Newly diagnosed Hypothyroid.

[clarksons]

Hello everyone and well wishes to you all.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 9 weeks ago based on these readings TSH 5.35 (0.3 – 3.94) T4 12.1 (12.3 – 20.2) and started on 50 mcg Levothyroxine. I joined your site (excellent thank you) and have been trying to educate myself and learn from the excellent comments and experience of others on here. I have had follow up blood tests done now (posted herewith) which states that I am being adequately medicated. Whilst I do feel better, It’s marginal and still feel quite tired and wonder if someone could take a look at my results and comment on them as they are alien to me. Are my results good and will I feel much better in time. Is there anything else I can do to improve my thyroid function and well-being. Thank you all in anticipation of your comments. Ps I note that some other results state ‘abnormal’ but I have been told that everything else is ok Mmmm??? Repeat in 1 year.

Results 5 Oct.

Vit D25-OH 73nmol/L

Ferritin 52ug/L (13 – 150)

Vit B12488ng/L (191 – 663)

Folate7.0 ug/L (4.6 – 18.7)

TSH level 0.13 mIU/L (0.3 – 3.94) ON ADEQUATE T4 replacement (ABNORMAL)

T4 17.5 pmol/L (12.3 – 20.2)

T34.2 pmol/L (3.7 – 6.7)

RBC4.00 (4.32 – 5.6) (ABNORMAL)

Haemoglobin119 g/l (120 – 150) (ABNORMAL)

Hb (MCHC)315 g/l (320 – 350) (ABNORMAL)

Sodium143 mmol/L (136 – 145)

Potassium5.2 mmol/L (3.5 – 5.1) (ABNORMAL)

Urea3.7 mmol/L (2.1 – 7.1)

Creatineine66 umol/L (44 – 80)

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Clarksons.

The lab marks results out of range as abnormal to flag them up to GPs. Slight abnormalities aren't usually significant but a whole lot of abnormal results may need further investigation.

Your TSH 0.13 is slightly below the range but T4 17.5 and T3 4.2 are within range so you aren't overmedicated and there's no need to reduce or increase your dose. Symptoms can lag behind good biochemistry by a couple of months so you should feel further improvement. If you're not feeling significantly improved in 2-3 months ask your GP to test thyroid again in case your levels have changed and your dose needs adjusting. Arrange an early morning, fasting (water only) test when TSH is highest, and take Levothyroxine after the blood draw.

For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water on an empty stomach 1 hour before food and drink, or 2 hours after, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from iron, calcium, vitamin D and oestrogen.

VitD 73 is shy of the 75-200 replete range. Maintain levels with 2,500iu vitD3 Oct-Apr when ultraviolet light is too low to stimulate vitD.

Ferritin 52 is a bit low, 75-100 is optimal. Supplement Ferrous Fumarate and take each tablet with 500mg-1,000mg vitamin C to aid absorption and minimise constipation. Retest in 6 months as ferritin shouldn't go over range.

Members with B12 <500 are usually advised to supplement 1,000mcg methylcobalamin and take a B Complex vitamin to improve folate and the other B vits.

Your RBC results are slightly low which can indicate iron, B12 or folate anaemia but your results don't. Supplementing iron, B12 and folate as advised above may improve these.

labtestsonline.org/understa...

Potassium can be elevated if you were dehydrated at the time of the blood draw.

labtestsonline.org/understa...

[clarksons in reply to Clutter]

WOW Clutter thank you for such a quick and thorough response and just what I needed to hear. I shall get the desired supplements and look forward to feeling even better thanks again. I shall post again in a new thread re my autistic son who was also diagnosed last week. Not so easy because......

[Clutter in reply to clarksons]

Clarkson, it will take 6-8 weeks for the supplements to make any difference but they should help in the long run. Sorry to hear your son has also been diagnosed hypothyroid.