Blood results

[Capri71]

Total thyroidectomy 10yrs - on Levo 150mcg until I had a low back in April. Doc put me on anti depressants which I want to stop. I increased my dose of Levo to 200mcg as I feel unable to function and can't see well when I try a lesser dose. I have now just started vit D, B12 and magnesium. I have added my latest blood results. I am having more symptoms for hyper now but don't feel able to drop the dose. Doc won't discuss anything other than Levo. And advise b4 my next gp appt.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Capri71 What were your levels of Vit D and B12 before you started supplementing? What doses are you taking? Are you takind D3's important cofactors and a B Complex to balance all the B vits which is needed when taking B12? Did you also have folate and ferritin tested?

[Capri71 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok ive never had them tested I have just read so many articles where they say these are good to take. So what do I need to ask gp to test?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Capri71]

Capri71

It's important to get them tested before supplementing.

Vit D is fat soluble and any excess is stored, so can build up to toxic levels. Therefore it is important to know your level before supplementing, and dose appropriately. Then there are important cofactors to ensure that D3 works (magnesium helps with that) and to direct the extra uptake of calcium to where it is needed which is bones and teeth, and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause calcification problems (K2-MK7 takes care of that) vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

It's important to know your B12 level too, if it's too low you may need testing for Pernicious Anaemia.

Folate is important because B12 and folate work together.

Ferritin is important because it needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work (our own as well as replacement).

So you can ask your GP for

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If you can't get them all done with your GP we can suggest labs where you can do private home fingerprick tests.

[Nanaedake]

Your FT4 level is in range but considering that your TSH is suppressed your FT4 is not very high. It would be helpful to have FT3 result alongside these as it's the FT3 that makes the difference to how we feel. Have you posted vitamin results from B12, vitamin D etc? Your GP really should test these if not done already. You should be careful not to over supplement on vitamin D.

[Capri71 in reply to Nanaedake]

Is the top figure not my T3??

I shall ask for the other bloods first then b4 supplementing further.

[Nanaedake in reply to Capri71]

My apologies, yes top figure is FT3 which is also low, confirming that your thyroid hormones are low despite being well supplemented with a good amount of thyroid hormone. It means you really need to get your vitamin levels tested as it could mean you are not absorbing well. Do tell the doctor you have been supplementing as they can provide that information to the lab.

[Capri71 in reply to Nanaedake]

Ok thanks. Just to clarify what am I not absorbing? Thyroxine or something else?

[Nanaedake in reply to Capri71]

If you have an absorption problem, it could be that you are not absorbing levothroxine well and that your intestines cannot extract nutrients from your food well resulting in vitamin deficiencies.

Quite a few things could cause absorption problems such as an intolerance to gluten, pernicious anaemia and even taking levothyroxine itself as it can cause small intestinal bacterial overgrowth SIBO. That doesn't, by the way, mean you should stop taking levothyroxine but just have to address the intestinal imbalance.

Anti-D's can affect the absorption of levothyroxine too.

[Capri71 in reply to Nanaedake]

I have worked out I'm intolerant to gluten and try to avoid that at all costs. I thought I knew quite a lot about this subject but clearly not lol thanks for the help

[Capri71 in reply to Capri71]

And I know about the anti d which was why I was reluctant to take in the first place but I always take at different times of the day. I have took my Levo at night for last few months and found my symptoms so improved but now going to hyper 😑

[silverfox7]

Your readings FT4 and FT3 are both low suggesting you aren't on enough medication. TSH shouldn't be used as it's nor accurate once we are on medication. Your body can easily think that it's great to get the meds from elsewhere so why should I bother requesting more! What makes you think you have hyper like symptoms? So symptoms can suggest either.

[Angel_of_the_North]

your Free T3 is far too low in range - needs to be at least up in the 5s. Your Free T4 isn't too grand either. Looks as though you aren't really using levo effectively. I'd get B12, folate, ferritin and Vit D tested to make sure that they are optimal and try a good probiotic (not one of those daft commercial yoghurts). I'd also get a copy of the Dr Toft Pulse article from [e-mail] to show the GP to try to stop him lowering your dose as it says that some people need suppressed TSH (and over range free T4) in order to feel well.