What do these mean?

[Hattie87]

Hi guys, so I went into my doctors today to have a look at my past records and would love to know what the numbers mean, can anyone help/translate?

May 2017: Serum free T4 levels - value 23.3 pmol/L - range 10.80 - 25.50pmol/L

August 2016: Serum free T3 - value 4.9 - range 3.10 - 6.80pmol/L

March 2016: Serum TSH <0.02 - range 0.27 - 4.20mi/L

Serum free T4 24.2 - range 12.00- 22.00pmol/L

Serum free T3 4.8 - range 3.10 - 6.80pmol/L

Thank you!

[Nanaedake]

Which country were these tests done in?

[Hattie87 in reply to Nanaedake]

England

[Nanaedake in reply to Hattie87]

It's unusual for doctors to test T3 in the UK for hypothyroidism. Most unusual without other thyroid levels tested too. Were these private tests? You need to give a fuller picture..

[juls in reply to Nanaedake]

They test them all if the TSH is abnormal.

[Nanaedake in reply to juls]

Generally NHS only test T3 if TSH is very suppressed and then it would be tested together with TSH and FT4. Least that's what I've been told

Certainly true for our area West of country apparently. In any case, if you're getting past records you need a printout so you've got lab ranges and the full picture.

[Judithdalston]

On an earlier post I believe you have said you have been hypothyroid for 10 years. Have you been medicated with levothyroxin etc? How much? Of the results you have posted only those for March 2016 are anywhere near complete as in presumably taken from one blood draw at the same time with TSH, FT4 and FT3 tests. You were slightly over medicated perhaps; the ratio of T4 to T3 should be under 4:1, yours was nearer 5:1 suggesting at the time you were poorly converting T4 to T3. Additional T3 might have helped you then. The August 2016 and May 2017 are incomplete as they are, in range, but rather meaningless as single FT4 or FT3 results., it is for eg impossible to comment on conversion rates.

[Hattie87 in reply to Judithdalston]

Yes I have and always been between 75-100mcg. What other details should I be looking for as I think that's all there is. Thanks!

[Judithdalston in reply to Judithdalston]

Why are you digging into old records, you cannot be treated retrospectively...look for treatment now? From the results posted I can only tell you were not converting well over two years ago, but not if you are now. Have you recent bloods with TSH, T4, FT4, FT3, antibodies, Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin- if so put them here with ranges so we could suggest something to help you in 2018?

[Hattie87 in reply to Judithdalston]

This is the first time I've seen any kind of blood test results and am just getting into finding out more about the condition. I wanted to get an idea of if my tests were ok then or not, as I still had the symptoms. If they were all perfect, maybe the problem is something else? Either way I'm waiting for new results which I should have soon

[eeng]

It looks as though you aren't converting FT4 to FT3 very well. Have you ever had your Ferritin, B12, Folate and Vit D checked? If these nutrients are low it can make it difficult for the body to convert. This would leave you with symptoms of hypothyroidism and high FT4, low FT3.

[Hattie87 in reply to eeng]

Thank you, that's very helpful to know! I've requested these to be tested by my doctor so will see if the lab test them