RE: Re: Re Blood Test

[Guest guest]

What is the Difference Between T3 and

Free T3? http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthyroid/a/freet3.htm

Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone that circulates in blood almost

completely bound (]99.5%) to carrier proteins. The main transport protein is

thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG). However, only the free (unbound) portion of

triiodothyronine (free T3) is believed to be responsible for the biological

action. Furthermore, the concentrations of the carrier proteins are altered in

many clinical conditions, such as pregnancy.

In normal thyroid function, as the concentrations of the carrier proteins

changes, the total triiodothyronine level also changes, so that the free

triiodothyronine concentration remains constant. (In an abnormally functioning

thyroid, this is not necessarily so). Measurements of free triiodothyronine

(Free T3) concentrations, therefore, correlate more reliably with your clinical

status than total triiodothyronine (T3) levels.

For example, the increase in total triiodothyronine levels associated with

pregnancy, oral contraceptives and estrogen therapy result in higher total T3

levels while the free T3 concentration remains unchanged (in normal

individuals). You need your FREE T3 testing and not your TOTAL T3 . If

the NHS refuse this test, get it done through Lab21, a laboratory in Newmarket,

Cambs. It costs £17 just for this one test, but worth getting it done. You can

then decide whether you need more T3 adding to your NDT or not. Have you not

considered just increasing the NDT to see if that works? I doubt the results

you have would help Nick at this point.

Luv - Sheila

So does the total T3 result not tell anything really as regards to whether it

is my T3 is too low or ok? How about the T4 level how high should that be

ideally?

Although they seem ok the results, I've been thinking about how I'm doing and

there is still big room for improvement. I've still got fatigue and hair loss

and I really thought that my bloods would reflect a low T3. I was wondering if

it would be appropriate to add in some T3 to the NDT I'm already taking, or do

I need to get the free T3 test done first. Does my T4 need to be higher? The

thing is when I've tried add in half a grain (NDT), I got heart flutters. So

would it be worth me trying to add a bit of T3 instead, could this do the

trick? Also, is my TSH likely to become unexistent as it is already <0.02,

if I increase and is this ok?

If Nick is around would he mind casting his eye on my results with reference to

a RT3 issue, I asked at the hosp but was told they didn't do the test, so just

wanted to rule this one out really.

Here are my results again:-

TFT

free T4 15.8 (12.0-22.0 pmo/L)

TSH <0.02 L (0.27-4.20 mU/L)

T3 (TOTAL) (SERUM)

Total T3 2.1 (1.3-2.6 nmol/L)

Many thanks

Lv

>

> Hi , your thyroid function tests appear OK for somebody who is

taking

> natural thyroid extract - TSH is ALWAYS suppressed because when you are

> taking the thyroid hormones your body needs, the pituitary recognises this

> and therefore has no need to secrete any TSH to tell the thyroid gland to

> pump out more. You don't need the total T3, you need the free T3 testing

> though they are trying to convince everybody that free T3 testing is not

> needed.