Interpreting calculator percentages

[Handsome14]

Can anyone help with interpreting thyroid results when using the calculator.

I have hashimotos and my percentage comes out as 27.21%

T4 is 14.8 (10.8-25.5)

TSH 0.07 (0.27-4.20)

Thanks 🙏

[Yeswithasmile]

Ok so are you on medication?

SlowDragon has a list of really useful links for private testing etc because t4 alone is not enough. You need to know what your t3 level is. That is what you body converts from t4. T3 is the active hormone. You may well know this so I’m sorry if I’m going over old ground for you.

If you are on medication, how much do you take?

[Handsome14 in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Sorry yes my t3 is 4.5 and I have recently had an increase in meds from 100mcg levo to 125mcg and 10mcg T3

[Yeswithasmile in reply to Handsome14]

Do you know what % through the range your t3 was? It’s just you didn’t put the range of that test.

You have an endo presumably? But you still feel pants?

[Yeswithasmile in reply to Yeswithasmile]

How long have you been on 125mcg levo?

[Yeswithasmile in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Do you happen to know what your vitamins and iron levels are?

[Handsome14 in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Only since 25th Sept

[Yeswithasmile in reply to Handsome14]

You may start to feel the benefit in a few weeks. I would test blood again in 8 weeks and see where your t4 is. Most people on combo treatment seems to like their levels in the upper part of the ranges. I think I am one of them. A low t4 and high t3 made me feel even worse but everyone’s different. It’s just trialing what gets you better and unfortunately that can take a long time.

[Handsome14 in reply to Yeswithasmile]

I don't know the t3 range but will find out at my next Endo appointmentMy Endo is good but I'm just trying to be proactive with my health

[Lalatoot]

The calculator percentage is used generally to compare results.If you had 2 ft4 test results and the range had changed then you could compare them by looking at their percentages through their ranges.

If you have an ft4 and an ft3 result from the same blood draw then you compare the percentages of them to judge conversion.

[Handsome14 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks for the explanation- much appreciated

[Hidden in reply to Lalatoot]

Are you saying that the % through range changes but the level is more important? What I mean is if my FT3 is 5.5 on two different ranges and I calculate the % through range, that it is the percentage I should be looking at?

[Lalatoot in reply to Hidden]

Yes. It is the only way to compare your Ft3 (or ft4) result when the ranges have changed - for example Ft3 5.5 (4.0 - 7.0) and say the testing range changes Ft3 5.5 (2.9 - 4.9). For the first test Ft3 is 50% through range for the changed range test FT3 is 130%.. So following the first result you might raise your medication but following the second Ft3 result you are overmedicated.% is also used to compare Ft3 and Ft4 results from the same blood draw once TSH is down to around 1 or lower. For example:

TSH 0.19

FT4 19 (10 - 25)

Ft3 4.5 (4.0 - 7.0)

Ft4 is 60% through its range

Ft3 is 16.67 through its range.

This suggests a conversion issue as you would expect them to be somewhere nearer the same percentage through ranges if conversion was good.

Hope this makes sense.

[Hidden in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you. Sorry to be dense but if FT3 is 5.5 on both a range of 3.1 - 6.8 and 3.4 - 6.8, is it the % through range that’s important or the FT3 level. For example, if I have my bloods done on two consecutive days at two different hospitals and FT3 is 5.5 in both sets of results, the % through range will be different.

[tattybogle in reply to Hidden]

Assuming your actual level of fT3 was the same on both days (which it wouldn't be .. it wouldn't even be exactly the same an hour later) but for the sake of argument . lets just say it was .... so ,if the different labs used different machines with different reference ranges, the you wouldn't get 5.5 on both days. but you would get the same % through range on both days. (give or take a little bit , because all machines are allowed a small margin of error in the results they come with. eg

lab 1 .... 3 [2 -4] =50%

lab 2 ..... 4 [2 -6] =50%

p.s Love Morcambe Bay .. looking at it right now

[Hidden in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you for that.

You’re very lucky to live near Morecambe Bay. 😉

[tattybogle in reply to Hidden]

You can watch the sun go down via link on this post ... even when you're not there . healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Hidden in reply to tattybogle]

That’s just wonderful. You lucky lady 👍

[Yeswithasmile]

So yes the range for t3 is important.

I can say that I am one who I’m sure needs a high in range t4. I take t4 and t3. So in your case, even if you have a high in range t3 I would need my t4 much higher than the 27% you’re at. I’m currently running at 30 odd percent and am very symptomatic even though my t3 is high in its range.

Hope this is helpful?

[Handsome14 in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Very helpful - thanks once again

[Noelnoel in reply to Yeswithasmile]

I can say that I am one who I’m sure needs a high in range t4. I take t4 and t3. So in your case, even if you have a high in range t3 I would need my t4 much higher than the 27% you’re at

Hi yeswithasmile, can you explain a bit further please why if inactive T4 seems adequate enough to be converting into a decent amount of the active T3, why a higher T4 is required?

Just to be clear, I’m not doubting what you say, it’s just that I don’t understand

Thanks

[Yeswithasmile in reply to Noelnoel]

Hi NoelNoel

I am afraid I can’t explain why some people need t4 levels higher and some people don’t.

I would say that I have read research that finds t4 is needed in certain cells, for example in the brain but I know some people on here take t3 only and manage well. There are a number of members on here that are far more experienced than me and I would suggest you ask the question in a post. That way you (and me 🤣) might get some more info on it?

Sorry I can’t be of better help!

[Noelnoel in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Thanks yeswithasmile, that will go on my list of potential posts. I don’t like to bother the folks on here too much because I know how busy it can get. Was it you or someone else who said they take NDT? I ask because I’m thinking about embarking on that journey. So as not to hijack handaome14s post I’m happy for you to pm me

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Noelnoel]

Don't hold back too much.

Remember that most questions that are asked by one member, and answered/discussed, are likely to end up informing many members.

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

Thank you hellvella that’s very true and I’ll remember that the next time I find myself hesitating

[Handsome14]

Evening everyone, so another quick question on the percentage issue if I may - what percentage should I be aiming at for both T4 and T3. Thanks 🙏