Final Test Results in including Free Thyroxine.... am I converting efficiently??

[Dotty1340]

My Doctor sent me for tests (see results below) and which very helpful and knowledgeable Seaside Susie commented upon. Unfortunately the doctor did not ask for my Free Thyroxine to be tested so I had to get that done via Medichecks. My suspicion is that I am not converting very well.

Medichecks TSH 1.99 (0.27–4.2)

Free Thyroxine 20.3 (12.0-22.0)

Doctors FT3 (see below) = 3.9 (3.1-6.8)

I have stopped taking B12 as per advice from Seaside Susie and started with the other recommended vitamins.

I’m posting this whilst on holiday so I hope my iPhone cut and paste with previous results is working!

Thank you x

DOCTORS RESULTS

Serum free triiodothyronine level 3.9 pmol/L [3.1 - 6.8]

FT3 is of little additional value in patients on thyroxine.

Serum ferritin level 156 ug/L [30.0 - 150.0]

Above high reference limit

Refer to tinyurl.com/BiochemInfo for further

information about the investigation of hyperferritinaemia.

High ferritin - transferrin saturation to follow.

Iron & % Saturation

Serum iron level 18.5 umol/L [5.8 - 34.5]

Serum transferrin level 2.27 g/L [2.0 - 3.6]

Transferrin saturation index 33 % [15.0 - 50.0]

Serum vitamin B12 level 1399 ng/L [197.0 - 771.0]

Above high reference limit

Serum folate level 6.7 ug/L [> 3.9]

Fasting sample preferred. Recent folate intake may mask deficiency

Haemoglobin A1c level - IFCC standardised 30 mmol/mol [20.0 - 41.0]

Full blood count

Haemoglobin concentration 129 g/L [115.0 - 165.0]

Platelet count - observation 352 x10^9/L [150.0 - 450.0]

Red blood cell count 4.22 x10^12/L [3.9 - 5.4]

Haematocrit 0.385 L/L [0.36 - 0.47]

Mean cell volume 91 fL [79.0 - 101.0]

Mean cell haemoglobin level 30.6 pg [27.0 - 32.0]

Total white blood count 4.2 x10^9/L [4.0 - 11.0]

Neutrophil count 2.2 x10^9/L [2.0 - 8.0]

Lymphocyte count 1.5 x10^9/L [0.5 - 4.5]

Monocyte count - observation 0.5 x10^9/L [0.2 - 1.2]

Eosinophil count - observation 0.1 x10^9/L [0.1 - 0.7]

Basophil count 0.0 x10^9/L [0.0 - 0.2]

Serum sodium level 140 mmol/L [133.0 - 146.0]

Serum potassium level 4.2 mmol/L [3.5 - 5.3]

Serum urea level 3.7 mmol/L [2.5 - 7.8]

Serum creatinine level 75 umol/L [45.0 - 84.0]

GFR calculated abbreviated MDRD 73 mL/min/1.72m*2

Bone profile Please note new calcium adjustment equation in use from 5/7/18

Serum calcium level 2.37 mmol/L [2.2 - 2.6]

Serum inorganic phosphate level 0.93 mmol/L [0.8 - 1.5]

Serum alkaline phosphatase level 62 IU/L [30.0 - 130.0]

Serum albumin level 44 g/L [35.0 - 50.0]

Serum adjusted calcium concentration 2.38 mmol/L [2.2 - 2.6]

Serum total protein level 71 g/L [60.0 - 80.0]

Liver function tests

Serum alanine aminotransferase level 16 U/L [0.0 - 34.0]

Serum total bilirubin level 8 umol/L [< 21.0]

Serum C reactive protein level < 1 mg/L [0.0 - 5.0]

Serum TSH level 1.4 mU/L [0.27 - 4.2]

Aim for TSH towards the bottom of the reference range for T4

replacement in primary hypothyroidism, targeting to around

1.0mU/L for symptomatic patients.

[shaws Administrator]

This statement below is ridiculous:-

Serum free triiodothyronine level 3.9 pmol/L [3.1 - 6.8]

FT3 is of little additional value in patients on thyroxine.

The assumption is, of course, that we will all convert levothyroxine (inactive hormone) into liothyrone (active hormone). T4 is not required by our receptor cells as we only have T3 receptor cells, after it has been converted from T4 into T3. You are certainly not doing so and our body cannot function, particularly brain/heart need the most. I believe most doctors are unaware that T4 should convert to T3. We can live without T4 but not without T3.

SeasideSusie will respond when she reads your post.

I think you'd feel better if T3 was added to your dose but at present doctors cannot prescribe.

hormonerestoration.com/

hormonerestoration.com/Thyr...

[Dotty1340 in reply to shaws]

Thank you very much for replying. I see my doctor in 2 weeks time and my only hope is to ask for a private prescription and source from abroad. I would welcome any advice on how to approach this? x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Dotty1340]

As doctors/endocrinologists have been told not to prescribe T3 in the UK due to the exorbitant rise in costs.

If GP refuses a private prescription then you can put up a fresh post asking where to source T3 without prescription and for a Private Message to be sent to you. It will then be closed so that info cannot be posted on the open forum, as per the rules.

However, those that source (in Europe I believe) with Private Prescriptions will respond by Message.

T3 seems to be in short supply worldwide but it can still be sourced. It is unaffordable in the UK due to exorbitant charges by the Pharma Companies and investigation going on at present in the House of Lords.

I wouldn't order too much initially as we don't know whether we would be affected by the fillers/binders in the products but with a bit of luck you wont have problems.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Dotty1340

Did you not get the Medichecks Thyroid Monitoring as advised? I did say

What you really need is to FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time to see what your T4 to T3 conversion is like

You can't take an FT4 result from one test with FT3 from a test done on a different day, to see how you convert they must be done together as explained.

The other tests were commented on in your previous post.

[Dotty1340 in reply to SeasideSusie]

SeasideSusie

Unfortunately I have misunderstood a bought the basic Thyroid Test kit. Sadly I will not be back from holiday in time to order the medi checks kit and get the results back prior to my much sought after doctors appointment.

I have previously had my FT4 and FT3 tested TOGETHER (last December) and I know my FT3 is exactly the same as it was then (3.9 (3.1-6.8). My FT4 was 22 (cannot recall precise range). Is this any use?

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[Dotty1340 in reply to Dotty1340]

Just found the FT4 range from last year which was 12-22, my result was 22 with FT3 at 3.9 (3.1-6.8).

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Dotty1340]

Unfortunately I have misunderstood a bought the basic Thyroid Test kit

That's a shame as I did name the tests to consider - Thyroid Monitoring or Thyroid Check Plus if you wanted antibodies tested.

Your previous results do tend to show poor conversion.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists, some are T3 friendly

please email Dionne


[e-mail]

Roughly where in the UK are you?

It's perfectly possible, (but difficult) to get T3 prescribed on NHS. But the initial assessment of clinical need must be by an NHS endocrinologist

Your FT3 is extremely low

It might be worth getting DIO2 gene test. If you test positive then this is a very strong argument for NHS to prescribe

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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

Have you had antibodies retested recently?

[Roadrunnergreg]

You don't need T3 your iron is high this is blocking/suppressing Zinc, low zinc allows cortisol to rise which suppresses Thyroid levels, hence the low FT3. I'll bet you have high RT3 because of it...

Iron also attracts critters like Candida etc, might want to check on that. Sort these out and you might find the thyroid returns to normal functioning...