The very first place to start is with a complete thyroid panel to point out major thyroid dysfunction.
Complete thyroid panel list.
In my practice i make it a point to order a complete thyroid panel test on all of my patients especially those with symptoms or who have just had a baby.
A full thyroid panel is a specific test that is used in order to evaluate the function of your thyroid gland and also to help diagnose hypo hyperthyroidism as a result of various thyroid conditions.
Thyroid receptor antibodies trab are not generally on routine thyroid panels or even comprehensive thyroid panels as they primarily check for graves disease which is much less common than hashimotos.
Typically the preferred initial test for thyroid disorders is a tsh test if the tsh level is abnormal it will usually be followed up with a test for free t4 sometimes a total t3 or free t3 will also be performed.
A full thyroid panel includes tests that help evaluate thyroid stimulating hormone tsh free and total triiodothyronine total or free t3 free and total thyroxine free and total t4 and.
The major thyroid hormone secreted by the thyroid gland is thyroxine also called t4 because it contains four iodine atoms.
The majority of my patients have never had a complete thyroid panel as their doctor would only order a tsh.
Many different hormones and substances influence thyroid function.
One of the main problems with mainstream medicine s approach to thyroid health is the reliance on one lab test tsh thyroid stimulating hormone.
To exert its effects t4 is converted to triiodothyronine t3 by the removal of an iodine atom.
The complete thyroid panel is the most popular.
This panel contains the following tests.
Graves disease is also an autoimmune disease but primarily causes symptoms of hyperthyroidism anxiety hand tremors heat sensitivity weight loss puffy eyes and enlarged thyroid.
Free triiodothyronine t3 the active form of thyroid hormone.
Thyroid stimulating hormone tsh evaluates overall thyroid function total thyroxine t4 measures the total amount of t4 produced by the thyroid gland free thyroxine t4 measures the amount of t4 available to the cells and tissues free tri iodothyronine t3 measures the amount of t3 the active form of the hormone available to the cells and.
To get a more complete image of how well the thyroid is working each are should be tested.
This test is the best if you have any thyroid health concerns especially if your doctor said no to comprehensive thyroid testing or told you everything is normal after only running the standard tsh test.
Often the laboratory will do this follow up testing automatically.
