I've just had a blood test and am puzzled by the results. Since my GP is not interested in helping because I'm on NDT I'd love some help from you thyroid brains as to what I should do with my medication.
My last blood test was in Feb 2017 (- a basic one with FT3)
Last full one was June 2016 before starting NDT.
I've been on NDT (Thai) for 18 months but recently added 25mg of T3 because I still get real slumps when I have to suddenly sleep a lot.
I've been gluten free for over a year but my TGb antibodies have DOUBLED since I became gluten free!!
My TSH is almost existent (which my GP gets very unhappy about)
My T4 & FT4 are below range but my FT3 is better - I guess this would be expected if one is no longer taking T4 only medication but maybe I need to try something different because the balance between T3 & T4 doesn't seem right?
I've attached the results which were very faint so I've put the main ones below too:
TSH - 0.005 (0.27 - 4.2)
FT4 - 9.28 (12 - 22)
TT4 - 50.7 (59 - 154)
FT3 - 5.42 (3.1 - 6.8)
RT3 - 11 (10 - 24) (previously 32)
RT3 ratio - 32.08 (15 - 75)
TGB antibodies - 440 (0 - 115) (previously 192)
TPO antibodies - 33.1 (0 - 34) (previously 11)
I take selenium & zinc, B complex, iron & have now added Vit D
I did read that NDT can contain antibodies so I wonder if I should try just T3 or combination of levo and T3 or a different NDT???
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Raucous
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Antibodies fluctuate all the time. So, it's possible that last time they were tested, you caught them on their day off. It doesn't mean very much. Continue with your gluten-free diet, if it makes you feel well, and keep your TSH suppressed, but apart from taking selenium, there's not much else you can do.
It doesn't matter about the balance between T4 and T3. What matters is taking enough T3 to make you well. Ratios are for healthy people, not hypos. And the rT3 is irrelevant. Not much point in even testing it if you're taking NDT + T3,
If you don't feel well on NDT, of course, you could try the other things you mentioned. But, don't do it just because of possible antibodies. It's how you feel that counts. And, it has to be said, that NDT doesn't suit everybody. Didn't suit me. I'm only happy on T3 only.
Oh I thought I read that getting FT4 & FT3 near top of range was important - I think when I was reading up about osteoporosis, because my GP freaked when she saw my TSH was 0.05 and said I was at risk of osteoporosis and heart attack, so I did some research and reading. The suggestion from some seemed to be that if TSH was suppressed it was the getting the right T4/T3 levels that mattered.
Presumably if I take T3 only my T4 levels will plummet and if I do try that should i increase slowly from 25...?
That is true for people taking T4 only. When you add in T3, your FT4 is bound to drop, because the body only hangs on to what it needs, and it doesn't need as much. It's OK.
TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, it has nothing to do with hearts and bones. The confusion stems from people having suppressed TSH when they are hyper - as in Grave's - where the TSH is suppressed because the FT3 is well over-range, and it is the high FT3 that causes problems, not the low TSH. However, when taking exogenous T3, the effects are not the same.
Yes, if you have no gland function, and you don't take any T4, FT4 levels will drop to zero - that's where mine is. Many people are perfectly fine with that, whereas other people find they need a certain amount of T4 to feel well. We're all different, and it's all trial and error to find the levels that suit you.
You said you're taking NDT + 25 mcg T3, but you don't say how much NDT you're taking. Whatever it is, you add the amount of T3 it contains to your 25 mcg, and start from there. Give it a couple of weeks for the T4 to be out of your system, and then continue adding 6.25 mcg every two weeks.
Sorry to barge in Helvella - just a quickie question: Anyone noticing a difference in strength between new Teva T3 ( seems weaker per 20mcg tab) and old MercuryPharma T3. [Yes I'll post it as a proper question but I've not been here for a while and just thought - hey, the old Swiss fungus will know... ]
Your FT4 is very low. Also TT4. Both are below range. Perhaps you could add in some T4?
(Personally I feel dreadful if FT4 is too low, even if FT3 is high )
Ferritin is too low, recommended to be at least 70nmol
Do you take vitamin C with your iron, it aids absorption
If you like liver, eating this once a week can improve levels too
Vitamin D also too low - around 100nmol recommended. Recommend to also take magnesium and vitamin K2 when taking vitamin D.
Better You mouth spray is good, avoids poor gut function. Trial and error how much you need, perhaps start with 3000iu
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
Hi Slowdragon - thanks I'll take a look at that. I've been wondering whether to increase T4.
My ferritin is way better than it was - it was 7 last year! yes I take vit C with iron.
I'm vegetarian so don't eat liver & am taking vit D drops with K2 added.
I didn't know about stopping B complex 3-5 days before - I only stopped 24hrs before this one but haven't checked to see if it has biotin in yet.
One of the things I've noticed is that before and during my period (so for 10/12 days a month) all my hypo symptoms are worse, and I can't stay awake all day. So one minute I'm doing alright then I have a lapse but it is always at that time, though some months worse than others. This makes me think there is either a vitamin or hormone issue going on......
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