Hypothyroid - best set of blood tests to get

[ak_83]

I am hypothyroid and am currently on Slow Release T3. It seems I can't tolerate too much T3 and at lower levels I experience a lot of hypo symptoms. I am also supplementing with Fludrocortisone to increase my aldestorone levels and some hydrocortisone to try to have more T3 enter my cells.

I have tested below average on B12 and have almost finished my 6 months dosage of B12 and folate. I have tested my iron panel with Ferritin 101 (towards the top of functional health range), but with all other tests quite a bit below the optimal levels.

What I want to do now is to talk to my (friendly) doctor and get a few things retested. I'm thinking:

- FT3, FT4, TSH

- B12 and Folate

- Full Iron panel (If all low again and there's room to increase Ferritin, the could supplement?)

- Blood count (that would include hemoglobin to supplement iron panel)

- Aldosterone (was very low in the range before and have been taking fludrocortisone - now should be better)

Are there any other suggestions?

One example, I was thinking would be Vitamin D, but not sure if it would have anything to do with T3 being absorbed by cells issue I have.

Perhaps common viruses? I guess by this time my doc would have figured out if I have a virus that can be tested for.

[greygoose]

No point in testing B12 as you're supplementing. The results will be skewed. You have to be off them for five months to get a true reading.

I would suggest you have your cortisol tested, if you're taking HydroCortisone. HC is something you take for low cortisol, not to get T3 into the cells. What if your cortisol is actually high? That could also stop T3 getting into the cells, but taking HC won't help in that case.

Your vit d needs to be optimal whether it helps get T3 into the cells or not. You won't be able to tolerate increases in T3 if your vit D is low.

But, why do you think the T3 isn't getting into the cells? How much T3 are you taking? Are you taking any T4? Perhaps you're just not on enough T3. Besides, slow release is not the best way of taking T3, because you cannot guarantee how much is going to be absorbed before it's excreted.

[Tile]

Get an Active B12 test done this will give a more accurate picture of your B12 levels.

[Tile]

Also if you can,get a RBC Folate test done, as this too will give a more accurate picture of how much Folate is getting into your cells. You can have unmetabolized folic acid in your blood that doesn't get into your cells where it is needed and can give false levels of serum.(blood).folate.