Blood results after 14 months on NDT

[matty220]

Hi everyone.

I've just come back from my GP appointment re my blood results. He said he still wants me to have the annual check even though he knows I'm on NDT.

Well! At last my freeT3 is up, after years of being about 3.6 in a range of 3-6 now it's 16.6!!

Does this matter? Please can anyone tell me if this is too high and I should reduce my dose? I feel great btw although my hair is starting to fall out a bit again

Other figures are TSH <0.05 (0.40 - 5.50) but it used to be that on Levo anyway and my freeT4 is down at 17 (11-26)

Any responses welcome

Martha

[Clutter]

Matty220,

FT3 should remain within range. What is the FT3 range?

Did you take NDT before your blood test?

[matty220 in reply to Clutter]

The range is 3-6 and yes, I had taken my NDT that morning. I should have thought about that because I didn't used to take my Levo before a blood test.

[Clutter in reply to matty220]

Matty220,

T3 peaks in the system for up to six hours so that's probably why FT3 is so high. You'll need to retest FT3 8-12 hours after taking NDT to see whether your dose is optimal.

FT4 is usually lower when taking NDT or T4+T3.

[matty220 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you clutter. He wants me to have another test in 2 months so then I'll not take it in the morning! Can high t3 have similar symptoms to low? I'm wondering as my hair is coming out again

[Clutter in reply to matty220]

Matty20,

My hair started coming out in clumps when my FT3 was high. If you can't arrange a private FT3 test to check perhaps you could make a small reduction in NDT dose to see whether that helps.

[matty220 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks. Out comes the pill cutter again

[Eddie83]

Yes, it does matter! Keep in mind that TSH is a poor diagnostic tool, and virtually useless for determining dose. You should establish dose by (1) how you feel, and (2) having FT4 in-range, and having FT3 in the upper half of the range. I found I did not feel well when my FT3 was over range top (but not as much as yours is).

My suggestion: obviously the T3:T4 ratio of 1:4 in NDT is too high for you. Various researchers have noted that the T3:T4 ratio in a healthy human is somewhere around 1:10 - 1:15. I think you should reduce your NDT dose, then add in some T4 to keep your FT4 approximately mid-range, unless you find you feel better with FT4 low in range.

[matty220 in reply to Eddie83]

That's very useful Eddie, thanks. I'll reduce the NDT first before I add in any T4 - only altering one thing at a time. Can I use Levo as T4?

[Eddie83 in reply to matty220]

Yes, levothyroxine is the same as T4.

[silverfox7]

Lowering your T3 could make your FT4 rise so I think sensible to do it like that.

[Confoozled in reply to silverfox7]

How???