Hormone free interval
Common Questions and Answers about Hormone free interval
hormone
After one month since my last tests were done, and this time i have gone for Free T3 and Free T4 again on 31 march 2014. The results are TSH>100, units:uIU/mL ( reference range: Healthy adults: 0.27-4.20), Free T3 = 2.44, units:pg/mL ( reference range: Healthy adults: 1.5-4.1), Free T4=0.65, units:ng/dL ( reference range: Euthyroid: 0.8-1.9, Hypothyroid: ND-0.7, Hyperthyroid: >2).
Those small portions are called Free T4 and Free T3. Those should always be the ones tested. Free T3 is the biologically active thyroid hormone that largely regulates metabolism.
Your Total T4 is at 24% of its range. Your Total T3 is at 62% of its range. If we assumed that the Totals are representative of the Frees, then it appears that your body is converting extra T4 toT3 in an effort to maintain adequate T3 levels.
This is a patients' forum. We are not doctors but fellow thyroid sufferers.
Please provide the reference ranges on your T4 test. Also, is it FREE T4 or total T4. If FREE or FT4 is not specified, it's total. T3 Uptake and FTI are considered obsolete tests and of very limited usefulness. It looks like your doctor may not be quite up-to-date on thyroid testing.
Do you have any test data for the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T#? TSH is a pituitary hormone that id affected by numerous variables, to the extent that it is effective in diagnosing only overt primary hypothyroidism. S it is best to always test for Free T4 and Free T3. In addition, signs/symptoms should be the main concern. A individual symptom can be non-specific, but having numerous symptoms typical of hypothyroidism is a strong indicator.
Measured levels of free and total T4 are influenced by the interval between tablet ingestion and blood sampling. In athyreotic subjects who took 0.15-0.2 mg T4 orally, the serum free and total T4 concentrations were increased by about 20% one to four hours later, with return to baseline about nine hours after T4 ingestion; serum TSH and T3 levels showed no time-dependent variation (171).
However, much of that is chemically bound by protein and unavailable to your cells. FREE T3 and FREE T4 measure the amount available and are preferable to total T3 and total T3.
Your total T4 is still very low. It's below reference range, indicating that you are still hypo. TSH is way above range, and this indicates hypo as well. No, it is not under control yet. It looks like you need your meds increased.
You need also to have the actual thyroid hormones tested. That would be Free T3 and Free T4. FT4 is the storage form of the hormone, and must be converted by the body into FT3 in order to be used.
You should also get a thyroid ultrasound to check for nodules and/or inflammation.
Ask your doctor to test both of these hormones, then post the results and corresponding lab ranges. The reference ranges vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own lab report.
TSH is an indirect measure of thyroid status. FREE T3 and FREE T4 are a much more direct measure. Be sure to ask for FREE T3 and FREE T4. Otherwise, you will get total T3 and total T4, which are considered obsolete and of little value.
What dose has your doctor put you on? Finding your optimal dose can take some time. You have to take a dose for 4-6 weeks before it reaches its potential in you blood.
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