I've had nearly all symptoms of hypothyroid getting steadily worse the last 2/3 years.
My free t4 level was 14.5 a year ago and is now 9.2 PMOL
My total t3 is 1.5 nnol
Yet my TSH level says normal at 1.64
What can I do ....or what does this mean?
I'm at a loss as I just feel I can t go on without trying to fix this. The cold intolerance has me barely leaving the house at this stage and it brought me to tears last winter frequently...the cold is actually painful and I'm always cold when others are warm. My skin is cracking and flaking off no matter how much moisturiser I use. And I am constantly exhausted with no energy, was told I had chronic fatigue syndrome by a nutritionist last year. I also have have little to no memory and it feels like my brain is closing down. I've become constipated despite never having that problem in my life....and eat flaxseed and veg daily....
Has anyone any thoughts? Would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Written by
akinsel
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Can you post the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) for your FT3 and FT4 please and members will advise? It's impossible to interpret your results without them.
Akinsel, I'm afraid that flaw seed is not always good for thyroid. It's what we call a goitrogen, and might be having a bad effect on your gland. If you are also eating a lot of vegetables, that might not be helping, either, because a lot of those are goitrogens, so the total volume (although you Don't say what and how much) may be too much for your thyroid if it's a bit tired.
If you'd like to know more about that, let me know. I'm afraid the things that we think of as 'healthy' aren't always healthy for everyone.
Grey--Is this true even if your thyroid is dead and getting all hormone from meds? I'm not clear on what affects my thyroid if it's dead as endo has told me. Goitrogens, nightshades, iodine? Thanks if you can enlighten.
If your thyroid is truly dead, then goitrogens shouldn't affect you - except for soy with also affects the hormone you're taking. But the only way you'll know if anything is adversely affecting you is to go off it completely for a couple of weeks and see if you feel any better. Not all goitrogens affect all hypos.
But are you sure you're thyroid is dead? I was told mine was, but after six months off all hormone (for reasons I won't go into) I still had hormone in my blood - enough to keep me alive, anyway.
Sorry, Don't know anything about nightshades. Personally I have never been affected by them so never investigated them.
As for iodine, if you Don't have a working thyroid, you Don't need so much, do you. I Don't think it would have any effects on the hormone you're taking, but I can't swear to it.
Thanks for this response. It's very helpful. I only know the endo told me my thyroid is dead. I don't intend to go off all hormone so I guess I'll never know for sure. I do avoid soy.
You are severely undermedicated..your ft4 isn't even mid range..total t3 is not the test that you need, ft3 would really help. But, since it is low, you are just plain hypo. I would ask for some t3.
Akinsel--These results wouldn't look too bad if you were not having symptoms, but since you are they could certainly be improved. TSH could be under 1, Free T4 and T3 optimally could be higher in the range. T4 at 13 or higher and T3 at 2.5 or higher. You didn't say what med you are taking or how much but whatever it is you either need a change or an increased dose. Increase very slowly. If you reply with your dose and med you will get advice on increasing.
Greygoose I didn't realise about goitrigen foods....im dairy free so been eating natural soya yoghurt topped with 2/3 Tbsp flax seed daily.....I'll look into those foods ...thank you!
Teenarocks I amn't on any medication yet, have a follow up appointment with gp next week and just trying to research before she tells me im fine, takes my 50 cuid and I'm back at square one.
I've been reading about abit and theres a book by the British Medical Council called 'Understanding Thyroid Disorders ' that states it's best to have Free T4 at the highest end of range and TSH toward the lower end.
How do I raise Free T4? Do I need to ask for prescription for something...?
Yes, you need to be on medication--the sooner the better. You raise Free T4 and Free T3 with prescription meds. Your GP may not want to give it to you since you are "in range". Good luck convincing him he should consider your symptoms and not just the lab test results. If he leaves you unmedicated check back here. There is a lot of info on self medicating if necessary. Read this for more info. And faith63 is right, you need Free T3 test.
There's always salads. Lettuce and cucumber are ok. lol But radishes are goitrogens, tomatoes are nighshades... bleuh...
But they tell us all these thing one day and the next day they say the opposite. I Don't listen to anybody anymore, just my body! If something disagrees with me, I Don't eat it. If I Don't like it, I Don't eat it. If I like it and I feel good eating it, to hell with the so-called experts. I eat dairy and gluten - I never stopped eating eggs because that was obviously a load of rubbish!
As I've said before, my motto is 'a little of what you fancy does you good' (I did have another motto but I've forgetten it...) I'll have the treacle sponge, please, with lashings of double cream. Don't like chocolate. lol
Thank you. I'll get round to that tonight. Today I have a granddaughter - a sugarholic - to baby-sit - well, it's not really me that's baby-sitting, it's my tablet! She's singing along with some ghastly songs by someone called Violetta - in Spanish! Home-made fish pie for lunch! And home-made apple cake with coconut sugar for tea. None of that nasty c**p she normally eats. lol
Oh, Don't bother! It was disgusting! lol Although, I'm not a great cook, so maybe it was just me. And maybe it was just my taste buds. I couldn't eat it, but my daughter and s-i-l did.
I'll pm you later with the recipe and you can try it for yourself.
2.In large bowl mix sugar, eggs, cinnamon & oil. Add apples to mix, coating all apples. Add flour & baking soda mix well with a fork until all flour is absorbed by wet mixture.
Wot abart it? Don't like it. Tastes like coconut oïl and I can't stand that. I did use coconut sugar in that recipe (do like that) but I didn't put enough in. It's not quite as sweet as cane sugar, so you need a bit more.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Help interpreting results - Hypothyroid
Help with Test results and what to do next?
Blue Horizon Results. Graves Worry.
Help with blood results
