Blood test result, first time t3 free!

[Suzi_]

Here are my yesterday’s blood test results-

T3 free4.53, Range - 1.71-3.71- first time ever!

T3 1.47, Range - 0.48-1.59

T4 free 0.78, range- 0.70-1.48

TSH 0.21, Range 0.35-4.94

TSH seems out of range. T3 free above the max range. Don’t know what this means?

Please advice.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Suzi_

Your TSH is below range because you are taking NDT (Armour) and taking NDT and/or T3 lowers, even suppresses TSH, so your low TSH is not unusual and is to be expected.

Your FT3 is over range which can suggest slight overmedication. When taking NDT one expects to see low TSH, lowish in range FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of it's range.

However, when did you take your last dose of NDT before the test? It should be between 8-12 hours before the blood draw even if it means adjusting time and splitting dose before the test.

Also important, of course, is how do you feel?

[Suzi_ in reply to SeasideSusie]

The test was done 8 hours after NDT dose. I hope I am not hyperthyroid now. Still on 50,000 iu of weekly Vitamin D. Feeling better energy wise but feel low or depressed at times may be it’s the stay at home order!

Thanks so much for your prompt reply. This is the first time I managed to convince him of doing T3 free test, thanks for your advice!

T3 free is high! Concerned.

I raised my dose from 30 mg to additional 15mg as I was extremely fatigued before. Feeling better since increased dose. I don’t know if the Armour formulation has changed recently.

I have a video call with my dr on Monday. Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Suzi_]

Suzi_

I hope I am not hyperthyroid now.

That's not possible. If you are hypothyroid it's a physical impossibility for your thyroid to then become hypERthyroid, but you can be overmedicated as I mentioned above.

It could very well be that NDT has the wrong ratio of T4 to T3 for your individual needs, it's given you a very low FT4 but an over range FT3. You may be fine with a very low FT4, many people are, but some of us require FT4 to be higher in range so do better with synthetic Levo plus T3 so that we can work out the balance of each hormone to suit what we need.

Did you take the whole dose of Armour before the test or did you split it into two doses and take half earlier on and half 8 hours before the test?

[Suzi_ in reply to SeasideSusie]

I always take both tablets of Armour together in the morning. If I am over medicated, my dr may reduce my 15 mg dose to every other day.

Please explain how I can take T 4 and T 3 separately when on Armour thyroid.

My diet is pretty good. Started eating meat to bring my iron level as up and resolve anemia issues. Thanks 🙏

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Suzi_]

Suzi_

I always take both tablets of Armour together in the morning.

When we do thyroid tests we need to take the last dose of NDT 8-12 hours before the blood draw. Many people split their dose of NDT into 2 or 3 doses. If necessary we need to alter the timing of our last dose of NDT to fit in with the advised time gap and it's often best to split the dose before a test even if that's not what we normally do. If we take our NDT too close to the blood draw we get false high thyroid hormone levels, if we take it too far away from the blood draw we get false low levels. The advised time gap gives the measure of our normal circulating hormone levels.

If I am over medicated, my dr may reduce my 15 mg dose to every other day.

You can't do that with Armour. Because it contains T3, and because T3 has a short half life, then you need to take the same amount each day, you just can't alternate amounts.

Please explain how I can take T 4 and T 3 separately when on Armour thyroid.

You can't. It's both hormones in the one tablet at a fixed ratio. Look back at my previous reply and I was referring to the ratio l#of T4 andT3 in Armour is not right for some people and if they need a different ratio then taking synthetic Levo plus T3 instead of Armour gives them the flexibility of finding the right ratio of T4 and T3.

[Pixipot]

So does that mean you don't need to take tablets and what is your diet like? Have you changed it or taken any new supplements of late?