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Testing quesiton
Hi everyone!
I am new to this "club" and want to start out on the right foot. Everything I read about thyroid meds and symptoms says pretty much the same thing.....doctors only treat for the numbers and not the patient. I would like to avoid that, if at all possible. I read that I need to make sure the doctor tests for Free T3 and Free T4. I have the order for my blood work, right here, and I don't see a place for Free T3 to be chosen. Could it be called something else? These are the possible tests (on this form) that seem to relate to thyroid issues. Thyroxine (T4), T3 Uptake, TSH, T4 Free, Triiodothyronine T3, Triiodothyronine, Free, Anti-Thyroid Antibodies, and Thyroblobulin, Quant. She has ordered results for TSH, T4 Free3 and Thyroblobulin, Quant.
Any help you all could give me will be greatly appreciated.
Barb
I am new to this "club" and want to start out on the right foot. Everything I read about thyroid meds and symptoms says pretty much the same thing.....doctors only treat for the numbers and not the patient. I would like to avoid that, if at all possible. I read that I need to make sure the doctor tests for Free T3 and Free T4. I have the order for my blood work, right here, and I don't see a place for Free T3 to be chosen. Could it be called something else? These are the possible tests (on this form) that seem to relate to thyroid issues. Thyroxine (T4), T3 Uptake, TSH, T4 Free, Triiodothyronine T3, Triiodothyronine, Free, Anti-Thyroid Antibodies, and Thyroblobulin, Quant. She has ordered results for TSH, T4 Free3 and Thyroblobulin, Quant.
Any help you all could give me will be greatly appreciated.
Barb
TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that, at best, it is only an indicator to be considered along with more important things such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4.
Due to the erroneous assumptions used when establishing reference ranges for Free T3 and Free T4 the ranges are far too broad to be functional across their entire breadth, for many patients. For many people, FT3 and FT4 in the lower half of the ranges results in hypo symptoms.
Many members say that symptom relief required Free T3 in the upper part of its range and Free T4 around the middle of its range, as a minimum.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important not just test results. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this link written by a good thyroid doctor.
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
So I suggest that you discuss with your doctor the possibility of clinical treatment as described. Since hypo patients are also frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, I also suggest that you should request to be tested for those as well. If your doctor is unwilling to treat clinically as described then you will need to find a doctor that will do so.
Due to the erroneous assumptions used when establishing reference ranges for Free T3 and Free T4 the ranges are far too broad to be functional across their entire breadth, for many patients. For many people, FT3 and FT4 in the lower half of the ranges results in hypo symptoms.
Many members say that symptom relief required Free T3 in the upper part of its range and Free T4 around the middle of its range, as a minimum.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important not just test results. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this link written by a good thyroid doctor.
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
So I suggest that you discuss with your doctor the possibility of clinical treatment as described. Since hypo patients are also frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, I also suggest that you should request to be tested for those as well. If your doctor is unwilling to treat clinically as described then you will need to find a doctor that will do so.
Lab results always need to be compared to reference ranges from the same lab. So, please post the ranges for these tests, as shown on your lab report.
I'm so confused by my blood work. I am 55 and I have been having all the symptoms of being low. (That I've read online) I don't have health ins. So I went and had my blood work done myself at a lab. Can someone please tell me if I should bring this to my doctors attention.
TSH 2.87
FT3 2.9 (*h)
FT4 0.93
Thank you for any help
TSH 2.87
FT3 2.9 (*h)
FT4 0.93
Thank you for any help
Awesome! Thanks!!! I should have the results by Monday or Tuesday and I will post them as soon as I get them. Then I will know what to say to the doctor when I talk to her, next week.
If you're taking 175 mcg of Synthroid and you still have hypo symptoms, then there's a very high probability that you convert slowly and need to add a direct source of T3 to your meds. Synthroid is T4 only.
T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones. Your cells can't use T4 until it is converted to T3, the "active" form of the hormones. Some of us convert slowly, so even with high FT4 levels, if FT3 levels are low, we still feel hypo,
I'll be interested to see your current labs when you get them. Please, post reference ranges with results as ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.
I doubt I'd wait six months to get FT3 checked, but if you post your current labs, we can be more specific in out suggestions.
Yes, if you've had a TT, TPOab and TGab are not necessary. Now I understand why your doctor is ordering thyroglobulin.
T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones. Your cells can't use T4 until it is converted to T3, the "active" form of the hormones. Some of us convert slowly, so even with high FT4 levels, if FT3 levels are low, we still feel hypo,
I'll be interested to see your current labs when you get them. Please, post reference ranges with results as ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.
I doubt I'd wait six months to get FT3 checked, but if you post your current labs, we can be more specific in out suggestions.
Yes, if you've had a TT, TPOab and TGab are not necessary. Now I understand why your doctor is ordering thyroglobulin.
Thank you for your prompt reply.
I forgot to tell you that I had a complete thyroidectomy (cancer), last year (March & April). I was initially put on 100 mcg of Syntroid. After my RAI and my first post RAI bloodwork my dosage was upped to 175. I felt great for about 2 weeks and now I am back to how I felt after my surgery, i.e., sluggish, tired all the time, not sleeping at night, mood swings etc etc. I just had a blood draw, yesterday, so I will find out next week if my meds change. The order I have here is the one for my 6 month check up.
She ordered the TSH, T4 Free and Thyroglobulin, Quant.
I just don't know what to expect.
Barb
I forgot to tell you that I had a complete thyroidectomy (cancer), last year (March & April). I was initially put on 100 mcg of Syntroid. After my RAI and my first post RAI bloodwork my dosage was upped to 175. I felt great for about 2 weeks and now I am back to how I felt after my surgery, i.e., sluggish, tired all the time, not sleeping at night, mood swings etc etc. I just had a blood draw, yesterday, so I will find out next week if my meds change. The order I have here is the one for my 6 month check up.
She ordered the TSH, T4 Free and Thyroglobulin, Quant.
I just don't know what to expect.
Barb
Triiodothyronine, Free is FT3, free T3. So, you want that one.
Anti-Thyroid Antibodies will let you know if you have an autoimmune thyroid disease...very important. Be sure they test both TPOab (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) and TGab (thyroglobulin antibodies).
Do you suspect you are hypo or hyper?
She's ordered TSH, free T4 and thyroglobulin, correct?
Anti-Thyroid Antibodies will let you know if you have an autoimmune thyroid disease...very important. Be sure they test both TPOab (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) and TGab (thyroglobulin antibodies).
Do you suspect you are hypo or hyper?
She's ordered TSH, free T4 and thyroglobulin, correct?
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