What level should Free T4 and Free T3 should we be aiming for?

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with Hashi's two years ago and been on Synthyroid for

three years. I'm going to a new doctor in the morning and hopefully

will start the Armour. I've never been able to get the Free T4 and

Free T3 leveled with Synthyroid and I'm not taking that mess

anymore!! Also, the TSH level doesn't really matter w/ Armour? Is

that right? Could you tell me why?

Thanks for sharing what you know -

Molly

[Guest guest]

>>Also, the TSH level doesn't really matter w/ Armour?<<

Not with Armour but with Hashi's! Hree is a file that is in our FILES

section. It explains alot about the tests and why they do or do not work for

us.

Understanding Thyroid Lab Tests

from Ken Woliner, M.D., A.B.F.P.

Jul 31 2003

The Free T3 (FT3) Test

So what is normal? When specimens are sent to Quest, normal is 230-420

pg/dL. If you are lower than 230 or above 420,

you are " abnormal " . That doesn't tell the whole story, however. There is a

difference between " normal " and

" optimal " . Someone can be " low normal " with a Free T3 of 231 and still feel

crummy.

Some of my patients, have many hypothyroid symptoms, but have normal lab

tests. When they have " low normal " values,

I often will empirically try thyroid medication by starting low and going

slow. If my patients feel better with

medication, I interpret this situation as one where the laboratory tests do

not tell the whole story, and that

in the future I would make medication adjustments based upon their symptoms

and physical exam

If they feel worse with less thyroid medication (such as gaining weight,

being more fatigued), I give them more.

If they feel like they are getting too much thyroid medication (heart

palpitations, anxiety), I give them

less. As an aside - giving thyroid hormone to patients who are not truly

hypothyroid does not cause these

patients to lose weight. They wind up only getting the side effects (such as

palpitations), but no benefits

(there will be no weight loss if thyroid is not the true problem).

It is important to realize that if a patient has thyroid antibodies, all

bets are off. All thyroid blood tests

from that point on are thrown off, including the Free T3. In that case, one

definitely has to go by symptoms to

decide the correct level of thyroid medication. Please see my article

Understanding Thyroid Lab Tests for

a more complete description of why laboratory tests can be thrown off by

these antibodies.

ABOUT KENNETH WOLINER, MD

Dr. Woliner is a board-certified family physician in private

practice in Boca Raton. Though he often

recommends vitamin supplements, he does not sell them due to conflict of

interest concerns. He can be reached

at Holistic Family Medicine, 2499 Glades Road #106A, Boca Raton, FL 33431;

. E-mail: knw6@...

Artistic Grooming

Hurricane, West Virginia

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[Guest guest]

Geez...looking at my past test results, I've never had a Free T3 done. All I've

had is a T3(free) uptake & have been told that's not the same. I still need a

better doctor. The one I've got now that prescribed the Armour doesn't even want

to take either a Free T3 uptake or freeT3. Says she doesn't need them. Oh

well...maybe she'll be open to learning, who knows?

Re: What level should Free T4 and Free T3

should we be aiming for?

>>Also, the TSH level doesn't really matter w/ Armour?<<

Not with Armour but with Hashi's! Hree is a file that is in our FILES

section. It explains alot about the tests and why they do or do not work for

us.

Understanding Thyroid Lab Tests

from Ken Woliner, M.D., A.B.F.P.

Jul 31 2003

The Free T3 (FT3) Test

So what is normal?