Help with labs PLEASE and GP comments on T3 rep... - Thyroid UK

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Help with labs PLEASE and GP comments on T3 replacement? Hopeless!

okaykay profile image
15 Replies

TSH 2.66 mu/ml (.7-5.2) was 3.72 uLU/Ml (.27-4.2)

Free T4 1.5 was 1.3ng/dL (0.9-1.7)

Free T3 2.89 was 2.77pg/ml (2.51-4.43)

Reverse T3 = 20

My results didn’t move much with increased from 50 mcg to 75mcg so my doctor increased to 100mcg. He is leery on T3 because I’m 5’9 and my weight is at 105.pds. I look awful. I feel better but definitely not normal. He says T3 would cause more weight loss. I’m stumped and hopeless. 😞I eat but where is it going?

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okaykay
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Judithdalston profile image
Judithdalston

Can we have ranges put on your thyroid results. 5 ft 9... 105 what- need units lbs/ kilograms... just to avoid misunderstandings please. Any Vit D, B12, folate, ferritin blood results?

okaykay profile image
okaykay in reply to Judithdalston

I added ranges and also my vitamins and minerals are good, Ferritin is 69?

Judithdalston profile image
Judithdalston in reply to okaykay

That's better but I am not so used to these units. Perhaps greygoose /slow dragon will return like me when they see you've addd info. Thought it might have been pounds, but difficult to tell. I assume the ferritin range was 13-150 range, so yours is barely acceptable, a menstruating women should be 100-130. I see you say B12 was 'good', we are suspicious of when a doctor says 'good' or 'normal' to any results as they make this remark even when barely in range- you need Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin in upper ranges to have good thyroid health. Your thyroid results are going in the right direction, but still room to up your levothyroxin ( I assume that is what you are on) - add 25 mcg and test again in 6 weeks, and repeat if necessary. Your TSH should be near the bottom of range. Your FT3 needs to be at 3.5 to be even mid range. T3 is used by body builders for weight loss but in ridiculously high doses short term, I don't know what effect it has on slim people in normal Thyroid therapeutic low doses. Perhaps worth a second post.

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to Judithdalston

Body builders use T3 for fat loss (not weight loss), as you say, in very high doses for a very short period. It works as they are also (usually) taking anabolic steroids, and training very hard and heavy to preserve muscle (I used to be a body builder). I can confirm that in a slim to normal weight person, who is eating "normally", T3 doesn't cause weight loss - I am on T3 only and my weight hasn't changed.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Another doctor that understands nothing about thyroid! T3 is not a weight-loss drug, and doesn't causes everyone to lose weight - usually just those that need to lose it - usually those with water-weight, rather than fat. It's very likely that your FT3 is so low - can't tell without the range - that your body cannot process the food you eat well enough for you to put on weight. When the FT3 is optimal, things will equal themselves out. Weight-loss can be a hypo symptom, and it's only by optimising the T3 that you stop being hypo and stop having symptoms.

EliteKing profile image
EliteKing in reply to greygoose

Not trying to say whether you are right o wrong, but do you have any references (studies, anecdotes) for weight loss being a possible hypothyroid symptom? A doctor I've been to doesn't seem to understand that being underweight does not mean that I'm not hypothyroid; being overweight is just a possible indicator of hypothyroidism, not a neccessity since someone can still have an easier time gaining weight and still be underweight (this is my reasoning anyway). Thanks.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to EliteKing

Doctors know nothing about symptoms, with the possible exception of weight-gain and fatigue. They just don't learn them in med school anymore. I had one doctor try to tell me I was hyper because of my high blood pressure. For him, high BP was hyper, low BP was hypo, and never mind my TSH of over 10! They can be incredibly thick!

But, no, I don't have any documents about this. Perhaps you could try posting a new question asking just that. Somebody might have something. Tell him there are over 300 possibly symptoms of low thyroid, and you don't have to have all of them to qualify. Everyone has their own unique set of symptoms because we're all different.

There are a lot of people on here whose problem is weight-loss rather than weight-gain. Try using the search button at the top of the page. :)

okaykay profile image
okaykay in reply to EliteKing

I’m not really sure what your are getting at? I have confirmed hashimoto thyroiditis based on labs and ultrasound of the thyroid that they check regularly. I had a TSH of 55.2 and TPO antibodies of 1378 (less than 60 is normal). It’s been a rough road. I’ve always been slender, but I’m to thin right know. My GP is aware of weighloss and hashimoto. As greygoose said post another question or do some online research. There is tons of info online about weight loss as a symptom of hypo/hashi too. I always ask on here, as I have learned more from this site than anywhere else. I hope you figure out what’s going on with you. Blessings to you!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Essential to test vitamin D , folate, ferritin and B12

These are often too low with Hashimoto's

Low stomach acid lowers vitamins and malabsorption can mean struggle to gain weight

Far too many Medics think hypothyroid means weight gain. Many struggle to gain weight until adequately treated

As you have Hashimoto's are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Sounds good that you are gluten and soya free

B12 tested too?

okaykay profile image
okaykay in reply to SlowDragon

Yes and that was good. I take liquid B12 under my tongue. I asked for an injection but it was not warranted, due to my lab results of B12. Thank you so much for responding. 😊

greygoose profile image
greygoose

It would have been better if you'd added them on here, rather than a repeat post. You can edit your post by clicking on the downward-facing 'v' under the post. Then it would be better to delete the other post, before it gets confusing. :)

okaykay profile image
okaykay in reply to greygoose

It’s won’t let me delete the post. Gracious I edited the original post and it reposted. I’m on my phone..😱 I’m the confused one..lol

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to okaykay

Ah OK Phones are different! Don't know anything about phones. I'm a dinosaure! lol

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to okaykay

Yes it's easier on a computer than a phone

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