knew of any research she could show her doctor to support this. He wanted her to stop supplementing iron when she raised her ferritin from 17 to 44.
Here's some of the research I found that suggests a minimal ferritin
range of 50-70 and an optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90. I have read that in Dr. Gillespie's book, "You're Not Crazy, It's Your Hormones", she advises a ferritin level of around 100. I haven't read her book, so I can't confirm the research basis for her recommendation, but the experience of many hypothyroid patient certainly bear her out.
Improving ferritin levels can be beneficial for both reducing or eliminating hair loss & unexplained fatigue. Both of those are also frequently associated with hypothyroidism."
So, I'd say that you do need to supplement with iron to raise your ferritin level. Some good iron forms to consider are ferrous fumarate and ferrous bisglycinate. To raise my ferritin from 40 to 80 I had to end up at about 75 mg of iron daily. Also a magnesium supplement (other than magnesium oxide) should be taken along with the iron.
So that is something else to discuss with your doctor when you have the discussion about clinical treatment. By the way if you want to read more about clinical treatment, this is a good link.
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
"Ferritin levels often begin dropping before serum iron levels become critically low or before full-blown anemia becomes apparent.
Many hypothyroid patients find that having good ferritin levels improves their use of thyroid hormone (their own body's or supplemented). The range of 70-90 is quoted as optimal for hypothyroid patients. Someone on another board asked me if I knew of any research she could show her doctor to support this. He wanted her to stop supplementing iron when she raised her ferritin from 17 to 44.
Here's some of the research I found that suggests a minimal ferritin
range of 50-70 and an optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90. I have read that in Dr. Gillespie's book, "You're Not Crazy, It's Your Hormones", she advises a ferritin level of around 100. I haven't read her book, so I can't confirm the research basis for her recommendation, but the experience of many hypothyroid patient certainly bear her out.
Improving ferritin levels can be beneficial for both reducing or eliminating hair loss & unexplained fatigue. Both of those are also frequently associated with hypothyroidism."
So, I'd say that you do need to supplement with iron to raise your ferritin level. Some good iron forms to consider are ferrous fumarate and ferrous bisglycinate. To raise my ferritin from 40 to 80 I had to end up at about 75 mg of iron daily. Also a magnesium supplement (other than magnesium oxide) should be taken along with the iron.
So that is something else to discuss with your doctor when you have the discussion about clinical treatment. By the way if you want to read more about clinical treatment, this is a good link.
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
Vit D 25-OH
Date May 30, 2013 10:22 a.m. EDT
Result 56 ng/mL
Normal: 30 ng/mL - 100 ng/mL
Ferritin
Date Aug. 30, 2014 08:44 a.m. EDT
Result 28 ng/mL
Normal: 6 ng/mL - 137 ng/mL
Vitamin B12
Date Aug. 30, 2014 08:44 a.m. EDT
Result 937 pg/mL (High)
Normal: 239 pg/mL - 931 pg/mL
The B12 was considered on the high side
Date May 30, 2013 10:22 a.m. EDT
Result 56 ng/mL
Normal: 30 ng/mL - 100 ng/mL
Ferritin
Date Aug. 30, 2014 08:44 a.m. EDT
Result 28 ng/mL
Normal: 6 ng/mL - 137 ng/mL
Vitamin B12
Date Aug. 30, 2014 08:44 a.m. EDT
Result 937 pg/mL (High)
Normal: 239 pg/mL - 931 pg/mL
The B12 was considered on the high side
Remember, just being anywhere within a "normal" range may not be adequate. Please post the actual results and reference ranges for those three.
I also take a good many vitamins so maybe that is why my thyroid has stayed strong.
I have had vit D , ferritin, and B12 done and was normal. I'm thinking of having my estrogen, progesterone checked. The symptoms mimic thyroid also. I'm 43 with night sweats off and on, and had low progesterone before but they never did anything.
Just because thyroid test results fall within the so-called "normal" range does not mean that those results are adequate for you. Due to the erroneous method used to establish the ranges, many patients find that results in the lower half of the ranges cause them to have hypothyroid symptoms.
With your having been diagnosed with Hashi's that long ago, I am surprised that your test results are not much worse, since the antibodies of Hashi's continually attack the thyroid gland until it is eventually destroyed. So, it was only a matter of time until your thyroid hormone levels were diminished enough to cause symptoms requiring replacement thyroid med. Some doctors do not want to treat a Hashi's patient until symptoms become pretty bad, and they use the rationale that test results are still in the "normal" range. Other doctors like to be more proactive and start treatment as necessary to prevent the worst of impending hypo symptoms. I think you are overdue for thyroid med.
I also want to mention that Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin can also cause symptoms that mimic those of hypothyroidism, plus deficiencies can affect how well thyroid hormone is metabolized. Since hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for those 3 as well, it would be good to have those tested.
The most important need for you is a good thyroid doctor that will treat clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief needs to be all important, not just test results, and especially not TSH results when on thyroid med.
When you next see your doctor you should ask if he is willing to treat clinically as described. If not, then you are going to need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so. If you think you might need help with that, tell us your location and perhaps we can provide a recommendation.
With your having been diagnosed with Hashi's that long ago, I am surprised that your test results are not much worse, since the antibodies of Hashi's continually attack the thyroid gland until it is eventually destroyed. So, it was only a matter of time until your thyroid hormone levels were diminished enough to cause symptoms requiring replacement thyroid med. Some doctors do not want to treat a Hashi's patient until symptoms become pretty bad, and they use the rationale that test results are still in the "normal" range. Other doctors like to be more proactive and start treatment as necessary to prevent the worst of impending hypo symptoms. I think you are overdue for thyroid med.
I also want to mention that Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin can also cause symptoms that mimic those of hypothyroidism, plus deficiencies can affect how well thyroid hormone is metabolized. Since hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for those 3 as well, it would be good to have those tested.
The most important need for you is a good thyroid doctor that will treat clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief needs to be all important, not just test results, and especially not TSH results when on thyroid med.
When you next see your doctor you should ask if he is willing to treat clinically as described. If not, then you are going to need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so. If you think you might need help with that, tell us your location and perhaps we can provide a recommendation.
T3 (Free)
Sept. 18, 2014 2.76 pg/mL
Normal: 1.71 pg/mL - 3.71 pg/mL
T4 Free
Sept. 18, 2014 1.0 ng/mL
Normal: 00.7 ng/mL - 2.0 ng/mL
Magnesium Lev
Sept. 18, 2014 2.0 mg/dL
Normal: 1.7 mg/dL - 2.2 mg/dL
FTI
Sept. 18, 2014 1.6 ug/dl
Normal: 1.7 ug/dl - 3.7 ug/dl
TSH
Sept. 18, 2014 1.85 mlU/ML
Normal: 00.20 mlU/ML - 5.00 mlU/ML
T4
Sept. 18, 2014 5.1 ug/dl
Normal: 5.0 ug/dl - 14.0 ug/dl
T3 Uptake
Sept. 18, 2014 31.5 %
Normal: 19.8 % - 33.4 %
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 1997 but all my test have been within range. Just have all these symptoms.
Sept. 18, 2014 2.76 pg/mL
Normal: 1.71 pg/mL - 3.71 pg/mL
T4 Free
Sept. 18, 2014 1.0 ng/mL
Normal: 00.7 ng/mL - 2.0 ng/mL
Magnesium Lev
Sept. 18, 2014 2.0 mg/dL
Normal: 1.7 mg/dL - 2.2 mg/dL
FTI
Sept. 18, 2014 1.6 ug/dl
Normal: 1.7 ug/dl - 3.7 ug/dl
TSH
Sept. 18, 2014 1.85 mlU/ML
Normal: 00.20 mlU/ML - 5.00 mlU/ML
T4
Sept. 18, 2014 5.1 ug/dl
Normal: 5.0 ug/dl - 14.0 ug/dl
T3 Uptake
Sept. 18, 2014 31.5 %
Normal: 19.8 % - 33.4 %
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 1997 but all my test have been within range. Just have all these symptoms.
First thing is that Free Thyroxine Index, Total T4 and T3 Uptake are outdated and not very useful. The important tests are Free T4 and Free T3, which are the biologically active thyroid hormones. TSH is a pituitary hormone that is only an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of Free T3 and Free T4. If you will please post the reference ranges for those tests we can better assess your status.
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