Where do you like your Ft4 and Ft3?

[Puddin57]

I feel great when Ft4 and Ft3 are in the upper 1/3 of the range, but some people say Ft4 should be in the midrange and Ft3 in the upper 1/3.

It is a bit confusing but we are all different.

[Puddin57]

Okay thanks, I know that according to the NACB under hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism PDF page 36 it says the Ft4 needs to be in the upper 1/3 of the range.

http://www.aacc.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/Archived%20and%20Historical/ThyroidArchived2010.pdf#page=20

[goolarra]

Midrange on FT4 is a rule of thumb...something to shoot for until we all find where we individually feel best.  The midrange recommendation is an effort to "correct" the range.  Ranges are very flawed for a number of reasons (a lot of undiagnosed hypos find their way into the "normal" population for one), so most of us still feel hypo up to midrange.

In the end, symptoms should be your guide.  Meds should be raised until all hypo symptoms are gone.  You're comfortable relatively high in the ranges, I'm comfortable on the floor of the ranges.  

[flyingfool]

You hit the nail on the head. EVERYONE is different.

The common around here target to shoot for is the FT4 mid range and FT3 upper 1/3.  

This seems to be closer to what many people need. And it is a FAR cry away from simply accepting or being medicated until the patient simply gets both of them to be Somewhere in their ranges.  Often times this leaves the person towards the low end and well below mid range on both of them.  And then they feel like crap but the Dr tells them they are normal and it is all in their head and will do nothing more for them.

So as long as you feel fine I would not rock the boat and ride this horse and dose for as long as you remain feeling well.

Two questions:

1) what medication and dosage are you on, and what are your current blood labs

2) have you ever had FT4 at 50% and FT3 at 67%  Or did the dosage just result in the upper 1/3 for each?  Just wondering if you would actually feel well with a lower FT4.  If you have and you didn't feel good then all the more reason to keep doing what you are doing.

Also it may be VERY important for you to keep you lab results and write down how well you feel etc.  If you can go back and write down on older lb results etc and that you didn't feel well this is critical documentation. Because while your current Dr may understand where you came from and how you are feeling. If you or your Dr were to move away, the new Dr may have a heart attack with your numbers and want to mess with your dosage and mess you all up big time.  Having documentation maybe even a letter from your Dr stating his/her understanding that you need to be at these elevated rage results (elevated compared to what most Dr.s would consider) would also be good ammunition to keep dry and at the ready.