Help please with lab test results 😊

[Ljmarling]

Hi all, I've been on two 25 micrograms of t3 for 5 weeks and just had first blood test.

Results are:

Ferritin 17.2 (20-150)

TSH 30.95 (0.27-4.20)

T4 total 17.1 (64.5-142)

Free T4 2.43 (12-22)

Free T3 3.34 (3.1-6.8)

any comments welcome........thank you.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Ljmarling Can you add the reference ranges to the above results please, they're usually the numbers in brackets after the result. You can edit your post by clicking on the down arrow just under where you finished your post and chosing edit from the drop down menu.

The only thing anyone can say with any certainty without ranges is that your TSH is high and indicates hypothyroidism.

[Ljmarling in reply to SeasideSusie]

Done. Thank you. Yes I had radiotherapy eight years ago for an overactive thyroid and had trouble ever since. Wasn't doing well on levothyroxine so trying t3 and feel so much better but obviously not getting it right yet!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ljmarling]

Ljmarling Your ferritin is under range. Is this a GP test? Has your GP said anything about your ferritin level? You either need iron injections or some serious supplementing to get your ferritin up to at least 70 for any thyroid hormone to stand a chance of working, better still 100+. If that's a private test I would show it to your GP, if he doesn't take it on board ask him to test ferritin himself.

I'm not experienced with T3 only medication. It usually supresses TSH, you wouldn't expect to see anything other than low FT4, but your FT3 is really low for someone taking T3 only. Hopefully someone experienced with T3 only can help with suggestions on where you need to go from here.

[Ljmarling in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your help. I've always had a problem with iron. As a teenager I had iron transfusions. It's a blue horizon test.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ljmarling]

Ljmarling Your GP may not want to accept a private test but I would take them anyway, mention your iron problems in the past and your iron infusions and ask him to address your current problem. Certainly a ferritin level that low isn't going to help any thyroid medication do it's job.