Test Results - Free T3?

[BB8911]

I got my test results back, but I don't see Free T3, unless one of these are the same thing?  I  can't remember if it's the Free T3 or the T3 Total we should be going by.  Need help.  My results are:

T3 Total      108          97-219
T3 Uptake     33           27-35
T4, Free       1.2           .8-1.8
TSH            1.93         .40-4.50

[goolarra]

It's FT3 that you want to see.  TT3 is considered obsolete...but not by doctors apparently!

FT4 doesn't look too bad, although there is room to nudge it up if you're still having symptoms.  TSH looks good.

How do you feel?  That's the important thing.

[BB8911]

The last time I had a FT3 is was on the low side, I don't know why they would not want to have that tested again.  I'm feeling pretty good, except for muscle tightness in my neck and upper back.  Could that be from being low in Ft3?  Thanks for your reply.

[goolarra]

I don't know why they don't want to do it, either...it's cheap and efficient.  

Your muscle tightness could be from being hypo, but so many things can cause that...like spending too much time on this forum and typing on a keyboard (talking about myself here!).

You might ask your doctor to do the FT3 and ask for a slight increase in meds at the same time.  If the increase doesn't help the muscle tension, you can always go back to your current dose.

[stella5349]

Most find they have to ask to have the FT3 test done. AND still sometimes - even asking - they don't do it.

I fight all the time to get it done. You can look a bit on the Uptake T3 and kinda see some things...

You are a tad high - which I think you are storing a bit of the Free T3 into binding proteins. It's just speculation.

If you are binding the T3 and it's not releasing - you could be hypo - even with a good reading on the TSH.