New lab test

[ziv1979]

Hi all,

I just got my new blood test today and it looks like there is a change from my last test in June, but the results are still far from being prefect. Since my last post and follow your kind advice i started to add selenium & zinc to my day to day along with my Levo 100 mg, Adrenal support & Vitamin D that i was already taking. I also have been diagnosed with Hashimotto. With these supplements i'm definitely feeling better, energy & mood is up, i'm exercising (not too much thou..), eating slightly better but still didn't switch to gluten free which is advise when you have Hashimotto i know.. With that, I still can't loose weight, and i still feel tired (thou not as before for sure). My question is, is it a good time now to add T3, so i can at least see some changes in my weight? I'm suppose to see my Endocrinology next month and i'm too scared to ask as he wasn't up for it last time i saw him..

My new lab results: (unfortunately they didn't take my DHEA & zinc this time)

TSH - 2.76 (0.55 - 4.78) In June it was 3.26

T3 Free - 4.4 (3.5 - 6.5) - In June it was 4.0

T4 Free - 16.2 (10.0 - 20.0) - In June it was 16.4

Ferritin- 26.1(10.0 - 291) - in June it was 9.7!!!

Any advice will be a blessing.

Thank you,

Ziv

[Clutter]

Ziv1979,

You are probably struggling to lose weight because you are undermedicated. Liothyronine (T3) isn't a weight loss aid. TSH 2.76 means you are a little undermedicated. Increasing to 125mcg will raise FT4 and FT3 and lower TSH.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.3 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Ferritin is optimal halfway through range. It can take ages to raise ferritin. How much iron are you supplementing?

[ziv1979 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you for your reply. I'm taking Floradix 10ml X2 a day. As for taking T3, i didn't mean taking it just for weight loss purposes, but also for my general health and to help support the thyroid.

I'll look in to those links you sent.

Thanks

[Clutter in reply to ziv1979]

Ziv1979,

Floradix has very little elemental iron in it. You would be better taking 1 x 210mg Ferrous Fumarate tablet with 1,000mg vitamin C to aid absorption and minimise constipation. Iron should be taken 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Ziv1979

As Clutter has said, T3 isn't a weight loss aid. I started adding T3 to my Levo just about 2 years ago, gradually increasing T3 dose and lowering Levo dose. On paper, my results are very near perfect. I've lost no weight, I actually weigh more now than when I added it, but I wasn't using it as a weight loss aid anyway.

You are undermedicated on our Levo, you need an increase. Plus your need optimal vitamins and minerals for thyroid hormone to work. You need

Vit D - 100-150nmol/L

B12 - very top of range

Folate - at least half way through range

Ferritin - at least 70

You can help raise ferritin by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in... I raised my ferritin, without iron supplements as I couldn't tolerate them, from 35 and am currently at 119 and now eating liver less often.

[ziv1979 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeasideSusie! Isn't there a recommended multivitamin that contains all of these supplements together? I find myself all day surrounding with pills and timing them etc'.. The only thing i'm not taking is Vitamin B12 and we didn't check it this time...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ziv1979]

Ziv1979

No, multivitamins are a total waste of time and money, they contain too little of anything to be of any help, generally contain the cheapest ingredients, the wrong and least absorbable form. If the Multi contains iron then nothing else can be absorbed, and if it contains calcium then even the iron wont be absorbed. They often contain iodine too and we shouldn't supplement with that unless tested and found deficiency, same with Calcium.

We need to supplement the deficiencies or low levels that we have been tested for at the correct dose for our needs and unfortunately that does mean that we may need to take a lot of supplements and work out the timing.

Your ferritin is improving, if you are taking iron tablets then are you taking each one with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation, and taking them 4 hours away from thyroid meds? A very good way of raising ferritin is by eating liver once a week. I got mine up from 35 by eating approx 120-140g lamb's liver weekly. It's now 119 so I've reduced how often I have it. You can also include lots of iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

[ziv1979 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi,

I increased my Levo from 100mcg (during the week) and 50mcg (only on weekend) to 150mcg. Is that too much to take? Will that take me to that optimum place?

Thanks!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ziv1979]

Only you will know if that is the correct amount of Levo for you. You need to repeat your thyroid tests 6-8 weeks after the increase, see where your levels lie and how you feel.