Hypothyroidism Support Group

Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...

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Question about T4

54Mariposa
54Mariposa
Can't seem to find it, but I am thinking that someone recently posted about why we need T4 and what it does for us.....

I am off to the doctor tomorrow for a new blood test and would like to be able to talk intelligently about why I feel like crap all the time....

:O

Anyway.

If anyone remembers the T4 post, could you please point me in its direction?

Thanks!
red47640
red47640
T4 (thyroxine) is for the most part converted into T3, which is much more potent and efficient when it comes to regulating metabolism. Free T4 refers to how much T4 is not bond to globulins and is in the bloodstream. Free T4 analysis is a better indicator of how well your thyroid is working. Same with free T3. Results with high levels of free T3 and/or T4 indicate hyperthyroidism, whereas low levels indicate hypothyroidism. Hope this helps :-)
54Mariposa
54Mariposa
This was a great refresher! Thanks, Red!!!

There was a recent post SOMEwhere about how T4 hovers in the background or something like that while T3 is "in your face" all the time...

I am on both right now and the slow release cytomel does help, but I still don't feel like I have any energy.

I am aware there is an underlying condition of low cortisol, but GOOD LUCK trying to get a doctor to treat it.....
cd3764
cd3764
Does this help?

http://www.tiredthyroid.com/rt3.html
HipHappy
HipHappy
Yes dont forget about RT3, because the doctors do, or a lot seem to not even know its created as well in the conversion.

I took 10 years to do the test, due to the cost here, and when I did, mine came back ridiculously high, and here I was all this time wondering why I felt unwell while my bloods said otherwise.