Low free T3

[Auchlyne]

Hi,

Please could I get some advice?

I got my thyroid function test results today and they were TSH 1.99, free T4 15.7 and free T3 1.4. I am on a dose of 150mcg a day.

I am normally pretty tired, I can loose weight easily and I normally have to take 1-2 senakot daily to deal with constipation.

My doctor checked my haemoglobin level and that was 137. So not anaemic.

I think my free T3 level is way too low and I'm worried that I'm not covering T4 to T3.

Does anyone have any ideas what might be going on?

Thanks in advance.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Auchlyne What are the reference ranges for those results?

[Auchlyne in reply to SeasideSusie]

Looking ranges on internet:

TSH 0.4 ~ 4.0

FT4 9.0 ~ 25.0

FT3 3.5 ~ 7.8

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Auchlyne]

Auchlyne Ranges from the internet aren't any good. Ranges vary from lab to lab so it's essential to have the range from the lab that did your test.

To know if you are converting well enough or not, it's necessary to know where in their ranges the FT4 and FT3 lie.

[Auchlyne in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok. Thanks. I'll speak to doctors on Monday

[dang in reply to Auchlyne]

Your ranges should be written right beside your results, blood results are never given without ranges.

[Auchlyne]

Not taking any other meds. Started taking a multi vit and vit d. But these were not tested.

[greygoose in reply to Auchlyne]

At best, a multi-vit will do no good. At worst, it could do harm. It's a waste of time and money for many reasons. Too much vit D can be toxic. On the other hand, if you haven't been tested, you may not be taking enough. Best to get everything tested and just take what you need, in quantities you need, and not play Russian roulet with multi-vits.

Having said that, there are some things you can take without getting tested, because excess is excreted. Magnesium is one. Getting tested is pointless, because it will always be in-range, due to the way the body handles magnesium. But, that doesn't mean you're not deficient, most people are, because soils are depleted. And, if you get magnesium citrate, it will help with your constipation.

Vit C also, you can take up to 5000 mg a day, up to stomach tolerance. And that will also help with constipation. And, you could try selenium, to see if it will lower antibodies.

[Auchlyne]

I forgot to add at the beginning that I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 8 years ago, 6 months after the birth of my first child.

[greygoose in reply to Auchlyne]

So, are you gluten-free? You really need your TSH at zero when you have Hashi's. So, yours is much too high. You need an increase in dose.

[Auchlyne in reply to greygoose]

I had that tested and results came back negative. But I'm beginning to feel that i should listen to my body, treat the symptoms not the computer read outs!

[greygoose in reply to Auchlyne]

You just said you were diagnosed with Hashi's 8 years ago. It doesn't go away. If you had it then, you have it now.

[Auchlyne in reply to greygoose]

I understand that. Apologise if I gave the impression is cured it! Just trying to understand how I can lessen symptoms.

[greygoose in reply to Auchlyne]

No, you didn't give the impression you've cured it, you just said you didn't have it, after having said in the post above that you had. I'm confused.

But, as I said above, gluten-free diet, selenium and TSH at zero to lower antibodies, and the symptoms caused by them. To lessen symptoms caused by low T3, you need to optimise your T3.

Selenium will also help with conversion, so a good thing to take.

[Auchlyne in reply to Auchlyne]

Ah. I see where the confusion is. I was tested for gluten sensitivity / intolerance.

[silverfox7]

Another reason to stay clear of multivitamins is that some can't be taken together so will be inaffective.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As you have Hashimotos you really need to avoid any extra iodine- it can make Hashimotos worse - many multivitamins have iodine in

Also food intolerances are common (usually gluten, sometimes dairy, soya and/or nightshades - tomato, peppers, potatoes) and Hashimotos causes (or is caused by) poor gut health. Very common to have leaky gut, leading to low nutrients - get vitamin D, folate, ferritin & B 12 checked.

Many of us with Hashimotos find gluten free diet can really help reduce antibodies

Selenium supplements may help improve conversion of T4 to T3

[Auchlyne]

Just got the values and ranges from the doctors

TSH 1.99 (0.35~5.5)

Free T4 15.7 (9~24)

Total T3 1.4 (0.9~2.8)

So within all the ranges, but all have symptoms!