blood test - a snap shot in time

[looselywoven]

Following my blood test results from last week, which showed me to be over rmedicated, I can say that today I feel low, in pain and fed up.

I was surprised at my results because I hadn't felt over medicated.

Thankfully it was weekend - so no work. I didn't take any NDT on saturday, On Sunday I reduced my dose of NDT from 3 grains to 2.5 in an attempt to bring levels into line. ( (spent the weekend relaxing).

This week I've worked four 12 hour days. Today I was too tired so I came home after my normal 7.5hrs, but will have to work 4hrs tomorrow.

The thing is - on Tuesday I felt positively bouncy! Work was no issue, though |I still had sore heels (in my crocs). Good mood. Not overly tired, though I was when I got home - but, to be fair, who wouldn't be after a twelve hour shift?

As the week has gone on, it's been like a flattening battery. I should've gone out tonight but I just couldn't. My wrist pain has gotten worse as the week has gone.

If I just knew what my blood levels were on Tuesday, and how to keep them at that level - I'd be a very happy bunny.

What can I do??

[Jazzw]

Dropping half a grain might have been too much. Your FT3 wasn't *that* far over range. A quarter grain drop might have been enough.

And missing out a dose was probably unnecessary too. Your body has got used to being given an easy dose of T3 - 3 grains is 27mcg. It won't have liked not having it.

When you did your blood test, did you leave it 24hrs from having your NDT dose or had you taken it that day?

[looselywoven in reply to Jazzw]

Hi Jazz, thanks for your reply. I didn't take my dose on saturday because I overslept and missed my opportunity. I usually take it when I get up for the bathroom at about 4 or 5ish, than go back to sleep. Then I just thought 'what the heck - I'll take it tomorrow'.

I left 24hrs before blood draw, then took it afterwards.

[radd]

LW,

How long did you leave between the test blood draw and your last med dose ? ? ..

Elevated RT3 shows a percentage of T4 is either excess or just not being utilised properly. Apart from appearing over medicated re NDT, your previous nutrient //iron results were good & no antibodies.

You need to reduce dose slightly but meds should be working .... Ummm .. what about cortisol issues and sex hormones ? Bad periods ? Menopausal ? ? ....

I agree with Jazz about not missing a dose as this will stress adrenals and make your body struggle further.

[waveylines in reply to radd]

The problem with the ft3 blood test is that it is not a very reliable source of information for medicating from. The ft3 level changes massively through the day due to our own body rhythms and in response to our needs. It could be that if your ft4 level was in range that the ft3 especially as only being slightly over was not really that relevant. How di you feel on the higher dose. Did you have any symptoms of over treatment.

Have a look at Paul Robinsons book called living with T3. He and his GP found that medicating by ft3 levels just did not work!

[radd in reply to waveylines]

WL,

You have answered me ...are you directing your post at me or the O/P ? ? .

I wholly agree with you. Just trying to eliminate factors as to why the O/P could have an over- range T3 result whilst feeling under medicated.

Of course there are those who even need an elevated T3 level but considering the other possible health implications of medicating a high T3, one should ensure it is actually required.

[looselywoven in reply to waveylines]

Hi WL. I didn't really feel well on three grains - I was thinking about increasing to 3.5 (won't be doing that now, of course). I didn't feel overmedicated. Still low temperature. Felt like my legs were made of lead, heel pain - but wrist was noticably better.

[looselywoven in reply to radd]

Hi, thanks Radd. I left 24hrs from last dose to blood draw.

I don't know about cortisol. I had a test done in January and was told everything was ok. I had an hysterectomy 8 years ago and was taking HRT until about 8 weeks ago.

[radd in reply to looselywoven]

LW,

Elevated oestrogen can cause high TBG that carries the oestrogen around the body. It also carries thyroid hormone and too much will leave too little of thyroid hormone unbound and available for activity.

Considering you have just stopped HRT, it may be prudent to have all sex hormones tested anyway.Remember some are made by the adrenals in the absence of the usual methods.

[looselywoven in reply to radd]

Thanks, radd, I'll see if I can arrange that.

[Glynisrose]

Go by how you feel not numbers.

[looselywoven in reply to Glynisrose]

I know, I know, Glynisrose. If this were me advising someone else, I would give exactly that advice. However, it scares me to go so far over range. I'm always afeared that if it can go wrong for me - it surely will!!

[looselywoven]

Hi Sandy, yes, you did indeed reply to me last time - I thank you for that. I bought and read the book about resistance to thyroid hormone. It rang all my bells, except one. It clearly says that if the TSH is not suppressed and hypo symptoms remain, then it is likely to be resistance. However, my TSH is very definately suppressed. I continued reading, hoping that I would read something to make that clearer, but didn't. Have been meaning to read it over again but have been too busy this week.

Thanks again. I'll go and read it again.

[humanbean]

I'm passing this link on without comment. I don't know enough to comment on it! But it should give you an idea of some of the factors that can affect thyroid function.

forums.phoenixrising.me/ind...

All the numbers in bold are to references that haven't been included in the link. To read those you'd need to buy the book the text is taken from.

[looselywoven in reply to humanbean]

Thank you for this, I'll have to concentrate on this, I think! Thanks again