New blood tests

[maxart]

Hi everyone!

I’ve been on 50mcg T3 only for about a year, following tests of elevated TSH, low T3 and mid range T4, whilst feeling really rubbish.

Latest results back (medichecks thyroid ultra) as follows:

TSH - 0.023 (0.27-4.2)

Free T4 - 4.47 (12-22)

Total T4 - 27.8 (59-154)

Free T3 - 5.1 (3.1-6.8)

Thyroglobulin Antibodies - <10 (0 - 115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies - <9 (0-34)

Vitamin B12 - 260 (140-724)

Serum Folate - 6.07 (2.9 - 50)

CRP high Sensitivity - 6.2 (0-5)

Ferritin - 74 (13-150)

Any interpretations welcome.. some of the ranges seem very wide, and I’m guessing that T4 is low and TSH suppressed because T3 is OK.

I’m feeling much better than I was, although still quite tired. Mind you, that could be a busy life!

Should I take action if any kind?

(PS I self medicate as was unable to get diagnosis from GP due to no T3 testing and mid-range T3. I’ve never been on Levo)

Thank you !! 😊

[greygoose]

Your TSH is low because you're taking T3. Your FT4 is low because you aren't taking any. Your FT3 is only good if you feel well. If you still have hypo symptoms, then you need and increase in dose.

Your B12 is a bit low - should be at least over 500. Your folate should be about mid-range. As should your ferritin. These lowish nutrients could be making your feel tired, but try a 6.25 mcg increase in T3 - as well as optimising your nutrients.

No vit D?

[maxart in reply to greygoose]

No Vit D, but I know that’s fine from before. Been supplementing 10000iu for about 3 years. It was transformational!

I feel... ok. I have a pretty demanding work life, up at 530 most mornings, and back home 1900/1930. Before T3 that would have been impossible.

I’ll pep up the nutrients a bit and see how I go.

Thank you! X

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to maxart]

maxart Is that 10,000iu D3 daily? That's a heck of a continuing dose, it's normally given for a boost then lowered to a maintenance dose.

Have you retested recently? You should retest once or twice a year when supplementing to keep within the Vit D Council's recommended range of 100-150nmol/L

Are you taking D3's important cofactors

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too.

[maxart in reply to SeasideSusie]

I re-tested a couple of months ago and was 170 against a range of 50-200. I take it in the morning with a fat-based breakfast (I’m grain free and low carb, although veggie) and take T3 at night.

Magnesium... I was making my own magnesium water, which was brilliant, so need to start again.

Thank you for your wisdom! X

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

maxart Those are the normal ranges for Medichecks and Blue Horizon. Your TSH is suppressed and FT4 very low because you are taking T3 only.

Vitamin B12 - 260 (140-724)

Serum Folate - 6.07 (2.9 - 50)

These are too low. Check to see if you have any signs of B12 deficiency here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... and if you do then post on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum for further advice healthunlocked.com/pasoc

If not then you need to improve your B12. An extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

Sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges are what's needed if you wish to self supplement, start with 5000mcg daily, finish the bottle then change to 1000mcg daily as maintenance, along with a good quality B Complex to balance all the B vitamins.

I'd suggest Thorne Basic B which contains 400mcg methylfolate which will help raise your folate level, which should be at least half way through it's range.

**

Ferritin is just at the level where thyroid hormone will work, which is 70. You might want to maintain this by eating liver regularly (no more than 200g per week) and include iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

**

How is your Vit D level?

[maxart in reply to SeasideSusie]

Brilliant - thank you so much. Vit D is towards top of range. I tackled that a few years back and supplement 10000iu to this day.

I reckoned that Folate and B12 were low. Thank you for confirming. I’ll check the links & book.

Any thoughts on the inflammatory markers? X

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to maxart]

CRP is a bit over range. Could you have maybe had an infection at the time, or something else causing inflammation?

I mentioned Vit D in my reply above, 10,000iu daily is quite concerning. A maintenance dose would be nearer 2000iu daily once the recommended level is reached. Too much and it becomes toxic as it gets stored due to it being fat soluble and not excreted like water soluble vitamins.

[maxart in reply to SeasideSusie]

Re inflammation, I have chronic gastrointestinal issues and autoimmune symptoms, made much much better by being grain free. But, it’s not yet totally sorted and I’m surprised the crp wasn’t higher. I suspect nightshades are the culprit!