Recent blood work

[johannah705]

Was hypo shortly after Rai treatment for graves.  Taking thyroid med and latest blood work shows that I am hyper again with a reading of 16 for the t4.  What is the t4 supposed to read and is 125mcg of thyroid med too much?
lisa

[GravesLady]

Each Lab varies in levels and your Labs has its own level.  What was your TSH. TSH relates if we are hypo or hyper and if med. dose is too much or too little. F/Ts relates the thyroid function i.e. how its working.  FTs should be done because there are issues that can interfere with the Ts by giving a false reading.   My T4 always runs way higher than my FT-4, but doctor and I heed the FT-4. There are issues that can cause a high
T-4 in relationship to TSH and FT-3. So it would help to know these levels as well.
Unless you are central hypothyroid, meds. are not adjusted according to the F/T- 4 level, but rather to the TSH level. I am assuming you are taking one of the brands of Levothyroxine.

GL,
12 year RAI treated Graves' Disease patient

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The labs all vary -- also if you are on birth control pills it will increase total T4.  Would usually try to keep T4 and T3 in the mid/upper range on T4 treatment until the TSH comes up (it may take a few months for TSH to increase after treatment for Graves), then the TSH becomes the best reflection of T4 dose.