Wondered if anyone would be able to advice re latest results?
Short update at the end of last year I increased my Levothyroxine to 150mcg (from 125mcg) as my TSH had crept up into the 2s. A few weeks later I developed horrible anxiety/panic and thought this must be due to over-medication. So I reduced my dose right down for a while and I became hypothyroid again. Everyone on this site advised that anxiety can be caused by hypo as well as hyperthyroid so I started increasing my dose again and even though my thyroid hormones were up in normal range, the anxiety persisted. A couple of months ago I couldn't stand it anymore and started an antidepressant and within the last three weeks or so my anxiety has abated. Over the past two to three months I've been taking Levothyroxine 150mcg five times a week, and 125mcg twice a week (1000mcg per week). My recent blood tests are as follows:
TSH 1.11 (0.27-4.20)
Free Thyroxine 14.400 (12.00-22.00)
Free T3 4.43 (3.10-6.80)
Prior to this I was taking Levothyroxine 150mcg four times a week, and 125mcg three times a week (975mcg per week) and my test results were as follows:
TSH 0.899
Free Thyroxine 16.200
Free T3 4.49
Prior to this I was taking Levothyroxine 150mcg three times a week, and 125mcg four times a week (950mcg per week) and my test results were as follows:
TSH 1.3
Free Thyroxine 17.100
Free T3 4.94
So my thyroid hormones seem to be at their highest on a slightly lower dose of thyroxine, which is a bit strange, or is that just a natural variation??
The last few days I've started taking 150mcg daily (1050mcg per week), which I'd been loathed to do because I was scared I was on that dose when my anxiety started. Now that I'm on an antidepressant and my anxiety seems to be sorted, do I assume that it probably wasn't anything to do with my thyroid? Do you think my results are ok or should I keep taking 150mcg daily and hope for the best. This has been such a horrible year, I'd be grateful for advice. Btw I had a lot of other vitamins and minerals checked on the advice of the kind people on this site and they were all within normal range. Would be grateful to hear any pearls of wisdom. Thanks.
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Judthepud
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I think you might be better taking a T4/T3 combination - that is if you are able to source or get prescribed some T3. I don't think you're converting levo into sufficient T3. You may have a Gene Defect as we feel better when the Frees are in the upper part of the ranges.
T3 can be used as an anti-depressant especially if we are hypo and our FT3 is low, probably making us feel anxious. Excerpt:-
CONCLUSION:
T3 augmentation resulted in improvement of mood scores. The responders' rate of 42% in our study is comparable to the response rates reported using T3 or lithium to augment tricyclic antidepressants or other combination strategies used to treat resistant depression. Even though one patient withdrew prematurely due to side effects, the remaining 11 patients tolerated the addition of T3 very well. With the availability of T3, a viable, safe, inexpensive and effective augmentation treatment, the recent trend of replacing T3 with other novel strategies appears unwarranted.
Thanks Shaws. What is it that makes you think I'm not concerting levo into sufficient T3? Might it be that I just need a higher dose of Levo??....and if I would be better taking a T4/T3 combination, how do I go about getting this? GPs are just not interested in doing anything out of the ordinary.
I don't think any doctors or endos in the UK are prescribing T3. Your latest test results:-
Free Thyroxine 14.400 (12.00-22.00)
Free T3 4.43 (3.10-6.80)
Both could be nearer the upper part of the ranges. This is an excerpt from TUK:-
The Broda Barnes Foundation tell us "Dr Barnes found that the primary reason for the inaccuracy of the blood tests for thyroid function is that the thyroid hormones are not utilized in the blood, but are utilized intracellularly. Therefore a patient can have enough thyroid hormones circulating in the blood to give a "normal" reading, but if the hormones are not getting into the cells, the patient will be hypothyroid.
It is difficult to advise as we are all so different. Also T3 has become scarce and we've to be careful who we order from. Other members find that NDT suits them well as it contains all of the hormones a healthy gland would do, as it is made from pigs' thyroid glands since 1892 (in different forms of course since then) and many do well on it. It used to be prescribed by the NHS but has been withdrawn as has T3. So members have sourced their own. If you wish to do so you'd have to put up a new post requesting private messages of where to source as no info is permitted on the forum.
Could you post your results and ranges for the vits etc you have had tested. Normal sent a shiver down my spine as they need to be optimal which is higher. We can advise on that. That could well. E your missing link.
Think your Ferritin woukd be better around 70. Can you eat liver ? That should raise it 😊 Black Pudding too ! Your other results for vits and minerals look good. Ft4 & FT3 would be better higher in range ...
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