Blood tests results help...

[Sodo]

Hi,

I started self medicating with T3 a couple of months ago. I was on 225mcgs of thyroxine and changed to 25mcgs thyroxine and 75mcgs of T3 daily. I also went gluten free, although these results show my antibodies have increased. I worked up to this dose of T3 slowly, but only felt a little benefit. Should I be taking more? I've been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome as well, but I'm not convinced. I still think my thyroid levels need addressing? Any advice based on my results would be greatly appreciated.

ENDOCRINOLOGY

Thyroid Function

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE *0.009 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE *5.68 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) *40.3 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 5.58 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

REVERSE T3 *8.6 ng/dL 10.00 - 24.00

REVERSE T3 RATIO 42.24 15.01 - 75.00

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 47.200 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES*125 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

HAEMATOLOGY

Vitamins

ACTIVE B12 *168.000 pmol/L 25.10 - 165.00

FOLATE (SERUM) 9.24 ug/L 2.91 - 50.00

25 OH VITAMIN D 56.7 nmol/L 50.00 - 200.00

Interpretation of results:

Deficient <25

Insufficient 25 - 49

Normal Range 50 - 200

Consider reducing dose >200

BIOCHEMISTRY

Inflammation Marker

CRP - HIGH SENSITIVITY *8.35 mg/l 0.00 - 5.00

Iron Status

FERRITIN 71.1 ug/L 13.00 - 150.00

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You have reduced your Levothyroxine a massive amount. And you have added an extremely high dose of T3 in a very short space of time.

Clutter advised only reducing your Levo by 25mcg from 225mcg to 200mcg, and adding 2 x 5mcg T3

(NOT reduce Levothyroxine from 225mcg down to 25mcg)

Blood test shows you might benefit from increase in Levo as FT4 is now very low and T3 dose may need reducing.

Perhaps add 25mcg Levothyroxine retesting in 6-8 weeks. Possibly repeat several times until FT4 comes into bottom half of range and may need to reduce T3 slowly

Vitamin D is still very low. Suggest you increase the amount you are supplementing

B12 is very good. I guess you supplement. Might benefit from good vitamin B complex with folate in (not folic acid) to bring folate up too

Presumably you know you have Hashimoto's, as confirmed by high thyroid antibodies.

[Sodo in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, I thought I may be able to just switch to just T3 only after a while. I probably was too over enthusiastic by changing things quite quickly as I didn't experience any side affects. From my bloods, do I still really have to take the levothyroxine? Or is this something I may be able to cut out eventually? I take supplements to try and help with my thyroid including Thorne b complex, selenium, zinc, B12, magnesium. I've not long finished a course of tablets for vitamin D but will bump up the maintenance dose again for a while.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sodo]

Depends how you feel I guess, personally I find if FT4 is too low (regardless of FT3) I get symptoms. But obviously not everyone is the same as others are on T3 only and therefore have low FT4 too.

I am amazed your FT3 is not higher on such high dose of T3, perhaps you have significant malabsorption in the gut.

It can take many months for gluten free diet to help heal gut. Majority with Hashimoto's find it either very beneficial or essential.

[trelemorele in reply to Sodo]

My last bloods from 16/03/18 on 50mcg t4, show

t4 = 6.6 (12-22). According to that I have insufficient t4.

But I can't take anymore t4 as anything over that brings painful swelling in my legs.

I'm taking 150 mcg t3 as well.

If you feel good on that dose of t4 and as long as you add t3, no need to change it.