Help with results please. Posting again as last post didn't get much response. Thank you 😊

[MiniMum97]

Would really appreciate some help with my recent results please. I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago with a TSH of 4.8 and T4 of 10.9. Recent medichecks test results:

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 1.84 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 15.86 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 95.3 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 4 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY <10 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 12.08 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

VITAMIN B12 523 pmol/L 140.00 - 724.00

FOLATE (SERUM) 9.94 ug/L 2.91 - 50.00

25 OH VITAMIN D 82.15 nmol/L 50.00 - 200.00

CRP - HIGH SENSITIVITY 1 mg/l 0.00 - 5.00

FERRITIN 27.97 ug/L 13.00 - 150.00

T4 is better as is TSH, but pretty sure my T3 has gone down (sorry don't have access to all my results as I am away). I know my ferritin is too low, I have been having difficulty getting the level up and maintaining it as iron supplements have been giving me gastritis. Am now trying them (80mg of gentle iron with 1000mg vit C) on a full stomach to see if I can tolerate them and absorb them! I've noted that my folate has fallen (from around 32 in March) even though I am supplementing.

I also take B12 1000mcg (every other day), Thornes B complex (every other day), vit d 5000iu with K2 100mcg (every other day), magnesium (350mg daily).

GP has requested a phone consult and suspect she will say everything is now fine as TSH and T4 in range. I think I probably need a does increase but would 25mcg be too much of an increase as my T4 has gone up quite a lot on 50mcg?

Any other thoughts?

Thank you in advance for taking the time to consider and respond.

PS Am taking my levo on an empty stomach away from all other supplements. Thyroid tests also done first thing on an empty stomach. All supplements stopped at least 4/5 days before testing.

[lc1973]

Hi Minimum97

At a quick glance i would say there is room for another dose increase of levo if you are still feeling symptomatic but you are right to think that your doctor will assume that you are okay if you are within the reference range so you will need to ask for it i suspect.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

MiniMum97 If your GP is reluctant to increase 25mcg, suggest 12.5mcg.

As your B12 is only 523, you could take your B12 supplement every day. Mine tests at about 1000 now and I take 1000mcg sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges 5 days a week to maintain that level. Optimal is very top of range, even 900-1000 for us Hypos.

Also, take your B Complex daily to help raise folate level.

As well as Gentle Iron, start eating liver once a week, maximum 200g, to help raise ferritin. Also include lots of iron rich foods

apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

You need ferritin to be at least 70 for conversion of T4 to T3.

Supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily also helps conversion.

[MiniMum97 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the tips. I think I may have found the best GP in the world. She called and I was expecting her to say "all is fine"! Instead, she asked me if I wanted a dose increase or not, and said in her opinion regardless of the low ferritin she would try an increase of 25mcg to get my TSH below 1 and T4 towards top of the range! Was expecting another battle. Feel oddly tearful that it went so well.

Thanks for the tips re selenium, I had thought that was only helpful for people with hashis. I'll add some of that in. Can I take it with other supplements?

I have been trying to eat liver pate on top of the supplements as I can't stomach liver unfortunately. Hopefully that will help.

I'll go back to b complex and b12 daily.

Thanks for the replies, very helpful.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to MiniMum97]

Oh my goodness, how refreshing! What a gem of a GP, she knows how to treat Hypothyroidism!!!

Selenium is fine to take with other supplements, make sure you keep it well away from your iron supplement. As it's a mineral, it usually advised to take minerals in the evening. I take mine alongside my mineral complex after my evening meal.

[MiniMum97 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I know, it's amazing! Will be holding onto her, it seems like she's a bit of a rarity!

[lc1973 in reply to MiniMum97]

Wow...your GP is on the ball. Great stuff...hope you see some improvement...i will eat my humble pie with my negative comments re GP's not suggesting to increase your dose if you are in range!

[Sandra600]

I couldn't tolerate any iron supplements and increased my ferritin levels by using cast iron pans.