Confused and Worried about Recent Bloods - Help Please.

[Rainbow100]

1) Bloods done in March '16:

TSH 3.15 / FT3 4.1 pmol/L (3.9 - 6.7) / FT4 13.4 pmol/L (12 - 22).

All antibodies were very low, Endo confirmed no Hashi's.

On June 1st '16 I started on 0.5 grain NDT and increased by 0.5g every 2 weeks and am now on 3g daily all taken in 1 daily AM dose, 1 hour before breakfast and no iron, calcium, Vit D etc until 4 hours after. Unfortunately I have noticed no difference in symptoms main ones being bad constipation, brain fog and depression, there's many others but these are the main culprits.

Adrenal saliva test in March '15 showed everything optimal.

I also take many vitamin & mineral supplements including Vit C, B-vits daily.

2) Bloods done on Aug 1st '16:

TSH < 0.01 / FT4 = 24.9 (10 - 24) / FT3 = 7.4 (3.5 - 6.5)

I did not take any NDT on the day of the blood test.

These results leave me really p****d off because they seem to suggest that thyroid isn't the problem which only serves to deepen the mystery, like all of you i'm desperate to get better. Over the years I have had many other tests including blood glucose, iron etc and they came back 'normal' though these were done by GP so they were not 'full panel' tests. Gastroscopy also came back normal. I haven't had an rT3 test at all.

My understanding of this is that conversion is working well, does it also suggest that absorption is also working well ? I had already bought T3 but haven't taken any yet.

I think it would be good idea to either reduce NDT down to 1g or stop altogether, would really appreciate input from others please.

Confused, depressed and vulnerable... :o(

[greygoose]

Well, I'm a bit confused, too. That FT4 is very high for someone on NDT. It's usually much lower. And, impossible to tell if you are converting ok, if you are taking T3. You need to be on T4 only to tell that.

There wouldn't appear to be an absorption problem from the gut, because your Frees are slightly over-range. But, they might not be getting into the cells.

Could be a dietary problem. Do you consume any form of unfermented soy?

You say you take B vits, but did you have your vit D12 and folate tested before starting the B vits (B complex?)? Have you had your vit D and ferritin tested? Why are you taking calcium? Normal is just an opinion, not a diagnosis, we need the numbers.

I don't think you need to take any more T3. And, if you reduce your NDT, going down to 1 grain is a bit drastic! But, you could try reducing by half a grain. That should take your Frees back into range. But, is the problem the over-range Frees? That we don't know.

How much vit C do you take? Do you take magnesium - which one, how much? Need a lot more information to try and sort this one out! lol

[Rainbow100 in reply to greygoose]

GG - I think I used the wrong word there, I was referring to the problem of hormone not getting into the cells, I thought this was referred to as an 'absorption' problem ? I don't consume any soy products.

vit d was tested in March '16 and came to mid-range. didn't test for B12 or folate or ferritin. the calcium is in a multi-vit, low amount.

vit c i take about 10-15g (not mg !) a day, it helps with constipation. mg approx 500mg a day.

[greygoose in reply to Rainbow100]

Yes, I did understand. That's why I asked if you consumed any form of unfermented soy, because that will stop the hormone being taken up into the cells. However, when people talk about absorption problems, they usually mean absorption in the gut. It does have to go through the gut first.

Be careful with soy. It's not just 'soy products' as such. Soy protein, flour, oil, etc are everywhere, in most processed foods and even in supplements.

And, talking of supplements, there is really no point in taking a multivit. You're wasting your money. The ingredients are usually the cheapest, and not easily absorbed. And everything is crammed in together when some things should be taken separately, because they cancel each other out. Plus, there's not enough of anything to treat a true deficiency. Multivits are for healthy people who don't need them!

Plus there are things you don't need. Do you need calcium? Did you test deficient? If not, best not to take it. Is there iodine in it? Because you don't want that, either. It's really best to identify your deficiencies - or sub-optimals, if you prefer - and treat them individually.

[Rainbow100 in reply to greygoose]

GG - i don't consume any soy containing products. what i'm asking you is have I confused absorption with tissue resistance eg when the hormone simply doesn't get into the cells ? do these test results give an insight into that at all ?

[Clutter]

Rainbow100,

You are a little over medicated. I would reduce dose to 2.5 grains and retest in 6 weeks. Hang in there, you've not been taking NDT for long. You may need to give it another couple of months.

[Rainbow100 in reply to Clutter]

clutter - do you think there may be a problem with tissue/cell resistance ?

[Clutter in reply to Rainbow100]

Rainbow100,

Sorry, it's not something I'm familiar with so I can't comment.

[radd]

Rainbow,

Are you supplementing the Lugols iodine you previously posted about as this will influence thyroid function & results.

You look as if you are overmedicated with a higher than expected TSH indicating the pituitary is working hard to encourage the thyroid gland to secrete even further hormone ! ! .

FT4 is usually much lower when someone medicates NDT and medicating too much thyroid hormone can stop further from working so well.

Did you have another cortisol test ? High//low will influence thyroid function.

Have you a Vit D test result ?

[Rainbow100 in reply to radd]

radd - i only took the lugols for approx 1 week at the very start then stopped because of the advice i gained from here. my current supplements contain approx 200mcg iodine per day. i am also on 200mcg selenium/day btw. haven't done another cortisol test yet. vit d test in march '16 was mid-range.

[greygoose in reply to Rainbow100]

200 mcg iodine? Plus the iodine you are getting from 3 grains of NDT. You are probably over-dosing on iodine. That brings its own problems.

[radd in reply to Rainbow100]

Rainbow,

So sorry ... I was looking at march '16 TSH results instead of august .......

There is a whole movement towards supplementing iodine but I don't know enough about it when taken with NDT to comment.

I read if iodine and selenium aren't balanced, the deficiency will be magnified by the other. 100-200 mcg of selenium is a standard dose that many Hashi sufferers have to supplement due to gut absorption issues.

Read how important cortisol is ... hypothyroidmom.com/cortisol...