REQUESTING OF FREE T3 TESTING

[blsdnsvd]

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????

[stella5349]

" My endo did specify that she only run's FT3 when the patient isn't feeling well and the other tests are resulted in "normal"...which does make sense to me (but what do i know). "

this makes sense???  It doesn't to me... - Think about this... " I only run it when they don't feel good? " - that's insane.... Why would a doctor not want to know where the superior direct FT3 level is at - prior to the patient getting sick.?? - that's wrong.

Yes - every one recovers differently - but there is no denying recovery would be faster if the levels were monitored properly.

In defense of the doctor and I hate to be the devil's advocant... but in their learning the FTI - TSH/3rd and the total

more later.. I just got a call.. LOL

[blsdnsvd]

I truly appreciate all of your comments and advice and i will definitely "not" settle, for whatever my endo says if it doesn't agree with my health. If my symptoms remain or get any worse,I will surely be on top of it.

[froggy0936]

Thank you for all replies..as I'm in the same boat as Barbara. ...........Lynda xo

[annamae26]

hi i also agree totally with goolarra and gimm i didn t feel well until my ft3 was high but then it went too high because i was over medicated.  the weight came off when my ft3 was higher and i felt human again. my ft4 was in the upper med range also.   if my dr forgets to order ft3 i write it in..

[goolarra]

"My endo did specify that she only run's FT3 when the patient isn't feeling well and the other tests are resulted in "normal"...which does make sense to me (but what do i know)."

Only problem being that if FT3 is out of whack, TSH will most likely not be "normal", and FT4 can be stellar, and you still won't feel well.

You have hypo symptoms because your FT3 and FT4 are too low, not because your TSH is too high (yes, when the frees go up, the TSH should come down...should is the operative word here).  TSH is nothing but a messenger from the pituitary to the thyroid to tell it to produce more hormones.  THS causes no symptoms in and of itself.  Cytomel is definitely for people who don't convert well, but some people who do convert well still feel better when a bit is added to their meds.  Our healthy thyroids (okay, so none of us have THOSE anymore) produced both T3 and T4.  We get most of it from conversion, but the thyroid produces both.

Thanks for the name!  Much easier to spell!  Best of luck.  

[magpieannie]

And Barb is also right!