Results are in: Haven't tested since last July... - Thyroid UK

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Results are in

Jefner profile image
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Haven't tested since last July. Wanted to test again end of last year but pharmacies kept messing with my meds so I had to keep waiting for things to settle down for a few weeks

Latest results on 125mcg Levo and 10mcg T2 split dose. Levo taken 24hrs before, 5mcg T3 taken around 4pm and 5mcg T3 taken around 8hrs before testing at 9.30am (T3 taken around 1.30am and around 2.5hrs after my nightly magnesium). Also didn't take my B complex for 2 days prior to testing. Also curious as to why my B12 is always high on every test although on my latest test I left off them for 2 days. Been reading up on it. My B vits are methylated as I have the mthr gene and says it could be liver related but from past full blood panels from my GP, they showed no concerns. My current B vits have 50mcg methylcoblamin, wondering whether to find a different brand with lower dose? I do have a couple of symptoms of high B12 but that could also relate to the anxiety. Is this constant high B12 a problem??

Vitamin D (25 OH) 121 50 - 200 nmol/L

* Magnesium 0.93 0.66 - 0.99 mmol/L

* CRP 0.61 <5.0 mg/L

* Ferritin 99.40 ................. 13 - 150 µg/L

* Serum Folate 29.80 ................ 8.83 - 60.8 nmol/L

* Active B12 H >150 ................. 37.5 - 150 pmol/L

* TSH L 0.02 .............. 0.27 - 4.20 mIU/L

* Free T4 H 22.7 ........... (12.0 - 22.0 pmol/L)

* Free T3 5.2 ..................3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L

* T4 Total 132.0 66 - 181 nmol/L

* Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs 47 <115 IU/mL

* Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs 30.9 <34 IU/mL

* Cortisol (Random) 443.0 73.8 - 507.0 nmol/L 6am - 10am 166 - 507- 4pm - 8pm 73.8 - 291

July 2023 results after cutting down to 100mcg Levo due to April results showing Free T4 21.8 12.0 - 22.0. After this test with my T4 looking so low I went back up to 125mcg Levo

TSH 1.10 0.27 - 4.20 mU/L New range & unit

Free T4 12.0 12.0 - 22.0 pmol/L

Free T3 3.56 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/

Looking back at all my results my T3 levels have always shown as low in the range ie. in the low 3's (as you will see in my bio) and was always advised to up it a little which I did for a few weeks and then it went over range so went back down to 10mcg which I have stayed on for a few years).

The latest reading I am suspicious of as it has never been that high and I have always been on 10mcg. Much earlier tests I pretty much had my T3 24hrs before testing because I was only advised a couple of years ago on here that I need to take my T3 8-10hrs before testing. Should I have left longer than 8hrs before testing ie. could my latest result be a false reading, especially as it took 2 days for my blood to arrive at the Lab instead of next day. I am tempted to retest!!!!!

Why is it required to have some T3 8-10hrs before testing rather than leave it 24hrs as with the T4?

Looking at my current high T4, it looks like I need to drop it a little. As advised on here last April when it was 21.8 (12-22.0), a couple of members advised to drop it by 25mcg and others said to drop it to 100mcg a couple of times a week but I went back to 125 which is where I have stayed since last July. I am really sensitive to this T3 and an hour or so after each dose I get uncomfortable palps. I have tried alsorts of split dosing but results always the same. Because my waking anxiety is so severe some time back I moved taking my first dose from mornings to mid afternoon with my next dose around 7-8pm but still get the uncomfortable palps.

So what do I do now? Could the current high T4 explain the higher levels of anxiety I have been experiencing for a few months. My anxiety usually wears off in the evening but since I changed my split dose times a few months ago ie. 5mcg 3-4pm, 5mcg 7-8pm the anxiety is still very much there in the evening and others have said that the T3 could be driving my anxiety. I have tried tweaking again this week. As I took 5mcg around 8hrs before my test on Sunday night around 1.30am I have carried that on. ie. moved my 7-8pm dose to bedtime (as I am a late sleeper) and there does appear to be a slight difference in that my anxiety isn't so bad in the evenings but it;s so difficult to tell tbh

I really don't think this T3 stuff suits me, have never felt the benfits of it in all the time I have been taking it, just doesn't suit me, which I believe especially with the probable gut issues I still have which is common with Hashis? I just want to get rid of this debilitating anxiety and just don't know how or the root cause anymore

SlowDragon just spotted something you posted on here 13 days ago about testing. On looking closer my B vits have 750mcg Biotin in and I didn't realise that could affect results until I read your post. I left off my B vits two days before I tested. With the latest results in mind, could they have in fact been compromised and I should retest?

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Jefner
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Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

Over range B12 is nothing to be concerned about. Your body will get rid of the excess through your wee and it shouldnt cause issues at all.

Your FT4 is over range. You should be aiming for 70% through range on combination treatment so may want to adjust that downward by 12.5mcgs and retest in 6-8 weeks.

FT3 is 57% of range and following the Levo adjustment may need increasing but only change one thing at a time.

At the moment you don't have the right balance of hormones to make you feel well. Your FT3 is a little too low and FT4 a bit too high. I would continue to tweak your dose and wait for things to settle symptom wise.

Jefner profile image
Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507

thanks Jaydee but things have never settled for me symptom wise in anything I have tried. so you suggest in my cutting my 25mcg into 2 and taking 112mcg daily rather than what someone else suggested some time back in missing my 25mcg a couple of times a week?

plus I just read a post that SlowDragon put on about testing and upon checking my B Vits have 750mcg Biotin in and I only left 2 days before testing. "If taking any supplements with biotin in, stop these 5-7 days before testing, as biotin is frequently used lab testing equipment. Taking biotin supplements can falsely affect test results". I am wondering if I should retest?

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to Jefner

if you want to be sure then retest but again, be sure to test under as close as you can the same conditions as far as timings for last time you take T4 & T3.

so you suggest in my cutting my 25mcg into 2 and taking 112mcg daily rather than what someone else suggested some time back in missing my 25mcg a couple of times a week?

You can try either of these things. Whichever suits you.

Jefner profile image
Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507

after reading what SlowDragon said about Biotin and I completely missing that, I wonder whether I should retest but won't be able to until next week now but can't take much more of these symptoms tbh, the anxiety and other symptoms are debilitating and I am so frightened right now

Jefner profile image
Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507

@Jaydee1507 just a thought but I didn't really take much notice of my antibody readings. Can't believe I have managed to get them so low but as they read normal, does it still mean I have Hashi's?

Last year's full panel revealed as below but look at them now, WOW can't believe it

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs H 41 <34 IU/mL New units

Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs 52 <115 IU/mL New units

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to Jefner

Antibodies vary almost day by day, week by week. if you have ever had positive antibodies even once then you have Hashi's. Doesn't matter if they then reduce to zero, the damage has been done unfortunately.

Jefner profile image
Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507

I have done well in getting them down over the years though considering when I first found out back in 2016 they were 4,000 and then in the high 300's for a lot of the time

was thinking of just taking 100 Levo for the next couple of days and then 112 every day. Could I notice a change in these awful anxiety symptoms in just leaving off that extra 25mcg for a couple of days?

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to Jefner

Antibodies in themselves dont cause symptoms so I wouldnt pay too much attention to them.

High FT4 can cause people symptoms so things may well improve dropping it for a few days.

Retest in 6-8 weeks and start a new post with results.

Jefner profile image
Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507

you are so supportive, thank you

Jefner profile image
Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507

also did a post about possibly changing my B complex. I see you take Thorne which seems popular. I have always had the Seeking Health but thinking of trying Thorne as it has a lot less B12 in it and also less Biotin. Comparing the amounts in each, what do you think? Mine has "cofactor choline to help with optimal absorption" apparently although I don't know whether it makes any difference with me

Thorne ingredients prnt.sc/-haZQDTvbTQc

Seeking Health prnt.sc/tYE88B3u7Mpb

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to Jefner

I take a seeking health (homocystex Plus) form of B complex now. It doesnt even contain biotin but I do mix in some Thorne B a few days a week to at least take some.

Having 'too much' B12 really isnt a problem. Having too little is a problem.

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