Test Results

[jwed]

Thanks for advice. I have had blood tests and have now received results. Am disappointed that thyroid tests appear normal - was hoping that there was some explanation as to why I feel so tired and why I am unable to lose weight among numerous other symptoms. I have attached copy in the hope someone can help. Many thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

jwed

Not easy to read your results, your picture is very dark.

Although your TSH is good at 0.823 (I think), your FT4 and FT3 are too low for a treated hypo patient. They should be in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well, which is best for most people.

FT4: 15.2 (12-22) is only 32% through it's range

FT3: Is that 3.09 or 3.89? whichever, it is way too low.

With those ranges you are looking at FT4 being around 19.5 and FT3 around 5.5+

So you need an increase in your dose of Levo and to support your request you could show your GP the article by Dr Toft, leading endocrinologist and past president of the British Thyroid Association, who said in Pulse Magazine (the magazine for doctors):

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at ThyroidUK

[e-mail]

print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

As for your vitamins and minerals

Folate: 3.34 (?) (2.91-50)

This is extremely low and should be at least half way through it's range. Eating leafy greens can help raise folate, as will supplementing with a good B Complex such as Thorne Basic B.

Vit D: 46.1nmol/L

The Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L so you need to supplement and I would suggest 5000iu D3 daily for 3 months then retest. Once you reach the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council -

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too.

A good and reasonably priced D3 is Doctors Best dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/doc...

and a good Vit K2-Mk7 is Healthy Origins bigvits.co.uk/product.php?p...

Ferritin: 620 (13-150)

Is that correct? Are you supplementing? If not then you need to speak to your GP and maybe have it investigated.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

High ferritin can affect Thyroid function.

You need assessing for hemochromatosis

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...