Re: Increasing my T4 - or do I need to change my medication?

[Guest guest]

My most recent blood tests results indicate the following:FT3 - 11.3, in a normal range of 2.5 - 5.7FT4 - 14.7, in a normal range of 9 - 26TSH - less than 0.05, in a normal range of 0.3 - 4.2And do you think that I need to adjust my meds or add some Levo to the mix?Hello ,

Did you take your Erfa on the day of the blood draw, and – since you say you take 1 grain 3 times a day – when did you take your last pill?

If you had taken your Erfa on the morning before the blood draw and you feel fine on this medication, then just carry on.

If you had stopped your Erfa (as you should have) 12-24 hours before the blood draw, then it looks like you are overmedicating ... your FT3 is too high and you might need to reduce your dosage.

Why is my FT4 still low, I wonder...?The T3:T4 ratio in all natural desiccated thyroid is higher in T3 than a healthy human thyroid gland would produce, hence it is normal for people taking NDT to have a low-ish T4, when showing a high T3. It does not matter at all that the FT4 is low-ish within the ref range; it is an inactive hormone, and only needed for conversion when the body needs more T3. But if it bothers you, you could always add a little T4 (25 mcg) into the mix. The main consideration is how you feel. Some people add a little T4 to their NDT, others (like myself) add a little extra T3 to the NDT, others are happy with just taking NDT – it's a personal thing.

Just remember – the most important figure in a thyroid test is the FT3. It should be in the upper third to the top of the ref range when you have stopped your thyroid meds for a minimum of 12 hours (or max of 24 hours). It should not exceed the upper ref range.... except, it will when you have accidentally taken your thyroid meds on the morning of the blood draw.

Best wishes,

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LUV - SHEILA

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Hi ,

Thanks so much for your response.

I did not take my medication the morning of the blood tests but would have done

so at 8 pm the night before, so at least 12 hours passed in between my last

dosage and the blood test.

Why does my FT3 need to be within the range, and is it dangerous for it to be

quite outside the range, as my FT3 is?

I'm reluctant to decrease my medication for 2 reasons: I feel great and my hypo

symptoms seem to have subsided - but I still haven't lost the weight that I put

on as a result of developing Hashi's, and I was under the impression that I

should lose the weight on Erfa.

I really, really appreciate your help and answers!

>

> Hello ,

>

> Did you take your Erfa on the day of the blood draw, and – since you

> say you take 1 grain 3 times a day – when did you take your last

> pill?

>

> If you had taken your Erfa on the morning before the blood draw and you

> feel fine on this medication, then just carry on.

>

> If you had stopped your Erfa (as you should have) 12-24 hours before the

> blood draw, then it looks like you are overmedicating ... your FT3 is

> too high and you might need to reduce your dosage.

>

>

>