Better Together

Trying to fill out and understand my numbers in the online area?

Updated on February 4, 2022 in Ask A Coach
4 on January 31, 2022

Hi,

I just got my bloodwork back and I am filling it out in the brainfit life. I have a few things I don’t understand.

  1. HgA1c? I assume this is hemoglobin a1c? On my lab work, my number is 4.9 and it says that is normal, but the range shown on the brain bit is for WAY bigger numbers. Am I missing something?

    2. WHat is T3 and T4? I am trying to fill out the thryroid area, but my lab test says free t4 index? – 2.2? I dont’ think that is what your website is asking for? I found T4 in the iron area, but I don’t think that is for the thyroid section?

    The thryoid area in my lab is this – t3 uptake (mine is 27), t4 total (mine is 8), free t4 index (t7) mine is 2.2 Then in the IRON section it has T4, free (mine is 1).

    Help?

 
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0 on February 2, 2022

Hi Laura,

Sounds like your first question is a conversion issue, as results come in different units depending on the lab. It sounds like the hemoglobin a1c is being shown in mg/dl in our system while your lab results are in mmol/L. The conversion from 4.9 mmol/L to mg/dl puts you at 88.34 mg/dl, well within the normal range.

I would encourage you to speak with your physician about your thyroid results to better understand them,as it can get a bit complicated, but it looks like some of your results won’t ‘fit’ on our lab analysis page.

Our list includes the “Free” version of T3 and T4 as these are ‘unbound’ (free) and able to greatly affect our function. T3 is active thyroid hormone converted from the inactive T4. 

Free T4 index is a formula that includes total T4 AND a measurement called thyroid hormone-binding index. 

T3 uptake is actually a measure of the percent of TBG (thyroid binding globulin, a protein) that is bound to thyroid hormones: a higher T3 uptake % means more TBG bound to T4 or T3.

Total T4 measures both bound and unbound (free) T4, so wouldn’t fit in the Free T4 section of our page but it sounds like you do have a Free T4 value, but I’m not sure why it would be in the “iron section”.

Hope that helps a bit!

-Zoe

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0 on February 2, 2022

HI Zoe,

Thanks for your reply. I figured out after I posted that the conversion was the issue… So my lab results show whether I am “normal” or not and based on the thyroid section, I am fine. The lab results also kind show the information in a weird order.

My iron was high, and it said I had inflammation. But the truth is I had just had a heavy squat workout before that blood test so I believe the inflammation score is a bit misleading. I also realize my BMI says I am overweight, but I am a strong weightlifter, so the BMI isn’t a great measure for me either…. I was surprised about the iron because I don’t take iron in any supplements, but I was about to start my monthly cycle and I think that would also balance it out a bit. In the meantime, I should probably eat more chicken! haha

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0 on February 2, 2022

Actually my c-reactive protein is 6.6 mg/L…. Your site is in mg/dL… so I if convert then I am at .66, which is perfectly fine (higher end of normal, but not terrible).

So the only really “off” thing is my Iron 🙂

I also decided to get off all my supplements for more than a month before the test. Turns out, I’ve been wasting money on some supplements. So that is kind of nice to know too.

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0 on February 4, 2022

Glad you figured most of that out! To see whether your results related to inflammation were a fluke as you believe, I would consider retesting in a few months, however higher iron levels can cause oxidative stress and inflammation and I would encourage you to explore that piece more thoroughly.

High iron levels are unusual in females since we regularly experience blood loss, and can often be due to genetic variants causing you to absorb more iron, which may require blood donation or other therapies. I would have your physician explore that further with you as it can increase your chances of inflammation-related diseases down the road.

Best to you!

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