why the free t3 test?

[Guest guest]

Went back to my endo and got copys of all my blood work.

I did notice that the first blood test he checked everything. tsi,t-

4 free,THS,T3 free.The other two after that he only checked the T4

free, and THS. So what I need to know is, why is the T 3 free so

important?

I think I have a good endo just new. At first it seemed like he just

wanted to follow procedure, but by the time I went to my last

appointment I was feelin really bad. Very weak, chest pain and had

not slept more then 2 and 1/2 hours a night for about 4 to 6 weeks.

He just called me when he got my blood work back and put me on

synthroid 100mcg once a day and moved my next appointment up five

weeks. Well I knew I would not make it the 4 weeks it would take for

the synthriod to kick in.

So I pretty much just showed up at his office and said, I need to

see the doctor and we all know how that goes .Well he is with a

patient, but when I told his nures what was goin on she said wait

here you really do need to see the doctor and slid me right in.

He was concerned with helping me . But I really do want to

understand what the importance is of the T 3 free level is?

[Guest guest]

ph,

Here is a link: http://www.suite101.com/print_article.cfm/9630/100906

From what I understand, Free T3 is the measure of the amount of T3 thyroid

hormone that is available for use by your cells. It is important to test

for FT3, as without it, you have an incomplete assessment of where your

thyroid levels are currently at. Sometimes, when the FT4 is within the

normal range, the FT3 may be elevated, indicating a hyperT state (T3

toxicosis). Alternatively, someone may have a normal result for FT4 but low

FT3, indicating a hypO state, with a possible problem in conversion of T4

to T3. If there is a problem in conversion, a medication with FT3, such as

addition of Cytomel to Synthroid, or switch to Armour Thyroid, might be

more beneficial than Synthroid alone.

At 12:43 AM 8/16/2003, you wrote:

>Went back to my endo and got copys of all my blood work.

>I did notice that the first blood test he checked everything. tsi,t-

>4 free,THS,T3 free.The other two after that he only checked the T4

>free, and THS. So what I need to know is, why is the T 3 free so

>important?

[Guest guest]

Oh ph...

This all feels so good. I am so happy.

You said:

So I pretty much just showed up at his office and said, I need to

see the doctor and we all know how that goes .Well he is with a

patient, but when I told his nures what was goin on she said wait

here you really do need to see the doctor and slid me right in.

Yes !!!

I am the one that told you how I have had to do this.

I knew you COULD be seen, just that most people do not insist. Yes... we do

have to never abuse this , but when we are this sick, it is the only way I

have found to get the attention I need, while I can still walk that far.

The job of the girl that answers the phone in the doctors office is to put

you in line. It is NOT her job to diagnose.

No one can diagnose without SSEEING you.

ph, you did everything exactly perfect !

_______

Now... The FT3

This is not important right now.

You have to HAVE thyroid hormone before they can measure parts of it. :-{

It would be like... hummm... you need to insert the $100 bill before you

worry about the quarters and dimes.

IF they ran this now, it would probably show it falsely being higher than it

is going to be. Then they could think everything is fine, when in fact it

may or may not be. only time will tell.

The reason for this odd phenomenon is that in the last part of the body

shutting down from lack of thyroid hormone.. it will work so hard to survive

it converts as much extra T3 as possible. This leaves everything out of

balance, but keeps you alive.

So this doctor sounds like he may be pretty smart. Time will tell. The most

important thing that has happened here is YOUR attitude. He will now always

remember YOU and your situation has made you a special patient that he may

start to really care about !

If you had not gone in and done this, you could have remained a number.

Thank goodness most thyroid patients do not have to go through this hell you

were put into my medical incompetence. But when we are, we MUST grasp that

one last ounce of strength, and become our own advocate, because no one else

is going to.

We all continue wishing the very best for you.

And I hope your wife knows what a special man she has.

You WILL get your strength back, and you will be able to really enjoy your

children again. It just takes time.

The end result for me was learning what really matters in this life.

It's not the job, education achieved, and least of all the " stuff " .

It is the ones we love. And then the other humans that need help and

compassion. These are the only things that will count on the final days.

I hope you will soon once again truly be able to enjoy the good things, as

this physical and mental pain start to fade away. It IS normal to have the

world outside of our body fade, as the body demands our attention. And this

will change. As it changes, THEN you will see it.

I had many mornings when as i woke, it was a bit odd to see everything

seemed so different. Brighter is not adequate to describe the feeling.

But as hypo comes on slow, we do not see things dim. For me, the faster

speed into normal allowed me to notice the changes more easily.

Bless you ph,

-Pam L-