Need help to understand bloods: T3 3.9 (range 3.... - Thyroid UK

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Need help to understand bloods

J1972 profile image
J1972
β€’28 Replies

T3 3.9 (range 3.0-4.2)

T4 14.3 (range ?)

Taking 50mcg Levothyroxine daily before food, meds & caffeine for 1year

Gradually developed sharp hip pain, still have low mood lack of motivation & energy

Weird furry tongue, poor taste and no smell and no appetite.

Can't sleep, well 2 hrs at a time, prescribed various strengths of amytriptaline, foggy forgetful and clumsy. Oh and have just had thyroid scan as lump growing, turns out a cyst which I can feel when I swallow. No removal on NHS?

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J1972
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Marz profile image
Marz

Do you have a TSH reading ? You are still on a starter dose and should have had regular testing and dose adjustments. You also need thyroid anti-bodies tested TPO & Tg to rule out Hashimotos.

B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD also need testing and need to be in a good place

Improving your thyroid and vitamin levels may help with some of your symptoms ....

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply toMarz

The hospital did all the bloods a long while ago but never told me, even if they did then I wouldn't have known what to do with them. I asked last week for TSH and the nurse said we don't do that?

I do recall the doc saying we do know your a phosphorus waster, but again I have no idea what that is.

Any ideas?

Msbnurse profile image
Msbnurseβ€’ in reply toJ1972

Google how high phospherous and low Co2 relate to suboptimal tx of hypothyroidism...

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply toMsbnurse

OMG - Hypophosphatemia no wonder why every doc looks at me gone out when I say I don't drink. (I don't) but I have craved carbs since a child and never put weight on until started Levo.

Low cardiac output - I started statins 2010 due to heart not pumping enough so was really short of breath, just had another scan and doc doubled my dose.

I also have the depression.

Thanks so much for your response I will log on now and make an appt with GP

Marz profile image
Marzβ€’ in reply toJ1972

Statins block cholesterol and VitK2 and CoQ10 - they do not help your heart to beat faster or stronger. Low thyroid could be the cause of both .... you need a dose increase !

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply toMarz

sorry I forgot to mention Atorvastatin and Candasartan

Marz profile image
Marzβ€’ in reply toMarz

You need an increase in levo - not your statin. You mentioned the above in an earlier post 😊

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply toMarz

The heart doc increased the Candasartan, sorry I wasn't clear.

He does keep asking if I've suffered a bad infection long term?

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply toMarz

Marz and Greygoose, thank you for your advice you were correct, today I had my GP appt and said I'd been talking to thyroid uk and it appears nobody had told me that TSH was 4.0 in December and they increased to 75mcg - every other day and 50mcg other days until I get my bloods done again, renal? I had so many symptoms to discuss I forgot to ask about vitamins and minerals, however she told me that my hip X Ray's were normal, leading me to muscle pains from antiretrovirals. I hope I start sleeping soon and my tongue returns to normal. I also did some research on anosmia, no human tests done only rats, increased Levo returned the sense of smell after the opposite was done to remove it. I haven't been able to smell for 6 years now.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

I agree with Marz, you are possibly under-medicated. It also sounds as if you are low in zinc. Try taking 15 mg daily, and see if it helps.

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply togreygoose

I have been told by another hospital doc that controls my antiretrovirals that I can't take any metal vitamins as they affect the absorbtion of the pills that keep me from being ill.

Is 15mg a small dose as I could try for a while as my other bloods for antiretrovirals are perfect so I am fit enough to dabble.

greygoose profile image
greygooseβ€’ in reply toJ1972

Do you mean minerals? Zinc is a mineral, not a vitamin.

15 mg is a standard dose. Surely if you take it well away from your antiretroviral pills it would be alright. You wouldn't take them at the same time, obviously, any more than you would take your levo with any other medication. :)

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply togreygoose

Yeah sorry minerals, I have just looked at the latest spec on Raltegravir and it does allow 6 hours before or after.

Will start today and get bloods cd4 & vl done after new year see if still good.

Thanks

greygoose profile image
greygooseβ€’ in reply toJ1972

You're welcome. :)

Clutter profile image
Clutter

J1972,

What is your TSH result?

The hip and knee joint pain I experienced was due to severe vitamin D deficiency. Ask your GP to do a vitamin D blood test. If you can persuade GP to test ferritin, B12 and folate too that would be a good idea.

Furry tongue could be thrush or candida. What has your GP said?

Cysts may self resolve or may need draining if they are making swallowing and breathing difficult. I don't think cysts usually need surgical removal.

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply toClutter

Vitamin deficiency would make sense as I used to take a good quality A-Z almost a year ago and due to changing another drug I was told to lay off the vitamins as the metal ones affect the absorbtion of my antiretrovirals.

I too think thrush also as this came after being admitted and pumped for a week with different antibiotics, took two bottles of mega strength acidophilus over 2 months but no joy. I will go GP and get something stronger and get more bloods done to include vitamins.

I also read online a study with rats and loss of smell after they made the rats hypo then gave them Levo and their smell returned. My docs just look at me gone out.

Does you doc let you have more than a months pills at a time? mine has only let me have more as its Christmas this year, I was thinking of trying a higher dose myself?

Msbnurse profile image
Msbnurseβ€’ in reply toJ1972

You need daily probiotic for GI issues when Hypothyroid.. betaine hcl is another good digestive aid... but anytime you're on antibiotics..make sure you're taking at least a 50billion /cf probiotic.

I take probiotics daily.

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply toMsbnurse

I was taking 20billion I will get the higher dose now I know it's available. The thing is I'm on so many pills I dropped these to try and get to the bottom of what was causing my GI issues as my new antiretrovirals also upset the balance, so bad with bloating and constipation.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

I agree with Hidden you are very likely extremely under medicated

50mcg is standard starter dose and bloods should be retested after 6-8 weeks and dose increased in 25mcg steps until TSH around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Low vitamin levels are extremely likely and low vitamins stop thyroid hormones working. Then bloods appear normal, but actually you can be extremely hypothyroid

See if you can get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP. Unlikely to get FT3

Private tests are available

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Link about antibodies

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

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Print this list of symptoms off, tick all that apply and take to GP

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

See Box 1. Towards end of article

Some possible causes of persistent symptoms in euthyroid patients on L-T4

You will see low vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 listed

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply toSlowDragon

Marz and Greygoose, thank you for your advice you were correct, today I had my GP appt and said I'd been talking to thyroid uk and it appears nobody had told me that TSH was 4.0 in December and they increased to 75mcg - every other day and 50mcg other days until I get my bloods done again, renal? I had so many symptoms to discuss I forgot to ask about vitamins and minerals, however she told me that my hip X Ray's were normal, leading me to muscle pains from antiretrovirals. I hope I start sleeping soon and my tongue returns to normal. I also did some research on anosmia, no human tests done only rats, increased Levo returned the sense of smell after the opposite was done to remove it. I haven't been able to smell for 6 years now.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministratorβ€’ in reply toJ1972

You are likely to need a larger increase than 12.5mcg. Normal increases are 25mcg at a time - so that would be 75mcgs every day

Retesting in 6 weeks

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Make another appointment next week and request that thyroid antibodies are tested, plus vitamin D, B12, folate and ferritin.

Private tests are available

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

Private vitamin D test

betteryou.com/vitamin-d-tes...

Or direct

vitamindtest.org.uk

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased

J1972 profile image
J1972

My GP has tested again 6months just said everything in range, tosh

The only upside of being on antiretrovirals is I have access to any blood test, so I had them done at my hospital clinch the results last week are:

t3 was 3.9 t4 was 14.3 up from 10.8 previously

I then asked for TSH and was told oh we don't do that ?

I will call them after Christmas and get the full results including antibody stuff these were done 10 months ago ish

I even asked for testosterone which I was surprised to find out was 25

And Heamaglobin 1.449

Liver and renal just told was fine

What I forgot to mention I am always freezing if I fall asleep on the sofa with central heating on 23 I wake up shivering

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministratorβ€’ in reply toJ1972

Do you have ranges on these results?

Testosterone - are you male or female?

High testosterone in females in linked to PCOS which is very common with Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease)

J1972 profile image
J1972β€’ in reply toSlowDragon

They told me the range for testosterone was 8.5 to 29

Which is why I was surprised with 25 when I am a male & should be low due to op that causes hypergonadism

J1972 profile image
J1972

Marz and Greygoose, thank you for your advice you were correct, today I had my GP appt and said I'd been talking to thyroid uk and it appears nobody had told me that TSH was 4.0 in December and they increased to 75mcg - every other day and 50mcg other days until I get my bloods done again, renal? I had so many symptoms to discuss I forgot to ask about vitamins and minerals, however she told me that my hip X Ray's were normal, leading me to muscle pains from antiretrovirals. I hope I start sleeping soon and my tongue returns to normal. I also did some research on anosmia, no human tests done only rats, increased Levo returned the sense of smell after the opposite was done to remove it. I haven't been able to smell for 6 years now.

J1972 profile image
J1972

Marz and Greygoose, thank you for your advice you were correct, today I had my GP appt and said I'd been talking to thyroid uk and it appears nobody had told me that TSH was 4.0 in December and they increased to 75mcg - every other day and 50mcg other days until I get my bloods done again, renal? I had so many symptoms to discuss I forgot to ask about vitamins and minerals, however she told me that my hip X Ray's were normal, leading me to muscle pains from antiretrovirals. I hope I start sleeping soon and my tongue returns to normal. I also did some research on anosmia, no human tests done only rats, increased Levo returned the sense of smell after the opposite was done to remove it. I haven't been able to smell for 6 years now.

J1972 profile image
J1972

Thanks to everyone that advice you were all correct my TSH was 4.0 and nobody thought to tell me. On a higher dose from tomorrow.

Marz profile image
Marzβ€’ in reply toJ1972

As others have said it is key to have results for B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD. If these are LOW in range you will not benefit from your dose increase. You also need anti -bodies TPO & Tg testing ....

I cannot smell well either 😊

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