The importance of testing TSH, free T4....AND..... free T3 + Reverse T3.

[Guest guest]

Hello folks,

I thought I would highlight why it is important to test not only for

TSH and Free T4 BUT ALSO Free T3 + Reverse T3.

I'm happy to use myself as an example! Not that I want to blab on

about myself, but because my results show that TSH and free T4 can

be ok, but free T3 and reverse T3 can be out of range.

I take thyroxine only at the moment and it really isn't helping me.

I will be considering other options (such as NTE etc) because it is

obvious that I'm not converting T4 to T3 properly.

Yesterday I had a swag of tests done & today the TSH, fT4 and fT3

tests were returned.

Here are the most recent test results + my some of my results since

Apr 07 last year so you can see the point I'm trying to make.

TSH

Apr 07. 9.7 (ref range 0.5 - 4.0)

Jul 07. 6.2 (ref range 0.5 - 4.0)

Feb 08. 3.2 (ref range 0.5 - 4.0)

May 08. 2.1 (ref range 0.5 - 4.0)

free T4

Apr 07. 13 (ref range 10 - 25)

Jul 07. 15 (ref range 10 - 25)

Feb 08. 16 (ref range 10 - 25)

May 08. 17 (ref range 10 - 25)

free T3

Apr 07. 4.4 (ref range 3.1 - 5.4)

Jul 07. 3.7 (ref range 3.1 - 5.4)

Feb 08. 3.1 (ref range 3.1 - 5.4)

May 08. 3.0 (ref range 3.1 - 5.4) BELOW REF RANGE

Reverse T3

Jul 07. 382 (ref range 170 - 450)

Feb 08. 469 (ref range 170 - 450) ABOVE REF RANGE

May 08. result pending.

If you only consider the TSH and the T4 together, it really doesn't

give you the full picture. Look at what is happening with the Free

T3 and the Reverse T3 in my test results. Free T3 is gradually

dropping and Reverse T3 is increasing, to the point where in Feb

Reverse T3 was above the normal ref range. In the most recent

result dated May 08, free T3 is now below the normal ref range. The

most recent Reverse T3 result won't be back for a few weeks, but I

wait with interest to see what the result will be.

MY SUGGESTION RE THYROID BLOOD TESTS**************

My suggestion is to always ask for free T3 and Reverse T3 to be

checked together with TSH and free T4. My results are proof in the

pudding of what CAN happen and not be picked if only TSH and free T4

are tested.

P