Could I get feedback on my thyroid blood test please

[10mile]

New PCP, new bloodwork.

Complete thyroidectomy in 2013

Taking 30 mcgs of Liothyronine am, and 25 mcg pm daily.

"TSH RFX abnormal to free T4

TSH 0.068 ulU. Standard range .384 - 4.446 ulU/mL

T4, free <0.070 ng/dL range 0.846-1.797 ng/dL"

Any insight appreciated

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Considering you're taking Liothyronine aka T3 you're going to be needing an FT3 result. FT4 is useless as really is TSH at this point. Do you have that?

[10mile in reply to GlowCoach]

No, that's it. I don't see a test for T3 levels at all. lol. They are referring me to an endocrinologist.

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to 10mile]

OK, so get them to test FT3? While you're there, get them also to test key vitamins - ferritin, folate, B12 & D3. When hypo we dont absorb vitamins well due to low stomach acid, even if our diets are 100%. Low vitamins mean we cant use our thryoid hormone properly.

[10mile in reply to GlowCoach]

I will! Thank you!

[10mile in reply to 10mile]

That's exactly what I thought. Thanks very much for your insight - he has referred me to an endocrinologist.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

10mile

If all you are taking is T3 then the TSH and FT4 tests are irrelevant. T3 lowers TSH to the point of suppression, and if you're not taking any T4 and have no thyroid then there will be none to measure. So you need to test FT3, that's all that is relevant in your situation. If your PCP knows you are taking T3 only why is s/he not measuring this?

[10mile in reply to SeasideSusie]

This is a new doctor for me, and this was my yearly physical. He wanted me to see an endocrinologist before he had any numbers, but did say I was hypo after getting the numbers back. Was just checking to see if I was grasping the process correctly. I was surprised when I got the numbers back, and saw he had tested forTSH and T4 at all, and only, when there is no thyroid, and I'm strictly on T3. Thank you for your help.

[10mile in reply to SeasideSusie]

That's exactly what I thought. Thanks very much for your insight - he has referred me to an endocrinologist.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Day before test, split T3 as 3 doses spread through the day with last 10mcg dose Approx 8-12 hours before the test

Test early morning, ideally just before 9am

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once a year

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[Jazzw]

Doesn’t sound like your doctor has very much experience with patients on T3.

For those of us here who see blood test results on T3 a lot more often, your results are very much a “Well, doh!” thing. Exactly what you’d expect to see in someone who has no thyroid and isn’t taking any T4!

You probably don’t actually need a referral to an endo, just an FT3 test.

Doctors today, eh?

[10mile in reply to Jazzw]

Exactly! He certainly doesn't understand it. My yearly exam, and he was referring me to specialists. T3 only is not very common here in Texas. Hopefully the Endo will be willing to fill my script. After years of exhaustion, I finally feel good on T3 only.