Latest Test Results - help please.: So I have re... - Thyroid UK

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Latest Test Results - help please.

eureka74 profile image
7 Replies

So I have re-tested and these are my latest results

Free T4 14.7 (10-19.8)

TSH 0.04 (0.3-5.5)

Free T3 4.2 (3.5-6.7)

Antibodies 635.6 (0-60)

Serum total protein level 74 (60-80)

Folate level 4.3 (3-17)

B12 level 257 (190-800)

red blood cell count 3.97 (3.8-5.8)

Ferritin 152 (12-300)

I don't think I'm converting T4 to T3 very well and my antibodies are through the roof, am I also low in iron and B12?

Thanks in advance x

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eureka74
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Eureka74 - as you are already taking 10mcg T3 in addition to 100mcg Levo you can't really work out how well you are converting. You can only really do that when on Levo only (or when not in any thyroid meds at all).

As for your antibodies, as well as being strictly gluten free, supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg can also help reduce antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

**

Your ferritin is pretty good, half way through range is recommended and that is 156.

**

Folate level 4.3 (3-17)

B12 level 257 (190-800)

This isn't ideal though. B12 under 500 can cause neurological problems. It's recommended to be at the very top of the range, even 900-1000. You could supplement with sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges and add a B Complex to balance all the B vitamins. Choose a B Complex containing 400mcg methylfolate to help raise your low folate level, that should be at least half way through it's range (10 with that range).

eureka74 profile image
eureka74 in reply to SeasideSusie

Thanks Seaside Susie!

TSH is suppressed when low is that correct? My TSH is lower than my docs likes but I've refused to lower my thyroxine due to feeling poorly.

I did stop taking my T3 for a week before the test to see what the results would be without taking any as I know it's not stored in the body, so with that does it seem like i'm not converting please?

I've started taking selenium as this was recommended :-)

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to eureka74

Eureka, yes, TSH is suppressed when very low under range. Yours would be classed as suppressed at 0.04. Mine was 0.01 last time, it has been as low as <0.005.

The half life of T3 is said to be anything from 1-2 days and 2.5 days, so who knows how much would have been hanging around after a week, the manufacturer​ might not even know!

So assuming there was no T3 to make any difference at the time of your test, then

FT4 14.7 : FT3 4.2 means your ratio is 3.5 : 1

Good conversion is said to take place when FT4: FT3 ratio is 4:1 or less so your ratio is showing good conversion. This makes me wonder whether there was any residual T3 that has influenced that ratio.

Do you have FT4 and FT3 results (tests done from the same blood draw) from before you started T3? That would give an indication of what your conversion was originally like.

eureka74 profile image
eureka74 in reply to SeasideSusie

Sadly no, I've been on a very small dose of T3 for over 10 years before I knew anything about Hashimotos or Ranges of results, back then I just thought the docs knew what they were talking about :-(......

Looking at all this then it appears i'm correctly medicated??

God knows why I have felt so terrible for so long then. I was convinced I wasn't converting correctly. Maybe I just have to accept that this is my life.

Thanks for your help.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to eureka74

"Maybe I just have to accept that this is my life."

Well, no, not really. If you feel unwell there is usually a reason, it's just trying to find out what it is.

Antibodies 635.6 (0-60) - these need addressing. Clutter mentioned this in your previous post. So given the gluten free a real good go, it can take months. Some people need to be dairy free. Make sure you avoid ALL soy (read labels), the only exception being fermented soy. Supplement with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily as this is supposed to help reduce antibodies.

**

Keep that ferritin at a good level, don't let it go below half way through it's range. The best way is to eat liver regularly​, once a week would be good. Liver is a superfood and provides more than just iron

chriskresser.com/natures-mo...

**

Sort out the B12 and folate, those low levels won't be helping. Do you have any signs and symptoms of B12 Deficiency, check that here

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

If you do, go and post all this on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum here on Health Unlocked for further advice

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/posts

If not then buy some Solgar sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges 5000mcg and take one daily. When the bottle is finished then buy the 1000mcg dose and continue with those as a maintenance dose. Buy some Thorne Basic B (one needed) or Metabolics B Complex (two needed).

**

What about Vit D, that's very important too. Have you had that tested?

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to eureka74

No, you've misunderstood. Calculations of whether someone converts adequately can only be done when someone is on Levo (T4) only. Once you start adding in T3 then that type of calculation becomes too difficult (as far as I know) because of the varying proportions of T4 and T3 that people might be on.

Neither your Free T4 or your Free T3 is good enough for most of us to feel well. Free t3 is the really important one. Low Free T3 makes people feel hypothyroid and high Free T3 makes them feel hyperthyroid. Get the level just right for you and more of your symptoms should disappear.

You have a choice. Keep your T4 dose where it is (and have low(ish) Free T4 as a result) and add more T3, or add some Free T4 and keep your fingers crossed that you will be able to adequately convert it.

eureka74 profile image
eureka74

Thanks guys, i'll implement all your suggestions and let you know how I get on in a few weeks. :-)

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