New blood results

[Dee8686]

Latest thyroid results on 50mcg levo and 20mcg t3 September 2018:

Tsh 3.1 (0.4-5)

T4 15 (9-19)

T3 3.7 (2.9-4.9)

These are heading in the right direction, but I can’t believe how slowly things are moving compared to the dose I’m on. Does it seem a lot?

My previous results in August were; (20mcg t3 only)

Tsh 4.1

T3 3.4

T4 15 sane ranges as above.

I’m still symptomatic with fatigue, but just wondered if it’s usual for things to move so slowly? I’ve been increasing my dose for months and the increments in blood readings are ever so slight each time!

Where do I go from here? Just keep upping my t3? I know we can’t see if I’m a bad converter or not now as taking both t3 and t4 but my t3 is ever so slow moving! Would that indicate poor conversion?

Vitamins optimal. Working on optimising iron. Thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If also on T3, make sure to take last dose 12 hours prior to test

Is this how you did the test?

What does GP/endo say?

You are only on tiny dose of Levothyroxine. Perhaps increase this to 75mcg next

Do you have Hashimoto's? If so are you on strictly gluten free diet?

[Dee8686 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m strictly gluten free. There is a slight question mark over whether or not I have hashis at the moment as I have conflicting blood tests (another story, will post when I know).

Yes blood was taken at 8am, levo was taken 24 hours before but I took my last dose of t3 at 2pm the day before, so 18 hours earlier. Would that have made such a big difference to the t3 reading? Thanks x

[Dee8686 in reply to Dee8686]

Also- gp doesn’t have a clue. He’s being led by me a bit now. He just knows I want to get t3 up and tsh below 1!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Dee8686]

Yes it could do. You might estimate FT3 to be a bit higher, perhaps 4.0

Graph done by another member on here, showing why to take T3 approx 12 hours before blood test

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

Research Paper data comes from

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Dee8686 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok thank you. How would you dose now if you were me? Shall I add in more t3 or increase levo?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Dee8686]

Well we are all different

But I would try increase Levo by 25mcg and retest in 6-8 weeks

Make sure Levothyroxine is always the same brand

Same applies to T3

Different brands give different actual dose in different people

Do you split your T3 dose, or take it all at once?

Again everyone varies as to what suits them

[Dee8686 in reply to SlowDragon]

I split my t3 but still experimenting I guess.

Thank you. Ok I’ll try increasing levo.

[Dee8686 in reply to SlowDragon]

Does it seem like I’m already on quite a high dose?

[Dee8686 in reply to Dee8686]

SlowDragon

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Dee8686]

I only take 20mcg, T3 split in two doses

Plus 125mcg Levothyroxine

See my profile

[greygoose]

How do you take your T3? Do you always take it on an empty stomach and wait at least an hour before eating or drinking anything but water, and at least two hours away from other medication or supplements?

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

Yes, always. Take my levo and 10mcg t3 on waking with water, an hour before breakfast. Then take second lot of t3 at 12 and have lunch an hour after. What are you thinking gg?

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

An absorption problem. You just don't seem to be absorbing the hormone. Do you know if you have low stomach acid?

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

I don’t know if I do or not but I’ll dont have any symptoms of low stomach acid I don’t think. How would I get better absorption? I do have some betaine and pepsin but haven’t taken any yet. I’m in the process of having more tests done by Genova (seeing another doc on the list as well) . Your advice appreciated as always .x

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

Are you getting - or have you had - your nutrients tested? They will give you a clue.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

Yes. Everything looked good in March and I’m supplementing folate now As was on the low side and also iron. Everything else was good. I’ve just had several tests including Genova metabolic analysis which I think off the top of my head looks at nutrients too.

What would you do if you were me? X

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

I would do the home test for low stomach acid at the bottom of this article :

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

Betain and pepsin are all very well before a meal, but you can't really take them with your hormone. On the other hand, you could take some vit C with your levo and T3. I find that vit C helps enormously with absorption.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

Ok, I’ll take vit c in the morning then. I thought that was a no no! Would you increase levo or t3 in the meantime?

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

Well, do the acid test first, so that you know.

It is a no-no to take anything else, but vit C would appear to be ok, because it doesn't bind with thyroid hormone but does increase absorption.

No, I wouldn't increase anything until you know what's going on, and if the vit C will help.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

Also can I try the baking soda in the morning with my meds?

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

No, the baking soda is not to improve acidity, it's just to give you an indication of the level of your stomach acid. You don't have to take it more than once. And don't take it at the same time as your hormone.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

Ok thanks gg x

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

You're welcome.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

Burped in 20

Seconds....!

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

Well, that sounds quite healthy. So, there must be an absorption problem lower down.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

What else could be causing an absorption problem? Just vitamins?

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

Vitamins don't cause absorption problems. I just wanted to know if your nutrients were low because that would confirm an absorption problem.

You could have a leaky gut. Have you been tested for Coeliac? Are you gluten-free? Do you have any gut problems, like IBS?

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

Not been tested for coeliac but I am gluten free and have a confirmed gluten sensitivity via a stool test. I am drinking bone broth daily to help heal my gut if it needs to be healed. I had an infection and a parasite in my gut which *shoukd* have gone now as I followed an oregano and COllodial silver protocol for several months. The only gut problems I have is occasionally going to the loo a bit more than I’d like to! I’m not the usual constipated hypo- more the opposite! Sorry tmi! It does get annoying though. I do wonder if there’s still a gut issue not yet been addressed. Hopefully this latest Genova tests will

Flag something up. X

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

It does sound as if there could be, yes. And, that could be why you're not absorbing your hormone very well.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks as always!

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

You're welcome.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

For now, would you increase levo if you were me and keep aiming for optimal and try and sort guy issues out along the way?

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

No, I would increase T3. And continue trying to sort the gut issues.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you again! Love how you always get back to me - you’re great, thanks Xx

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

You're welcome.

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

At least I know why I still feel so rubbish!