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REQUESTING OF FREE T3 TESTING
Due to controversy from quite a few posters on this site, i have decided to contact my endo and request free t3 testing on my next labs (april). To make a long story short. TT on 12/17/09, 1st set of labs in jan resulted in
TSH- 3rd generation @ 39.51 (0.40-4.50)
Free t4 @0.3 (0.8-1.8)
Total T4 @ 2.5 (4.5-12.5)
T3 uptake @ 25 (22-35)
Free t4 Calc @ 0.6 (1.4-3.8)
Feb labs resulted in:
TSH- 3rd generation @13.76 (0.40-4.50)
Free T4 @ 0.9 (0.8-1.8)
Total T4 @ 7.2 (4.5-12.5)
T3 uptake @ 27 (22-35)
Free T4 Calc 1.9 (1.4-3.8)
Thyroglobulin AB @ <20 (,20)
In both labs, there were no Free T3 testing requested.I called my endo based on opinons of posters on this site,and she returned the call today ' and i explained to her that ive spoken to people in the same situation as myself and i also read materials stating that the Free T3 testing is important when testing to determine how a patient is feeling as far as symptoms of hypothyroidism along with the TSH and Free T4... she says: due to the fact that i am still in transition in getting my levels normal' because i had surgery only 2 mos ago, that testing for Free T3 is not necessary unless further down the road, my levels are normal and i am having major hypo symptoms "still", is when that test is necessary. She says that she is satisfied that my levels are on its way to normal but wants my TSH and my Free T4 to improve.
To me, this make sense as i retake labs in april and pray that they are closer to normal.
Any Opinons????
TSH- 3rd generation @ 39.51 (0.40-4.50)
Free t4 @0.3 (0.8-1.8)
Total T4 @ 2.5 (4.5-12.5)
T3 uptake @ 25 (22-35)
Free t4 Calc @ 0.6 (1.4-3.8)
Feb labs resulted in:
TSH- 3rd generation @13.76 (0.40-4.50)
Free T4 @ 0.9 (0.8-1.8)
Total T4 @ 7.2 (4.5-12.5)
T3 uptake @ 27 (22-35)
Free T4 Calc 1.9 (1.4-3.8)
Thyroglobulin AB @ <20 (,20)
In both labs, there were no Free T3 testing requested.I called my endo based on opinons of posters on this site,and she returned the call today ' and i explained to her that ive spoken to people in the same situation as myself and i also read materials stating that the Free T3 testing is important when testing to determine how a patient is feeling as far as symptoms of hypothyroidism along with the TSH and Free T4... she says: due to the fact that i am still in transition in getting my levels normal' because i had surgery only 2 mos ago, that testing for Free T3 is not necessary unless further down the road, my levels are normal and i am having major hypo symptoms "still", is when that test is necessary. She says that she is satisfied that my levels are on its way to normal but wants my TSH and my Free T4 to improve.
To me, this make sense as i retake labs in april and pray that they are closer to normal.
Any Opinons????
Thank you for posting this very imformative statement, because, as i attempt to bring these issues and concerns to my doctor, although she listened and explained her point of view. this particular endo is a very fiesty woman and very stern on her decisions. I can honestly tell you that i had a bit of anxiety just presenting the subject of Free T3 testing to her because i felt as if, here i am, just a patient and who am i to tell an experienced endo what to test. AS you mentioned in your post, sometimes patient's can teach doc's new "tricks", however it actually depends on the the personality of each doc and which ones are willing to listen.
For those patients who are very timid and don't want to stir up their physicians...how would you suggest that they approach the "topic" of testing Free T3's or any other tests for that matter instead of "demanding" that they perform tests that they normally do not??????
I approach my endo in a very typical way...instead of saying that i've been online talking to folks and they suggested that i ask for this testing, my approach was this: I know a few people who are in the same situation as myself and they're Free T3's are being tested and i understand that this is an very important test so, is there a reason that you aren't testing??????? That's when she explained her method.
For those patients who are very timid and don't want to stir up their physicians...how would you suggest that they approach the "topic" of testing Free T3's or any other tests for that matter instead of "demanding" that they perform tests that they normally do not??????
I approach my endo in a very typical way...instead of saying that i've been online talking to folks and they suggested that i ask for this testing, my approach was this: I know a few people who are in the same situation as myself and they're Free T3's are being tested and i understand that this is an very important test so, is there a reason that you aren't testing??????? That's when she explained her method.
I have Graves and had hyperthyroidism...had RAI first (surgery too risky - history of thyroid storms) and then a TT 3 months later.
That was june & Sept. 2008.
From the time I was diagnosed with Graves....I have had FT3, FT4 and TSH done on EVERY test.
This was to basically check that I wasnt going T3 toxycosis (high FT3) with thyroxin.
To cut a long story short....I got my levels good , FT3 and FT4 at a comfortable range and TSH at a comfortable range too....
THEN come Xmas 2009,,,,,,,something happened out of the blue.
My Ft3 and FT4 was great but my TSH was going UP.
I knew something was wrong as I felt 'different'.
With dealing with my best friends death and then my Fathers death in January, I put things on 'hold' as wasnt mentally strong enough to deal with it but all along, I knew something was not quite right.
I started to feel as if I was hyper then hypo then hyper YET my FT3 and FT4 was fine.
My TSH then started to 'climb' for no reason.
At first I thought ..stress then things started to happen.
Firstly I had the worst case of vertigo I had ever had, I got headaches like my head was being squashed in a vice (only way to describe it), eyesight went worst with reading even though I got new reading glasses.
Well after nearly 3 months and strong enough to cope with it, I went for an ultrasound and CT scan and a Pit. tumour was found a few days ago.
Had I NOT had the FT3 done all along, I wouldnt have been able to distinguish if I was low on FT3 or high on TSH,
I dont care what anyone says....get that FT3 done with every set of labs you have done.
Because that is what distinguished that I possibly had a pituitary tumour and NOT a low FT3.
In about 10 weeks, my TSH has gone from 2.3 to over 7.0 with 2 increases in doses.
Dont give a damn if your Doctor is perplexed that YOU know more than him/her...its your body and your life.
Demand the Ft3 and if they say,......we'll do it later down the track...tell them.."I'm sorry but thats unacceptable".
I couldve gone and got checked early January with a CT sv=can but deep down I knew that it wasnt my levels 'out of whack'.
I just wasnt strong enough to cope with it then but I am now.
Demand what you want ....dont take no for an answer because as I said ...I've had FT3 done from day one (with a thyroid) and also had it done with NO thyroid.
Hope that helps :o)
That was june & Sept. 2008.
From the time I was diagnosed with Graves....I have had FT3, FT4 and TSH done on EVERY test.
This was to basically check that I wasnt going T3 toxycosis (high FT3) with thyroxin.
To cut a long story short....I got my levels good , FT3 and FT4 at a comfortable range and TSH at a comfortable range too....
THEN come Xmas 2009,,,,,,,something happened out of the blue.
My Ft3 and FT4 was great but my TSH was going UP.
I knew something was wrong as I felt 'different'.
With dealing with my best friends death and then my Fathers death in January, I put things on 'hold' as wasnt mentally strong enough to deal with it but all along, I knew something was not quite right.
I started to feel as if I was hyper then hypo then hyper YET my FT3 and FT4 was fine.
My TSH then started to 'climb' for no reason.
At first I thought ..stress then things started to happen.
Firstly I had the worst case of vertigo I had ever had, I got headaches like my head was being squashed in a vice (only way to describe it), eyesight went worst with reading even though I got new reading glasses.
Well after nearly 3 months and strong enough to cope with it, I went for an ultrasound and CT scan and a Pit. tumour was found a few days ago.
Had I NOT had the FT3 done all along, I wouldnt have been able to distinguish if I was low on FT3 or high on TSH,
I dont care what anyone says....get that FT3 done with every set of labs you have done.
Because that is what distinguished that I possibly had a pituitary tumour and NOT a low FT3.
In about 10 weeks, my TSH has gone from 2.3 to over 7.0 with 2 increases in doses.
Dont give a damn if your Doctor is perplexed that YOU know more than him/her...its your body and your life.
Demand the Ft3 and if they say,......we'll do it later down the track...tell them.."I'm sorry but thats unacceptable".
I couldve gone and got checked early January with a CT sv=can but deep down I knew that it wasnt my levels 'out of whack'.
I just wasnt strong enough to cope with it then but I am now.
Demand what you want ....dont take no for an answer because as I said ...I've had FT3 done from day one (with a thyroid) and also had it done with NO thyroid.
Hope that helps :o)
Actually what I was going to finish writing came out after the following posts from members...
It is a very confusing thing - this thyroid controversy.... and its tough on the patient when things aren't going as smooth as they were told by many doctors caring for them...
the thing is.... I don't feel that switching doctors is always the answer either.... If we keep leaving doctors instead of trying to talk to them on their level and let them see what we are always finding out - then maybe - in the end,... these doctors who didn't believe in testing the frees would eventually... wouldn't that make thyroid issues so much easier?
There is no denying that when a patient has exhausted their options with a doctor and starts the endless search of thyroid information on their own that when the patient uncovers there are so many options - labs and information out there available to get better they want to try options themselves. - So as a doctor I ask.. Why NOT do the tests? - Why not talk more about T3?
Why is this hidden so much by doctors and only patients that plunged into learning on their own find good things after all that digging? Of course than after learning - now locating a doctor to assist them is next (sigh)
I mean, compared to the beginning of my thyroid histroy... I really have done a 360 in the care I first got - vs - now... and I never felt better.. Why did I have to go to the extreme of learning so much all alone ( years) more importantly so ill too??? - when these doctors went to school to practice exactly what I learned?
If I wouldn't have had a support at home both financially and family help... I know for sure I never would have had the time to learn so much as I did and now being so actively global with many doctors and specialists that practice the information I learned alone. I'd probably still be sick truthfully and that makes me angry.
Seriously - it feels like its another world at times with how many differences there are in treatment - and all of them being practiced but so seperately and with so much controversy. Us poor patients - if just trusting and not learning some themselves- can really wind up miserable and that to me is very sad.
and that's thyroid talking only.... can you imagine all the other thing that are just like this stuff? very overwhelming for me to even think.
It is a very confusing thing - this thyroid controversy.... and its tough on the patient when things aren't going as smooth as they were told by many doctors caring for them...
the thing is.... I don't feel that switching doctors is always the answer either.... If we keep leaving doctors instead of trying to talk to them on their level and let them see what we are always finding out - then maybe - in the end,... these doctors who didn't believe in testing the frees would eventually... wouldn't that make thyroid issues so much easier?
There is no denying that when a patient has exhausted their options with a doctor and starts the endless search of thyroid information on their own that when the patient uncovers there are so many options - labs and information out there available to get better they want to try options themselves. - So as a doctor I ask.. Why NOT do the tests? - Why not talk more about T3?
Why is this hidden so much by doctors and only patients that plunged into learning on their own find good things after all that digging? Of course than after learning - now locating a doctor to assist them is next (sigh)
I mean, compared to the beginning of my thyroid histroy... I really have done a 360 in the care I first got - vs - now... and I never felt better.. Why did I have to go to the extreme of learning so much all alone ( years) more importantly so ill too??? - when these doctors went to school to practice exactly what I learned?
If I wouldn't have had a support at home both financially and family help... I know for sure I never would have had the time to learn so much as I did and now being so actively global with many doctors and specialists that practice the information I learned alone. I'd probably still be sick truthfully and that makes me angry.
Seriously - it feels like its another world at times with how many differences there are in treatment - and all of them being practiced but so seperately and with so much controversy. Us poor patients - if just trusting and not learning some themselves- can really wind up miserable and that to me is very sad.
and that's thyroid talking only.... can you imagine all the other thing that are just like this stuff? very overwhelming for me to even think.
Hi thanks for the reply, i was on 225 micrograms every day, since i had my TT nearly four yrs ago, I was on 150 after the TT this was fine for 12months then they atrted to increase ie each time i want for my check up, this time last year it was as much as 275mcg they decreased it to 250 in June 09 the again in Dec 09.
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