Help with blood results

[Treacle028]

Hi everyone this is my first time posting. So here goes diagnosed UAT in 2014 With tsh 108. Prescribed Levo eventually at 100mg my numbers were in range but still felt terrible, brain fog, angry, crazy etc.

After alot of research in 2016 started self medicating NDT (thyroid s) currently 11 grains spread over the week and found a new lease of life and much better in general.

Since start of 2018 I feel so fatigued and tired all the time. Doctors say all my results are normal. Please can any one shed any light. Thanks

Still on 11 grains ndt per week and 5000iu vit d3.

T4 14.2 (12-22), TSH 0.05 (0.27-4.20), B12 559 (191-663), FOLATE 13.4 (3.89-26.8), VIT D 142 (>50 sufficient), BLOOD CORTISOL 224 (166-507), FERRITIN 77.7 (13-150). FSH 9.4 (1.7-21.5), LH 10.8 (2.4-12.6), OESTRADIOL 96 (follicular 45-854), PROLACTIN 188 (102-496).

Age 40 and blood test indicate non menopausal.

[Jazzw]

11 grains a week is a strange dose. How do you spread that out evenly across a week? NDT needs taking at regular intervals really!

Anyway, best guess, especially as you don’t have an FT3 result there and you really need one to be able to tell what’s going on—you’re under medicated. Have you considered upping your NDT dose to 2 grains a day to see how that feels?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Treacle

VIT D 142

Vit D is good. The Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L so you're spot on there.

B12 559 (191-663)

Not bad, certainly at the right end of the range.

FOLATE 13.4 (3.89-26.8)

This is just slightly under the recommended level, it's recommended to be at least half way through range.

FERRITIN 77.7 (13-150)

This is OK, half way through range is recommended.

I'm afraid I can't comment on your other hormones as I don't have knowledge of those.

This is where I think you should be looking:

TSH 0.05 (0.27-4.20)

FT4 14.2 (12-22)

When on NDT, it's essential to test FT3 as it's the most important one as NDT contains T3 and you need to know that it's in a good place within range. As taking NDT tends to lower TSH, even suppress it, and also it can lower FT4, those results aren't as important as the FT3. Most people feel best when FT3 is in the upper part of the range, but of course it's very individual so not set in stone.

So if you can test FT3, privately if necessary with a thyroid bundle from Medichecks, just the basic TSH, FT4 and FT3, or include thyroid antibodies if not perviously done, then you can see whether you are taking enough NDT or if there's room for an increase.

You say you're taking 11 grains NDT spread over the week. Are you taking the same amount every day, which is what you should be doing. Also, are you taking it on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food and with a glass of water only, and water only one hour each side, so that absorption wont be affected? Are you also keeping any other medication and supplements at least 2 hours away from your NDT, some even need 4 hours.

[Treacle028 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi thanks for replies, depending on which Dr I get in my surgery some test t3 and some don't. My results previous to these were TSH 0.06, T4 12.4, T3 7 (3.1-6.8). I always ask for t3 test but don't always do it.

I have tried 2 grains per day about a year ago and T3 came back 12 so Dr recommend cutting down dosage. I take 1one day and two the next alternatively.

Yes I always take on empty stomach with water.

I have never had antibodies done so mite look into that.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Treacle028]

Treacle

You need to take the same amount every day. The T3 in NDT has a short half life of just a few hours, so you need to top this up at regular intervals. Instead of taking 1 one day and 2 the next, take 1 and 1/2 each day.

Is your NDT prescribed? If so then to get FT3 tested your GP should write on the blood form "Taking T3". It is essential when taking NDT to have FT3 tested.

Or why not do a private thyroid check with Medichecks if you can't get FT3 done with your surgery. Medichecks often have their Thyroid Monitoring on offer at £29 or £31 instead of £39. And if you want antibodies they do that in their full thyroid panel Thyroid Check Plus. Under "Thyroid Profiles" here

medichecks.com/thyroid-health

Check Medichecks prices on a Thursday, they always have special offers on selected thyroid tests.

[Treacle028 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I self medicate with thyroid s so not prescribed. I Will split the dose evenly to see if that makes a difference and also look into the medichecks testing.

You mentioned folate being a bit low what supplement would u recommend?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Treacle028]

For a B Complex, as your folate is reasonable, you don't need one with a high amount of methylfolate. I would look at Igennus Super B, it contains the bioavailable versions of the vitamins and 1 x tablet daily should be enough.

With your NDT, do you take the day's dose in one go or do you split it? If you split it then you would even out the T3 and top up during the day, you could probably work out the best times to take it by when you start feeling tired, or other symptoms that you notice. And definitely take the same amount every day.

When having blood tests, make sure that your last dose of NDT is 8-12 hours before the blood draw. Any closer than that and you'll get a false high FT3, any longer and you'll get a false low.

Also, leave off the B Complex for 3-5 days before the blood test, the Biotin (B7) it contains will skew the results.

[Treacle028 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the info.

Yes I take the ndt in one dose and 1st thing in the morning.

[Angel_of_the_North]

I don't see a free t3 there. That's the most important result.