Guest guest Posted November 13, 2002 Report Share Posted November 13, 2002 Hello, I am reading on Shomon's site that when monitoring a hypo patient, TSH and TT3 should be used (dropping the FT4) as FT3 is best used for diagnostics rather than treatment. Also that a Reverse T3 test to see if conversion is happening. (This is quoted from Dr. Shames.) I also read in the new Published Guidelines for thyroid disease (NACB), page 24, " Serum T3 measurement has little specificity for diagnosing hypothyothyroidism, since enhanced T4 to T3 conversion maintains normal T3 concentrations until hypothyroidism becomes severe. " Elaine, I am so confused! Could you please just give me the straight poop......do I need TT3 or FT3 testing to monitor my post RAI hypothyroidism and should I request the Reverse T3? Thanks in advance, God bless, Hashi's, Graves, TED worsened by RAI Sept. 2001 http://www.mediboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001091;p=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2002 Report Share Posted November 13, 2002 Hi , Good luck in finding a lab that still runs the reverseT3. We used to run this test in the 70's and 80's before we had methods for running free T3. The reason for running reverse T3 is to know how much of total T3 is free. Running a free T3 directly tells you what you want to know with one test. Total T3 measures both free and reverse T3 and is influenced by your binding proteins. You have to remember that free T3 only became widely available in the last few years. The lab where I work only added this test this past year. If a free T3 level isn't available, then you could do a total and a reverse and subtract to see how much is free like we did a decade ago. There are lots of different theories and conflicting views when it comes to the thyroid, but there really is a reason why labs quit running the reverse T3 test. Take care, Elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2002 Report Share Posted November 13, 2002 Hi , Good luck in finding a lab that still runs the reverseT3. We used to run this test in the 70's and 80's before we had methods for running free T3. The reason for running reverse T3 is to know how much of total T3 is free. Running a free T3 directly tells you what you want to know with one test. Total T3 measures both free and reverse T3 and is influenced by your binding proteins. You have to remember that free T3 only became widely available in the last few years. The lab where I work only added this test this past year. If a free T3 level isn't available, then you could do a total and a reverse and subtract to see how much is free like we did a decade ago. There are lots of different theories and conflicting views when it comes to the thyroid, but there really is a reason why labs quit running the reverse T3 test. Take care, Elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2002 Report Share Posted November 13, 2002 Thanks for clearing up my confusion Elaine!!! God bless, Hashi's, Graves, TED worsened by RAI Sept. 2001 http://www.mediboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001091;p=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2002 Report Share Posted November 13, 2002 Thanks for clearing up my confusion Elaine!!! God bless, Hashi's, Graves, TED worsened by RAI Sept. 2001 http://www.mediboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001091;p=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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