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can t3 meds make tsh show false lower
i think i read a while ago that cytomel can make your tsh show falsely lower does anyone know if this is true?
"not to take my meds a couple of days before my draw "
- now your on the opposite end of the spectrum, and the test will be useless.
A couple of days is pointless, and the doc will know.
If your on any T3 med, get your lab before noon and before your med. Then take med right after your blood draw.
- now your on the opposite end of the spectrum, and the test will be useless.
A couple of days is pointless, and the doc will know.
If your on any T3 med, get your lab before noon and before your med. Then take med right after your blood draw.
these were the values on jan 12--tsh .01 range .40-4.5, ft3 444 range 230.420, t4free 1.4 range .8-1.8 i was on 75 of levo and 25 of t3, but i was only taking half of the t3. this was an increase from 50 mcg and no t3. after the above labs she lowered my meds to 50 m-f, 75 sat & sun and 12.5 t3. i did not take the t3 until yesterday because i am starting to feel hypo and so i have been taking a quarter of the 25 mcg which is about 5 mcg. my question was will the t3 squash my tsh because im afraid she ll get scared and lower me again and then i will get hypo. im sorry if this is confusing to you i just wish doctors were more educated about thyroid. i like my dr she is my pcp and she is open minded but not too educated about t3.
i will be sure not to take my meds a couple of days before my draw thank you for pointing that out to me?
T3 is a direct short lived medication. There is a timed release T3 medication - so make sure you are not on that. Its a short leved as said so it can deplete quickly in the body if not XR form.
If your doctor is treating you on a TSH reading and taking the T3 medication prior to testing - that could result in a dip of the TSH reading.
That could be where you read the "false" positive statement. It will appear lower after taking the medication and yif your doctor only reads the TSH - then yes - they may want you to decrease or even could eliminate your T3 medication.
I know as a testing desiccated thyroid replacement patient myself - I do not take my medication prior to morning labs. I try to get the draw as close to the actual times I took previous ones. Its more of a tracking mechanisium for me to have consistant lab readings each time. My particular medication as a combo T4/and direct T3 short lived product can make labs seem what they really are not - given the run of the course through a 24/7 day timeframe. I used my labs in conjunction with my currect symptoms and baseline this with my doctor in any needed changes if necessary. I am fortunate that my doctor does not utilized the TSh for thyroid function and runs the labs Barb has on her post. Most are not as lucky to have that.
If your doctor is treating you on a TSH reading and taking the T3 medication prior to testing - that could result in a dip of the TSH reading.
That could be where you read the "false" positive statement. It will appear lower after taking the medication and yif your doctor only reads the TSH - then yes - they may want you to decrease or even could eliminate your T3 medication.
I know as a testing desiccated thyroid replacement patient myself - I do not take my medication prior to morning labs. I try to get the draw as close to the actual times I took previous ones. Its more of a tracking mechanisium for me to have consistant lab readings each time. My particular medication as a combo T4/and direct T3 short lived product can make labs seem what they really are not - given the run of the course through a 24/7 day timeframe. I used my labs in conjunction with my currect symptoms and baseline this with my doctor in any needed changes if necessary. I am fortunate that my doctor does not utilized the TSh for thyroid function and runs the labs Barb has on her post. Most are not as lucky to have that.
COMMUNITY LEADER
If your FT3 is over the top, you should be cutting down on the cytomel. It's not a "false" low TSH, it IS low TSH. My TSH runs 0.01, but my FT3 and FT4 are good, so it's not a problem; however, if your FT3 is too high, that is a problem.
Your doctor needs to be looking at the FT3 and FT4 *and* symptoms before the TSH; also don't forget that some symptoms can "cross over" and apply to *both* hyper and hypo.
What is the lab range for your FT3? What is your FT4 result, along with the lab's reference ranges? The reference ranges are lab specific, so it's always important to post those along with any results.
What med(s) and dosage(s) are you on?
Your doctor needs to be looking at the FT3 and FT4 *and* symptoms before the TSH; also don't forget that some symptoms can "cross over" and apply to *both* hyper and hypo.
What is the lab range for your FT3? What is your FT4 result, along with the lab's reference ranges? The reference ranges are lab specific, so it's always important to post those along with any results.
What med(s) and dosage(s) are you on?
going for new draw in two weeks afraid to take my t3 lio if my tsh is low she will lower my meds again my tsh was .o1 ft3 was 444 over the top and ft4 mid range and she freaked and cut my meds. i have not been taking my t3 because i got hyper before but now i feel hypo and need it but if my tsh is low again she will cut the meds again
COMMUNITY LEADER
T3 can lower your TSH, but it should not produce a "false" reading.
It's not unusual for some of us who are on a T3 med to have very low TSH; mine typically runs 0.01, which is very low, but not a concern because my FT3 and FT4 levels are good.
Can you post your latest test results, along with the lab's reference ranges? That would help members comment on your situation more fully.
It's not unusual for some of us who are on a T3 med to have very low TSH; mine typically runs 0.01, which is very low, but not a concern because my FT3 and FT4 levels are good.
Can you post your latest test results, along with the lab's reference ranges? That would help members comment on your situation more fully.
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