Results Advice

[Eng2000]

Hello, here are my latest results, I believe I'm not converting T4 into T3 am I right? I take 75mcg levo.

TSH - 2.22

T4 - 15.4

T3 - 3.6

Full blood count was fine as were all vitamins apart from iron which was too high at 29.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Eng2000 Do you have reference ranges for FT4 and FT3 please. It's important to know where in their ranges they lie. If both are low in range, along with a TSH of 2.2, then it's more Levo that's needed to bring your levels to where most hypo patients generally feel best, ie TSH 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo only.

If FT4 is high in range and FT3 low then that can indicate poor conversion.

So please post the ranges and we can help further.

Also, for good conversion to take place, vitamins and minerals need to be at optimal levels. Can you post those too, as 'fine' doesn't tell us if they're optimal. We really need to see

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Supplementing with selenium helps conversion, are you taking that?

[Eng2000 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you I know the T4 ref range is 10-24 and TSH is 0.5 - 4.2 however I don't know the T3 range I will find out and get back to you. No I'm not taking selenium but I will buy a supplement today.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Eng2000]

Some selenium supplements can be a bit whiffy. If you'd like a recommendation for a nice small tablet with no unpleasant odour, consider this one cytoplan.co.uk/selenium

[Eng2000 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. Ok so T3 range starts at 3.1. I just spoke to Endo and I'm quite happy with this one as he has put me up to 100mcg and says we will get my TSH down to 1 or below then we will talk about T3.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Eng2000]

TSH - 2.22 (0.5-4.2)

FT4 - 15.4 (10-24)

F

T3 - 3.6 (3.1- probably 6.8)

he has put me up to 100mcg and says we will get my TSH down to 1 or below then we will talk about T3.

That's great. It's what I was going to suggest as FT4 and FT3 are low in range and TSH too high. Once your TSH s down to 1 or below, hopefully your FT4 and FT3 will have increased and will be in balance nearer the top of the range.

If FT3 stays low, work out your FT4:FT3 ratio by dividing FT4 by FT3. If it's less than 4:1 you're converting OK, if it's more then you might do better with some T3 added.

[Eng2000 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks 4 the info!