T4 reading

[Teejay258]

Hi All, I know with T4 we should be between 10 - 22 but what is the better way to be, near the 10 or the 22? Mine is reading 18 at the moment with a tsh of 3.2. I'm aware the tsh is best between 0.5 and 2. If anyone can help trying to find answer on internet but all around the houses. Recently found out I have hashis.

[bantam12]

You need your T4 to be in the upper range so at 18 it's ok but your TSH is to high, you need T3 tested as that's the important one.

[cjrsquared]

The point of a range is that the majority of people fall with in it. It is much more relevant how you feel. If you feel well, great, if not you would need ft3 as well as ft4 to see how well you convert to the active hormone and optimal vitamins and minerals. So results for vit b12, ferritin, folate, and vit d.

As you have hashimoto’s are you also gluten free? I understand that this can help reduce antibody levels and improve well being. You may find gp won’t test for all of these so it is possible to pay for private blood tests, either with blue horizon or medichecks.

[Teejay258 in reply to cjrsquared]

Yes thank you I have recently gone gluten free. It was a private blood test I found out I have hashis English Doctors don't test for it I was told u have to go private. Has this been most people's experience on here?

[shaws Administrator]

I believe T4 should be nearer 22 but the best and most informative tests are Free T4 and Free T3. I shall give you a link which explains more clearly the reason:-

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

Hashimotos is an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease caused by having thyroid antibodies in your blood. These wax and wane attacking your thyroid gland until you are hypothyroid. Treatment of hashi's and hypo is the same, i.e. levothyroxine.

Levothyroxine (T4) is an inactive hormone and it has to convert to the Active hormone T3. It is T3 which drives our whole metabolism from head to toe and enables heart/brain to function well, as it does everything in our body.

[Teejay258 in reply to shaws]

Thank you I've just read this.