Advice on blood tests please

[Dynaskia]

Hello. I posted a while ago and was advised to get some blood tests done. I've just received the results back and would really appreciate some feedback please. I take 100mcg thyroxine and 10mcg T3 a day. The lab ranges are in brackets and I've underlined those which are above or below normal range.

hs-CRP: 5.62 (<5.0)

Ferritin: 155.00 (13 - 150)

TSH: 0.05 (0.27 - 4.20)

T4 Total: 110.0 (66 - 181)

Free T4: 18.20 (12.0 - 22.0)

Free T3: 4.98 (3.1 - 6.8)

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs: 87.7 (<34)

Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs: 32 (<115)

Vitamin D: 78 (>50 <175)

Vitamin B12: 440 (>250 <569)

Serum folate: 20.70 (8.83 - 60.8)

Thanks very much for your help!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

hs-CRP: 5.62 (<5.0)

Indicates inflammation or infection but it's non-specific. If it remains high your GP should investigate.

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Ferritin: 155.00 (13 - 150)

Ferritin should be half way through it's range, if you are supplementing you should stop or reduce.

**

TSH: 0.05 (0.27 - 4.20)

Below range because you are taking replacement thyroid hormone. T3 in parlticular will lower TSH. Mine has always been suppressed and the doctors don't like it but if the free Ts are in range (particularly FT3) then you can't be overmedicated.

T4 Total: 110.0 (66 - 181) Free T4: 18.20 (12.0 - 22.0) Free T3: 4.98 (3.1 - 6.8)

They look OK but you don't say how you feel. There is room to increase T3 if you don't feel optimally medicated.

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Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs: 87.7 (<34)

Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs: 32 (<115)

Raised TPO antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroiditis aka Hashi's. Did you know this and are you strictly gluten free and supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily to help reduce the antibodies?

**

Vitamin D: 78 (>50 <175)

The Vit D Council recommends 100-150nmol/L. If you're supplementing then continue, if not then you should start.

**

Vitamin B12: 440 (>250 <569)

Not bad but could be better. 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."

**

Serum folate: 20.70 (8.83 - 60.8)

Not bad but it's recommended to be at least half way through it's range. If you're not supplementing with a good B Complex then taking one will raise your folate level.

[Dynaskia in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much SeasideSusie for your comments.

I don't take T3 every day as I sometimes feel that it's too much. I'm also cutting a 25mcg tablet in half which doesn't give me an accurate dose. I may start taking it again daily for a while to see if I feel any better. I agree with you about the TSH. It has always been 0.05 since I started taking thyroxine and the doctors really don't like it!

The TPO is interesting as I thought I had Hashi's but the blood test I had a year ago was only 38 and my GP said that I didn't have it. I was strictly gluten free for a year, but lately I've started eating it again and I can now see what effect it might be having! Thanks for the advice on vitamins. I will try and be a bit more consistent with taking selenium, zinc and D3. I also take vitamin C and a good B complex, but you mention that this could increase my ferritin level. Would you recommend just taking B12 instead? Can I improve my folate level without taking B complex?

I realise that I need to take better care of my gut health - and read Doctor Wentz's book again. Being told that I didn't have Hashi's has made me much less careful about my health than I was before. I can feel I have gut inflammation as well as joint pain and allergy symptoms.

Once again, thank you! I really appreciate your help and advice.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Dynaskia]

You really need to take same dose T3 everyday.

Possibly in split dose of two 1/4

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Dynaskia]

a good B complex, but you mention that this could increase my ferritin level

Sorry, that was a typo. I've amended it now. It will raise your folate level. Eating leafy greens can help raise folate but you would most likely need a lot of them.

And if you take T3 it should be daily.