Low T4

[Splochie]

Is is ok health wise to have a low T4 on blood test?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Splochie

That really all depends on a few things.

* Do you have a diagnosis of a thyroid condition?

* Do you take any thyroid medication, if so what?

* Exactly what tests have you had done? For a full picture of thyroid status you need to test:

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

* It would help to post your test result(s) complete with their reference range(s) so we can make useful comments.

[fuchsia-pink]

I think it depends.

There's nothing on your profile so we don't know if you have a diagnosis, are taking thyroid meds and if so what ...

But generally, if you are on T3 meds-only your free T4 will plummet, and people seem happy enough with that. Whereas other people, like me, like both free T4 and free T3 nice and high in range. It's certainly the case that good levels of free T3 are important, and if you're on levo-only this is unlikely unless free T4 is high too.

Do you have any recent blood results you can share [with lab ranges afterwards in brackets, as these vary from lab to lab]?

[Splochie]

Thank you for your replies. I am diagnosed with hypothyroidism and I also have a goiter. I am currently on 12.5 mcg of T4 and 40mcg of T3.

I will try to attach my recent lab results.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Splochie]

Splochie

Why not just type your results /ranges into your post?

If you have a lot of results then you can add a picture by editing your opening post bu clicking on MORE then EDIT then ADD A PICTURE but please make sure that your results are big enough to read (too many results in one picture often makes them to small to read) and that there are no personal details showing, eg name, date of birth, NHS number, etc.

[Jazzw in reply to Splochie]

If you’re only on 12.5mcg of levothyroxine but 40mcg of liothyronine, I’d be surprised if your FT4 could be anything but low. And it doesn’t matter—if your FT3 is a decent level and you feel ok.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

The obvious question is......how do you feel?

Many people on levothyroxine plus T3 need good Ft4 and good Ft3

Others don’t mind low Ft4

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or quarter of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH

Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/signs-symptom...