T3 result

[Tldg45]

FT3 2.6 (3.50-6.50)

Ft4 9 (9-23)

Tsh 0.16 (0.55-4.8)

Comment made by Lab on FT3

Please note low FT3 ?reduction in dose. Please rely on tsh level to monitor adequacy of t4/t3 replacement

Any ideas what this means

[shaws Administrator]

I think they mean your FT3 is too low as it's below range and has your dose of levo been reduced and it should be higher. You must feel awful with a FT3 iof 2.6 instead of nearer 6 and FT4 below the bottom of the range. You are obviously not on a sufficident dose of levothyroxine as your FT3 and FT4 should be towards the upper part of the range. You need dose increased.

If you've not had B12, Vit B, Vit D, iron, frritin and folate ask next time. Remember to allow 24 hours between last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

[Tldg45 in reply to shaws]

Thank you, I have no energy, weightgain, air hunger and all the usual symptoms. My dr said my tsh was now too low and wanted me to reduce my thyroxine (currently on 150 Levo) said to gp my t4/t3 weren't improving and she didn't say anything about what to do next

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tldg45]

Tell her to ignore the TSH and concentrate on getting your FT4 and FT3 towards the top of the range otherwise there is a danger that she will cause you to develop more serious illnesses.

TSH means thyriod stimulating hormone and it is from the pituitary gland not the thyroid gland and your FT4 and FT3 are far more important and both are too low. T4 is inactive and has to convert to T3. T3 is the only active thyrid hormone and it is required in our billions of receptor cells in order for us to function. Look on T3 as the battery for our cells, it enables everything to move smoothly and without pain or any other awful symptoms.

Tell her you have contacted the NHS Choices for information and help about hypothyroidism and have been advised that you need an increase in your T4.

As you are on 150mcg levo and with such poor results, I wonder if you may be someone who cannot convert levothyroxine at all. It would seem to be due to such low Frees. In that case you'd need T3 only and the Guidelines have been changed that we no longer get it prescribed. NDT might suit you as it is not synthetic and you will hae all the hormones in it.

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

[Tldg45 in reply to shaws]

I've said that I'm feeling dreadful, I've even felt suicidal at times and all I get is the offer of anti depressants. How I'm feeling is affecting every aspect of my life. I'm banging my head against a brick wall

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tldg45]

Don't worry as you now know more than your GP and say to your GP that your FT3, the most important thyroid hormone that is the only one needed in all of your receptor cells to drive your whole metabolism is far too low. It is needed from head to toe and brain contains the most cells and heart needs sufficient too.

I wonder if you have thyroid hormone resistant which means that your body cannot convert T4 to T3. You also may have a gene defect that called DIO2 that means you need T3 only.

Being mindful I'm not medically qualifed but I understand completely as I think most on this forum have gone through hell by not having the right dose or combination.

Once we realise that doctors are poorly trained: they've no idea how metabolism works and how important thyroid hormones are to be at an optimum They know no symptoms but are willing to give anti'd's or other prescriiptions for symptoms when it is most likely low FT3 in your case.

Take a copy of the following link and highlight why you need to know FT4 and FT3 as it is thought by the NHS Choices for thyroid dysfunction Thyroiduk.org.uk. This is an excerpt:

FT3 = FREE T3

T4 converts to T3 and is the only thyroid hormone actually used by the body's cells.

The approx. reference range for Free T3 is 4 to 8.3

We at Thyroid UK believe that you need to know your Free T3 level too because this will often show low if you are not converting, and high if you have blocked receptor cells. Even if you are converting, the body needs the extra T3 that a normal thyroid produces. There has been some research to show that people feel better on a mixture of Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). Effects of Thyroxine as Compared with Thyroxine plus Triiodothyronine in patients with hypothyroidism – The New England Journal of Medicine Feb.11, 99 Vol. 340. (Click here for this article).

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...