Blue Horizon test results - help please.

[DollyDuck]

Morning, I have just had results through from BH. These results are on 75 levo, and it is the first time I have used BH. My Results from my last NHS test in June (also on 75) were TSH 3.45 FT4 18.3 and my GP agreed I could Increase to 100 levo. I have recently increased to this after this test was taken and intend to get a retest by BH in 8 weeks. My GP doesn't think I have Hashimotos as we discussed on here before, (even though tested pos for tap) but it looks like I now have BOTH sets of antibodies.

Anyway looks like all my supplements are going in the right direction, but it's the Reverse T3 and T3 ratio which I am concerned about and of course the antibodies >4000 anti-Thyroglobin (trying not to panic). Am on gluten free but only just started.

As soon as I increase the levo my glands swell, I have a sore throat and my hearing is affected, along with a dry sore throat, which feels like I need to clear it all the time. This is how it is now. I have mentioned this to my GP time and time again.

Please can you interpret these results for me, any advice is greatly appreciated, should I add T3? Also should my GP refer me for a scan based on these antibodies?

Thank you for your help in advance.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hi DollyDuck First of all, your vits and mins aren't too bad. Ferritin is just scraping in near the magic 70 for thyroid hormone to work, even better would be 100 so if you wanted to add an iron supplement something like Solgar Gentle Iron which has 25mg elemental iron would give that the little nudge it needs. You'd need to take it with 1000mg vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation.

Folate is fine.

Vit D could do with nudging up to 100 so you should continue with your supplement and maybe retest through City Assays (£28 for home fingerprick blood spot test) in a few months. Are you also taking K2-MK7 as vit D aids absorption of calcium and K2 directs it to bones and teeth instead of arteries and soft tissues.

B12 isn't bad but again a nudge up to nearer 1000 (which the Pernicious Anaemia Society recommends) wouldn't hurt, so continue supplementing.

Your FT4 at 19.71 (12-22) is in a good place, FT4 should be in the upper third of the range (19+) for a treated hypo patient.

Your FT3 is low at 4.65 (3.1-6.8), that is 41% through range and should be in the upper quarter (5.9+).

Your FT4:FT3 ratio is 4.2 : 1. Good conversion takes place at 4:1 or less.

I'm not an expert on reverseT3 but from what I understand high FT4 and low FT3 means that you're making rT3 and I think this is what is reflected in your high rT3 level. I don't think your GP will know much about that but there are members on here who understand more about it than I do. If no-one comments about it on this thread (and it's moved quite a way down the list now) you could make a new post with something like "comments on high rT3 results needed" .

As for your antibodies, just continue with your gluten free (100%) diet as it takes time. You could also supplement with selenium as this also helps reduce antibody attacks. And yes you do have Hashimoto's, shame your doctor doesn't seem to know anything about it.

[DollyDuck in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for all that info. I will continue with the supplements and see how I go. I am taking the K2 based on your good advice from last time. I will seek more info on the RT3 for sure but I am so grateful for your help. Should my GP refer me for a scan it's never been mentioned.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to DollyDuck]

Sorry DollyDuck I don't know about the scan. It's not needed to confirm Hashi's as your antibodies confirm that, but is that confirmation needed for your GP? And what would he do with the information? Or is it to look for nodules?

And I agree with greygoose about adding some T3 which will bring your T3 level up. I think there's something about high rT3 and taking T3 only for a while to bring it down, but I don't fully understand it.

[DollyDuck in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. I was only concerned about nodules - my glands etc are up just to make sure nothing nasty was going on. GP will probably not agree to it anyway. I will do more research into rT3 for sure, and maybe try some T3. It's good to know we have options, thanks to all the good work you all do on here.

[greygoose in reply to DollyDuck]

I'm not sure a scan would add to anything. You already know you have Hashi's.

One of the reasons for rT3 is having too much unconverted T4 sloshing around - which you have. So, it might be an idea to reduce the T4 you take, and add in some T3, which would mean you would have less T4 hanging around doing nothing, but your FfT3 level would rise, making you feel better.

[greygoose]

I think adding T3 would be a good idea - would probably make you feel better. There's not much else you can do about rT3, anyway.

[DollyDuck in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose. If I add T3 it's there, no converting from T4, so it won't make more rT3 will it? I need to get my head around this.

Thanks.

[greygoose in reply to DollyDuck]

I just replied above.

[DollyDuck]

Thank you greygoose. That all makes sense. These results were on 75 but I have just increased to 100 (week ago) at mo feel a bit more energy, but glands cough etc all worse. I am expecting to feel worse in a while because I will have even more T4 floating around than I had before. So maybe that is the answer go back to 75 and add T3. Am I better off waiting to see how it goes on the 100 retest in 6 weeks, then decide? what would you do? Thank you (& sorry for being a pain!) x