Hi there,
I’m so pleased to have found this site, and would really appreciate your guidance.
In brief, I haven’t been feeling well for approx. the last 2 years, although poor circulation and always feeling cold have been pretty much life-long (& runs in the family). Over this time I’ve been to the GP reporting bowel problems – chronic bloating/pains and constipation; trembling legs on minimum exertion; hair loss; memory loss/fog; dry mouth & thirst, and lastly, terrible insomnia. Despite now knowing that these are symptoms of low thyroid, at no point was it suggested I was tested and instead I was dismissed as ‘anxious’ (which after a year not sleeping and unable to go for a walk/have a crap, is true I guess!).
A helpful local 'complimentary' practitioner suggested I get my T3 tested. My GP refused, saying my TSh had been normal in previous routine tests, so I paid to have it tested privately. These tests were:
TSH 2.74
FREE T4 13.5
FREE T3 3.2
{HAEMOGLOBIN 131 (120-150)
CORTISOL 292 (138-635)
SERUM IRON 14.9
Serum tibc 50.3 (45-81)
Saturation iron binding cap 30% (20-55) }
Additionally I have been asking for several years about my B12, thinking this might be responsible for some of my symptoms, for despite being a meat/egg eater, it has consistently been in the low range (250-350ng) – not changing even when I took a B12 and iron supplement which had 8000 x the RDA!
My haematocrit levels has also been flagged up over many years as low but “no action needed as only a little abnormal and of no concern” – around .36. My ferritin creeps in also at the low end, varying in range between 16 and peaking at 29. My folate is I think normal at approx. 10
My white blood cell count has been low the last few tests, but only marginally at 3.9. The lymphocyte count accounted for one of these lows one time, and neutrophils another.
As a result of the blood test (dec ’15) for T3, my GP sent me to an endocrinologist who suggested I might ‘trial low dose levothyroxine’ and see if I feel better and stop after 6 months if I don’t.
So, I’m not really sure if I have a thyroid problem or not, especially when I read some of the severe issues and numbers reported here. I requested the natural thyroid supplement from the GP, who explained the NHS didn’t dispense these, but he did agree to prescribe me liothyonine sodium when I expressed my concerns about whether my body can convert T4 to T3 (I think by now they just want me out of the surgery!). Almost overnight, a year of insomnia ended and my muscle strength has slowly built up and once more I can do brisk walks/moderate exercise and feel more like the ‘old me’. At the same time, I read about odd blood results on just T3, so decided to take the levothyroxine prescribed as well – although can’t say I’ve noticed it making any difference to my mood/health.
So, at the moment, I’m taking 1x25mcg levothyroxine each morning, plus 1/4-1/3 of 20mcg T3 with it and at lunch (i.e., 10-14mcg per day, hard to split the pills with any accuracy). I’ve no idea if I’m doing the ‘right’ thing, whether I need to take medication at all or eat seaweed and brazil nuts?? I also read one of the recent responses which was so helpful re not taking supplements/iron with it, which I had been doing (as well as administering B12 injections for past 9 months which certainly raised my B12, but didn’t seem to make any difference to iron).
Basically I feel very much in the dark, trying to learn through articles/web-sites/complimentary practioners, but not having the confidence/ability to really understand or know what to address, especially when they say different things. All I do know is that the digestive problems are at an all time low, and I basically don’t eliminate (which seems a miracle, but is so!). Twice weekly 'rabbit pellets' have even dried up; the laxatives prescribed by the GP made no difference even at double dose and combining them. I’ve done a few enemas over the last 2 months which have been a great relief and yesterday had 3 cups of very strong senna tea (like 20 pods), which cleared me out totally, so success there, but I’ve felt washed out and not sure it’s the way to continue long-term. Is this linked to hypothyroidism? Causing? Caused by? Oh, and btw, the only symptom I don’t seem to have of hypothyroidism is weight gain - I’m slim, have never really gained weight, and on the contrary I lost a stone last summer after 10 days of diarrhea ( could this be linked to the constipation/increased gut issues?) – was away at time so never got seen/tested and thought no more of it once it stopped (except to rather miss it!).
Sorry, not so brief after all. And rather anxious!
Help with Thyroid labs please
Could low iron be making me feel very unwell?
Test results help please 
Baffling results on T4&T3!
Thyroid test results. Decipher help please.
