Aa
Thyroid
My test results was TSH 3.640 with free T4 <0.4.NG/DL and free T39.07PG/ML. What does this mean?
Best Answer
Did you take your T3 medicine before you did the blood test? If you did it could look temporarily high but is not reflecting your average levels of T3.
You should always skip your T3 medicine the morning of the test (and take it after the test).
Do you take the T3 medicine in a single dose, or split into 2 or more doses?
If you take it only once a day, and took it before the test, this could even further have skewed your results.
let us know.
You should always skip your T3 medicine the morning of the test (and take it after the test).
Do you take the T3 medicine in a single dose, or split into 2 or more doses?
If you take it only once a day, and took it before the test, this could even further have skewed your results.
let us know.
I agree with Barb. There is something else at work here. Your Thyroid hormones are completely off balance to the extent that they are opposite.
It is odd that your FT3 is so high and your FT4 so low.
If things work perfectly, a Mid range FT4 level would result in the FT3 level to be above mid range if not into the upper 1/3 of its range. If the FT3 is lower in its relation to its range than FT4 range, it clearly suggests a conversion problem and requires an additional T3 supplement like Cytomel. Some people just are not as efficient converting the T4 into the usable FT3 which is mostly converted in the liver.
Barb asks a great question. Because if you are NOT having any Hyper symptoms with that high of FT3 levels it suggests one or both problems of adrenal fatigue and/or a Reverse T3 issue.
Your Dr's analysis and change of prescription recommended I disagree with completely. If you increase your T4 medication it would allow conversion into T3 and thus increase your FT3 level even higher. My recommendation would be to lower Cytomel (T3) and raise your T4 medication to try to bring some proper balance to the FT4 and FT3 ratio. I would also recommend adrenal testing as well as Reverse T3 (RT3) testing.
Reverse T3 (RT3) is a mirror image of the FT3 molecule. Here is the trick. The body's cells will accept the RT3 hormone but it is totally inactive and does nothing. In other words it "plugs up" your body's cells and therefore little or fewer FT3 that actually is active can be received by your body's cells as the receptors are already "filled up" with the inactive RT3.
Everyone makes RT3. It is made when T4 gets converted into T3. However some people their body produces a much greater ratio of RT3 and they have this plugged up problem. it befuddles many Dr's because it appears that no matter how much Thyroid medication these people are given it seems to have no effect. Almost like they are resistant to Thyroid medicine. But they are unaware of the RT3 problem.
However with your tests showing such a low level of FT4 in your blood I doubt that you are likely to have an RT3 problem since you have so little T4 to convert into anything much less an over abundance of RT3. But it is still worth checking out.
The latest recommended reference range for TSH by the American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) is (0.3-3.0) wehic hws changed YEARS ago. Yet I've not seen a lab yet that uses this recommended range. Just another example of how out of touch the medical community is with regard to Thryoid.
A significantly over the top of range FT3 level of the biologically active Thyroid hormone like you have would normally result in a TSH that is very low and indicative of Hyper. Your TSH indicates if anything under-active and Hypo. Something is up and you need to determine what it is.
If you are having Hyper symptoms then increasing Thyroid T4 and continuation of your Cytomel is COMPLETELY the wrong if not dangerous. So I assume you must still be Hypo symptomatic. Which still makes little sense with such a high FT3 level. You need to get to the bottom of this.
It is odd that your FT3 is so high and your FT4 so low.
If things work perfectly, a Mid range FT4 level would result in the FT3 level to be above mid range if not into the upper 1/3 of its range. If the FT3 is lower in its relation to its range than FT4 range, it clearly suggests a conversion problem and requires an additional T3 supplement like Cytomel. Some people just are not as efficient converting the T4 into the usable FT3 which is mostly converted in the liver.
Barb asks a great question. Because if you are NOT having any Hyper symptoms with that high of FT3 levels it suggests one or both problems of adrenal fatigue and/or a Reverse T3 issue.
Your Dr's analysis and change of prescription recommended I disagree with completely. If you increase your T4 medication it would allow conversion into T3 and thus increase your FT3 level even higher. My recommendation would be to lower Cytomel (T3) and raise your T4 medication to try to bring some proper balance to the FT4 and FT3 ratio. I would also recommend adrenal testing as well as Reverse T3 (RT3) testing.
Reverse T3 (RT3) is a mirror image of the FT3 molecule. Here is the trick. The body's cells will accept the RT3 hormone but it is totally inactive and does nothing. In other words it "plugs up" your body's cells and therefore little or fewer FT3 that actually is active can be received by your body's cells as the receptors are already "filled up" with the inactive RT3.
Everyone makes RT3. It is made when T4 gets converted into T3. However some people their body produces a much greater ratio of RT3 and they have this plugged up problem. it befuddles many Dr's because it appears that no matter how much Thyroid medication these people are given it seems to have no effect. Almost like they are resistant to Thyroid medicine. But they are unaware of the RT3 problem.
However with your tests showing such a low level of FT4 in your blood I doubt that you are likely to have an RT3 problem since you have so little T4 to convert into anything much less an over abundance of RT3. But it is still worth checking out.
The latest recommended reference range for TSH by the American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) is (0.3-3.0) wehic hws changed YEARS ago. Yet I've not seen a lab yet that uses this recommended range. Just another example of how out of touch the medical community is with regard to Thryoid.
A significantly over the top of range FT3 level of the biologically active Thyroid hormone like you have would normally result in a TSH that is very low and indicative of Hyper. Your TSH indicates if anything under-active and Hypo. Something is up and you need to determine what it is.
If you are having Hyper symptoms then increasing Thyroid T4 and continuation of your Cytomel is COMPLETELY the wrong if not dangerous. So I assume you must still be Hypo symptomatic. Which still makes little sense with such a high FT3 level. You need to get to the bottom of this.
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Sorry, but have to ask more questions. Do you have symptoms of being hyper or hypothyroid? Have you been diagnosed with a thyroid condition? Are you currently on thyroid medication? If so, which one(s) at what dosage(s)?
Even though your TSH is within the range given, it's actually high, compared to the new range, which many labs don't use. This and your low FT4 indicate that you are hypo, but your high FT3 indicates hyper........
Have you had adrenal testing done? or Reverse T3?
Even though your TSH is within the range given, it's actually high, compared to the new range, which many labs don't use. This and your low FT4 indicate that you are hypo, but your high FT3 indicates hyper........
Have you had adrenal testing done? or Reverse T3?
This is exactly the report I was given.
Your TSH was 3.640, normal TSH range is 0.49 - 4.67. Your free T4 was (L) <0.40 NG/DL. (0.71 - 1.85) NG/DL. Your T3 was (H) 9.07 PGML (2.77 - 5.27). I would recommend we increase your thyroxine to 75mcg in place of the 50 mcg but leave your cytomel as is.
Your TSH was 3.640, normal TSH range is 0.49 - 4.67. Your free T4 was (L) <0.40 NG/DL. (0.71 - 1.85) NG/DL. Your T3 was (H) 9.07 PGML (2.77 - 5.27). I would recommend we increase your thyroxine to 75mcg in place of the 50 mcg but leave your cytomel as is.
I think you need to type the stuff in again. Something is out of line.
A TSH of 3.6 generally would indicate that you are Hypo or Low Thyroid. If that actually says that the Free T4 is less than 0.4 then based upon most common reference ranges which are usually shown in parentheses after your test result It would further indicate that you are VERY Hypo.
Could you type in the lab results exactly as they appear on the lab report. SOmething like:
TSH 3.64 ( 0.3 - 3.0 or whatever the reference range listed is)
FT4 test result (reference range)
FT3 test result (Ref range)
TSH is a screening tool test really and should be used for little or nothing more than that. Although most Dr will mistakenly use TSH only.
Most people seem to feel well when their FT4 is in the MIDDLE of the range AND their FT3 is in the UPPER 1/3 of the range.
What symptoms do you have?
A TSH of 3.6 generally would indicate that you are Hypo or Low Thyroid. If that actually says that the Free T4 is less than 0.4 then based upon most common reference ranges which are usually shown in parentheses after your test result It would further indicate that you are VERY Hypo.
Could you type in the lab results exactly as they appear on the lab report. SOmething like:
TSH 3.64 ( 0.3 - 3.0 or whatever the reference range listed is)
FT4 test result (reference range)
FT3 test result (Ref range)
TSH is a screening tool test really and should be used for little or nothing more than that. Although most Dr will mistakenly use TSH only.
Most people seem to feel well when their FT4 is in the MIDDLE of the range AND their FT3 is in the UPPER 1/3 of the range.
What symptoms do you have?
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