3.6 free t3

[MichelleMoore]

Should I be on t3 the nhs guide is 3.1 for low t3. But looking around people are saying 4.0 for low t3

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

MichelleMoore

If you could give us some more information, we may be able to help.

Do you have a diagnosis of hypothyroidism?

Are you on thyroid meds - Levothyroxine?

What are the results of your full thyroid panel - result plus the reference range from the lab that did your tests (ranges vary from lab to lab so we need your lab's ranges):

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

You can't take FT3 results in isolation. Taking T3 can be helpful when there is a known problem converting T4 to T3. To know if you are converting then you need your TSH to be low in range (around 1 or lower) and you need FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time.

Before any thyroid hormone can work properly, including starting on T3, then nutrient levels should be optimal:

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

So if you can fill in some details, we can help.

[MichelleMoore]

I’m on levothyroxin 75mg

My ths is 0.95

I should have took a picture of all my other results

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MichelleMoore]

Just dosing by TSH is completely inadequate, which is likely all your GP is looking at

Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common, tending to cause lower TSH and higher FT4. Conversion of FT4 to FT3 and thyroid uptake needs good vitamins

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

ask GP to test vitamins and thyroid antibodies

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH and lowest FT4. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up. They can no longer charge for printing out, rules changed after May 25th 2018

[MichelleMoore]

I took my levothyroxin this morning and had the test 3 hour later

Also your right my doctor only does my ths

[shaws Administrator in reply to MichelleMoore]

Your results will be skewed. Testing the TSH alone is insufficient but that and T4 seems to be all doctors do except yours is TSH alone which is ridiculous.

Phone and make another appointment but your doctor may refuse.

We have private labs which do home finger pin-prick tests - if you decided to do so make sure you are well hydrated a couple of days before.

You need a Full Thyroid Function Test. Always get the earliest possible blood draw (even at the surgery) and make sure you are well hydrated a couple of days before. Also allow a 24 hour gap between last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

An FTF test is:

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

Your GP should test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

Get a print-out with the ranges and post on a new question.

Doctors are poorly trained unfortunately and seem to have been told that a TSH and T4 are all that is necessary. NO it isn't we need an optimum dose otherwise everything in our body struggles, i.e. brain and heart and everything else needs thyroid hormones.

Private labs as Thriva: Blue Horizon: Medichecks

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

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MichelleMoore]

Suggest you get full private testing including vitamins at correct time in morning and no Levo in 24 hours prior

If you have high thyroid antibodies then gluten can be common issue

[MichelleMoore]

From reading some post I also think I have been over exercising. I can not loss weight

I have a personal trainer for 8 weeks she could not believe I did not even loss one pound!

It heart breaking soul destroying.

[shaws Administrator in reply to MichelleMoore]

You are hypo (low) thyroid. This means that our metabolism is so low because our body isn't providing the thyroid hormones which enable bodies to work effectively and efficiently.

Exercising/dieting before we are on an optimum dose of levothyroxine (or other thyroid hormones) means that we are depleting what little hormones we have.

You should concentrate in getting your TSH to 1 or lower (some doctors stop when it's just in rang, ie.3).The following two also have to be near the upper part of the ranges but are rarely tested i.e. FT4 and FT3.

Also B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate have to be optimal.

[MaisieGray in reply to MichelleMoore]

I think if your personal trainer isn't aware of the particular needs of those with thyroid disease, they might do more harm than good. Hard exercise depletes circulating T3, which is exactly what you don't want if you're needing to lose weight.