Blue horizon results, help.

[Carrie97]

Ok so since my dr won’t test T3 I got blue horizon ones done and they are as follows..

Tsh 0.81 (0.27-4.2)

T4 18 (12-22)

T3 4.4 (3.1-6.8)

I’m feeling just lost here, I’m currently exhauste, fat, zero motivation, anxious etc, have that tight throat feeling also. Just crap. A few years ago I was doing great ran a tough mudder etc now

I’m assuming my dr will discredit my blood tests and say I’ve been fine on Levo for 11 years. I’m currently on 175mgs dose hasn’t changed since gaining all this weight.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Carrie

Tsh 0.81 (0.27-4.2) - in a good place, most of us Hypos need TSH to be 1 or below.

FT4 18 (12-22) - 60% through range

T3 4.4 (3.1-6.8) - 35% through range

The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo if that is where you feel well.

So your TSH is good, FT4 not bad and FT3 rather low and not in balance with FT4 so conversion is a bit off.

Good T4:T3 conversion takes place when FT4:FT3 ratio is between 3:1 and 4:1, yours is just slightly over at 4.09 : 1

For good conversion to take place, vitamins and minerals need to be optimal so if not already done it would be a good idea to test as your next step

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If any of these are low these could be causing your symptoms.

Also supplementing with selenium aids conversion, as does zinc. You may want to test them, and if supplementing with selenium then the selenium l-selenomethionine form is recommended, no more than 200mcg daily, avoid the selenite and selenate form as they are the least absorbable.

[Carrie97 in reply to SeasideSusie]

So raising my dose or adding t3 isn’t advisable?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Carrie97]

Carrie

If you raise your Levo your TSH will go down, possibly to an unacceptable level as far as your GP is concerned. It's possible that an extra 12.5mcg Levo would raise your FT4 enough but not go over range, and would raise your FT3 to some extent as well so you could try that, but be prepared for your GP to freak out if your TSH goes below range.

As for adding T3, I would get your vitamins and minerals tested first. Your conversion ratio isn't too bad but your FT4 and FT3 aren't in balance, but by checking your nurient levels you will see if any of your levels are too low and preventing conversion (low ferritin can do that). So that would be the ideal place to start.

Also, bear in mind that it's virtually impossible for a "new" patient to get T3 prescribed, and it's extremely difficult to self source at the moment.

Another thought - have you ever had thyroid antibodies tested?

[Carrie97 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok thanks, my tsh has been 0.01 for about 10 years my gp doesn’t seem to have an issue with this, my antibodies were tested when they confirmed I had hashi 11 years ago not since.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Carrie97]

Carrie

Ah, so you have Hashi's, no need for further testing once you've had a positive result.

Are you addressing the Hashi's with a strict gluten free diet and supplementing with selenium?

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies.

So I would say definitely get your vitamins and minerals tested to see if there are any problems there.

[Carrie97 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok thanks I’ll get the vitamins checked, can you recommend a good selenium tablet? I live in the uk.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Carrie97]

Carrie

A lot of selenium supplements have an unpleasant odour. The selenium that I like is this one cytoplan.co.uk/selenium it is a very small tablet, no odour, but unfortunately only comes in 100mcg strength. It is a yeast-bound selenium rather than l-selenomethionine but is just as absorbable and they say it's suitable for people with Candida and yeast sensitivities.